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
carpelone says...
Here we bloody go again!
Posted 21:19 28th November 2012
InternationalXV says...
Richie McCaw surely must be a certainty for this title...and as others have observed deservedly so. Unfortunate misses for Juan Martín Fernandez Lobbe, Kieran Read and Israel Dagg.
Posted 21:15 28th November 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
@fattystock: he isn't even first choice 10 at Sarries! I dont get this. It is truly ridiculous. There are 100 players that have been better this year. Not to say he isnt one day going to be up there but this is no "potential" contest.
Politics pure and simple; let's get an England player in there it's a big market... but they're all average and struggling even to make the Lions squad and the best are injured or not selected for internationals... don't care pick one.... Robshaw just made some pretty poor decisions so it cant be him any more... Tuilangi will kick up a Samoa debate... Farrell has come on quite well... ok pick him...
Posted 20:58 28th November 2012
Mace says...
Hey jmanngod its 4 times if he wins it idiot!
Posted 20:51 28th November 2012
lardon says...
Owen isn't even the first choice 10 for his club or country and has had some absolutely terrible matches this season. I would love to know how they are justifying this selection//
Posted 20:39 28th November 2012
bokbevok says...
Farrel, he was a lost little boy in June int, and nothing changed since.
Can everyone please ask IRB to explain selection, they have just made this award
Meaningless and degrading to all those world class players.
He has not even made the team of the week and is 3rd or 4th choice for lions. His dad must of had a huge say in this, he even thinks England are in a great place right
Now. Deluded
Posted 20:36 28th November 2012
melkdave says...
If its based only on tests ,i can understand why O.Farral could be in the running,he was superb earlier this year ,and in the summer series against SA..While Michlak has been just outstanding this aurtum ,to say the least.I like others am surprised M.Hooper and J.M.F.Lobbe arnt on the list .Then again do we fans really care ,after all its all subjective ,and though i expect means alot to the players ,for me it doesnt really matter.
Posted 20:31 28th November 2012
Kinsman says...
It is becoming a farce, Dusautoir won it last year based on a MOM award in the RWC final when the only stand out player globally over the actual year had been Jerome Kaino. Shane Williams previously won it because it hadn't gone to the NH in a while...... A player who scored some tries only against mediocre teams that year.
I'm starting to think that somebody must be perfect because it sure isn't nobody.
Posted 20:20 28th November 2012
side_stepper says...
Halfpenny? Being able to stand out in a losing team says a lot.
Posted 20:15 28th November 2012
RugbyLeRoux says...
Best rugby player in the world on a consistent basis this year? In my eyes its got to be Dagg, the guy has been sublime. This Kiwi team (as much as I hate to say it) is immense. Arguably have the best 7,8,9,10,13 and 15 players in their position in the world.
Posted 20:10 28th November 2012
Sincero says...
Don't worry...when O'Driscoll was overlooked for Richie in 2009, after winning EVERYTHING, and being crucial to EVERYTHING.... then the award became a jhoke. Farrell this year is just dragging it out. Nobody takes this seriously.
Posted 20:02 28th November 2012
alfeck says...
Farrell?? Haha someone at the IRB didnt know how to spell Fotualli so instead went with Farrell. No Read, Smith, Sharp, Hooper!
Posted 19:58 28th November 2012
mjmack says...
I think they (the esteemed selection panel) meant to say Farrelly as in the Faralley brothers (think laugh out loud comedy) rather than Farrell as in the rugby player, either way they are all comical. No disrespect to Owen Farrel he didn't nominate himself, but one: why Farrell, two: how come only four and three: think, Read, Conrad Smith, Israel Dagg, The Argentinian Flyer (forget his name), Nathan Sharpe (talk about step up) and if you really wanted a good laugh how about Quade Cooper? So when McCaw or Carter win it we will begin the never ending whinging about southern hemisphere bias! Sigh............
Posted 19:54 28th November 2012
exodus says...
AAAARRRGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!
Not again! How do the IRB keep getting this wrong? How can they choose Farrell (no where near the best in his position or in his team in an England team that has seriously underachieved) or Michalak (he was part of a good team for the Sharks with a dominant pack and only lately played at 10 for France)? Even McCaw has not done anything that amazing by his standards- don't they know that he plays to that calibre every year? Might as well just have 4 places up for decision and keep him as permanent nominee.Only DC I agree with.
But what about players like Dagg- who is a class act every time he touches the ball or defends? Or Habana- who not only scored a record number of tries in the RC but also effects turnovers and defends like a demon? What about Etzebeth who in his debut year did a lot more than Farrell? Or Michael Hooper who somehow managed to fill the boots of Pocock in a struggling team? What about Lobbe? What about Read? What about Francois Louw? Or even Robshaw?
I just don't get it with these guys. They messed this up big time in 2009 when Du Preez or O'Driscoll should have won it. They've done it again and its even a bigger joke. I really suspect that some of the pannelists don't actually watch all the games- why would they? They are busy enjoying their money and retirement careers- would Eales watch a HC game or Hastings a Super 15 one? Then in a week before the announcement they all gather round and someone somewhere heard something about this guy called Farrell and next you know he's been suggested and then nominated. It really does look a botch job.
Let the fans nominate the players- or at the very least extend the nominees to a 10 player shortlist and let the fans vote for the best. This IRB panel seems to be more oblivious to the year's best players than the X-Factor public is to actual musical talent.
Posted 19:51 28th November 2012
leebok says...
what a waste of time. We all know the IRB will give it to McCaw regardless of how well he played this year.
Posted 19:35 28th November 2012
NHsaints says...
I'd have said McCaw, Reid, Cuthberts, Sharpe and Habana are the real contenders for having had the most influence on major tests this year, Sharpe has been the glue that held Oz together through a torrid year, McCaw has just been...well McCaw, Reid has been my player of the year on his contribution on the pitch as an individual, Habana has been a force for SA and Cuthberts helped wales to major wins in the 6 nations to be grandslam champions. Actually Jonathan Sexton should be in the mix, he's led Ireland fantastically in Nz and around Europe and has been the front man for Leinster claiming another emphatic HC.... I assume it's just done on tests? If so then Michalak or McCaw for me.
Posted 19:30 28th November 2012
Chubbylugs says...
Fly hands kick goals and journos with no understanding of the game think that makes them by default the best players. 3 10s in the top 4 players? I'd say michalak has been worthy of praise to come back into the fold, however Farrell shouldn't even be starting at 10 this week. He's neither the best 10 or 13 at Saracens
Posted 19:28 28th November 2012
Stellenbosched2 says...
Pretigious award? If Farrell wins it then what a lot of us think about the iRB existing for the sole benefit of English rugby will no longer be a conspiracy theory. Agree with RM, DC, FM, and cannot understand how Habana, Lobbe and Etzebeth missed out. Ok, I think I do understand.
Posted 19:28 28th November 2012
gn100 says...
McCaw, Carter, Conrad Smith, Kieran Read, Israel Dagg, Lobbe, Habana and Michalak were my contenders ....... but which 5 of these to shortlist would be difficult to pick. But Owen Farrell? This surely is a joke - he may be a promising player, but this award is about performance at the top level, not promise for the future.
My pick was Kieran Read who hasn't played a bad game all year, and in almost every game was a contender for man of the match - his consistency and impact have been impressive
Posted 19:07 28th November 2012
BokAvenger says...
Farrell??? You have got to be frikken kidding me? I have nothing against the bloke and think he's got some real talent but player of the year? That's like PR naming me forum poster of the year.
Posted 19:02 28th November 2012