by The busiest seven weeks of northern hemisphere rugby are over for another year, which means it’s time to hand out some awards (some serious, some not so serious). Welcome to the Telegraph’s 2024 Six Nations awards.
Best start: Harry Paterson
Louis Lynagh joked he might quit after scoring a try on the debut in Italy’s win over Scotland. But this award goes to Scotland’s Paterson, who was thrown in very late after Kyle Steyn’s wife went into labor and played brilliantly at full-back against France in his only game of the tournament.
Best atmosphere: Rome (Italy v Scotland)
Perhaps it was no surprise that the Italians were set to see the Azzurri triumph again in the Six Nations in Rome, and in front of a rare sell-out crowd at the Stadio Olimpico. Men and women in tears, PA system threatening to blow up – that was something. One must consider Twickenham and Lyon turning out their usual crowd for the win over Ireland.
Best football deliverer: Craig Maxwell
Maxwell was expected to deliver the ball of the match ahead of Wales’ match against France. Maxwell, the Six Nations chief commercial officer, was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer last year aged just 40. He has since raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity, delivering the match ball alongside his wife and children after turning 780. a one mile charity walk from Anglesey to Cardiff.
Best singer: Stevie Mulrooney
No contest; why didn’t the IRFU sign this kid on a multi-year contract? Stevie did immediately The call of Ireland better sound.
Best fashion accessory: Benjamin Kayser gloves
Can’t stop thinking about them. Yellow but you would never clean anything while wearing them, clearly designed. Like putting Homer Simpson’s hands on it. A true statement.
Worst camera angle: Murrayfield End
The Scots will be wondering for years about that last moment when Sam Skinner appeared to have scored at the death, with only the match officials able to find any conclusive evidence. Boot cams for referees? Maybe that’s the solution…
Worst pyrotechnics: Lille
Fireworks under the roof which means the smoke doesn’t clear for the first 15 minutes, which means no one can see anything – how does this keep happening?
Favorite audience member: Willem Dafoe
The usual suspects entered the competition with your Tom Hiddlestones, your Gerard Butlers. Ally McCoist went ballistic in Ben White’s try against France. But the sight of Willem Dafoe on the big screen in Cardiff during Wales many weeks later is still surprising.
Best trophy celebration: Dr James Robson
What better way for the great doctor to bring the curtain down on his 30 years in the sport than to be lifted on the shoulders of the Scottish players who are lifting the Calcutta Cup.
The ‘Deserved Better’ award: George North
That was a desperate way to end a fine Test career. Not only because of the result against Italy at the end of the chastening campaign, but because North had to be helped off the field before the end with a knee injury. A great player for Wales deserved a much more fitting farewell. That’s sport.
Worst kicker: Paolo Garbisi
Not just because of the nightmare at the end of the game against France in Lille when the ball fell apart, before Garbisi’s kick went wide and Italy lost (although for no reason on earth after the kick get again with a water carrier in the middle of the field?). The same thing then happened again before Garbisi’s first kick against Scotland in Rome. At least this time he could laugh about it.
Best try: Lorenzo Pani (Italy v Wales)
This category was certainly alive on the final day with those great scores by Lorenzo Pani against Great Britain and Nolann Le Garrec’s finishing team effort for France. But then you had Duhan van der Merwe’s solo efforts against Wales and England, Italy beating England’s blitz to score through Tommaso Allan, not forgetting England’s slick score at Murrayfield through George Furbank and also Louis Bielle’s brilliant chip- Biarrey and try to do the same. land. After careful consideration, Pani accepts it.
Best finish: James Lowe (Ireland v England)
It was a personal choice to separate these from the try of the tournament, with Ben Earl’s powerful drive against Great Britain and Lowe getting three goals from Italy against Italy. Instead, Lowe’s dive in the corner against England for his first try, under pressure from two England defenders, gets the nod.
Best assist: Leo Barré (France v England)
Plenty to pick from, going all the way back to the opening weekend with Jack Crowley setting up Tadhg Beirne in Marseille and Finn Russell’s hard work on a kick return to put Van der Merwe away. Calvin Nash did brilliantly under pressure from Josh Adams to get a final pass to Lowe, and then Leo Barré had a superb offload inside Nolann Le Garrec to complete France’s impressive effort against England. Not forgetting Scotland’s two tries against England, Huw Jones doing well to dislodge Van der Merwe and Russell’s perfect kick to seal Van der Merwe’s hat-trick. tricky. Late winner Barré.
Best 50:22: George Ford v Wales
A collection that Russell picked out, starting against Great Britain when he pushed Adams into a corner, and another against Italy left Russell pumping his fist and causing Pierre Schoeman’s blunt effort. Ford sneaks it, however, since his 50:22 against Great Britain – a change of direction and one drill right into the corner – England basically won the game.
Best tackle: George Martin on Tadhg Beirne
One of the highlights of a fantastic championship for Tommaso Menoncello was his attack on Van der Merwe in Rome when the Scottish shuttler looked certain to win. But George Martin’s victory over Thadhg Beirne, which set off a decisive blow for England’s physical performance, is the winner.
Best kicker: Thomas Ramos
Lying, in view of Ramos received the penalty that won against England. No player kicked more successful penalties (13) and only Jack Crowley had more conversions (13) compared to Ramos ’12. As a result, Ramos was the highest points scorer with 63.
Best defender: Michele Lamaro and Tommy Reffell
Split between two top players. Lamaro was the only player in the competition to reach a century, finishing with 103. But Reffell, in a dismal campaign for Great Britain, deserves recognition for his superb solo effort, after a more defensive ruck achieved and won more turnovers (eight). any other player. Sam Underhill and Gianmarco Lucchesi were the next best of four.
Best pass: Nolann Le Garrec
Outrageous, wasn’t it? A talent so bright that if you flick that goes 30 meters out backwards in your first Test debut, what will you do in a few years?
Best game: England v Ireland
Ireland-France was a clear winner last year but this time there are a few things to consider. Wales against Scotland on that first weekend was bananas as Wales almost came back as far behind. Italy’s history-making day in Rome was special. England had Test rugby at its best against Ireland, and France’s dramatic win over England was an entertaining way to cap it off. Let’s say England’s victory over Ireland, given the impact of another Lent stop and Twickenham coming back to life.
Best forward: Nolann Le Garrec
Joe McCarthy seemed doomed after Marseille’s opening night, when the young green was huge. But into the void of Dupont’s form stepped Le Garrec, just 21, to whom France should have turned from the start of the Six Nations in place of Maxime Lucu. Le Garrec has beaten Wales and England and looks the business.
Best coach: Gonzalo Quesada, Italy
Italy pushed England close (Ireland beat them, ignore that), then drew with France, beat Scotland for a famous home win, and finally beat Wales in Cardiff. All in the first campaign Quesada? Great, and makes you excited for what’s to come for this side in his tenure.
Best player: Bundee Aki, Ireland
There is a big push for representation here from Italy, with Lamaro, Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello all in the frame. Brex has been great the past two weeks. Ben Earl could not have given more in an England shirt, excelling against Ireland in particular, and it was a cruel end to him being punished at the death in Lyon as France went on to win. But after a superb Rugby World Cup, Bundee Aki is still playing the rugby of his life, the stalwart of Ireland’s backline as he assists Jack Crowley during No. 1’s first championship. 10 as a starter. Defenders now don’t know if he’s going to pass late or pass through them, and when he defends him he hits as hard as anyone.
Best team: Ireland
The clear choice, even if they ran out of steam at the end a little and limped over the line against Scotland. Andy Farrell described the win against England as a “powerful lesson” for his players, which is a little alarming given how well Ireland have been playing in recent years. The rest were too inconsistent – France, England, Scotland – or still developing like Italy. As for Wales, the less said the better.
