Rugby
Nick Bewley 6y

ESPN Fantasy Rugby Team of the Week: Six Nations Round Five

Six Nations, Rugby

The Six Nations is over for another year as all of Ireland wakes up a little worse for wear after St. Patrick's Day celebrations in the knowledge that they have bagged a Grand Slam, Triple Crown and of course the Six Nations title.

The final round offered plenty of thrills and spills starting in Rome, where Italy pushed Scotland to the brink before Gregor Townsend's side prevailed.

Then it was onto Twickenham where Ireland handed England their third consecutive loss before Wales scraped past France for second place in the tournament.

There was at least one player from each country who made our team of the weekend -- let's break down who they were for the final time this season.

Outside backs:

Elliot Daly, England

13 points, 1.6% owned

Eddie Jones is probably thinking what could have been had Daly been involved for the entirety of England's Six Nations campaign. The Wasps utility showed his class with two silky tries on the left edge for England, but it was all in vain against a brilliant Irish side.

Stuart Hogg, Scotland

9 points, 72% owned

The Six Nations player of the year for the last two tournaments hasn't quite hit the same lofty heights in 2018, but he finished his campaign in style. Hogg pulled a try out of the bag to see Scotland avoid embarrassment and a loss against Italy.

Jonny May, England

8 points, 23% owned

There's not many quicker players in the game who seem unstoppable with the try line in sight than the Leicester Tigers winger. May nabbed his fourth try of the tournament and ran more than 50 meters to pick up eight points for the second straight week.

Centre:

Gael Fickou, France

9 points, 0.4% owned

The French centre made the most of his first start of the tournament for Les Bleus against Wales with a strong performance on both sides of the ball. Fickou grabbed France's only try and ran more than 50 meters with the ball as well as making more than five tackles.

Garry Ringrose, Ireland

9 points, 1% owned

There were several doubts the Leinster centre would be able to pick up from where he left off but he's buried those questioning him with two brilliant games on return from injury. Ringrose picked up his second try in as many games and made more than 10 tackles.

Fly-half:

Tomasso Allan, Italy

28 points, 1.7% owned (if selected as kicker)

Who would've thought the top fantasy performer not only for the final round but for the entire Six Nations would be an Italian? They might not have won a game, but boy did Tomasso Allan get them close against Scotland. The fly-half scored two tries, kicked 12 points from the tee, provided the last pass for a try and made more than 10 tackles in a man of the match performance.

Scrum-half:

Greig Laidlaw, Scotland

14 points, 11% owned (if selected as kicker)

Scotland needed someone to step up and be a cool head and Laidlaw brought that in spades. The scrum-half kicked his goals, assisted in two of Scotland's tries and even made more than 10 tackles which isn't bad for a little guy in what was a physical game.

Front row:

Fraser Brown, Scotland

13 points, 1% owned

He had big shoes to fill after Stuart McIlanny's consistency across the first four matches, but he stepped up in his first start in Rome. Brown was the benefactor of a nice Scotland move to finish out wide, but it was his defensive effort that was most impressive with more than 15 tackles.

Tadhg Furlong, Ireland

10 points, 30% owned

The Ireland prop was dominant both in defence and attack, and was rewarded with man of the match honours in the win over England. Furlong made 11 carries with the ball, and more than 15 tackles while he laid a beautifully subtle offload that led to CJ Stander's try.

Leonardo Ghiraldini, Italy

5 points, 3.6% owned

Shows little sign of slowing down with age by putting his body on the line week in week out. Another defensive stalwart for Italy with more than 15 tackles providing three fantasy points.

Second row:

Alun Wyn Jones, Wales

10 points, 27% owned

Celebrated signing a new WRU deal with club Ospreys with a trademark workman-like performance leading Wales to a tight win over France. Made more than 15 tackles and threw his body all around Principality Stadium which saw him pick up a deserved man of the match award.

Dean Budd, Italy

6 points, 0.3% owned

The little-known New Zealand born lock has been a strong performer for Conor O'Shea's side this season, starting every game this tournament. He was one of the defensive leaders for Italy with more than 15 tackles while he also nabbed a line-out steal for an extra fantasy point.

Back row:

CJ Stander, Ireland

14 points, 57% owned

After a massive fantasy campaign in 2017, it had been pretty quiet going through the first four rounds. Stander had only scored 11 points through the first four games, but he made up for it with a try against England as well as more than 15 tackles and a line out steal for a decent haul.

John Barclay, Scotland

12 points, 12% owned

Another player with a massive engine did plenty of the dirty work once again for Scotland to get them over the line in Rome. Barclay made more than 10 tackles and scored a rare try to pick up 12 points.

Hamish Watson, Scotland

9 points, 21% owned

He might just be cloned as a tackling machine such is his effort every week for Scotland. Backed up last week's effort where he made more than 25 tackles against Ireland with at least 20 tackles against Italy, while he also provided a try assist for his best fantasy haul of the tournament.

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