Six Nations 2024 awards: the highs and lows of a dramatic six weeks

From Marcus Smith’s drop goal to Wales’s doomed heroics, here are our picks for best moment, match and more - including a nod to the 2025 renewal

WRITERS CHOICE: From Marcus Smith’s drop goal to Wales’s doomed heroics, here are our picks for best moment, match and more - including a nod to the 2025 renewal. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Player of the tournament

Mick Cleary: Michele Lamaro (Italy). No longer will an Italy captain have to trot out the well-worn excuse of ‘Yes, we do deserve our place in the Six Nations and, yes, we do have to improve but we do have players coming through,’ and on and on it usually goes at the pre-tournament gathering. Lamaro’s predecessor, Sergio Parisse, was a master of such matters. But they all kept the faith. Italy have proven themselves, Lamaro led the way and that promising generation has arrived.