**As it has done for decades and decades, the 2020 Guinness Six Nations provided the rugby world with an update on which teams, and which players, are the cream of Europe at the current moment.** Despite the unfortunate suspension there was plenty of game-tape to read into, international shirts claimed and markers laid down ahead of next year’s British & Irish Lions Tour. The Guinness PRO14 supplied many of the competition’s standouts – here’s our selection of who’s had the best 2020 tournament. # **1. Justin Tipuric - Wales** Right at the top of our rankings, nobody has had a better Championship than all-action Wales flanker Justin Tipuric. The Ospreys man hasn’t always been first choice given the world class back rows they’ve had available over the last decade, but at the age of 30 Tipuric is now surely the first back-row name on the teamsheet. Across the tournament only Charles Ollivon scored more tries, four to Tipuric’s three, while only three players made more tackles than the Welshman’s 64 (Maro Itoje, Bernard le Roux and Hamish Watson). # **2. Jamie Ritchie - Scotland** Timing his man-of-the-match performance perfectly with the final game of the tournament for now, Scotland’s Jamie Ritchie goes right in at No.2 in our rankings. In truth, Ritchie established himself in this side during the 2019 tournament with four starts, but the 2020 edition has really underlined his status as a first XV player after only two appearances at the World Cup. At 23, the Edinburgh man is most definitely the real deal.
