Power Ranking the 2016 Six Nations Sides on the Strength of Their Forwards

The 2016 RBS Six Nations may be a firm fixture in the rear-view mirror, but the tournament itself is still being dissected after a forward-inspired England side rightly ran to a historic Grand Slam victory.

In theory, it should only ever be the most deserving outfit that collects the winners' prize, the most balanced party with major strengths in both their pack and back line, giving them the weapons necessary to succeed.

Not every nation is as fortunate, though, with some presenting a lop-sided look, boasting quality in one area of the pitch and not the other, while some are unlucky enough not to present a stiff challenge in any sector.

Bleacher Report's Daniel Rey previously broke down the backs, and now it's time to power rank the Six Nations sides on the strength of their forwards, with current form the defining factor.

Long have Italy lasted on the majestic talents of captain Sergio Parisse, a trend that doesn't look likely to change anytime soon based on the player having another standout campaign in 2016.

Of course, it may be unkind to expect Italy—or any country for that matter—to produce an entire pack's worth of players boasting the same quality, but Parisse is so far above the rest of anything else the Azzurri offers, and therein lies the problem.

Rugby writer James Tennant even went so far as to exclaim "Parisse IS Italy" recently, an extravagant description of his contribution to the team but perhaps not an inaccurate one.

Rookie hookers Ornel Gega and Oliviero Fabiani were given their first Test experiences while veteran front-rowers Leonardo Ghiraldini and Martin Castrogiovanni took a backseat throughout the tournament.

That pair, alongside the likes of Alessandro Zanni, 32, Lorenzo Cittadini, 33, Quintin Geldenhuys, 34, and Parisse, 32, are ebbing toward the twilights of their career, and new head coach Conor O'Shea has a task in bringing through a new breed.

There's no shame in a team's hooker and captain having a man-of-the-match performance or two in an international tournament, but Guilhem Guirado's prominence for France during the Six Nations was both a blessing and a curse.

Head coach Guy Noves would undoubtedly say he cares not for where his team's tries come from, so long as they come. But for two-try Guirado to finish as Les Bleus' highest try-scorer in the competition shows something must be off.

Both former England prop David Flatman and RugbyWorld writer Gavin Mortimer were quick to point out France's forward deficiencies early in the tournament, and it appeared to be a running theme.

As Flatman put it, a "lack of venom" was apparent, and the injuries to first-team stars Louis Picamoles and Loann Goujon early in the running meant their lack of depth was also sorely exploited as the games rolled on.

Noves looks to be struggling with the departure of former captain Thierry Dusautoir, and a new wave of French forwards are still attempting to find their feet with too few leaders among them.

Were it not for a rejuvenated Ireland bubbling to the fore in the final weeks of the contest, Scotland very well might have cracked the top three outright this year, but instead, they finish level with their Gaelic cousins.

So fine were the margins between these two teams and their packs that it wouldn't feel right to leave Scotland out of the hierarchy altogether, especially when the Irish did show their weak points.

Ex-England coach and captain Martin Johnson gave tighthead WP Nel a deserved nomination for his 2017 British and Irish Lions XV in March and described the South Africa-born prop as "the cornerstone of an improved Scottish scrum."

"Improvement" is the name of the game for Scotland at present, too, with Kiwi converts John Hardie and Blair Cowan advancing their integration as key players under head coach Vern Cotter.

Even with David Denton and Jonny Gray injured for parts, Cotter could call on the likes of Glasgow duo Ryan Wilson and Tim Swinson to fill voids at No. 8 and lock, respectively, showing the growing depth the Scots are developing.

Level with Cotter's men in third place comes the aforementioned Ireland, who could usually rely on their forwards to perform despite their failure to express themselves through the back line for long stretches of the competition.

Cian Healy's injury proved a relatively small concern as Leinster team-mate Jack McGrath occupied the loosehead berth for all five fixtures and was impressive throughout, while Rory Best eased into the captaincy role.

Again, Sean O'Brien's injury woes created a void in the back row, but newly qualified CJ Stander stood in and was a touch unfortunate not to receive so much as a nomination for Player of the Championship, notching two tries in his maiden Six Nations.

Jamie Heaslip rolled back the years to enjoy some vintage displays, and even with Paul O'Connell now departed and Iain Henderson injured, Devin Toner was the one to dazzle at lock this time around.

What's promising for Ireland right now is the extent of young and emerging talents raising their hands for future prominence, with Josh van der Flier and Ultan Dillane—both 22—among those capitalising on injuries to strut their stuff.

Thriving though Wales may be in the forward department, their resources are only enough to secure the silver medal in our power rankings, just as was the case in the final table standings.

Defensively, head coach Warren Gatland may have one of the best packs in the world, never mind Europe alone, and ex-England international Ben Kay pointed out as much on BT Sport's Rugby Tonight in March.

One of Gatland's main headaches was how to fit captain Sam Warburton, Justin Tipuric and Dan Lydiate all in the same back row with No. 8 superstar Taulupe Faletau present, a pleasant enough conundrum to have.

But then Wales deservedly finished second-best to the eventual champions in Week 4, where their lineout in particular came undone and they conceded more penalties (14 to 12), as well as failing to secure as high a percentage of their rucks, per ESPN Scrum.

Wales are fortunate to have so many players in or around their prime—players like Warburton, Tipuric, Lydiate, Alun Wyn Jones and Scott Baldwin—while Rob Evans, 24, Ross Moriarty, 21, and Samson Lee, 23, can improve for years to come.

Once England got up to full speed, this year's Six Nations really became a race between their peers to clinch second place, and power ranking the packs paints a similar story.

Head coach Eddie Jones undoubtedly marshalled this team well and put his own spin on tactics, but the Australian is also blessed to have such a thriving talent pool making its way through English doors right now.

A ranking of the Six Nations' best forward setups can't pass without mention of Maro Itoje and George Kruis, the lock partnership that, after being cemented midway through the tournament, looks like it could stand up to anything the southern hemisphere has to offer.

Of course, the Red Rose's resources run deeper, with Billy Vunipola just missing out on Player of the Championship and hooker Dylan Hartley proving Jones was right to select him as captain once again.

James Haskell and former captain Chris Robshaw divided opinion in certain circles as the starting flanker partnership, but that dynamic duo ultimately came to play a big hand in securing what was effectively a runaway title.

It speaks volumes of England's forward strength right now that Joe Launchbury, Matt Kvesic, Jamie George and more are struggling to get a look-in at the XV, with their continental reign potentially only at its beginning.