This is The42's composite Six Nations team, featuring six Irishmen

Four Welshmen make the cut, while England are strongly represented in the front row.

THE LIONS ALLOWS us to see some of the best players in the Six Nations coming together as one team every four years, although Italy and France are obviously not included.

With that in mind, we’ve gone about picking our composite Six Nations team with spots available to the players of les Blues and the Azzuri.

We asked each of our writers to vote for their dream team ahead of the tournament and below are the men who received the most votes in each position.

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15. Leigh Halfpenny

Leigh Halfpenny James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

14. Tommy Bowe

Tommy Bowe runs away for an intercept try Colm O'Neill / INPHO Colm O'Neill / INPHO / INPHO

13. Wesley Fofana

Rugby Union - RBS 6 Nations - Wales v France - Millennium Stadium EMPICS Sport EMPICS Sport

12. Jamie Roberts

Jamie Roberts breaks the tackle of Brian O'Driscoll

11. George North

George North scores a try Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

10. Johnny Sexton

Jonathan Sexton James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

9. Conor Murray

Conor Murray James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

1. Joe Marler

Joe Marler and Marcell Coetzee James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

2. Dylan Hartley

Dylan Hartley Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

3. Dan Cole

Dan Cole Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

4. Alun-Wyn Jones

Alun-Wyn Jones Billy Stickland / INPHO Billy Stickland / INPHO / INPHO

5. Paul O’Connell

Paul O'Connell James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

6. Peter O’Mahony

Peter O'Mahony tackled by Henry Speight Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

7. Sean O’Brien

Sean O'Brien James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

8. Sergio Parisse

Sergio Parisse James Crombie / INPHO James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO

What do you think of our team? Who would you have included in the XV?

First published at 18.26