THE DUST HAS barely settled on Ireland’s defence of their Six Nations crown and already talk is turning to this year’s World Cup.

Before then, it’s worth looking back at the 2015 championship and the unenviable task of picking a team of the tournament.

After much debate around the water cooler — or on Whatsapp — this is the XV we’ve come up with and the fact it contains five Welsh, four Irish, four English and two French players reflects just how close this year’s championship was.

Disagree with our selections? Of course you do. Let us know who you’d have picked in the comments below. 

15. Leigh Halfpenny

Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

14. Yoann Huget

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

13. Jonathan Joseph

Andrew Fosker / INPHO Andrew Fosker / INPHO / INPHO

12. Robbie Henshaw

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

11. Liam Williams

Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

10. George Ford

Morgan Treacy / INPHO Morgan Treacy / INPHO / INPHO

9. Conor Murray

Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

1.  Joe Marler

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

2. Guilhem Guirado

Inpho / Billy Stickland Inpho / Billy Stickland / Billy Stickland

3. Dan Cole

James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

4. Alun Wyn Jones

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

5. Paul O’Connell

Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

6. Peter O’Mahony

Inpho / Billy Stickland Inpho / Billy Stickland / Billy Stickland

7. Sam Warburton

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

8. Toby Faletau

Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

Replacements

16. Rory Best
17. Jack McGrath
18. Samson Lee
19. Luke Charteris
20. Sean O’Brien
21. Rhys Webb
22. Jonathan Sexton
23. Jamie Roberts

‘I’ll just have to pinch myself and let it sink in’ – Robbie Henshaw

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