Six Nations review: Doris the star turn of a stellar campaign

Simon Lewis reflects on the highlights of a superb championship for Ireland.

Ireland’s Jack Conan, Mack Hansen and Caelan Doris after the England match. Picture: INPHO/Billy Stickland

Player of the Championship: Caelan Doris, the Ireland No.8, had plenty of competition, not least from team-mates Hugo Keenan, James Ryan, and their captain Johnny Sexton, but the back-rower was supreme in his position, kick-starting the run to the Grand Slam with the opening try just two minutes in, topping the turnover stats, tied with Ryan and Scotland’s Jamie Ritchie on five, and leading the carrying charts alongside Keenan with 54. Not only that, Doris supplied a wondrous offload to Garry Ringrose for the killer bonus-point try that sunk the French.

Best Game: Ireland v France, Round Two, Aviva Stadium – breathtaking from beginning to end and won by the Irish, 32-19. It was the first Six Nations meeting between the top two teams in the World Rugby rankings and boy, did it live up the billing.