2014 IRB player of the year

The nominees have just been announced, only 1 of the 5 candidates is from the NH.

Julian Savea (NZ)
Willie Le Roux (SA)
Jonathan Sexton (Ire)
Brodie Retallick (NZ)
Duane Vermeulen (SA)

That's a pretty hot list and I find it difficult to pick just one. Good luck Sexton!

I haven't seen enough of the RC to pick a winner but that's a pretty strong line up of talent.

Would love it to be Retallick, don't think tight five players get enough credit.

asoreleftshoulder wrote:I haven't seen enough of the RC to pick a winner but that's a pretty strong line up of talent.

Those players on the list from the SH have been absolutely awesome.

savea or sexton for me.

so probably sexton. it is a bit easier for Savea to look incredibly good given the great ABs around him. sexton is the class 10 in world rugby. and last season in top14 and for Ireland, he was immense.

and Savea is a youngster. he will get another chance.

Savea has been crazy good so he will probably get it. Though if Ireland beat Oz I reckon Sexton might get the nod as winning the 6n and winning November will be some achievement.

I think Savea and le Roux are only good players going forward. Defence is no good.The other three are sound. Vermulean for me.

Sexton wasn't even Irelands best palyer this year. Andrew Trimble by a mile. I think Retallick is a class act.

Vermuelen or most likely Julian Savea . Although Brodie Retallick has been immense

Retailik has been very very good. No issue at all if he gets its.

That aside, I get the impression Vermulian could be emerging as a special. He seems to have the mix of brains and violence you need. If not this year then my vote for the future.

Thought Australia's Kuridrani looked good and may have got in but I havent seen enough Australia games.

Submachine wrote:Sexton wasn't even Irelands best palyer this year. Andrew Trimble by a mile. I think Retallick is a class act.

Well Sexton wasnt far off in the 6 nations and given Trimble is now injured and Sexton just won MOTM in a good win v SA its to be expected.

Trimble was never going to be picked. Sure in SA they think his name is David Skrela and they have never even heard of him in NZ and Oz.

Submachine wrote:Sexton wasn't even Irelands best palyer this year. Andrew Trimble by a mile. I think Retallick is a class act.

Sexton is always irelands best player.

trimble may have been the best player in ireland this year, but is not the best irish player imo.

Willie had a brain fart against NZ away, but otherwise he's been solid... don't think he's been as good going forward this year, as he was last, but still, probably a fair nod.

Julian Savea is an animal, can't see him not getting it. Just fantastic.

i can see sexton getting it as the sole NH representative, so NH fans and commentators are all very familiar with his prowess.

While the SH vote will likely get split between the 4 choices.

The panel is:

Will Greenwood,
Gavin Hastings,
Raphaël Ibanez,
Francois Pienaar,
Agustín Pichot,
Scott Quinnell,
Tana Umaga, (automatic vote against anything Irish)
Paul Wallace,

I wonder why there is no Aussie rep?

Sexton?

BOD

Shane Williams

Got to be Retallick... he has been immense. Vermeulen too.

Savea has put away chances but was he as good as say Ben Smith last year??? I don't think so.

quinsforever wrote:

Submachine wrote:Sexton wasn't even Irelands best palyer this year. Andrew Trimble by a mile. I think Retallick is a class act.

Sexton is always irelands best player.

trimble may have been the best player in ireland this year, but is not the best irish player imo.

I agree. Sexton is a better player but Trimble has been the best player in the timeframe IMO.

Where's Henson?

George Carlin wrote:Where's Henson?

I think he's expected in court. A fight with the judges I hear.

GunsGerms wrote:The panel is:

Will Greenwood,
Gavin Hastings,
Raphaël Ibanez,
Francois Pienaar,
Agustín Pichot,
Scott Quinnell,
Tana Umaga, (automatic vote against anything Irish)
Paul Wallace,

I wonder why there is no Aussie rep?

At least he cancels out Wallace then

Duane Vermeulen was the player of the tournament in the RC, you can't go wrong with him.

Sexton has probably hampered himself in the past with the kicking for points bit.  When you see how he orchestrates the team, then look at the points he can cough up with wayward kicking, you think 'we gotta guy who is both good enough to win the game for us and bad enough to lose it.' Those close run games, those points on the scoreboard.

That's why the SA game inspired me.  Because I think for the first time in a long time, if ever, Sexton looked comfortable everywhere.  His kicking was assured and you truly felt the ball was going where he knew it would go rather than where he was hoping it would go.  I have a feeling it is much credit to Ronan O'Gara for that improvement.  If it sticks, he becomes more potent.  His hesitant and fragile point-scoring kicking game was his weakness, I hope that period is now over.

GunsGerms wrote:The panel is:

Will Greenwood,
Gavin Hastings,
Raphaël Ibanez,
Francois Pienaar,
Agustín Pichot,
Scott Quinnell,
Tana Umaga, (automatic vote against anything Irish)
Paul Wallace,

I wonder why there is no Aussie rep?

Eh, he wanted to coach Munster

GunsGerms wrote:The panel is:

Will Greenwood,
Gavin Hastings,
Raphaël Ibanez,
Francois Pienaar,
Agustín Pichot,
Scott Quinnell,
Tana Umaga, (automatic vote against anything Irish)
Paul Wallace,

I wonder why there is no Aussie rep?

I think John Eales is the conventor (he has been in the past anyway).

quinsforever wrote:savea or sexton for me.

so probably sexton. it is a bit easier for Savea to look incredibly good given the great ABs around him. sexton is the class 10 in world rugby. and last season in top14 and for Ireland, he was immense.

and Savea is a youngster. he will get another chance.

Unfortunately, I think Sexton is the token NH player (no disrespect to him), but otherwise it would be all SH players.

McCaw was a 'token' entry in 2009...and won it. Don't downgrade the token guys too readily

It is a bit early for this dont you think?

Lets at least get the Ais/6ns out of the way before talking about player of the year.

Yeah...it's always too early in my opinion.  But then again, the candidate  period doesn't go into next year and the 6Ns, does it?  It's january to December I thought?

Good point on Sexton's kicking though this year I think it has been consistent enough. No missed kicks v SA.

His 6 nations kicking stats were 75% plus 4 tries.
Summer tour - Cant find the stats.
November 100% so far

Just looks a damn sight more confident in body language terms, Guns - even since 6N. And the balls seemed to float truer. I just saw something different and I hope it's sustained.

Duane Vermeulen for me. Got a lot of respect for him - he had to fight like hell to get his shot in the green and gold, but when he got his chance he grabbed it. He manages to be a brick wall without being overly heavy or reliant on the traditional steroid milkshakes.

Biltong wrote:Duane Vermeulen was the player of the tournament in the RC, you can't go wrong with him.

Doesnt matter that much. Brown was 6 nations player of the tournament and didnt make the shortlist. If SA lose again to England I dont think it will be a SA player as it is often someone who shines in Nov.

majesticimperialman wrote:It is a bit early for this dont you think?

Lets at least get the Ais/6ns out of the way before talking about player of the year.

You better write that to the IRB then.

GunsGerms wrote:

Biltong wrote:Duane Vermeulen was the player of the tournament in the RC, you can't go wrong with him.

Doesnt matter that much. Brown was 6 nations player of the tournament and didnt make the shortlist. If SA lose again to England I dont think it will be a SA player as it is often someone who shines in Nov.

It isn't beyond the realms of possibility that a player can shine in a losing team.

When SA defeated NZ Vermeulen probably had his best ever game, even better that he had been previously in that tournament.

Yes thats true but the IRB player of the years more often than not comes from a team that has on outstanding year, plus it is clearly harder to shine when you are on the back foot.

The way it works is that for each game, the jury awards 3, 2, 1 pts to the best, 2nd best and 3rd best player on the pitch.

While Browne would have done well in the 6Ns, he might not have picked up any/few points when playing NZ x 3 times.  

Ireland/Sexton had the advantage this year in that their summer tour was to Argentina.

Well he only played half game in Argentina didnt he? Or did he play both? Plus Browne had three games to shine in but Sexton only had a maximum of two.

Not sure, but he was damn good in the games he played against the other 2 opponents. I think either him or Retallick could get the award, but wouldn't be out of the ordinary if Sexton did get it. He's worthy too.

*GG this is reply to your latest comment, I thought you were talking about Vermeulen, but you were talking about Sexton.

Browne woz robbed!

But I'm glad becoz of wot that lad did to our BOD.... who woz also robbed in 2009.

Wot goes around comes around.

Sexton started both games. Played 63 & 64 mins in the 2 games.

Sin é wrote:Sexton started both games. Played 63 & 64 mins in the 2 games.

Any missed kicks and did he get any trys?

SecretFly wrote:Browne woz robbed!

But I'm glad becoz of wot that lad did to our BOD.... who woz also robbed in 2009.

Wot goes around comes around.

I think Fioure Du Preez deserved it in 2009 myself.

I dont. DuPreez is a one trick pony. Box kick, box kick, box kick behind a massive pack.

GunsGerms wrote:

Sin é wrote:Sexton started both games. Played 63 & 64 mins in the 2 games.

Any missed kicks and did he get any trys?

71% (3 from 5) in both games.

Don't think that would be too relevant anyway - as long as you are taking points from each match, you should do well.

The chances are that NZ are going to have the 3 best players on the pitch every time is very high.

GunsGerms wrote:I dont. DuPreez is a one trick pony. Box kick, box kick, box kick behind a massive pack.

I would have agreed with you before, but I think that's being overly harsh. That said, he certainly isn't the best scrum half SA have had and certainly wasn't the best No.9 in the world during his career.

fa0019 wrote:

SecretFly wrote:Browne woz robbed!

But I'm glad becoz of wot that lad did to our BOD.... who woz also robbed in 2009.

Wot goes around comes around.

I think Fioure Du Preez deserved it in 2009 myself.

Good for you FA.  I don't.  I believe a player who almost single handedly won the 6N and the HEC in 2009 deserved it.  O'Driscoll's vintage year for me and that is a few years after he was already told he was past it. That made 2009 even more fun.