Nominated: Owen Farrell
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Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Frédéric Michalak and Owen Farrell have all been included on the shortlist for the IRB's Player of the Year award.
Farrell's inclusion has come as a major surprise, with several journalists and fans on Twitter questioning how the Saracens fly-half came to be included in the final four.
McCaw is the only player to receive the individual accolade more than once, having won it in 2006, 2009 and 2010, although Carter could join him as a multiple winner, having been named Player of the Year back in 2005.
For the third year in a row the shortlist includes a player to have graduated from the IRB Junior World Championship to the Test arena with Farrell following in the footsteps of Australian trio David Pocock, Will Genia and Kurtley Beale.
The winner of the prestigious Award will be announced at the Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool Allocation Draw in London on December 3, along with the IRB Coach of the Year and IRB Team of the Year Awards.
The IRB Awards panel comprises some of the biggest names in the Game in Will Greenwood, Gavin Hastings, Raphaël Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Agustín Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga and Paul Wallace.
The panel have deliberated on every major Test played in 2012, starting with the opening RBS 6 Nations match and culminating with the November Internationals. In total they have watched around 100 hours of action, awarding points to the three players they thought stood out in each match.
"This has been one of the closest years to date. In fact the result could be influenced significantly by this weekend's matches, making it a highly contested prize," said John Eales.
Among those players unlucky to miss out on the shortlist are New Zealand number 8 Kieran Read, Australian duo Michael Hooper and Berrick Barnes, Scotland's Ross Rennie, Springbok wing Bryan Habana and Argentina's inspirational captain Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe.
Comments
jonesy2 says...
this is a joke right?
Posted 09:18 29th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
4 pages, no mention of Roncero.
Posted 09:05 29th November 2012
froggy73 says...
I think there is one guy who must be more puzzled that all of us at Andy Farrell's selection. Andy Farreel himself
Posted 08:32 29th November 2012
bokbevok says...
@melkdave what are you talking about or are you related to Farrell. The only time England looked good in SA is when flood and youngs combined.
He is a sub not even first choice, kicks well but clearly not world class play maker. He
Could only make England team no other team would have him as there fly half
Posted 07:56 29th November 2012
rugbyforever says...
Who are the other nominees? If Owen Farrel is included you may as well include every single player who appeared in an International, included Greyling and Hicken-Botham.
Posted 07:37 29th November 2012
KingShark says...
Forgot to add my final remark: My vote will go to Freddie who not only excelled in the test arena, but also had a great Super Rugby tournament.
Posted 07:06 29th November 2012
KingShark says...
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.
I think, through all my ramblings, what I am trying to say, is that I am truly disappointed.
Posted 07:00 29th November 2012
jmanngod says...
@ Mace - Yes, thank you. You are like the Owen Farrel of these boards!
Posted 06:52 29th November 2012
jmanngod says...
@kiwilad... yes 4th. So many I have started forgetting.....
Posted 06:48 29th November 2012
wooden_spoon says...
England might be Team of the Year too...!
Posted 06:08 29th November 2012
borneo_bug says...
Honestly have not seen much of Farrell but would have expected Habana, Read, Lobbe in the nomination. DC's been consistent when he's healthy. SBW anyone? ehehe
And finally, in meme lingo.. "Sona Taumalolo...Y U No get nominated for IRB Player of the Year? Y U No?!"
Posted 05:41 29th November 2012
hellovanite says...
So it goes Carter, McCaw and then positive affirmation or as I like to call it, making up the numbers.... Owen Farrell? Please review that selection what exactly has he done ... Based on Merit it's an AB, based on who the hell knows... it's one of the other 2
Posted 05:20 29th November 2012
bloemboy says...
Did Owen Farrell act in a Rugby movie or something? He isnt even a very good actor. Would have gone with Matt Damon who gave a more credible portrayal of Pienaar and deserved points for the accent alone!
List should have been Read, Lobbe, Dagg, Michelak, McCaw and possibly Habana. Read should have won it hands down though after an awesome season.
Posted 05:16 29th November 2012
AWEBLAX says...
OK fellas are you lot rubbishing King Richie who won it in 2009, well guess what as a Kiwi I totally agree it should have been Fourie Du Preez he was absolutely bloody brilliant that year and our Richie should have placed second to him "BUT" yes theirs a BUT the year Shane Williams won it hmmmm was that 2008, that one should have gone to the King who was bloody brilliant that year, actually he's had lots of them. The BODs a fantastic player but he didn't hold a candle to Richies leadership or Du Preez brilliance in 2009....... This year my pick would have been Keiran Read, but he's not there, so I suspect the IRBNZ "may" pick either Dan or Richie lol.....
Posted 05:13 29th November 2012
brands says...
no Andrew Hore then??
Posted 04:51 29th November 2012
bigb6969 says...
McCawsome, hands down.
Especially if it is based on "all the major tests" only
Posted 04:39 29th November 2012
kiwilad says...
jmangod, 3rd or 4th??
Posted 03:37 29th November 2012
TheMascot says...
Seriously i don't know if its Ritchie's foot that has been fixed or what but he has played the best rugby i think i have ever seen him play. McCaw for me hands down.
Posted 03:35 29th November 2012
rugbyphile says...
The IRB is a seriously sick organisation--how does something like this happen??? no wonder they can't get scrum laws right, their citings and penalties are inconsistent, some of their most experienced referees make clanger after clanger and still get big games (eg Owens). Kieran Reid has been outstanding verging on brilliant all year, not just in easy games but also in the close Rugby Championship matches. To mention Farrell in the same breath as McCaw is ludicrous--to mention him before Conrad Smith or Dagg or Habana is almost as bad. Is there a betting market on who the nominees will be? Something very very weird has happened here----
Posted 03:33 29th November 2012
2EyedKiwi says...
With all due respect to the judging panel, the top 4 they have chosen should be adjudged:
1. McCaw
2. Daylight
3. Carter
4. Michilak
Posted 03:22 29th November 2012