Three English picks from the former Bath, England and Lions star.
Several England players vaulted their arms in the air for round three of the Six Nations, and their match against Wales, after seeing off Italy in Rome.
Ireland may have fallen short at the second Grand Slam hurdle, but they are still in the championship hunt. Stuart Barnes was impressed enough with four Ireland stars to include them in his Six Nations XV after round two, while victors France had seven.
France beat Ireland 30-24 in Paris to emerge from the weekend as the only side left that can still win a Grand Slam. They lead England, who convincingly beat Italy, and Ireland in the standings. Wales beat Scotland to show some signs of life to their title defence.
On JOE.ie’s House of Rugby, former Munster and Ireland prop John Hayes looked back on the weekend’s action with Greg O’Shea and the team. There was praise for many of the players that ended up making that Stuart Barnes ‘Dream Team’.
Three England players get nod from Stuart Barnes
Hayes and O’Shea highlighted the likes of Tadhg Furlong, Jamie George, Antoine Dupont and Darcy Graham as big weekend performers. All four are included in the XV selected by Barnes for Rugby World.
Ellis Genge and England centre Henry Slade were both included, along with two-try hooker Jamie George. On the Saracens star, Barnes noted:
‘Scored two tries – which is neither here nor there – but he threw with his usual accuracy and made a nuisance of himself in the tight. It is hard to believe that he isn’t England’s first-choice hooker. If the Lions were touring next week, he would be an automatic in the Barnes book.’
You may note that the only Wales inclusion, after they beat Scotland 20-17, was lock Adam Beard.
STUART BARNES’ 6 NATIONS ‘DREAM TEAM’
15. Melvyn Jaminet (France)
14. Darcy Graham (Scotland)
13. Gael Fickou (France)
12. Henry Slade (England)
11. Gabin Villiere (France)
10. Joey Carbery (Ireland)
9. Antoine Dupont (France)1. Ellis Genge (England)
2. Jamie George (England)
3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
4. Paul Willemse (France)
5. Adam Beard (Wales)
6. Caelan Doris (France)
7. Josh van der Flier (Ireland)
8. Gregory Alldritt (France)
