Duhan van der Merwe and Nolann Le Garrec were two dazzling magicians at a memorable Six Nations but who else deserves an accolade? From the best try to the best player and more, NIK SIMON reveals his picks

A successful Six Nations came to an end with Ireland once again crowned champions.

Andy Farrell’s side survived a tense clash against a challenging Scotland to retain their title, forcing England to settle for third place after their shocking defeat to France.

England narrowly lost in Lyon after Thomas Ramos kicked a last-minute penalty, although their two bonus points saw them finish above Scotland.

But which players stood out in the tournament and who scored the best try?

Here, sport mailNIK SIMON reveals his choices…

best try

Duhan van der Merwe

No one at Murrayfield could believe their eyes when Duhan van der Merwe stormed down the left flank against England. A man his size shouldn’t be able to move that fast. It was a display of freak athleticism that Jonah Lomu would have approved of.

better environment

England vs Ireland

Twickenham has been a sorry place for the past few years but it came to life when Marcus Smith kicked his winning drop goal. There was premium entertainment at halftime with Rag ‘N’ Bone Man, as opposed to a cheap DJ, but the most important thing was a feeling of victory.

moment of magic

Nolann Le Garrec

It was a chef’s kiss moment when substitute Antoine Dupont pulled off an incredible 40-yard reverse pass in Cardiff. It was time to silence the BBC commentators who claimed it was a fluke and embrace the kind of individual skills that will inspire the next generation.

Sucker Punch

Missed shot by Paolo Garbisi

Every neutral in the rugby world was praying that Garbisi would score his last-minute strike against France to seal a famous victory. So it felt like the gods had conspired against him when the ball fell off the tee and he had to speed up his kick to keep time from running out. He missed, meaning Italy had to settle for a draw.

Controversy

Scotland canceled the attempt

For five agonizing minutes, the video referee team made mistakes in the review process before ruling out Sam Skinner’s last-gasp try against France. It was a questionable decision.

Best ambassador

Jaime George

Press conferences can be soulless, but Jamie George’s Thursday night sessions have been brilliant. England’s new captain has been a breath of fresh air: open, honest and engaging. The way he spoke about the death of his mother in Edinburgh was very moving.

best young

Jack Crowley

The young number 10 assured the Irish that there is life after Johnny Sexton. He went straight into the side calmly and confidently, dominating his opponents until his team stumbled against England. Tommaso Menoncello, Italy’s centre-back, also deserves a special mention.

PLAYER OF THE TOURNAMENT

Aki Bundee

Central Connacht is a threat. Full of power and pace, he consistently gets Ireland over the winning line. He stood out throughout the tournament.