Northern hemisphere rugby’s busiest seven weeks have come to an end for another year, which means it’s time to hand out some awards (some serious, some less so). Welcome to the Telegraph’s 2024 Six Nations awards.
Best debut: Harry Paterson
Louis Lynagh joked he could retire after making his debut in Italy’s win over Scotland. But that award goes to Scotland’s Paterson, who was given it too late after Kyle Steyn’s wife gave birth and he played a superb full-back against France in his only game of the tournament.
Best atmosphere: Rome (Italy – Scotland)
It was no surprise to the Italians to see the Azzurri finally win again in the Six Nations in Rome and in front of rare sell-out crowds at the Stadio Olimpico. Men and women in tears, it was quite important that the KA system was in danger of exploding. Twickenham also needs to be taken into account, having woken up from its usual slumber to win Ireland alongside Lyon.
Best matchball distributor: Craig Maxwell
Better to see Maxwell score the match ball before Wales’ match against France. Six Nations chief commercial officer Maxwell was diagnosed with incurable lung cancer last year, aged just 40. He has since raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity and handed out the match ball with his wife and children, having completed 780-780. One mile charity walk from Anglesey to Cardiff.
Best anthem singer: Stevie Mulrooney
There is no competition; Why didn’t the IRFU sign this kid to a multi-year contract? Stevie was done instantly Ireland’s Call It sounds better.
Best fashion accessory: Benjamin Kayser’s gloves
I can’t stop thinking about them. Marigold yellow but you’ll never clean anything wearing them, clearly not bespoke. It’s like wearing Homer Simpson’s hands. A true statement.
Worst camera angle: The end of Murrayfield
The Scots will be asking ‘what ifs’ about that final moment when Sam Skinner appeared to have scored at the death but the match officials could find no conclusive evidence. Opening cameras for referees? Maybe this is the solution…
Worst pyrotechnics: Lille
Having fireworks under the roof means the smoke doesn’t clear for the first 15 minutes, meaning no one can see anything; how that happens?
Best celebrity audience member: Willem Dafoe
The usual suspects emerged throughout the tournament, including your Tom Hiddlestones and Gerard Butlers. It was cute seeing Ally McCoist go crazy during Ben White’s fight against France. But Willem Dafoe’s appearance on the big screen in Cardiff during the Wales-Scotland game is still a surprise weeks later.
Best cup celebration: Dr James Robson
What better way for the great doctor to lift the curtain on his 30-year history in the sport than by placing himself on the shoulders of the Scottish players who lifted the Calcutta Cup?
‘He Deserved Better’ award: George North
It was a desperate way to end a fine Test career. Not only because of the result against Italy at the end of the punishing campaign, but also because North had to be helped off the field before the end of the match with a knee injury. Wales’ great player deserved a much more fitting farewell. This is sport.
Worst kicking shirt: Paolo Garbisi
Not just because of the nightmare at the end of the match against France in Lille, when the ball fell before Garbisi’s strike went out and Italy missed the winner (although why wasn’t the strike repeated with the water carrier in the middle of the field?). The same thing happened before Garbisi’s first strike against Scotland in Rome. At least this time he could laugh about it.
Best try: Lorenzo Pani (Italy – Wales)
This category was certainly livened up on the final day with Lorenzo Pani’s superb scores against Wales and a team try completed by Nolann Le Garrec for France. But also Duhan van der Merwe’s solitary effort against Wales and England, Italy beating England’s blitz to score through Tommaso Allan, England’s brilliant score through George Furbank at Murrayfield and Louis Bielle-Biarrey We should not forget ‘s magnificent chip and chase attempt. ground. After careful consideration, Pani takes it.
Best finish: James Lowe (Ireland – England)
Given Ben Earl’s strong footwork against Wales and Lowe’s ability to somehow get through four Italian tackles against Italy, it’s a personal preference to separate them from the tournament trial. Instead, Lowe’s finish from the corner against England at his first try under pressure from two England defenders was confirmed.
Best assist: Leo Barré (France – England)
There are plenty of options heading into the opening weekend, with Jack Crowley setting up Tadhg Beirne at Marseille and Finn Russell working hard on his kick return to hold off Van der Merwe. Calvin Nash did a great job to pass the final pass to Lowe under pressure from Josh Adams and then Leo Barré had an excellent run inside and Nolann Le Garrec completed that magnificent try for France against England. Not forgetting Scotland’s two tries against England, too, with Huw Jones releasing Van der Merwe and Russell delivering a superb cross to complete Van der Merwe’s hat-trick. Difficult. Barré was a late winner.
Best 50:22: George Ford – Wales
A collection of Russell’s picks began against Wales when he cornered Adams, while against Italy Russell swung his fists, leading to Pierre Schoeman’s try. But Ford does so secretly, given that against Wales he won the game for England with 50:22 (changing direction and slicing into the corner).
Best tackle: George Martin on Tadhg Beirne
One of the highlights of a great championship for Tommaso Menoncello was his challenge against Van der Merwe in Rome, where the Scotland winger looked certain to be a clear winner. But George Martin’s strike on Tadhg Beirne set the tone for England’s physical performance and proved the winner.
Best shooter: Thomas Ramos
Appropriate, given that Ramos scored the winning penalty against England. No player has scored more successful penalties (13) and only Jack Crowley has had more conversions (13) compared to Ramos’ 12. As a result, Ramos became the player who scored the most points with 63 points.
Best defender: Michele Lamaro and Tommy Reffell
It was split between two outstanding players. Lamaro finished the tournament with 103 steals, the only player to record a century of tackles. But Reffell, who had a tough campaign for Wales, deserves credit for his superb individual effort, taking more defensive shots and winning more turnovers (eight). any other player. The next best were Sam Underhill and Gianmarco Lucchesi in fourth.
Best pass: Nolann Le Garrec
Ugly, isn’t it? If you’re such a brilliant talent and you’re fielding a pass from 30 meters behind on your first Test start, what will you be doing in a few years’ time?
Best match: England v Ireland
Last year Ireland-France was the clear winner but this time there are a few to consider. Wales’ game against Scotland in the opening weekend was bananas considering how Wales came back from almost so far behind. Italy’s history-making day in Rome was special. England’s game against Ireland was test rugby at its best; France’s dramatic victory over England was a fun way to seal the deal. Let’s say England have a win over Ireland, given the impact of stopping another Grand Slam and Twickenham coming back to life.
Best breakout player: Nolann Le Garrec
This looked like Joe McCarthy was going to lose after the opening night in Marseille, where the youngsters were huge. But into the Dupont-shaped void has stepped 21-year-old Le Garrec, who should be heading in place of Maxime Lucu at the start of France’s Six Nations. Le Garrec shined in the wins over Wales and England and it paid off.
Best coach: Gonzalo Quesada, Italy
Italy brought England close (they were beaten by Ireland, ignore that), then drew with France, beat Scotland to a famous home win and finally beat Wales in Cardiff. All in Quesada’s first campaign? It’s pretty impressive and gets you excited for what’s to come on this side during his tenure.
Best player: Bundee Aki, Ireland
There is serious pressure to be represented here from Italy, where Lamaro, Juan Ignacio Brex and Tommaso Menoncello are in the frame. Brex the last two weeks have been amazing. Ben Earl couldn’t have given more in an England jersey, he was particularly excellent against Ireland and the fact he was given the death penalty in Lyon as France won was a brutal ending. Yet after an excellent Rugby World Cup, Bundee Aki is still playing the rugby of his life; The connector of Ireland’s backline, his presence assisting Jack Crowley as the starter in the No.10’s first championship. Defenders no longer know whether he is going to make a late pass or give them a strike; Defensively, he hits as hard as anyone.
Best team: Ireland
The obvious choice, even if they eventually run out of energy and limp over the line against Scotland. Andy Farrell described the defeat to England as a “powerful lesson” for his players; This seems a bit scary given how well Ireland have been playing over the last few years. The rest were either very inconsistent (France, England, Scotland) or still developing like Italy. As for Wales, the less said the better.