A Six Nations of warthogs, golf buggies and even some quite good rugby
This is not Warren Gatland, whatever Irish journalists try to tell us. Photograph: Stewart Kendall/Sportsphoto Ltd.
Player of the tournament
It could be a number of Frenchmen but Imanol Harinordoquy has matured into the world's best No8. Until he received a first-half bang against England, the bounding Basque was superb.
Best game
Champagne moment
Biggest disappointment
Worst game
Most promising newcomer
Best kick at goal
Most bizarre sight
Wales giving almost all their opponents a 20-point start.
Best joke
Coach of the tournament
Best venue
Most underrated player
Most underrated team
Most emotional moment
Biggest tactical error
2) Sticking coins in your mouth to outwit the breathalyser? Sorry, JPR, but what on earth was that all about?
Unexpected success
The 'Diehard Optimist' award
Best tournament innovation
Bluntest quote
Man of the championship
Wales v Scotland. I watched it in a bar in Rome and everyone was transfixed. Did Scotland deserve to win? They will forever believe so. With a little luck, the Scots could have won a first Triple Crown for 20 years. Shane Williams's try again France in Cardiff. Enough to propel any rugby lover off his sofa. England, regardless of the improvement in Paris. They have decent players, whole-hearted coaches, loads of money, an enviable hotel base and no shortage of motivation. So why have they come up short since 2003? It is no use Rob Andrew banging on about the promise shown by the reserve and age-group teams. Emerging players need more encouragement. A structure which produces compliant clones is no use. All those collapsed scrums in the Scotland v England match made wearisome viewing but Italy v England was even worse. Ireland's Johnny Sexton. England's Ben Foden and Dan Cole also did well. Jonny Wilkinson v France. It should not have been possible from the touchline near halfway in the wet. Extraordinary. The warthog pictures around the Welsh hotel following unkind newspaper jibes aimed at Warren Gatland. Marc Lièvremont. Those cream fishermen's jumpers are gone and so has any sense that France are drifting or rudderless. A grand slam will only boost Gallic confidence levels. Heineken Cup success looks probable, too. Ireland may miss Croke Park more than they imagine next year. Italy's No8, Alessandro Zanni. He would have been a stand-out player in any side. England's women's XV. Another all‑conquering season. They deserve more recognition in the build-up to this summer's World Cup. Thom Evans presenting Dan Parks with his jersey for the latter's 50th cap. Thank goodness the Scotland wing is recovering from the horrible neck injury he suffered against Wales. Andy Powell's attack of the munchies which prompted an early-morning trip down the M4 in a golf buggy. If Tiger Woods wants some off-course action at the Ryder Cup at Celtic Manor, he knows who to call. ... England's retro centenary shirts, as worn against Wales. They should have worn them throughout. Anyone who backed England to be the season's leading try-scorers. Screening games in cinemas in 3-D. Jim Telfer, former Scotland coach, on England prior to the Calcutta Cup match. "We have more mature ideas and a coach who's positive." Ouch. Andy Powell. Let's be honest, it would have been a far duller tournament without him.
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.