France were crowned champions after another thrilling edition of the Six Nations concluded on the weekend. Despite the plethora of outstanding performances throughout the championship, we’ve done our best to select one Most Valuable Player (MVP) from each nation – and it certainly wasn’t easy!
France: Louis Bielle-Biarrey
The Bordeaux-Begles star was electric throughout France’s title run, even outshining club teammate Damian Penaud on the opposite wing. Although the official Player of the Championship hasn’t yet been announced, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see Bielle-Biarrey collect the award such was his brilliance.
The 21-year-old’s try against Scotland in the final round saw him take his overall tally to eight, breaking the record for most tries scored in a single Six Nations campaign and equalling the jointly held Five Nations record of Scotland’s Ian Smith (1914) and England’s Cyril Lowe (1925).
This year, Bielle-Biarrey also ranked joint second for try assists (four) and linebreaks (eight), while ranking fourth for metres gained (311.1).
England: Tommy Freeman
Freeman was sublime on the right wing for England, and even showed his adaptability to step into the No 13 jumper for England’s final clash against Wales. In the injury-enforced absence of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, Freeman stepped up big time and looks set to be a regular in Steve Borthwick’s sides going forward.
The Northampton Saint ranked joint second for tries scored (five), joint fourth for most offloads (seventh) and tied second for most linebreaks (eight).
Italy: Tommaso Menoncello
Alongside midfield partner Juan Ignacio Brex, last year’s Player of the Championship was again all class for the Azzurri. If not for Menoncello, it’s unlikely Gonzalo Quesada’s charges can perform as well as they do, with the Benetton man absolutely irreplaceable at No 12.
In the end, Menoncello finished tied seventh for most tackles made (59), tied sixth for breakdown steals (three), joint 10th for offloads (four) and 12th for metres gained (213.1).
Ireland: Tadhg Beirne
Such is the enduring class of Tadhg Beirne that he never really has a bad game. He’s one of those rare Test Match Animals that simply produces the goods virtually every time he pulls on the colours of the Emerald Isle, and his displays over the past few months would surely have him in the pound seats for a starting berth in the British & Irish Lions’ second row.
Beirne was tied in second for most lineout takes (25), tied seventh for tackles made (59) and joint 22nd for most cleanouts (19).
Scotland: Blair Kinghorn
Kinghorn was in another league at fullback for Scotland this term and has surely cemented his spot as Andy Farrell’s British & Irish Lions No 15 for July. The Toulouse man has an impressive turn off pace for someone standing at 1.93-metres and weighing 107kgs, and his counterattacks were the catalyst for many a Scottish attack during the tournament.
In the end, Kinghorn topped the stats for carries (86), metres carried (857.9 – nearly 400-metres more than his closest competition), metres gained (574.6), linebreaks (nine) and offloads (19). Honestly there’s not much more he could have done for the Brave Hearts.
Wales: Jac Morgan
As Wales’ descent continued, there was one man who simply refused to say die. Morgan channelled the spirit of past legends like Alun Wyn Jones and Sam Warburton in delivering statement performance game after game. In many ways, it’s a real shame he’s arrived on the scene at this particular juncture in Wales’ storied rugby history.
Nobody made more tackles than the Osprey’s 88, though Welsh teammate Dafydd Jenkins was just 10 off his tally in second. Morgan also ranked fifth for attacking ruck arrivals (115), second for defensive ruck arrivals (58) and fourth for most cleanouts (31), underlining his otherworldly work rate in a team of strugglers.
