Best moments of Six-Nations

Dilanka MANNAKKARA

Another Six Nations is done and dusted, one of the best since Five became Six in 2000.

A third Grand Slam in eight years for Wales. Plaudits for runners-up England. Misgivings over Ireland and France, a win for Italy and a third Wooden Spoon in nine years for Scotland. Lets have a look at the best moment of the tournament.

Players of the Tournament:

While Scotland lock Richie Gray, Ireland flanker Stephen Ferris, France centre Wesley Fofana and Wales full-back Leigh Halfpenny all had deserved mentions, the Player of the tournament goes to Wales flanker Dan Lydiate.

The 24-year-old missed the opening game against Ireland, but returned with a man-of-the-match display against Scotland, and earned another award for his stunning performance in the Grand Slam decider against France.

Previously perceived as an unsung hero whose sterling efforts went largely unseen, Lydiate lived up to his "Chopper" and "Silent Ninja" nicknames in a superbly destructive display. As Jonathan Davies put it: "He does all the dirty work, and his work-rate is phenomenal. And he put in his biggest performance when it mattered most ."Stand-out moment:

It came on the opening weekend, Ireland v Wales in Dublin. From a tap-down from flanker Justin Tipuric at the tail of a line-out, Wales - through half-backs Mike Phillips and Rhys Priestland - launched the giant George North off his left wing.The teenage wing wonder skipped around Gordon D'Arcy and bumped off Fergus McFadden before unleashing the deftest of offloads out the back of his right hand to Jonathan Davies, who shredded the remaining defence to score at the posts. Brutal and beautiful in equal measure, an exquisitely timed move executed with power, pace and precision.

Best tries:

The aforementioned Jonathan Davies try against Ireland featured highly, as did Scott Williams's winning solo try for Wales at Twickenham. Keith Wood opted for a third Welsh try, Alex Cuthbert's side-stepping effort that proved the difference against France, purely for its significance alone. Andy Nicol picked out Stuart Hogg's against France as "the first of many for a future star of Scottish rugby". The others both came in England's stirring victory over France in Paris, Jonathan Davies and Jeremy Guscott both picking out Manu Tuilagi's arcing run to the right corner, after a thumping hit from Chris Ashton and clever offload from Owen Farrell.Nicol also enjoyed the way Tom Croft "put the after-burners on and scorched across the 22" for the winning try.