Four members of the Six Nations-winning Wales team are in the running for the Player of the Championship award.
Organisers said the shortlist of fifteen had been "compiled through technical statistics, and crucially, fan opinion".
Adam Jones for instance "only missed one tackle in the Championship", while Mike Phillips "made more passes than any other player (279)".
England captain Chris Robshaw was named for having "played every minute of the Championship and made 64 tackles" while team-mate Owen Farrell "was the most talked about player across social media".
Italy had three nominees in captain Sergio Parisse, full-back Andrea Masi and flanker Alessandro Zanni, while wooden spoonists France saw prop Nicolas Mas, number eight Louis Picamoles and centre Mathieu Bastareaud named.
Irish hopes lay with scrum-half Connor Murray and centre Brian O'Driscoll, but Scotland had a sole entry in full-back Stuart Hogg.
Voting closes on March 20.
The 15 players nominated for 2013 Player of the Championship:
Mike Phillips (WAL), Leigh Halfpenny (WAL), Dan Biggar (WAL), Adam Jones (WAL), Owen Farrell (ENG), Chris Robshaw (ENG), Stuart Hogg (SCO), Sergio Parisse (ITA), Andrea Masi (ITA), Alessandro Zanni (ITA), Conor Murray (IRL), Brian O'Driscoll (IRL), Nicolas Mas (FRA), Louis Picamoles (FRA), Mathieu Bastareaud (FRA)
Comments
pantreac says...
How on earth does Farrell get on this list? He froze against Munster and froze against Wales, ask why England didn't score many tries this season? He is not up to international standard. Look no Further than Parisse or Picamoles. Murray was only selected 'man of the match' by his fellow Munster player Keynes! Picamoles should have got man of the match instead!
Posted 15:54 21st March 2013
hansguncia says...
My vote goes to Zanni. A spectacular and extremely talented and consistent flanker (and great at #8 as well), which seems to be too often "ignored".
Halfpenny, Biggar as alternatives.
Heart and bias also say BOD... Rugby is losing a true champ.
Posted 13:47 20th March 2013
Adam_Thomas says...
Fofana was clearly the best French centre, and he's not the one to get a nod. I think Halfpenny will win, but I would be just as happy to see Zanni or Parisse get it.
Posted 13:29 20th March 2013
Tooroysh says...
I can see Halfpence taking this one , but I'm hoping for Picamoles , thought he was immense and its harder to stand out when your team isnt firing at all.
Posted 13:13 20th March 2013
jontheref says...
Farrell gets on there for being most talked about in social media?
Maybe social media can give him an award then.
BTW Coombs is not nominated.
As long as the correct player gets it, OK.
Just being political.
Poorly, but political picking some from every team.
Some poor selections in there.
Posted 12:13 20th March 2013
shoobydo says...
My pick Leigh Halfpenny.
I agree with some posters here - Don't understand why Bastareaud makes the shortlist - he is rubbish and should not even be in the France team.
Unlucky for Jim Hamilton and Laidlaw, who both played superbly.
I can understand why Farrell makes it - he was the player of the tournament until his injury against France. Short memories people?
Posted 19:33 19th March 2013
Celtictenor says...
I may be Welsh, but I freely admit that it shows how poor in general this 6N has been that so many mediocrely performing players are on this list. They must have really struggled hard to find the numbers. From that list only Halfpenny, Adam Jones, Parisse, Zanni, Masi and Picamoles are worth discussing, with honourable mentions for Robshaw and O'Brien (for their outstanding workrate), and Hogg and Coombs (most promising newcomers). Probably one of the Italians or Picamoles should win it, as they put in their super performances in losing teams. I am gobsmacked by the inclusion of Farrell; stylistically he reminds me of Rob Andrew (and that is not a compliment). BO'D frequently showed his eternal class, but IMHO not enough to be included.
Posted 16:28 19th March 2013
Coshie78 says...
Conor Murray and Mike Phillips?? Were not the best in their position in the tournament let alone of all positions.
Picamoles, Parisse, Masi... in that order if judged on performance!
Goal kicking shouldn't come into it for me. Halfpenny was good but Masi and Hogg were better for me...
Posted 14:59 19th March 2013
bluechief says...
halfpenny, picamoles, robshaw, zanni, parisee ... maybe in that order
Posted 12:40 19th March 2013
sneggy1983 says...
Halfpenny will win this easily.
Posted 11:46 19th March 2013
Kent says...
I'd go for Neil Jenkins - "carried the kicking tee on to the pitch for every one of Wales's kicks at goal"
Farrell - do me a favour. Over rated and over hyped (oh. yes that's why he's on the list
Posted 11:06 19th March 2013
lawynd says...
How on earth did Mas and Bastareud make this list, when Jim Hamilton and Greg Laidlaw in particular missed out? I'm not really sure what Murray and O'Driscoll are doing there either, with the former only really showing up for one game and the latter having an average tournament and being cited. And Owen Farrell, because he was the 'most talked about' player? Jesus Christ on a bike.
Posted 10:45 19th March 2013
sirtidychris says...
Louis Picamoles, Leigh 1/2p and Robshaw are the standout contenders and would be happy with any of these three taking it. I think every one of these players were consistently great in everygame regardless of how the rest of the team performed. I spose if pushed i would have to go with 1/2 penny as he was part of the winning team and had the pressure of kicking the goals on top of all the other facets of play and so probably contributed more.
Posted 09:41 19th March 2013
Speartackle says...
"melkdave says...
For me its between Halfpenny,Zanni,Robshaw and Picomoles ,to be honest"
Let's reduce it between Halfpenny and Zanni, only.
Posted 08:28 19th March 2013
5Lock4ward says...
The bias on this site and by the IRB against Scotland is ludicrous. The whole tournament we heard about the performances being put in by Jim Hamilton for the Scots and the not even a sniff of the 15 of the tournament. I could easily argue he deserved to be there over Coombs. And Greig Laidlaw did more for Scotland than Bastareaud did for France.
Posted 00:38 19th March 2013
nabberuk says...
@NHSaints
It actually said in the article how he made it, try reading it again!!
Posted 22:30 18th March 2013
carpelone says...
It must be Zanni.
Posted 21:47 18th March 2013
ArmchairGeneral says...
Parisse would have got my vote if he'd played in all five at the standard he played in his 4 games, but across 5 games it has to be Halfpenny.
Posted 20:54 18th March 2013
Lucasrg says...
My pick: Leigh Halfpenny
Posted 20:38 18th March 2013
rolf says...
Leigh Halfpenny.
No other option.
Posted 19:48 18th March 2013