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
Sasquatch says...
I thought Read and Dagg were certainties. Now I'm not sure of anything. McCaw again.
Posted 17:33 30th November 2012
Phill_Moore says...
Owen who?
For once, it seems everybody here agrees.
How some random pom made it ahead of Fernandez Lobbe, but also Habana, Read, Picamoles, Fotualii, Dagg, Kearney, Roncero, C. Smith, Taumalolo, etc. etc... is beyond reason.
If they wanted a debutant then Etzebeth, A. Smith and several others would be obvious choices.
Carter and especially Michalak are borderline this year.
Posted 14:01 30th November 2012
Sincero says...
Oh, so we're excluding the European Cup in picking this? Fine- Ireland were undefeated in 2009, having played obviously all the European teams, U.S.A., Canada, Fiji, Australia and South Africa. New Zealand lost against France in 2009 and against South Africa three times. However, Ruchie won the award over O'Driscoll that year. This award has zero credibility.
Posted 02:20 30th November 2012
Stellenbosched2 says...
Hi Carriag,
Totally agree with your post re selection should be fan based. From where I sit it seems that the iRB can't buy toilet paper without some sort of politicing involved. (And no I'm not sitting THERE while I write this).
Posted 13:45 29th November 2012
yuri29 says...
@KingShark "Michalak, destroyed the Argies in June and he dictated proceedings in November - arguably the best 10 we had seen on display this year. "
Completely agree with you.
In all 4 tests matches he played this year (against 3 very good teams : Australia, Pumas, Samoa), Michalak was the MOTM or close to be the MOTM.
Even though that's not a lot of test matches, that's a fucking awesome ratio if you ask me.
Posted 13:17 29th November 2012
masar says...
why do people still talk about the heineken cup, super rugby, top 14, etc?
IT'S BASED ON TESTS !
Posted 13:02 29th November 2012
Sincero says...
Nobody takes this award seriously after they failed to give it to O'Driscoll in 2009 after he inspired Leinster to become European Champions and dragged almost single-handedly Ireland to a Grand Slam. They gave it to Ruchie for doing feck all. Nobody cares.
Posted 12:49 29th November 2012
admack says...
"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." - Because how else would you remain the worlds most over-rated player.... this isn't even funny
Posted 12:39 29th November 2012
Pienaar1995 says...
There is no way that the ex players on the panel would choose Owen Farrell. I'm not buying it....and it is disappointing to realise that they can be influenced
like that. it is a bizarre choice. We all have our favourites and opinions but surely no serious rugby supporter could agree with Farrell in there for 2012?
Posted 12:02 29th November 2012
powerplay says...
WHo the hell is Owen Farrell? Is that Collin Farrels brother? Is he an actor too? @KingShark..Well said!!! Sona taumalolo's only sin was playing for Tonga! He has really stood out this year-how many tries did he score again??
Ditto read..., who chooses the candidates?
Posted 12:00 29th November 2012
rugby_rockstar says...
My evil side would love it to go to a non-New Zealander, it would freak out the whole of NZ. You'd have Californian scientists rushing to their seizmonitors as four million heads explode in the southern hemisphere! :)
On a serious note: Le'ts face it folks Ritchie McCaw deserves this accolade. He's almost as good as Richard Hill was.
Posted 11:32 29th November 2012
APV1 says...
It's something nice for OF to put on his CV:
"Nominated for..."
But this is going to McCaw, isn't it?
Posted 11:20 29th November 2012
marzie says...
Michalak was a flake ten years ago and is still a flake now. It's worth bearing in mind how many HC teams of the weekend Kearney and Ferris made last year too. Basically, if they played, Planet Rugby picked them. I am not saying that PR's Team Of The Week should any barometer but it does put Farrell's senseless nomination into perspective. In fairness, though, this sort of rubbish is like the Oscars - a waste of hate.
Posted 10:57 29th November 2012
jonesy2 says...
i get more and more shocked everytime i come on this site. i seriously dont know who owen farrell is? is he owen wilson and colin farrells love child? seriously someone explain to me who he is and what he has done because apparently he has been better than izzy dagg, nathan sharpe, kieran read, michael hooper, pat mccabe, digby ioane, leigh halfpenny, conrad smith, cory jane, fernandez lobbe, bryan habana and jp peterson to name a few. he must be incredible, makes me wonder why england never win.
ps. michelak getting a nomination is also a colossal joke that has shocked me almost as much
Posted 10:44 29th November 2012
Bones7 says...
What about Picamoles? He's been superb. Kieran Read must be wondering whar more he'd have to do as well. Kick the goals? Drive the bus? McCaw has probably had his best season in years though, absolutely incredible, hands down the world's best this year. Owen Farrell doesn't belong on that list at all, he's done nothing yet and Dan Carter, for all his tricks, has been an absentee for far too long once again.
@rugbyphile, it does sadly appear that something untoward is going on to mention Farrell ahead of so many other deserving players. The likes of Lobbe and Camacho have been awesome, would be a nice touch to include either of those after a hard fought season.
Posted 10:29 29th November 2012
Carriag says...
Think its about time this becomes a fan based award. Too much politics comes into it from the IRB.
Posted 09:57 29th November 2012
Spartacus says...
I like Farrell and think he will be a long term great for England, but this is wrong. Read or Habana. If you wanted a young tyro in there then Etzebeth or Richie Gray
Posted 09:50 29th November 2012
99call says...
What exactly is Farrell's selection based on??? not being the outhalf for engalnd or not being the outhalf for Saracens, he cant even get in the england side anymore if Floods fit
Seriously Im not saying hes a bad player but over the last year how can he be put ahead of Warburton, Sexton, North, Robshaw, Read, Lobbe lets be honest anyone whos actually been starting for their country, the likes of Dagg and Pienaar must wonder what you have to do to get on this list maybe they need their dad to get a job coaching their national side
You normally look at this list each year and its the best players in the world but who ever put this list together this year needs their head examined, McCaw will walk it again
Posted 09:36 29th November 2012
Kent says...
Apologies to all - I didn't complete my previous post which read
"Absolutely the right choice - he's been absolutely outstanding. Can pass and kick like no other current outside half and has great vision, pace and a real eye for a break"
in the Old Harovians 2nd XV
Posted 09:32 29th November 2012
WorldWary says...
@tvaddict
You are completely correct. McCaw is the standout but the ONLY players deserving are him, Read and Lobbe....the forth name is a toss up between Carter and Michelak. Both have had outstanding games in seasons curtailed by non appearances....neither deserves to win though.
I guess the IRB can't put 3 kiwis in cos it's not political or something but the reality is they are the players...only other for consideration are Habana and Dagg which is a moments of brilliance v brilliance and consistency call....maybe it has to be 2 from each hemisphere to keep everyone happy.
This award has to go to McCaw by any objective measure...captained an unbeaten team (assuming weekend) for a seaso for the first time ever...beat all comers at home and away, maybe 3-4 man of the match performances...nothing more needs to be said. Read maybe deserving but he missed a lot of games and he is not captain, with all the extra (plus behind the scenes) that comes with that.
...he deserves it but then this is obviously a political appointment, the fact he's won 3 times will prob count against him
...hell Kaino deserved it last year based on an entire year of brilliant performances at all levels but (probably cos NZ won so much) it was given to the Second best performer...
Posted 09:22 29th November 2012