Player of the tournament. Get your votes and squabbles in now.

Here are the candidates/

To me, its between POC, Ford, Joseph and Alun Wyn Jones.

I have gone for POC because I think he has been just so consistently good and has been an immense leader for Ireland.

From an Irish point of view, I'm surprised to see Conor Murry in there and not O'Mahony or SOB.

Starting every match would be a key criteria for a list I was compiling.... Parisse - really?

Is the list still based on those that picked up man of the match awards? If so a bit harsh they didn't let lawes is as he was apparently confirmed as Moore's actual pick ahead of Youngs in his come back.

The list is silly but no matter because the answer is Paul O'Connell.

MissBlennerhassett wrote:From an Irish point of view, I'm surprised to see Conor Murry in there and not O'Mahony or SOB.

From the official site:

Throughout the 2015 RBS 6 Nations each player has been awarded (or deducted) points based on statistical performance across different action categories that cover all aspects of the game. To ensure fairness, the RBS 6 Nations analysts have weighted the importance of different actions depending on different positions. These categories have been collated to give each player an overall performance score. The top scoring players are listed below in alphabetical order.
Read more at http://www.rbs6nations.com/RBSPlayerOfTheChampionship#O6DBOHBASLAtf4pR.99

now the points have not been made public, but from www.rugby.net the leading point scoreres were:

Ford - 2300
Vunipola - 2050
Joseph - 1648
Robshaw - 1479
Faletau - 1462
Murray -1392
Biggar - 1361
Nowell - 1319
Youngs - 1312
Henshaw - 1311
Marler - 1269
Cole - 1259
O'Connell - 1255


Obviously a different algorithm - and one that seems to really punish missed lineouts. However bulk of the nominated players are there. Parisse - who surely is only included for sentimental reasons - earnt 800 points.

LondonTiger wrote:

MissBlennerhassett wrote:From an Irish point of view, I'm surprised to see Conor Murry in there and not O'Mahony or SOB.

From the official site:

Throughout the 2015 RBS 6 Nations each player has been awarded (or deducted) points based on statistical performance across different action categories that cover all aspects of the game. To ensure fairness, the RBS 6 Nations analysts have weighted the importance of different actions depending on different positions. These categories have been collated to give each player an overall performance score. The top scoring players are listed below in alphabetical order.
Read more at http://www.rbs6nations.com/RBSPlayerOfTheChampionship#O6DBOHBASLAtf4pR.99

now the points have not been made public, but from www.rugby.net the leading point scoreres were:

Ford - 2300
Vunipola - 2050
Joseph - 1648
Robshaw - 1479
Faletau - 1462
Murray -1392
Biggar - 1361
Nowell - 1319
Youngs - 1312
Henshaw - 1311
Marler - 1269
Cole - 1259
O'Connell - 1255


Obviously a different algorithm - and one that seems to really punish missed lineouts. However bulk of the nominated players are there. Parisse - who surely is only included for sentimental reasons - earnt 800 points.

8 out of 13 listed there are English. Not bad. And how did Nowell get in considering he missed two games?

some form of weighted averaging I guess. So consisten performances over 5 rounds best. But good ones over 3 beats those who have good and bad.

Went for Billy Vunipola. Showed incredible workrate for a big man.

http://web.orange.co.uk/article/sports/six_nations_by_the_numbers

Highest amount of carries - with average of 3.61 metres per carry.

3rd highest amount of tackles. Only behind Gray and Robshaw which is incredible.

2 tries.

Played every minute.

Other England players have got the plaudits like Joseph,Ford and Youngs but Billy has given England much needed momentum. Seemed to be the one of the only Englishman who came out of that Ireland game with his head held up high.

Billy has indeed been fabulous. Morgan seems to be more explosive when he decided something is on but otherwise we havent missed him anything like as much as we though before the 6N started.

Well, Paul O'Connell won the 606v2 poll and the official one.

No surprise O Connell won - Irish fans seem to vote more than anyone else.

English vote inevitably got split.

To be fair to O Connell he's a worthy winner but Tommy Bowe should have never won player of the 6 nations tournament in 2010 - absolute travesty.

Notch wrote:Well, Paul O'Connell won the 606v2 poll and the official one.

Probably a bit of sentimentality there for his 2015 efforts but for his overall contribution to the championship over the years, very well deserved.

You think so? I find it hard to think of a more deserving candidate. What would England give for a Captain like him?

Notch who are you responding to? If it's me you're joking right?

Probably MissB based on the sentimentality angle- I think he's had an exceptional Six Nations, his best in many years. And I do think he's one of the best leaders in world rugby.

I voted for Hogg because he's Scottish, and I'm biased. He did play well though, only Scot to turn up for this tournament.

Happy for POC to have won it. Damn good player.

Notch fair enough.

I think O Connell got it for a few reasons. Ireland generally vote more than others.

O Connell was the clear top Irish candidate so the vast majority of Irish votes went to him. Ireland won the 6 nations. O Connell was the captain. He did have a very good 6 nations and was particularly influential in the win vs England.

As you say he's a very good leader. I do think that as MissB says though - sentimentality did come into the mix.

But in addition to that, I think he's rarely played better himself. It's unbelievable that he's still improving at his age, but I've never seen him carry the ball better and get through more work around the pitch.

I think you are doing him an injustice there by saying that the Irish just vote for their own players. Ireland had 3 nominees and has a very small population. POC got 26% of vote, AW 19%(2nd) & Robbie Henshaw (3rd) 11% (just ahead of Biggar). I think Jonathan Sexton was a nominee last year and he didn't win it.

POC seems to be liked by every nation. The Telegraph ran a poll last week "if the Lions team was being selected, who would be in it.'' POC got 72% of vote for his position (as well as captain) way better than most everyone else. AW Jones didn't even make the team (Lawes did). Chris Robshaw didn't make the team (Sam Warburton was ahead of him).

Jonathan Joseph got 77% of the vote (no Robshaw).

Most Irish people wouldn't have known about that poll on the Telegraph - so I think England fans have been voting for him as well.

I'd also like to draw your attention to this stat about the great man:

Top five of the 6 Nations
The ground game. Le jeu au sol. And on the leaderboards au sol you’ll find many Irish. Paul O’Connell led the championship in being one of the first three arrivals to an attacking ruck 144 times; his partner Devin Toner was just behind with 140. Third? Peter O’Mahony’s 115.

Prozone show Ireland were also quickest at recycling it. That’s a powerful combination. At an average of 2.9 seconds per ruck that recycling speed was just under the important three second mark generally accepted in the game as signifying “quick ball”.

Not bad for probably the oldest man in the competition.

Its also worth nothing he is only the 2nd forward to win the competition. Usually its one of those fancy dan backs.

I went for Joseph, just ahead of Ford.

Easter would be the oldest guy in the competition.

POC only got it because ireland won.

The real finds are Ford and Joseph and as a 10 for me Ford is miles ahead of Farrell.

In fact i would say Farrell drops to 3 behind Cips because Cips offers so much more, but daddy will ensure Owen gets a look in for RWC.

Will Farrell be fit enough for the RWC?

Cipriani

majesticimperialman wrote:Will Farrell be fit enough for the RWC?

Why, is he out that long?

Gwlad wrote:POC only got it because ireland won.

The real finds are Ford and Joseph and as a 10 for me Ford is miles ahead of Farrell.

In fact i would say Farrell drops to 3 behind Cips because Cips offers so much more, but daddy will ensure Owen gets a look in for RWC.

I can think of worse reasons for a player winning Player of the Tournament

Sin é wrote:

Gwlad wrote:POC only got it because ireland won.

The real finds are Ford and Joseph and as a 10 for me Ford is miles ahead of Farrell.

In fact i would say Farrell drops to 3 behind Cips because Cips offers so much more, but daddy will ensure Owen gets a look in for RWC.

I can think of worse reasons for a player winning Player of the Tournament

I think the point is there wasn't much in it, as the top 3 teams each had their fair share of standout performers. There's even a case for AWJ and Charteris also being the best locks in the tournament. With Ireland winning the title, POC had to win it. So maybe he did just edge the others due to Ireland winning, but it was still deservedly so. I'm happy for him and his team.

I voted for Joseph as though he exciting all the way through but happy that POC won it.

The Saint wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Gwlad wrote:POC only got it because ireland won.

The real finds are Ford and Joseph and as a 10 for me Ford is miles ahead of Farrell.

In fact i would say Farrell drops to 3 behind Cips because Cips offers so much more, but daddy will ensure Owen gets a look in for RWC.

I can think of worse reasons for a player winning Player of the Tournament

I think the point is there wasn't much in it, as the top 3 teams each had their fair share of standout performers. There's even a case for AWJ and Charteris also being the best locks in the tournament. With Ireland winning the title, POC had to win it. So maybe he did just edge the others due to Ireland winning, but it was still deservedly so. I'm happy for him and his team.

The Saint wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Gwlad wrote:POC only got it because ireland won.

The real finds are Ford and Joseph and as a 10 for me Ford is miles ahead of Farrell.

In fact i would say Farrell drops to 3 behind Cips because Cips offers so much more, but daddy will ensure Owen gets a look in for RWC.

I can think of worse reasons for a player winning Player of the Tournament

I think the point is there wasn't much in it, as the top 3 teams each had their fair share of standout performers. There's even a case for AWJ and Charteris also being the best locks in the tournament. With Ireland winning the title, POC had to win it. So maybe he did just edge the others due to Ireland winning, but it was still deservedly so. I'm happy for him and his team.

You are forgetting that Wales lost at home to England (and 4 of their own lineouts)!

A quick tot of the lineouts (on own throw)  win/lose

Ireland 60/10.  Wales 53/13

AW also gave away 3 penalties. POC Zero.

As well as that, POC was top player for being the first 3 players at attacking rucks (144). Toner 2nd (140), POM 3rd (116). No other player got within an asses roar of those stats. The Irish outside backs were as good as most backrows in the tournament.

Mike Brown won the Player of the Tournament last year - despite England not winning the 6Ns (and Brian O'Driscoll retiring!)

That POC won is fair enough.

Interested to see that Henshaw and Biggar were 3rd and 4th, perhaps it is my inherent national bias but although I thought these two were decent enough, I feel Joseph and Ford were a fair bit better. The public votes the way the public votes I guess.

LondonTiger wrote:That POC won is fair enough.

Interested to see that Henshaw and Biggar were 3rd and 4th, perhaps it is my inherent national bias but although I thought these two were decent enough, I feel Joseph and Ford were a fair bit better. The public votes the way the public votes I guess.

Nobody English voted? or was the English vote split too many ways

That's the big problem with this sort of vote though. Too much biased opinion unable or unwilling to see beyond their own players.

Like someone said earlier - if it wasn't ol' Sin himself - Brown got it last year - I think by a bit of a landslide if memory serves me right.

England didn't win last year but I'd bet my bottom dollar that many Irish people voted for Brown.

Yes, people can overcome bias.  In general I think people are willing to do it here on 606 if the Lions chat is anything to go by - people tend to be largely open minded enough.

But then people do see what they see too.  I appreciated England's play and many of the players playing it.  It was spectacular to watch.  But personally speaking the game of rugby is attack  AND defence.

So the good stuff that the camera loves is a part of the equation but also the boring stuff, that Hansen doesn't like , is also part of the equation.

I think Ireland above all sides this season showed how effective that balance is and, therefore, no surprise that their players are showing up in perhaps 'unlikely' places, and not fully appreciated in those position by some who much prefer the sparks over the boring burrowing stuff

I don't think there are many arguments about the winner. It has moved on to the order of the also rans

It's the also ran discussion I was referring to, lost.

Not sure how Ford can end up below Biggar though. I can take Henshaw being above Joseph though don't agree with it.

Sin é wrote:

The Saint wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Gwlad wrote:POC only got it because ireland won.

The real finds are Ford and Joseph and as a 10 for me Ford is miles ahead of Farrell.

In fact i would say Farrell drops to 3 behind Cips because Cips offers so much more, but daddy will ensure Owen gets a look in for RWC.

I can think of worse reasons for a player winning Player of the Tournament

I think the point is there wasn't much in it, as the top 3 teams each had their fair share of standout performers. There's even a case for AWJ and Charteris also being the best locks in the tournament. With Ireland winning the title, POC had to win it. So maybe he did just edge the others due to Ireland winning, but it was still deservedly so. I'm happy for him and his team.

You are forgetting that Wales lost at home to England (and 4 of their own lineouts)!

A quick tot of the lineouts (on own throw)  win/lose

Ireland 60/10.  Wales 53/13

AW also gave away 3 penalties. POC Zero.

As well as that, POC was top player for being the first 3 players at attacking rucks (144). Toner 2nd (140), POM 3rd (116). No other player got within an asses roar of those stats. The Irish outside backs were as good as most backrows in the tournament.

Mike Brown won the Player of the Tournament last year - despite England not winning the 6Ns (and Brian O'Driscoll retiring!)

And if it was all based on cherry picked stats then Hogg would have apparently been the Lions full back ahead of Halfpenny in 2013 . Is there a better lock partnership than AWJ and Charteris in world rugby?

The Saint wrote:

And if it was all based on cherry picked stats then Hogg would have apparently been the Lions full back ahead of Halfpenny in 2013 . Is there a better lock partnership than AWJ and Charteris in world rugby?

They are very good but.. lol.

World player of the year Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock.

The Saint wrote:

Sin é wrote:

The Saint wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Gwlad wrote:POC only got it because ireland won.

The real finds are Ford and Joseph and as a 10 for me Ford is miles ahead of Farrell.

In fact i would say Farrell drops to 3 behind Cips because Cips offers so much more, but daddy will ensure Owen gets a look in for RWC.

I can think of worse reasons for a player winning Player of the Tournament

I think the point is there wasn't much in it, as the top 3 teams each had their fair share of standout performers. There's even a case for AWJ and Charteris also being the best locks in the tournament. With Ireland winning the title, POC had to win it. So maybe he did just edge the others due to Ireland winning, but it was still deservedly so. I'm happy for him and his team.

You are forgetting that Wales lost at home to England (and 4 of their own lineouts)!

A quick tot of the lineouts (on own throw)  win/lose

Ireland 60/10.  Wales 53/13

AW also gave away 3 penalties. POC Zero.

As well as that, POC was top player for being the first 3 players at attacking rucks (144). Toner 2nd (140), POM 3rd (116). No other player got within an asses roar of those stats. The Irish outside backs were as good as most backrows in the tournament.

Mike Brown won the Player of the Tournament last year - despite England not winning the 6Ns (and Brian O'Driscoll retiring!)

And if it was all based on cherry picked stats then Hogg would have apparently been the Lions full back ahead of Halfpenny in 2013 . Is there a better lock partnership than AWJ and Charteris in world rugby?

Its factual that the Wales lock partnership that you are touting as the best lock partnership in world rugby lost 13 of their own throws out of 53 in the recent 6Ns tournament.

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

The Saint wrote:

And if it was all based on cherry picked stats then Hogg would have apparently been the Lions full back ahead of Halfpenny in 2013 . Is there a better lock partnership than AWJ and Charteris in world rugby?

They are very good but.. lol.

World player of the year Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock.

Rugby.net rate Johnny Grey (3925) as the No. 1 lock in the world at the moment. 2. Dave Attwood (3582). 3. POC (3323), 4. AWJ (3306).

In the SH - Victor Matfield (2729), Sam Whitlock (2610), Sam Carter (2445).

http://www.rugby.net/s/Py0lAZjQ0aR#Tx:c=5162748207955968&s=5328449715568640&g=6195584553713664&m=4923128954224640&q=5193036350881792

Think we can discount rugby.net then!

Sin é wrote:

The Saint wrote:

Sin é wrote:

The Saint wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Gwlad wrote:POC only got it because ireland won.

The real finds are Ford and Joseph and as a 10 for me Ford is miles ahead of Farrell.

In fact i would say Farrell drops to 3 behind Cips because Cips offers so much more, but daddy will ensure Owen gets a look in for RWC.

I can think of worse reasons for a player winning Player of the Tournament

I think the point is there wasn't much in it, as the top 3 teams each had their fair share of standout performers. There's even a case for AWJ and Charteris also being the best locks in the tournament. With Ireland winning the title, POC had to win it. So maybe he did just edge the others due to Ireland winning, but it was still deservedly so. I'm happy for him and his team.

You are forgetting that Wales lost at home to England (and 4 of their own lineouts)!

A quick tot of the lineouts (on own throw)  win/lose

Ireland 60/10.  Wales 53/13

AW also gave away 3 penalties. POC Zero.

As well as that, POC was top player for being the first 3 players at attacking rucks (144). Toner 2nd (140), POM 3rd (116). No other player got within an asses roar of those stats. The Irish outside backs were as good as most backrows in the tournament.

Mike Brown won the Player of the Tournament last year - despite England not winning the 6Ns (and Brian O'Driscoll retiring!)

And if it was all based on cherry picked stats then Hogg would have apparently been the Lions full back ahead of Halfpenny in 2013 . Is there a better lock partnership than AWJ and Charteris in world rugby?

Its factual that the Wales lock partnership that you are touting as the best lock partnership in world rugby lost 13 of their own throws out of 53 in the recent 6Ns tournament.

As I said earlier, cherry picked stats. Stick to rugby.net, there you can hide away and pretend Wales didn't deny you a Grand Slam as you're clearly still bitter over it .

Sin é wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

The Saint wrote:

And if it was all based on cherry picked stats then Hogg would have apparently been the Lions full back ahead of Halfpenny in 2013 . Is there a better lock partnership than AWJ and Charteris in world rugby?

They are very good but.. lol.

World player of the year Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock.

Rugby.net rate Johnny Grey (3925) as the No. 1 lock in the world at the moment. 2. Dave Attwood (3582). 3. POC (3323), 4. AWJ (3306).

In the SH - Victor Matfield (2729), Sam Whitlock (2610), Sam Carter (2445).

http://www.rugby.net/s/Py0lAZjQ0aR#Tx:c=5162748207955968&s=5328449715568640&g=6195584553713664&m=4923128954224640&q=5193036350881792

Whilst Jonny Gray is very good, I'd just about take Sam Whitelock or Retallick ahead of him....

Love stats. Wonderfully misleading but perfect for those who don't really understand the game.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

Sin é wrote:

Rory_Gallagher wrote:

The Saint wrote:

And if it was all based on cherry picked stats then Hogg would have apparently been the Lions full back ahead of Halfpenny in 2013 . Is there a better lock partnership than AWJ and Charteris in world rugby?

They are very good but.. lol.

World player of the year Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock.

Rugby.net rate Johnny Grey (3925) as the No. 1 lock in the world at the moment. 2. Dave Attwood (3582). 3. POC (3323), 4. AWJ (3306).

In the SH - Victor Matfield (2729), Sam Whitlock (2610), Sam Carter (2445).

http://www.rugby.net/s/Py0lAZjQ0aR#Tx:c=5162748207955968&s=5328449715568640&g=6195584553713664&m=4923128954224640&q=5193036350881792

Whilst Jonny Gray is very good, I'd just about take Sam Whitelock or Retallick ahead of him....

Love stats. Wonderfully misleading but perfect for those who don't really understand the game.

Actually these stats are good because they are weighted against the opposition. Since the NH players have been playing internationals they earn more pts. You lose points as well over time (i.e., if you 500pts 6 months ago for a game, that will have reduced now). Grey would earn more points against Ireland because Ireland is higher ranked than Scotland etc.

Expect Retallick & Whitelock to be on top once the Rugby Championship gets going (though comparatively, Matfield is outperforming them in Super Rugby).