Six Nations 2015: Combined Ireland/France XV

Ahead of the Ireland vs France fixture this weekend, who makes our combined XV of the two teams?

15. Rob Kearney (Ireland)
A rock at the back for Ireland, who began to show again in the autumn that he can also be a tremendously dangerous counter-attacker. His left boot can also be a defensive weapon. Scott Spedding is an unconventional fullback, and has yet to fully settle at international level.

14. Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
The definition of an arch-finisher. Bowe is capable of some brilliant individualism, but equally impressive is his ability to pop up at the right time to run in the easy scores. Yoann Huget is a good player but loses points for his audition to the French diving team.

13. Mathieu Bastareaud (France)
A tough one, because you always feel Bastareaud flatters to deceive for a man of his physical presence. He can be lethal, though, and up against him is Jared Payne – who still feels like a round peg for the square hole that is Brian O’Driscoll’s vacant shirt. Still looks more comfortable as a fullback.

12. Wesley Fofana (France)
A silkier centre in the Northern Hemisphere, there is not. We haven’t seen his consistent best for some time, but even so he just oozes class. Robbie Henshaw has bags of potential, but he is not yet in Fofana’s league.

11. Teddy Thomas (France)
So much raw talent, but when he gets it right Thomas is unstoppable. He has pace, power and nous – there’s no reason why he can’t become France’s answer to Julian Savea. Simon Zebo shows flashes of brilliance, but you still feel Schmidt doesn’t entirely trust him.

10. Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
He may have been out for some time, but Sexton is the the most important player to Ireland’s game-plan. His tactical game is second to none, and he is also not afraid to run at defences – we have seen plenty of line-breaks from him down the years. Lopez is good, but not on his level.

9. Conor Murray (Ireland)
The other half of comfortably the best half-back duo in the Six Nations. Murray has developed from a fairly one-dimensional player into one that can threaten fringe defences as well as kick to tactical perfection. No contest here.

1. Eddy Ben Arous (France)
The latest off the production line of power-packed French props. Ben Arous has had a storming season for Racing and is rewarded with a first start this weekend. Jack McGrath is a good player but will always be keeping the shirt warm for Cian Healy.

2. Rory Best (Ireland)
The odd lineout wobble aside, Best is amongst Ireland’s most important players, mainly for the superb work he does at the breakdown. He is also one of a host of on-pitch leaders. Guilhem Guirado, who has been a late bloomer, is more solid at the line-out but that does not outweigh Best’s other attributes.

3. Rabah Slimani (France)
The powerful Stade Français prop seems to be growing with every game. He is still only 25 and could be France’s rock at the scrum for many years to come. Mike Ross seems to be operating on borrowed time at the moment.

4. Paul O’Connell (Ireland)
A proper legend who, remarkably, is showing no real signs of slowing down. Imperious at the lineout again in Rome, he is a true talisman.

5. Yoann Maestri (France)
Pips Devin Toner to the other locking spot. Maestri is a giant of a man who doesn’t always use his size to full effect, but when he does, it is destructive. Instrumental in a powerful front five.

6. Thierry Dusautoir (France)
The France captain is simply relentless. He rarely does anything too flash but you can imagine this French side completely self-imploding without him leading them. Peter O’Mahony is a fine player, but Dusautoir is one of his country’s greats.

7. Bernard le Roux (France)
A huge caveat here – if Sean O’Brien hadn’t been injured for so long, he would walk into this team. With no match practice for a long time, however, he can’t. Le Roux has impressed for Racing this season with his physicality, and continued that theme against the Scots last weekend.

8. Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
Heaslip has developed into a proper all round number eight. Just as capable of doing the gritty stuff in the tight exchanges as he is roaming the wide channels and showing off his lovely handling.

Final count: Ireland 7, France 8.

N.B. this is a composite team of the two starting line-ups, any injured/non-selected players weren’t considered.

By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images