Six of the best
19 Oct 2011
Three All Blacks, two Wallabies and one Frenchman have been shortlisted for the 2011 IRB Player of the Year award.
All Blacks scrumhalf Piri Weepu, flanker Jerome Kaino and centre Ma’a Nonu, Wallabies flanker David Pocock and scrumhalf Will Genia, and Les Bleus skipper Thierry Dusautoir are all in line for the prestigious accolade. Pocock has been nominated for the second year in a row, losing out to All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw last year.
The IRB Player of the Year nominees were selected by an independent panel of judges, which is chaired by former Wallabies captain John Eales. Other members are Will Greenwood, Gavin Hastings, Raphaël Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Agustín Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga and Paul Wallace. Every major Test played in 2011 has been taken into consideration, starting with the opening Six Nations match and culminating with the World Cup final.
The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony in Auckland on Monday. Other prizes given on the night will be IRB Coach of the Year, IRB Team of the Year, IRB Sevens Player of the Year, IRB Junior Player of the Year and IRB Women’s Personality of the Year.
2011 IRB Player of the Year Nominees:
Piri Weepu
Jerome Kaino
Ma’a Nonu
David Pocock
Will Genia
Thierry Dusautoir
Previous winners:
2010 – Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
2009 – Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
2008 – Shane Williams (Wales)
2007 – Bryan Habana (South Africa)
2006 – Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
2005 – Dan Carter (New Zealand)
2004 – Schalk Burger (South Africa)
2003 – Jonny Wilkinson (England)
2002 – Fabien Galthié (France)
2001 – Keith Wood (Ireland)
154 Comments
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19 Oct 2011, 09:11 am
What? No dragons?
19 Oct 2011, 09:12 am
Pocock has Bryce Lawrence to thank for making the cut.
How Sam Warburton’s name didn’t make the list is a joke.
19 Oct 2011, 09:12 am
Will Genia dragon!
19 Oct 2011, 09:18 am
Jerome Kaino for me.
Massive year.
19 Oct 2011, 09:19 am
Give it to Pocock.
19 Oct 2011, 09:20 am
Warburton is a flash in the pan. Boks chances for player of the year were zero. We played a b-team in tri-nations and the best players were riding the bench in world cup.
19 Oct 2011, 09:24 am
Jerome kaino will get it!
19 Oct 2011, 09:24 am
@wp_boytjie(wp_boytjie)-2:
They did not draw the list up based on one performance.
Even last sunday, behind a beaten pack, Pocock was still very good,
I reckon it will be either him or Kaino but as the AB’s will win the world cup it will probably be Kaino.
19 Oct 2011, 09:24 am
It’s the same old farts in the selection panel each year.
19 Oct 2011, 09:25 am
Looks more like a Player of the World Cup list! #skewed.
19 Oct 2011, 09:26 am
Yes McCaw is not there! So he cant undeservedly win it again!
19 Oct 2011, 09:28 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-8:
To each his own man.
I don’t remember seeing Pocock in the pathetic Force team.
@Dwis(Dwis)-6:
Warburton has been the best no7 at the World Cup. Flash in the pan se gat
19 Oct 2011, 09:28 am
Sorry boys it will be Nonu – has kept the scary talented SBW out of the Abs side , is undoubtedly the best no 12 at this years WC , and will no doubt tear the french to pieces on the weekend.
Pocock has been made to look a pretender by McCaw last sat , he had one “good ” game against the Boks , but many will argue ref .
The rest not outstanding
19 Oct 2011, 09:29 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-10:
Yip, performances at the world cup certainly carried quite some weight.
I see during 2007 and 2003 both winners came from the wc winning teams as well.
19 Oct 2011, 09:29 am
@wp_boytjie(wp_boytjie)-12:
He was injured for most of the super 15.
19 Oct 2011, 09:30 am
So lucky McCaw has been injured this year – his name still wouldnt be out of place
19 Oct 2011, 09:31 am
The IRB Player of the Year award may as well become the All Blacks Player of the Year award.
Jerome Kaino does deserve it though, but where the F does Piri Weepu come in? He’s only just become the AB starting halfback, and hasn’t been nearly as good as some others…
The panel says it all. High time they follow the lead of the NFL, and have journos nominate and vote for players. These guys are obviously clueless.
19 Oct 2011, 09:31 am
IMO Schalk had one of the finest WC s i have seen him play in – if they had got through he certainly would of been my player of tournament.
19 Oct 2011, 09:32 am
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-17:
I’d rather Keohane have a say then Francois Pienaar, funnily enough.
19 Oct 2011, 09:33 am
Hendrikp: who’d your list have included?
19 Oct 2011, 09:34 am
@stew(stew)-13:
Jerome Kaino = Freak.
He’s been the best player in that All Blacks side throughout the year.
19 Oct 2011, 09:34 am
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-19:
You bet. Keo would have picked Butch James as player of the year
19 Oct 2011, 09:35 am
@mpundulu(mpundulu)-20:
Schalk Burger for one.
19 Oct 2011, 09:36 am
@Robzim(Robzim)-22:
Haha I don’t think he’d be that daft.
Genuinely though, these guys are f’ing clueless.
McCaw winning it in 09 was a disgrace. Threw all their credibility out the window.
19 Oct 2011, 09:37 am
what the hell has piri weepu done to be nominated? nc nc nc
kaino to take it, was massive on the eoyt last november, was solid but not stellar for the blues, picked up where he left off for the world cup warm ups, tri-nations, has been excellent in the world cup – metres gained, tackle busts, error free and marvelous distribution (see keiran read try against the argies in qrtrs)
JK is the man
19 Oct 2011, 09:39 am
One of those Ozzies to take it.
19 Oct 2011, 09:39 am
the awards are a joke after mc caw got it in 2009….a season brussouw spent most of his time waiting at the breakdown for the lions and kiwis to arrive. Or…even a season morne steyn smashed all superrugby records and followed it up by smashing tri-nation ones?
oh well, who knows….
for me, I’ve been hugely impressed with nonu, I always thought he was completely ordinary when compared with mauger before him….but he has really developed his game in the past few months.
19 Oct 2011, 09:40 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-25:
Got that right. He’s been the best player in that All Blacks line-up consistently by far.
It probably would’ve gone to Israel Dagg if they gave him the 15 jersey and forgot about it.
19 Oct 2011, 09:40 am
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-24: Yes but he should have won it in 2008 anyway – but i do agree 2009 should have been FDP
19 Oct 2011, 09:40 am
Five All Blacks? I only see three. Or have they reserved two more spots for Kiwis based on their triumphant final and subsequent knighthood… I mean ticker tape parade?
19 Oct 2011, 09:41 am
Matfield – on his performance against the Convicts. Hell, maybe for being the best no. 5 lock of his generation.
19 Oct 2011, 09:41 am
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-24:
It will always been controversial- as Tim Noakes would say “it is not scientific”
19 Oct 2011, 09:52 am
Called it a few weeks back.
Jerome Kaino is now the best blindside in the world.
And is possibly the best performing rugby player on the planet. Will get IRB Player of the Year and deservedly so.
AB coaches especially Henry must be so proud of Kaino and the transformation he has made over the last 4-5 years.From freak athlete who did all the flashy stuff with little to no starch in his makeup…now he is the FULL article.Hard *** nails,still explosive and athletic with no near perfect error rate and a gentleman to boot.
He is what Spies will NEVER be.(Kaino was/is almost as freakish a pure athlete Spies is,but 10 times the rugby player-transition been a honour to watch)
Jerome Kaino….ALL PRO
19 Oct 2011, 09:53 am
@Brigadier Van Zyl(Brigadier Van Zyl)-27: agreed, the award means nothing since then!
19 Oct 2011, 09:58 am
Jerome Kaino has been huge for the All Blacks this year.
19 Oct 2011, 09:59 am
My list:
2011 IRB Player of the Year Nominees:
Bismark du Plessis
Jerome Kaino
Ma’a Nonu
David Pocock/Sam Warburton
Will Genia
Schalk Burger/Sean O’brien
19 Oct 2011, 10:00 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-33: If only Spies can learn a thing or two from Kaino.
19 Oct 2011, 10:02 am
Kaino deserves this award. He has been consistently good all year.
19 Oct 2011, 10:05 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-37:
Yep,my sentiments exactly.
But you watch Spies and with so many deficiencies in his game especially the defensive facet of his game and inability to INFLUENCE flow of a game/impact on opposition etc I dont see it happening. Been playing 5 years of Test rugby…..
Just dont think he is capable of such a transition.Hopefully he proves me DEAD wrong.
19 Oct 2011, 10:15 am
@mshiniwami(mshiniwami)-36: chaps, come on, there’s a difference between Player of the YEAR and Player of the TOURNAMENT
what has sam warburton done outside of this world cup? sean o’brien?
where was pocock in the match in durban?
19 Oct 2011, 10:19 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-40: Transie we all know the winner of the list is not really a true reflection of the year. 2009 proves that. All 5 have a chance… just depends who buys the biggest present.
Victor Matfield never made the list…. what a laugh.
List is a joke…..
19 Oct 2011, 10:19 am
RWC 22 Allstars
1.Healy (Ire)
2.Bismark (SA)
3.Castrogiovanni (Ita)
4.O’Connell (Ire)
5.Wynn-Jones (Wal)
6.Kaino (NZ)
7.Warburton (Wal)
8.Faletau (Wal)
9.Weepu (NZ)
10.Carter (NZ) -his performance vs France was enough
11.Kahui
12.Nonu
13.Roberts (I know he is a 12 but too good to leave out)
14.Jane
15.Dagg
16.Mealamu
17.Guthro
18.Horwill
19.O’brien
20.Yachvilli
21.Smith (underrated)
22.Ioane
19 Oct 2011, 10:19 am
@HHS(Hop Hop Spinnekop)-41: You asked the question already….. why is fatty Piri on the list?
Like I said a joke.
19 Oct 2011, 10:29 am
@Transformation(Transformation)-40:
Yeah fair enough. But apparently Warburton has been playing well for a while now. Highly rated in Europe prior to RWC-and he showed it to be fair.
Pocock was filthy good last yr,no superrugby tho
19 Oct 2011, 10:37 am
i think it will go to pocock… not saying i would give it to him but think he’s the new ‘darling’ of the IRB…
can’t believe dustautoir is there…
i think both kaino and pocock benefitted from not playing against juan or schalk in the 3N
my pick however… would be kaino… because I get really irritated with pocock appealing to the ref all the time when things go against him… and at least kaino is a no-nonsense hard grafting player…
19 Oct 2011, 10:48 am
Strange that Victor Matfield… who redefined the science of the line out and took this aspect of rugby to new heights – literally… has never been recognised by the IRB for his contribution to rugby and total dominance of his position over the last 6 or 7 years.
I don’t believe any other player has owned his position and opposition so comprehensively for such a length of time… and not been recognised for it…?
Absolute shame on the IRB for ignoring such a talented, hard-working and standard-setting player.
I wonder if it has anything to do with “Nobody’ Eales being on the committee…?
#justwondering…
19 Oct 2011, 10:49 am
Depends on what grounds they choose the winner. If they look at playing skills, Pocock and Kaino , if they look at more , Weepu , he might not be as good as Genia , but his influence in stepping in when Carter left the RWC , is priceless.
19 Oct 2011, 10:52 am
Lol. Well we already established that this award is a joke 2 years ago. Play, I understand you have to have Anzacs on the list. Why Weepoo though? He’s played about 2 tests this year and not in impressive fashion. Pocock is an untalented muscle, as was proved with a non paid off ref in Joubert. Genia has been awful this year, he crabs sideways and then gets picked off by a loose forward and driven back 15 meters.
Honestly surprised McCaw isn’t nominated.
Where is Burger? Bismarck? Matfield? Steyn?
F-uck you IRB. Go pay off some more refs.
19 Oct 2011, 10:53 am
Lol!! Paddy really does not like the South Africans. Get those Yarpies Paddy. We get your women so you may as well get the men.
19 Oct 2011, 10:59 am
Matfield, the greatest lock of all time hasn’t won this award once. Kind of puts things into perspective. I’d love to see the reasoning behind this dogshit list.
Once again, the IRB shows how much they loathe the Boks and South Africa. If it wasn’t for the whole Mandela 95 racial love story we’d be ranked about 10th.
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