Following the Six Nations squad announcements – and some recent call-ups due to injury – it’s time to pick a Snubbed XV from those players missing out.

Snubbed Six Nations XV

15 Cam Winnett (Wales): The Cardiff full-back looked to be the long-term fixture at number 15 for Wales after enjoying a run of matches under Warren Gatland. However, he was a surprising omission from Wales’ squad and a relatively straightforward pick in our side. His is an absence we can’t see lasting long.

14 Joe Carpenter (England): Those of you with an eagle eye would have noticed that this selection has since changed from Aaron Reed, who was today called up by Scotland as an injury replacement for Dylan Richardson. We therefore look outside the box and shift an unlucky full-back, Carpenter, to the wing.

13 Max Llewellyn (Wales): One of the more strange calls from Gatland as he suggested that Llewellyn missed out due to competition at number 12. However, he’s featured prominently for Gloucester at 13 where Wales are struggling, which makes it all the more puzzling. Alex Lozowski (England) is also unlucky.

12 Max Ojomoh (England): Very highly thought of after his consistent showings in the Premiership but England are sticking with more experienced operators for now at centre. Ojomoh is still just 24 years old so time is on his side and playing alongside Finn Russell and Ollie Lawrence will only develop his game.

Toulouse star

11 Matthis Lebel (France): Bang in form for Toulouse and would walk into many Six Nations starting line-ups on current form. His work rate is incredible and he oozes quality and power with ball in hand. With Louis Bielle-Biarrey currently sidelined, it is even more surprising that Lebel hasn’t been selected.

10 Orlando Bailey (England): Our toughest position to find a player as it seems most of the leading fly-half talent has been selected by their respective coach. Ben Healy would have been our pick but he has slipped down the pecking order at Edinburgh so we’ve settled on the versatile Bath playmaker Bailey.

9 Baptiste Serin (France): Ben Spencer was in the running before Tuesday’s call-up to the England squad, but it simply had to be Serin. A world-class talent who is stuck behind Antoine Dupont, Maxime Lucu and Nolann Le Garrec, it’s a real shame we won’t see him in the Six Nations. Ali Price gets a mention.

8 Gavin Coombes (Ireland): Like Spencer, Henry Pollock has now been called up as an injury replacement which ruled him out of taking our eight jersey. It therefore had to be the increasingly patient and talented Coombes as he once again watches Ireland from afar, with Caelan Doris and Jack Conan ahead of him.

7 Nick Timoney (Ireland): The second name in an all-Ireland back-row and up there with the most surprising snubs has to be Timoney. The Ulster flanker, who can also play number eight, impresses us week after week in the United Rugby Championship and Champions Cup and like John Hodnett, is very unlucky.

6 Tom Ahern (Ireland): Another incredibly talented back-row on Irish shores is Ahern, who also has that valuable ability of being able to slot in at lock. The 24-year-old’s time will surely come in a green jersey but he’s more than ready for the step up if Simon Easterby loses any blindside or second-row this year.

Experienced head

5 Charlie Ewels (England): An experienced operator in the engine room, Ewels has missed out to George Martin and Arthur Clark as Steve Borthwick looks elsewhere for options in the number five position. Ewels will be hugely disappointed to miss out as at 29 years of age he still has plenty left to offer.

4 Paul Gabrillagues (France): Another vastly experienced forward who will be watching on while two uncapped second-rowers and a player on one cap are preferred by Fabien Galthie. Gabrillagues has been in solid form for Stade Francais this term so maybe age has been a factor as France look to the future.

3 Oli Jager (Ireland): Dan Cole was in the conversation but at 37 it was probably time for Borthwick to look to the future with his props. We therefore picked Munster’s Jager, who looks back in form after injury issues but misses out to Finlay Bealham and Thomas Clarkson as Tadhg Furlong’s understudies.

2 Johnny Matthews (Scotland): His absence from Scotland squads is often flagged by those who can’t fathom how his try-scoring threat continues to be overlooked. Townsend has opted for three Edinburgh hookers and Dylan Richardson of the Sharks and we can’t help but feel that Matthews should be in the mix.

1 Beno Obano (England): Another hugely unlucky player to miss the cut is Bath loosehead prop Obano, who has been in impressive form for some time on the club scene. Ellis Genge, Fin Baxter, Bevan Rodd and the versatile Asher Opoku-Fordjour are ahead of him which shows the depth England have in this area.