RBS 6 Nations 2016: Ranking the Top 10 Players

European audiences were disappointed to see another dramatic Six Nations championship come to a close last Saturday, with England deservedly reigning supreme as Grand Slam title-winners in the 2016 edition. 

The talent pool ran deep throughout the tournament as stars from Europe's powerhouses each did their bit to ensure this was one of the most memorable contests in recent memory.

And although the Red Rose may have dominated in their first campaign under head coach Eddie Jones, there were performers from just about every nation in contention for the Team of the Tournament.

We've already provided you with a 2016 RBS Six Nations Best XV, but now comes the time to look back through the action and decide which figures impressed most over the past seven weeks.

After crunching the numbers, we've reduced a sample in the hundreds to rank the top 10 players of the tournament.

Guilhem Guirado

France's campaign was largely uninspiring, but captain Guilhem Guirado was one of their few bright sparks and stood out as the best hooker in the RBS 2016 Six Nations.

His two tries—the most of any French player—showed the player's grit and determination to lead after being awarded the armband by Guy Noves, but his work in defence was also something to be marvelled at.

Chris Robshaw

Many scrutinised former England captain Chris Robshaw's place in Jones' new-look outfit, but the prolific tackler proved his doubters wrong with some terrific performances from his more natural blindside position.

Dan Biggar

Wales maestro Dan Biggar shuffled and grooved his way back onto our screens over the past seven weeks, and his peculiar kicking ritual saw him boot 54 points for the Dragons, the third-highest total of any player.

The Ospreys No. 10 shook off an early injury scare and powered back to lead Warren Gatland's side again with a furnished touch, albeit not quite reaching his Rugby World Cup heights.

Debate was fervent this year as to who played their part as the tournament's form fly-half; was it the full-throttle approach of Biggar? The England-hurrying performances of George Ford? Or the consistency of Ireland No. 10 Jonathan Sexton?

Considering the struggles of Joe Schmidt's side early in the tournament and the manner in which Sexton was brutalised throughout the competition, Ireland's playmaker stands out as the victor, albeit by the slightest of margins.

The Leinster out-half slotted 19 of his 24 kick attempts for an overall kicking percentage of just under 80 per cent, with former England coach Martin Johnson backing the 30-year-old to lead the British and Irish Lions next year.

England coach Jones tried his hand with a fly-half/centre partnership between Ford and Owen Farrell, and it worked wonders for the Australian as two of the Premiership's most creative talents paved the way for title success.

It's difficult to see that tandem being broken up anytime soon, and Farrell adapted brilliantly to his midfield role, despite also taking on kicking responsibilities for the Red Rose simultaneously.

That delegation also proved correct for Jones as Farrell scored 69 points for England and emerged as the tournament's top scorer, including 24 successful kicks from 32 attempts, equal to 75 per cent.

Farrell provided a reliable foil for Jonathan Joseph in midfield and held his sometimes volatile temper in check, much to the benefit of the team as a whole.

Had Maro Itoje featured more prominently in England's lineup from the beginning of the tournament, he'd be contending for the top spot instead of merely making it into our top 10.

Such was the 21-year-old's impact after making his debut off the bench in Week 2 against Italy before going on to play every remaining minute of England's tournament, and deservedly so.

It's clear to see why Saracens struggle to find a consistent place for Itoje at either lock or flanker, considering he's such a unique hybrid of the two positions.

The youngster was so proficient in the lineout and yet capable of racking up 40 tackles in his only three starts, including match-high totals of 16 and 14 against Ireland and Wales, respectively.

Itoje has also shown himself to be a keen carrier of the ball with commendable technical skill, as evidenced in the build-up to Anthony Watson's try against Wales.

Young though he may be, Itoje could find himself starting for the Lions in 2017 if his form carries on its current trajectory, with a rightful Player of the Tournament nomination to show for his bright start.

Taulupe Faletau often floats under the radar when discussing the best players in Europe, due in part to the fact his brand of No. 8 play isn't quite on the same level as cousin Billy Vunipola's smash-mouth approach.

But where the England behemoth is a master of one art, Faletau appears to be re-inventing the No. 8 role to an extent, with a major focus on defensive work rate.

That's not to say Warren Gatland's pack powerhouse is any small carrying presence, but his total tackling haul of 69 speaks volumes in terms of what Faletau offered the side most during this tournament.

The Bath-bound bruiser also showcased his surprisingly deft footwork on more than one occasion, and he shone as one of Wales' most consistent dangers over the course of the competition.

One wouldn't have guessed this was CJ Stander's first rodeo in the international bull ring after the South Africa-born Munster talisman acclimated so swiftly for Ireland.

The 25-year-old ended the tournament tied alongside fellow back-rower and team-mate Jamie Heaslip on two tries apiece, not to mention winning a man-of-the-match award on his debut after the 16-16 draw against Wales.

Stander entered the Six Nations as something of a stand-in due to the injuries suffered by Peter O'Mahony and Sean O'Brien, but the former—his Munster team-mate—may now struggle to wrestle the No. 6 jersey back.

All signs suggest a bright Test future sits ahead of Stander, who averaged more than 10 tackles per game over the five outings and missed just three attempts in all.

Throughout this year's Six Nations, no player beat more defenders (26), made more carrying metres (473) or created more clean breaks (12) than George North, who ranks among the world's finest wingers on his day.

The Wales international also topped the try charts with four scores to his name, three of which came in his side's last three games against France, England and Italy.

We're now seeing a North who looks back to his best after a period of uncertainty amid concussion controversies and staggered Welsh attacking form, and the rest of the world's wings should be on alert.

Former Wales star Gareth Thomas couldn't contain his incredulity over how little praise has been shown to former team-mate Jamie Roberts in the wake of such a stellar performance from the centre, and we're inclined to agree.

The Harlequins midfielder has been back playing near his best over the past several months, giving Wales a more refined sheen throughout the back line alongside Jonathan Davies.

The success of their relationship is completely symbiotic in nature; one makes the other look better by nature and vice versa, but Roberts was spectacular in his own right.

Many felt the Newport native should have been handed man of the match against Ireland before claiming the actual award just a week later against Scotland, and the truth is Roberts could have been nominated in every game he played.

His leadership qualities in the middle of the park shone through his blend of physicality and technique; he completed 48 tackles and did not miss a single minute of Wales' campaign.

It's rare that a lock stands out so much ahead of his team-mates, but England have happened upon a special generation of second-rowers, it seems, of which George Kruis currently sits at the front.

Alongside Saracens team-mate Itoje, Kruis had a major hand in pushing the England pack to a Grand Slam, enforcing his 6'6", 115-kilogram frame upon every foe that stood in his way.

OptaJonny provided evidence to England's dominance at the set piece, too, after revealing the Red Rose managed to steal 12 lineouts altogether, double the amount managed by any other team, with Kruis at the centre of that drive.

Aside from the obvious threat his height gives, Kruis also mustered an impressive total of 62 tackles, and Simon Thomas of WalesOnline described his omission from the Player of the Tournament shortlist as laughable.

One of the names earning a huge amount of support to be named Player of the Tournament is England No. 8 Billy Vunipola, who has barged, bullied and bulldozed his way to becoming one of Europe's top carrying forces.

Another part of the Saracens crop whose presence in the England camp is vital, Vunipola carried for 336 metres in total and beat a ridiculous 25 defenders—that makes for an average of five beaten per match.

The 23-year-old was also the only player to win man of the match in three separate games, and his driving formed a platform that made England's job in attack a breeze at times.

England's first Grand Slam in 13 years has been a rampant success, and in its wake lies a mound of bruised and battered bodies from the other five nations, with most of the damage inflicted by Vunipola.

If Stuart Hogg represented a more powerful nation than Scotland, there's a good chance he would stand as one of the best players in the world.

He's already considered one of the best players in Europe, after all, and while the likes of Vunipola and North have stronger outfits around them to use as bases for success, much of Hogg's quality is down to the individual alone.

It's for that reason we've picked the full-back out as Player of the Tournament, taking into account his electric displays week-in and week-out, staring down the barrel of the continental elite and firing back in kind.

Despite coming off as an early injury in the Week 2 clash against Wales, Hogg finished with 395 carrying metres—not far from top carrier North—and beat 17 defenders. Had Scotland more finishers of his quality present, they'd undoubtedly have finished more of the gleaming opportunities he created.

In his Sky Sports Six Nations review, former Wales scrum-half Dewi Morris said: "There is not that many world-class players in the northern hemisphere but Hogg is one of them."

We couldn't agree more.

All statistics come courtesy of ESPN Scrum.