Ultimate Rugby's Six Nations Awards
- 5631
After a cracking 2019 Six Nations, we hand out our individual awards from the 2019 edition of the competition that saw Wales win their third Grand Slam under Warren Gatland.
Try of the Tournament
There were some incredible tries scored throughout the competition. Josh Adams coming up with two sensational tries, one sealing the win over England and his super step against Scotland.
Adam's teammate, Cory Hill finished off a stellar team try against the same opposition while Finn Russell had a hand in some mind-blowing tries for Scotland.
This year's Six Nations really did deliver some awesome tries in super encounters, however, our try of the tournament comes from France!
Their try off a kick off may not have been the most significant try of the tournament, like Adams' try against England or Parkes' try against Ireland, but it was something truly spectacular.
A real team effort with plenty offloads, a nice chip kick by Mathieu Bastareaud, the interplay between forwards and backs there is so much to like about this try.
Game of the Competition
As mentioned before this Six Nations produced some cracking encounters, England and Ireland set the tone in the opening round of the competition with a humdinger while Scotland and France produced a thrilling display of attacking rugby.
Wales and England also produced a wonderful spectacle while the Grand Slam decider in Cardiff was also a joy to watch.
However, we feel the Six Nations kept the best game for last! No Scotsman would have been blamed if they switched tele off at half time with Scotland down 31-7 at the break.
Even Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend admitted his side targetted winning the second half, not the match!
Scotland came out firing in the second half scoring 31 unanswered points to take an unprecedented lead but George Ford hit back to save a draw for Scotland.
Big Hit of the Tournament
Another tough category to pick a clear winner but in the end, Courtney Lawes' hit on the big frame of Mathieu Bastareaud is our favourite.
Lawes did get some of his own medicine later in the competition but this hit on Bastareaud was something special.
*But @Courtney_Lawes only makes big hits on smaller half-backs*
— Northampton Saints 😇 (@SaintsRugby) February 10, 2019
😏
pic.twitter.com/tw7tjZgGYL
Offload of the competition
France produced as some incredible offloads throughout the competition, who could forget Arthur Iturria's in the opening round of the competition?
Romain Ntamack also produced a sublime offload in the final round of the competition but in the end, Russell's piece of magic against Ireland gets our vote.
The moment when you're going over the line for your first @scotlandteam try Sam Johnson 😍
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) February 9, 2019
But it's all about the searing break and calm offload from @finn_russell 👌 #GuinnessSixNations #SCOvIRE pic.twitter.com/gz9xGBeINB
In case you missed it here is our Six Nations team of the competition
Blooper of the competition
There were a number of bloopers in this edition of the Six Nations, particularly in the early stages of the competition but not one of the bloopers could top Yoann Huget's error against Wales.
Might be a tough night's sleep for Yoann Huget if France go on to lose this game as George North pounces #FRAvWAL pic.twitter.com/sueIp0S00r
— Chew the Fat (@chewthefatnz) February 1, 2019
Unsung Hero of the 2019 Six Nations
Two players went neck and neck for this award with England's George Kruis missing out to Wales' Josh Navidi.
Navidi did make our team of the competition but time and time again his performances were overlooked by many.
Navidi was excellent over the ball and was an absolute workhorse for Wales in all five games. His fellow back rower Ross Moriarty was also regularly overlooked.
Kruis was outstanding for England in the lineouts and threw his weight round in the rucks and tackle areas. His efforts also go unnoticed at times.
Young Player Of The Competition
There were some outstanding candidates for this award with Antoine Dupont running our winner incredibly close.
In the end, our young player of the competition goes to Wales winger Josh Adams. Dupont was nothing short of superb for France while Demba Bamba also impressed.
Joe Cokansiga was excellent in his only appearance for England. The man that ran Adams closest was England's Tom Curry who simply outstanding in all facets of the game for Eddie Jones' men.
However, Josh Adams was crucial to Wales scoring key tries for his side on their way to a Grand Slam. The 23-year-old winger was also in the race for the player of the tournament.
Player of the Tournament.
Tom Curry, Josh Adams, Gareth Anscombe, Hadleigh Parkes, Jonny May and Liam Williams were all in the running for our pick of the player of the award but in the end there could only be one winner.
Wales' inspirational captain Alun Wyn Jones claims our player of the year award! The veteran second rower is now the joint most capped Welshman in the history of the game.
The veteran second rower from the front both on and off the field as he claimed his third Grand Slam. His work rate was exceptional and he thoroughly deserves the award.
