rugby365s Six Nations 'Oscars'
Tue, 18 Mar 2008 14:08
Dormant: Lesley Vainikolo waiting to erupt
The dust has settled, the tears of joy have dried up in Cardiff. It's time for the Oscars of the north - rugby365s Six Nations Awards!
Player of the Tournament: Martyn Williams - what a comeback from possibly the finest openside in world rugby at present. (Don't worry Richie McCaw fans, we said possibly!) A special mention to the 'other' Williams, that gliding, try-scoring sensation Shane, Italian skipper and back row Sergio Parisse and that behemoth of a prop forward Martin Castrogiovanni.
Try of the Tournament: Martyn Williams' second-half effort against France at the weekend. It came from a searing Mark Jones break, and Wales kept their cool and recycled the ball before Williams spotted a gap and trotted through unopposed. Sure, it wasn't neccessarily the most aesthetically pleasing of the tournament, but it sealed the Six Nations and the Grand Slam for Wales.
Moment of the Tournament: Nick Mallett is a good friend of ours here at rugby365.com. He will probably strangle us for this, but his tears of joy on Saturday summed up how much Italy's win meant to him and his team. Forza Italia!
Coach of the Tournament: Mallett came close, but you can't look past Wales boss Warren Gatland here. Wales would have been happy with a few home wins this year, instead, they came away with the Six Nations title and the small matter of a Grand Slam. How does the New Zealand Rugby Union sleep at night?
Newcomer of the Tournament: We saw glimpses of Tom Croft in Leicester colours, but the young back row forward slotted into Test - and Six Nations rugby - with relative ease. Speedy, skilful and mature beyond his 22 years, Croft has a bright future at this level. Special mentions, too, for fellow Englishman Danny Cipriani (nightclub issues aside), Ireland's Eoin Reddan (remember, this was his first 6N campaign) and Scotland brute Alasdair Strokosch, who kept Jason White on the bench.
Comeback of the Tournament: Martyn Williams. The Cardiff flank retired after the 2007 World Cup; Wales were in the doldrums after not making the RWC quarter-finals and Williams was disillusioned. Now, not even six months later, the ginger-haired No.7 and his team are on top of the world. Special mention too, to one Gavin Henson, who did not even make the Wales RWC squad, but, now, finds himself back in the mix and as a key man at No.12.
Unlikely Try Machine Award: The Azzurri's Martin Castrogiovanni scored three tries in five games - at one stage it was three from three. Italy's backline combined, scored two tries in the entire tournament! Remember, he's a prop - a prop that does not shirk his responsibilities up front either.
Welcome to Europe: Nick Mallett, South Africa didn't want you; New Zealand seemed to think that Warren Gatland was no use to them. The south's loss is the north's gain. (Just a thought - could you imagine a Mallett and Gatland-led coaching team for the 2009 Lions?!)
The one that got away: Aside from New Zealand letting Gatland go, how could England allow Shaun Edwards to slip through the net, when he openly asked the RFU for a job?! (Another thought - what does Rob Andrew actually do at HQ?)
Big Issue Award (for charity): New French coach Marc Lièvremont for picking no less than 34 players in just five matches, of whom only eight played in all five 6N games.
The merry-go-round Award: France's charitable selection policy aside, can England please settle on a hooker? Last year it was George Chuter and Lee Mears, this year it was Mark Regan, who somehow got himself back into the World Cup mix. Regan helped England to a win in France, and then promptly disappeared, with Mears finally getting a start and Chuter finding himself back in the mix. Mears hasn't made the No.2 shirt his own, whilst Chuter did not get enough time off the bench to be judged. Who will it be next year - young guns David Paice or Dylan Hartley, or will England recall Brian Moore?
Unbreakable Award: Poor England wing David Strettle missed the 2007 RWC with a foot injury, only to pick up a similar injury just 10 minutes into England's 6N opener against Wales. England had a tough time of it in that opening match; losing Strettle, as well as first and second choice opensides, Lewis Moody and Tom Rees, to injury. Worse yet, they also lost the match.
Dormant Volcano Award: Boy, he was written and talked up and when Strettle went off injured against Wales, it's almost as if the rugby gods were sticking to the script. Sadly for England, their 'Tongan Tornado', Lesley 'Volcano' Vainikolo is still waiting to erupt for his adopted country.
Prince Harry nightclub Award: Well, he wasn't quite as lary as the Prince after a night out on the town, but young Danny Cipriani attracted enough attention when an ill-fated late-night visit to a club cost him a full England debut. Brian Ashton's decision to drop Cipriani can be debated forever. The fact is, the Wasps ace should never have put himself in that position in the first place.
Opportunism Award: For some reason, Eddie O'Sullivan rates Girvan Dempsey as a better fullback than Geordan Murphy. However, when Dempsey dropped out ahead of the Scotland Test and Murphy was included at No.15 - despite missing the matchday 22 initially - the Leicester star won Man of the Match and showed just why he is the best fullback north of the equator.
Sorry to See You Go Award: With Simon Easterby ending his international career on Monday, is it also cheers to Eddie O'Sullivan, Brian Ashton, Andy Gomarsall and Jonny Wilkinson. Will we see you next year? Only time will tell...
Schoolmaster Award: To Brian Ashton, a former schoolmaster and a strict disciplinarian to boot. Just ask 'Danny Boy'.
Wish you were raised on Haggis Award: As Scotland battle to find a regular No.10, the likes of Wales (Stephen Jones, James Hook), England (Jonny Wilkinson, Danny Cipriani, Charlie Hodgson, Shane Geraghty) and France (David Skrela, François Trinh-Duc and Lionel Beauxis - not to mention the South African-based Frédéric Michalak) have an embarrassment of riches at flyhalf. Oh, if only one of them was reared on Haggis and had a parent born in Edinburgh...
The four-leaf clover Award: To Wales' good luck charm, Gavin Henson; he is yet to lose a Six Nations match he has started in. Wales' win over France was his tenth win in the No.12 shirt in the Six Nations.
Headlines of the Tournament: Just from the last weekend - 'It's a Slam dunk for Wales'; 'Wales prove they're Grand masters'; 'Danny Boy kicks Wilko into history'; 'Danny Cipriani: from prat to perfection for England'; 'Danny Champion of the World'. (Do you have any more for us?!)
