Our team of the 2006 Six Nations

It was not a Six Nations that really sent the pulses racing. Defences were on top, teams were in transition and the winners were the ones who managed to retain solidarity and grind out results. The winners were the freshest milk, rather than the actual crême de la crême.

Bergamasco: Shining light

So, picking a top XV was tricky. In some positions - No.8 and left wing especially - there were simply no stand-out performers. In other positions, we were forced to look for solidity rather than inspiration.

What has emerged is a team back-boned with seasoned and solid performers, and a dollop of spice added in a couple of positions. Would this be a Northern Hemisphere team to take on the cream of the Southern Hemisphere?

We think so, but as always, we have probably stuffed it right up. If you think we have, tell us where you think we went wrong!

15: GEORDAN MURPHY (Ireland)
Capped off a solid tournament - one intercepted pass aside - with a superb performance in the final game against England, looking a threat with the ball in hand every time. Just edged out Thomas Castaignède on the basis of work-rate in the counter-attacking department.

14: SHANE HORGAN (Ireland)
A very real candidate for player of the tournament. Horgan ended up as the spearhead of Ireland's attack, popping up in midfield and back on his wing with immaculate timing and often to destructive effect. A perfect coup de grâce with the last-minute winner against England. Eclipsed Aurélien Rougerie more on work-rate than anything else. Is there a finer finisher in world rugby? We think not.

13: BRIAN O'DRISCOLL (Ireland, captain)
Not spectacular by any means, but the solidity and balance that BOD brought to his backline was frequently what allowed those outside him to flourish. In that sense, he outdid Florian Fritz, whose flair eclipsed the O'Driscoll's, but BOD's was the more solid game. The Leinster star is almost back to where he was prior to his shoulder injury and captains our team.

12: MIRCO BERGAMASCO (Italy)
The 'find' of the tournament. The only inside-centre who managed to mix flair with strong running and solid defence with the perfect balance. A wonderful and consistent display from the Stade Français player.

11: SEAN LAMONT (Scotland)
The tournament yielded not one left-wing whose displays made him truly worthy of filling this spot - indeed, we briefly considered plonking Aurelien Rougerie in this position. But strong Sean Lamont was the most solid all the way through, just ahead of Shane Williams and Christophe Dominici.

10: STEPHEN JONES (Wales)
The brightest light in the gloomy fog of lies and conspiracies that engulfed the Welsh team during the tournament, it was a pivotal point in the match when he was taken off injured against the Irish. From winning 5-0, Wales slumped to a 31-5 defeat. His continual variations in play kept opponents guessing all the way through.

9: DWAYNE PEEL (Wales)
A cracking try against England and three excellent matches at the base of an ordinary pack before the injury against Italy mean that B&I Lions star gets the nod over close runners-up Mike Blair, Peter Stringer, and Dimitri Yachvili.

8: MARTIN CORRY (England)
Has his detractors, but Corry's strength in extreme adversity shone through time and time again. He was at the very centre of the few good English attacks and handled the unwarranted media/Dallaglio sniping in exemplary fashion. He also boasts more heart than a Hallmark shop in early February.

7: DAVID WALLACE (Ireland)
Has burst back into the Ireland team and his performance against England was the icing on the cake. Like a wall in defence, and in attack, his 40m burst through the English defence took him clear - repeat, clear - of both centres. What's more, much of Ireland's turnover ball stemmed from his handiwork. It was his attack that set him apart from Scotland's Allister Hogg.

6: JASON WHITE (Scotland)
Must have had the highest tackle-count in the tournament, and if he didn't, his was the least number of yards conceded in tackles. So many times White popped up in the right place to knock his opponent backwards. The captain's performance against England was his finest hour in a dark blue shirt.

5: PAUL O'CONNELL (Ireland)
Europe's best lock by some distance. Ruined the Scots and Welsh at the line-out, and won everything in the third quarter against England. That was on the opposition's throw! Ireland never had to worry at line-out time, which was a cornerstone of their Triple Crown triumph.

4: MARCO BORTOLAMI (Italy)
A shining and disciplined captain's performance all the way through the tournament, keeping Italy solid on their own throw and playing like an extra flank in the loose.

3: PIETER DE VILLIERS (France)
The aged muscle at the corner of the French pack was rarely to be seen outside of it, but he negated every pile-driver that came his way. Just out-muscled Carlos Nieto from the position.

2: RAPHAËL IBAÑEZ (France)
Immaculate with most of the throwing, and like a sprightly faun in the loose. Ibañez rolled back the years in every game of this tournament, and is very much in pole position for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, never mind that he will be 33 by the time it comes round.

1: DUNCAN JONES (Wales)
The Welshman continues to develop in leaps and bounds, and is a real threat in the loose, where his pace appears to increase every time he plays. In the final game against France, he was the one making the difference to the Welsh scrum much of the time, but he could not go all 80 minutes.

Replacements: 16 Fabio Ongaro, 17 Carlos Nieto, 18 Danny Grewcock, 19 Yannick Nyanga, 20 Frédéric Michalak, 21 Thomas Castaignède, 22 Florian Fritz.