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
georgesmith says...
Enough of the R.McCaw crap shit. He is a cheater and does it always on purpose. Once a cheat always a cheat. If grandpa N.Sharpe was really as good as he is always being perceived then he would have made this list on merit but I don't see his name, do I. I'm so glad soon Wallabies will get rid of the rubbish player, who is only about himself being the player with most caps without any performance to back it up.
Posted 02:23 29th November 2012
Cdn_content says...
Farrell !?! Complete joke not even the English player of the year (manu anyone?).
Agreed with others no lobbe? Unbelievable inspiration? Walks into any side in the world right now.
No Habana? Leading try scorer in the rugby championship?
Picomoles or whatever his name is for France?
Read, one of the best in the world?
Farrell are u kidding?
Posted 02:16 29th November 2012
TVaddict says...
This must be a joke. The only players that are deserving of this award are Fernandez Lobbe, Read, and McCaw. My vote would be for Lobbe, who has been awe inspiring within a fairly ordinary team. An iconic legend. I would accept Read would has been consistently the best 8 in the world all year and a brilliant leader. McCaw would be tendering to the masses who gush over him on a nightly basis, but he would also be acceptable. Maybe Francois Louw for the impact he's made in the South African team. No one else should be close.
Posted 01:59 29th November 2012
Claypole says...
So I'm taking it everyone's up for Owen Farrell winning then?
Posted 01:51 29th November 2012
alfeck says...
The guy at the IRB could not spell Kahn Fotualii so instead went for Owen Farrell. No Kieran Read or Michael Hooper
Posted 00:55 29th November 2012
uglea says...
If its based on tests in 2012, how the hell did Hooper get missed? The panel appointed by the IRB might need to consider how they award the 3-2-1 - what apsect? stats, effect on the match, if they were on a winning or losing side? Perhaps its a thing for the bookies to get involved? Perhaps there is no ulterior motive; its just how the ball bounces.
Nice for players to get recognition, but in the words of Eric Rush (who once described his miss and then subsequent trial selection for the ABs) - its just someone's opinion.
Posted 00:31 29th November 2012
GCP_JONES says...
FARRELL Sweet Jaysus What????, Is It April 1st?
Just when you think the IRB could'nt sink any lower, you'd see better players running out for your local club on a Saturday afternoon.
I'm sure we could name of a dozen players more deserving of a nomination without thinking about it.
You just have to laugh don't ya
Posted 00:13 29th November 2012
KiwiKev says...
The IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset said: "As ever, the competition has been fierce and the panel had a tough time deliberating the shortlist from a number of stand-out candidates.
"All four players on the shortlist thoroughly deserve their place after stand-out performances during the year and consistency in the tough environment that is Test rugby."
_______
What, pray tell, are the criteria for nomination and winning?
Posted 23:48 28th November 2012
Oceansnz says...
Owen Farrell? WHO?
Bryan Habana was in good contention in my opinion UNTIL he had a no-show against the All Blacks at Soccer Stadium.
Posted 23:29 28th November 2012
Leinster101 says...
This is some sort of sick joke.... the panel have to be pulling the p!ss.....Owen Farrell??!! Whatever about who wins (McCaw/Carter), both the NH representatives is an absolute disgrace. What about the European player of the year, Rob Kearney!! Or Sexton, the best 10 in Europe.
Or the Welsh players after their 6Ns (whatever about the autumn internationals), Warburtomn or Davies??
This award should be based on a players vote (current players) , or managers vote combined.
Owen Farrell??!!
Posted 23:26 28th November 2012
LeftRightOut says...
Not sure I agree on the shortlist at all!! And while I haven't seen a lot of Michalak's performance this year, I suspect RM will take the award. For NZ I would put Kieran Reid above both RM and DC, but if this is the list then RM will win it
Posted 23:02 28th November 2012
Wfgwoody says...
I say 4th win for Richie. No doubt the greatest player in rugby history.
Posted 22:58 28th November 2012
davodiablo says...
Someone has seriously taken "one for the team" for Farrell to be included . Makes the whole thing look an utter joke .
Posted 22:33 28th November 2012
quigs says...
Farrell should have been ruled out on the basis of his awful kicking from hand against SA last week. All his high balls were too long and were dealt with easily by the SA defence.
Posted 22:27 28th November 2012
Toulousain says...
zero chance for fred methinks. top man, yes, but he's not won anything this year. and does anyone really think there could be a frenchman 2 years in a row?
that leaves mccaw or carter. i would give it to them both frankly. they could keep it half a year each!
(ooops, forgot farrell. oh yes, just remembered him. ooops, just forgot him again hehehe...)
Posted 22:23 28th November 2012
mlbp says...
Wise words as always, Rosbif. There are players that only concentrate on their international matches as they don't play domestic leagues.
If the award is based only on tests then you cannot judge Michalak based on 5 tests he played this year. Fofana has played more tests than him and he was magnificent as Freddy.
Conrad Smith was outstanding all year with the All Blacks and should deserve a mention. IMHO he is the form player nowadays with Carter and McCaw. But Smith has not missed so many tests as Carter and has been superb, the best 13 right now.
Based on tests Fernandez Lobbe should be on the list too. Strange decisions this panel makes.
If we just look at the list, McCaw should win it. Carter should be second, Michalak third and Farrell fourth.
I have great respect for the members of the panel, but again their choices are a bit shockin. I refues to talk about Owen Farrell. He wasn't even Six Nations player of 2012... Then why not Dan Lydiate?
Posted 22:06 28th November 2012
Kent says...
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 fore a break.
Posted 22:04 28th November 2012
Kent says...
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 fore a break.
Posted 22:04 28th November 2012
isthatrightref says...
Hard to overlook McCheat as he's had a vintage year but htf does Read not even make the short list? esp when Farrell does? On this basis Barnes is a dead cert for ref of the year...
Posted 21:52 28th November 2012
rabja795 says...
Even though McCaw is the best player that I've ever seen play this game, Kieren Reid has been the best All Black this year which equates to the best rugby player on the planet, at present.
How this list of respected rugby people can pick Owen Farrell is beyond a joke! He's not even the first choice no. 10 for England, behind the pedestrian Toby Flood.
My list would have been: McCaw, Reid, Dagg and Michalak.
Posted 21:37 28th November 2012