Bench warmer gets IRB nomination
29 Nov 2012
Owen Farrell, who has been England’s second-choice flyhalf for their November Tests, has been nominated for the IRB Player of the Year award.
The other nominees are All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, flyhalf Dan Carter and French No 10 Frederic Michalak, who didn’t play for France in the Six Nations as he was representing the Sharks in Super Rugby. All Blacks No 8 Kieran Read, who has been the world champions’ star performer in 2012, surprisingly did not crack the nod.
The nominees were chosen by former players Will Greenwood, Gavin Hastings, Raphael Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Agustin Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga and Paul Wallace.
McCaw is the only player to receive the individual IRB 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.
The winner will be announced at the 2015 World Cup pool allocation draw in London on 3 December, along with the IRB Coach of the Year and IRB Team of the Year awards.
Previous IRB Player of the Year winners:
2011 – Thierry Dusautoir (France)
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 Galthie (France)
2001 – Keith Wood (Ireland)
102 Comments
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29 Nov 2012, 10:35 am
@Heavens Game-50: Rain check? 60 years or so?
29 Nov 2012, 10:35 am
McCaw is almost as undeserving as Farrell. He’s a great captain and that’s it. So many better back row players out there then him, who have delivered bigger perfomances on the international stage this year. Hopper, Read, Fernandez Lobbe, Louw, Alberts, Nyanga, Picamoles, Parrise have all had far more outstanding performances for their national teams this year then Richie. Shame on you IRB, shaaaaaaaaaaaaaaame!
29 Nov 2012, 10:40 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-51: None needed… Susan Boyle or not, my imagination has helped me through many an ugly situation with a little help from my good friend Beer…
Don’t call it charity, call it Christmas…
…. Jingle Bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way….
29 Nov 2012, 10:51 am
Kieran Read is not there because he is overrated.
The list is a joke though. Only the Nobel Peace prize is a more ridiculous award than the IRB Player of the Year.
29 Nov 2012, 10:52 am
To be fair, I would be happy for Michalak or Farrell to win the award…
29 Nov 2012, 11:05 am
Not fair – what about Nik Naks
29 Nov 2012, 11:09 am
Hell, I’d have Etzebeth or Louw over Farrell.
29 Nov 2012, 11:11 am
@Heavens Game-53: It’s only giving if the recipient wants to accept….
If not, it’s at least 5 Xmas’s listening to the 28′s singing ‘Round yon Virgin’ as they dish you up a huge serving of their own special brand of Silent Night
See the difference?
29 Nov 2012, 11:14 am
I think a far better selection whould have been:
Eben Etzabeth
Keiron Reed
Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe
Conrad Smith
29 Nov 2012, 11:16 am
@David-57: I’d have the whole Springbok team over Farrell. There is a reason why Flood plays ahead of him, he’s awful. I am an England supporter as well….
29 Nov 2012, 11:17 am
Carter should win it by a mile. He has been the best rugby player in the world for quite some time and he still is the best by a mile. It’s a shocker that Farrell is even on the same list as Dan.
29 Nov 2012, 11:18 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-58: Yes… I understand. But don’t be shy, no need for self consciousness… After 13 grogs, the bigarse and hairy birthmark will never ever be noticed
Oh what fun it is to ride…
29 Nov 2012, 11:26 am
@Heavens Game-41: It hurts me, but I have to agree. he;’s a phenomenon. His kicking game is outstanding and he runs the line better than Johnny did.
His defense is his only question mark. He makes better decisions than Goosen as does Lambie, however Ford has the kicking game. That’s my opinion.
29 Nov 2012, 11:30 am
IRB Nominees for the inaugural ‘Cheater of the Year’ award:
reechee muckaw
keeren read
konrad smith
sam witlock
broody retallick
androo hore (only makes the list on the back of one outstanding game)
29 Nov 2012, 11:35 am
If SA has the most talent and depth of any country why don’t they win more trophies and their players get nominated for more awards?
29 Nov 2012, 11:41 am
@Heavens Game-62: I have to admit, that wherever/whatever else you might be lacking, you are good for a laugh.
29 Nov 2012, 11:44 am
@NZINCHINA-65: Simple. We are currently (and haven’t been for some while) half as good as what some would like to think.
Us being way behind the AB’s has fuckall to do with allegations of AB cheating etc. It has everything to do with the fact that we suck in terms of: coaching, skills, selection, player management etc etc etc etc etc.
It really is that simple.
29 Nov 2012, 11:46 am
Sharks pedigree keep that quiet some of the boys around here will blow if they read that.
29 Nov 2012, 11:47 am
The best Team in the World in 2012 was NZ.
The best Player, in the best Team in the World, was Kieran Read.
He didn’t even get nominated.
As for Forward Pass Freddie and the English Bench Player. Nothing would surprise me.
That said, all the past Winners look deserving with the exception of Dusautior and Shane.
29 Nov 2012, 11:47 am
But you are correct and they all know this.
29 Nov 2012, 11:51 am
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-66: Yeah, but read his post #46 again, what he’s doing is admitting that ALL Sharks are big pri@&s!!!
29 Nov 2012, 11:54 am
@NZINCHINA-68: Well then I will ask those boys to explain to me, just how it is that NZ rugby can be blamed for our draw against Argentina….our loss to Scotland a few years back…..our losses to Ireland etc etc etc. My personal fave though, is how NZ or the AB’s can somehow be connected to the fact that Morne Steyn wasn’t replaced in Dunedin when it was fuckingobvious he was flying with the fuckingfairies that day.
If they can somehow connect these manshamings to the evil that is AB rugby, I will be most impressed.
29 Nov 2012, 11:54 am
@BrumbiesBoy-71:
Classico…….
29 Nov 2012, 12:12 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-72:
No problem Bakkies will be on the job
29 Nov 2012, 12:14 pm
Dan Carter is the best player in the world by a mile and one of the best ever.
This award loses credibility if he doesn’t win.
Read should be there and maybe Etzebeth as well. Farrell…WTF?
29 Nov 2012, 12:15 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-71:
I cannot lie… ‘struth
29 Nov 2012, 12:33 pm
@Heavens Game-76: and you know this how?
stabane…
29 Nov 2012, 12:49 pm
@The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-67:
Correct. Our entire coaching system is rotten.
Afrikaans people are the best rugby players in the world, but I don’t like the coaching style implemented by many (not all) Afrikaans coaches (and I’ve seen a few).
There are some brilliant Afrikaans coaches, but more often that not the ones given control of our school and club teams are there because they braai with the guys that run the sport.
29 Nov 2012, 12:58 pm
@Transformation-77: I look down everyday…
29 Nov 2012, 13:05 pm
@Heavens Game-79: So they don’t call you “Big Joe” for nothing?
29 Nov 2012, 13:10 pm
WHAT A JOKE!
What **** nominees!
29 Nov 2012, 13:10 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-80: No… Magwaza’s the name and golo’s my game…
(Ask Transie to translate)
29 Nov 2012, 13:13 pm
@bokfan1-81:
McCaw and Carter belong in there.
So who do you think should be there?
29 Nov 2012, 13:14 pm
@spartan-49: The whole world knows Fourie shouldve won it – absolute joke by IRB.
And 2010 shouldve been Matfield.
But this year should Lobbe and Picomoles on the list!
29 Nov 2012, 13:15 pm
@Hurricane-83: Of course you would think they do! What a surprise.
Kieran Read
Estebeth
Picomoles
Lobbe
and Lobbe should win it
29 Nov 2012, 14:17 pm
A few things
1. How can such an experienced panel select such a lame group of nominees. Read was far more prominent than Mccaw (who hobbled from ruck to ruck). Lobbe outplayed the All black loose forwards in both tests (pity his teammates didn’t follow his example). Where is Etzebeth? The guy who brushed aside anyone who stepped in his way right through the year. Where’s Habana’s nod? He was on fire this year? And the ever present Sergio Parisse?
2. Mccaw should never have won the award in 2009. Fourie Du Preez, Victor Matfield and David Pocock all played much better. Brad Thorn too.
3. A side note. Can anyone please explain to me how the All Blacks manage to get all their foul play bans reduced?
29 Nov 2012, 16:09 pm
Phew, I almost spilled my beer until noticed that he has been just “nominated”/
29 Nov 2012, 16:12 pm
Oh, well. Is there any kind of topic without usual bleating from usual bleaters?
Just curious.
29 Nov 2012, 17:50 pm
Habana Wins IRPA Try of the Year Award
November 29, 2012
Bryan Habana’s spectacular score against New Zealand in the inaugural Castle Rugby Championship was named as the International Rugby Players’ Association’s (IRPA) Try of the Year 2012.
Habana became the second Springbok to win the award after Jaque Fourie earned the honour in 2009 for his try in the second Test against the British & Irish Lions at Loftus Versfeld.
Habana’s Dunedin score was also named as South Africa’s try of the year to add to his winning of the title of SARU’s player of the year for 2012. Habana took his total of Springbok tries to 47 in 2012, before a knee injury cut short his season before the end of year tour.
Former teammate Jaque Fourie, All Blacks centurion Mils Muliaina, former IRB Player of the Year Shane Williams and Japan’s Daisuke Ohata, the leading try scorer in Test Rugby, formed the panel of judges who opted for Habana’s effort ahead of the three other shortlisted tries scored by New Zealand duo Hosea Gear and Julian Savea and Frenchman Julien Malzieu.
Consideration was also given to votes cast by rugby fans from all around the world via the IRB’s interactive platforms.
Habana, the IRB Player of the Year in 2007, stunned the All Blacks when he burst onto a pass from flanker Francois Louw at full speed, chipped ahead and gathered to score a try that briefly handed the Springboks the lead seven minutes into the second half of the contest in Dunedin. New Zealand went on to win 21-11.
“Scoring a try against the All Blacks is always special, but scoring against them in New Zealand, is even more special,” said Habana.
“I really enjoyed getting across the try-line in Dunedin – contributing to the success of the team and also lifting the spirits of my teammates.”
“Winning this Award is very special and hopefully I can continue scoring tries for the Springboks for a very long time.”
Previous winners:
2011 – Radike Samo (Australia) – Australia v New Zealand
2010 – Chris Ashton (England) – England v Australia
2009 – Jaque Fourie (South Africa) – South Africa v British & Irish Lions
2008 – Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland) – Australia v Ireland
29 Nov 2012, 20:24 pm
the players know if they really deserve it or not, the award doesn’t really mean anything to a player if he knows that he doesn’t deserve it. should be a players player award, all the test players of that year should vote
29 Nov 2012, 21:49 pm
I could be wrong and if I am I apologies upfront. Isn’t this John Eales’ annual(read anal)favorite player award. In which case you have to ask whether Eales is supermanning that ho!
30 Nov 2012, 00:32 am
@Nils-88:
No wannabe, “your” mob have not arrived yet so the whinging is at an all time low!
30 Nov 2012, 00:53 am
@cane-69: @cane-69:
George Smith or Imanol Harinodiquoy should have won in 02
Richie should have never won in 09,he was injured for most of tri nations and when he did play he was decidedly avg.he should have won 08 tho
Kaino should have won 2011
Read should have won this yr 2012
30 Nov 2012, 00:59 am
@whatever-92: Who’s talking?
30 Nov 2012, 03:23 am
Remember watching Lobbe for Sale Sharks in England great player but the other Lobbe at London Irish was even more talented
Louis Picamoles is the best number 8 in the world that guy is amazing the way he breaks through tackles and offloads is beautiful
Wales’ young winger George North has been very impressive the “Welsh Jonah Lomu”
30 Nov 2012, 06:10 am
@cane-69: Holy **** – I’m actually agreeing with your post.
Write that down.
How did McCaw and Carter get nominated above Read. Read has been the form forward for the last couple of years. The list is a farce….as usual
30 Nov 2012, 06:11 am
Next thing you know Deans will be down for Coach of the year.
30 Nov 2012, 08:00 am
Saffers very hard done by. I thought Craig Joubert for the AB’s was unlucky last year not to crack the nod for player of the year. Even this year he should have at least got a nomination.
30 Nov 2012, 10:36 am
@NZINCHINA-65: China we aren’t winnign trophies because we are not playing well and your guys are, full stop. We however get shafted with awards because the IRB panel is filled with bok haters…..good thing these awards mean bugger all. Trophies and W/L ratios are the be all and end all.
30 Nov 2012, 10:38 am
@jeest-96: Shows how poor these awards are. Reid was brilliant this year and while I am a huge admirer of Ritchie Macaw I would give this one to Reid. Carter would be in the mix for me but he has been out with injury for too much of the year.
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