Granted, a team of the tournament is somewhat premature given the rearranged France-Scotland game next Friday could yet decide the title and alter selections in one or two positions, as last Saturday’s round five has done here. But so be it.
Perhaps there is a hint of green-tinged glasses in picking five Irishmen, and this was heavily influenced by last Saturday's events in the Aviva where, for example, Iain Henderson and Tadhg Beirne both eclipsed Maro Itoje, who has been England's best forward but a tad too penalty prone.
Then again, several Irish players had been having strong tournaments before the handsome beating of England, while Wales and France, all the more so after their Saturday night thriller, deserve at least four players apiece, if not more.
15 Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
A constant threat, Hogg had a couple of tries and try assists, and added an offloading game and that booming right boot. Edges out Brice Dulin, although they have a showdown on Friday. Hugo Keenan, Ireland's only 400-minute man, was almost error-free.
14 Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales)
The 20-year-old sprinkled some stardust on an experienced Welsh team with four fine finishes, none better than the chip and chase against England, and came within a whisker of a title-sealing fifth last Saturday night in Paris. A star has landed.
13 Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)
Now 27, injury free at last and at the peak of his powers. Used his footwork and strength in making 65 carries (third highest in the tournament), brilliantly chased kicks and revelled in switch to ‘13’ against England when closing the door defensively. Played 380 minutes too.
12 Gaël Fickou (France)
Eight years on from his debut, Fickou is now a rock at ‘12’, captain of Shaun Edwards’s defence, a launch pad up the middle and has subtleties too, witness the way he squared up the Welsh defence for Brice Dulin’s match-winning try.
11 Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland)
The 25-year-old has proven almost as hard to stop at Test level as in the Pro14. Match-winner in Twickenham in round one, he has beaten tackles and made metres for fun, and has three tries with one match remaining. A very strong tournament.
10 Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
Masterful in Rome, kept his nerve in Edinburgh and pulled the strings in dissection of England. Provides the drive and the direction, brave on both sides of the ball, and kicked 25 out of 26 to finish as tournament’s top scorer (65 points).
9 Antoine Dupont (France)
Augments the basics with speed, strength and vision. Can create with his passing, offloading and kicking, runs superb trailers and at times seems to be a second ahead of everyone else. Has created the most tries (four), scored three, and ain’t finished yet.
1 Wyn Jones (Wales)
Wales needed their first-choice props to stay healthy and Jones duly played 341 minutes, remarkable for a prop. Wales’ second highest carrier with 39, he also made 47 tackles and was good over the ball. Nicknamed ‘Sausage’ by teammates, he had a banger of a tournament.
2 Julien Marchand (France)
The return of the influential Ken Owens was hugely significant for Wales but Marchand was brilliant. Like an extra backrower over the ball, he was a powerful carrier with his low centre of gravity and added his Toulouse-honed offloading game.
3 Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
Back in the nick of time, and with a vengeance. Primed by replacement cameos, Furlong brought oomph and savvy from the off in three wins, finishing with a powerful scrummaging display in the Lions audition. Whether side-stepping or goose-stepping, Furlong left an indelible imprint.
4 Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
Returned from a knee injury ahead of schedule, his effect on Wales is also profound. In playing all bar 35 minutes, the wily spoiler-in-chief made the third highest number of tackles (75) in the tournament. For a 35-year-old that’s frankly ridiculous.
5 Iain Henderson (Ireland)
Also returned from a knee injury to hit the ground running as first-half sub in Wales. Superb at lineout time (claiming 15 throws), with his choke tackling and jackaling, he also won six turnovers, the second highest in the tournament, and made those trademark gallops.
6 Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
Truly brilliant over the ball, he won the most turnovers (10) in the tournament by a distance, and won 13 lineouts. Skilful ball carrier and handler too, the only debate is his best position. A rival to Dupont for player of the tournament.
7 Charles Ollivon (France)
Possibly the strongest category of all considering the all-round brilliance of Justin Tipuric (an unrivalled 86 tackles), Hamish Watson and Tom Curry. Ollivon is also a supreme lineout operator (18 takes), makes his tackles (63) and scored key tries against Ireland and Wales.
8 Taulupe Faletau (Wales)
Edges out CJ Stander, even though the Irish player was the tournament's leading carrier (72 to Faletau's 66) for the third time in four years. Faletau made marginally more metres, 368 to 352, and weighed in with 77 tackles, albeit Stander won five turnovers, while each scored one try.
