The nominees for IRB Player of the Year were released yesterday evening, with the usual suspects in Richie McCaw and Dan Carter leading the race. The other two entries were slightly more surprising, with ex-Sharks flyhalf Fred Michalak getting the nod and England flyhalf Owen Farrell completing the list.
Richie McCaw is in line for his fourth win, being the only person to have won the award more than once, while Dan Carter will become the second player to win multiple awards should he get the nod.
Michalak made his return to international rugby after missing out on two years, being recalled by newly appointed French coach Philippe Saint-Andre, and made a massive impact during the June Internationals in Argentina and subsequently during the end of year tour. Should Michalak win, he will be the second French international in two years to win the award after Thierry Dusatoir won it last year.
The winner of this awards and others will be announced on 3 December.
Tweet
my word , how does Farrel make it? and tbh, even Freddy, I know he has done wonders since returning to the French team , but surely it should be based on someone who actually played consistently top of his game in all internationals all season? Its basically a two way split between McCaw and Carter.
I can’t help but wonder about this reward. One of the years in which McCaw won it, he barely even played. This year Carter has rarely featured, which makes me wonder how he got selected. At the same time Farrell is selected despite the English community not knowing whether he is the first choice flyhalf for their team or not.
The reality is that Read has been the best loose forward on the planet for the past two years and he really should have been there. I don’t think Habana was quite good enough, although it was nice to see him regain his form. If you had to pick a Saffa, Eben Etsebeth would be the name I would put forth. He dominated against the English in June, put in strong performances in the RC and ruled the skies in November.
Sono Taumololo’s biggest sin was playing for a small nation. Despite being the best player in his position on the planet, he will not get a look in. Lobbe, Hooper and Louw are also unlucky not to get nominated.
Michalak, destroyed the Argies in June and he dictated proceedings in November – arguably the best 10 we had seen on display this year. My vote will go to Freddie who not only excelled in the test arena, but also had a great Super Rugby tournament.
I think, through all my ramblings, what I am trying to say, is that I am truly disappointed.
@King Shark (Comment 2) : I agree totaly
@Uli (Comment 1) : Sadly you are right, although neither deserves it this year.
Just did a quick check on Carter:
Played 2/3 Irish tests in June.
Played 1/2 vs SA, 1/2 vs Arg, 2/2 vs Aus, plus the 3rd Bledisloe match.
Did not start against Italy, not play against Wales, Played against Scotland.
I guess 8 tests are enough to make an impression.
@King Shark (Comment 5) : I suppose.
@King Shark (Comment 2) :
No matter how you look at it, for a player who has not played every single test and still be the top scorer for the year, says something!
One wonders how they thumbsuck this list!!
I mean McCaw and Carter have been good this year but nothing exceptional. Farrel?? He has been pretty well average.
Michalak would def get my vote. He has made a massive impact in every game he has played.
I think Aaron Cruden should have been ahead of Carter.
If Carter and McCaw are there then Flo should feel hard done by not being there as should JP Pieterson who has had a great year.
@SheldonK (Comment 8) :
When the Boks beat the AB’s thrice in 2009 guess who won the POTY award??
Richie McCaw. 🙄
I am surprised none of the Welsh players got a look in. You would think that as 6 nations champions they would have at least 1 of the best northern hemisphere players.
What about that Maori chap that plays 8th man for them?
@wpw (Comment 9) : But how else? the captain of the best team in the world to ever grace a mortal rugby field must surely be the best player in the universe….EVER 😈
@SheldonK (Comment 8) :
Farrel been average? In what, the couple of games you’ve seen him play in a shitty England side that have been hammered all season?
He has been absolutely sublime in club rugby; and was kingpin in Sarries Premiership victory last year.
He has a great future ahead of him; he is, after all, only 21!
@Orelando_G (Comment 10) :
Yeah, but since then they’ve lost 11 on the trot!
@SheldonK (Comment 8) : flo only played couple of games and JP was injured for to long. Any how I think Fred should win this as he had the most impact on the international stage. Go fred!!!!!!!!!!!
Le Coq!
IRB Logic …
(1) We need an English player as a nominee to stop the english from whining …who plays for england …No Idea!
(2) What to do … what to do? Who else have we nominated? FlyHalf, Flyhalf … Open Sider?
(3) Who playes Flyhalf for England – hell not even the english know that … Wait!
(4) Who played Flyhalf for England in the Last match?
To be honest this award has become a bit of a gimmick. There is no structure for nominations and there is a lot of ‘political’ interference…. It needs some restructuring.
I suggest that each unions player be put added as a nomination and the irb select from that list only. If a player cannot make the player of the yr for his own country … does he desere to be nominated for IRB player of the year ….
Farrel cant even make the team on a good week … let alone english player of the yr
@VinChainSaw (Comment 12) : Only test matches count, so the club performances are for naught.
I think a “players player of the year” will be far more accurate and trust worthy.
@byron (Comment 17) : I think you have it spot on. The same sould go for SA player of the year let all the SA team player of the year winners go at it for the SA player of the year.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 12) : Vin, I can’t rightly argue with you since I have not seen him play any club rugby, but I do know the English Commentators were rather critical of his play this season for his club. They even questioned why he was brought on in the Bok match since he was playing so poorly for his club. That certainly made me perk up when I heard he was nominated since even the English commentators did not think much of him.
@King Shark (Comment 18) :
Then how did Michalak make the list? He played even less test rugby than Farrell.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 21) :
Ah, he’s been decent DB. Not quite last year, but then the reason is only really getting started here, so it would be base don last season. The Premiership final last year was at the End of May.
Anyway, Saracens arent really a much-loved club by the establishment here. You’ll see it when it comes to player selections for England, you’ll see it when it comes to televuised games and you’ll especially see it when you have some northern commentator sopouting off about how there is no team other than Leicester.
For several seasons there Sarries was sparring at the top of the table and had virtually no representation at England level.
Only after banging and banging on the door have guys like Barritt been recognised and given honours.
@VinChainSaw (Comment 23) : Thanks for that response Vin and very interesting perspective from someone living in England. Interesting that there are similar issues when it comes to national selection that we see in South Africa.