2017 Six Nations Player of the Championship

First topic message reminder :

20 March 2017 - Press release from the RBS Six Nations Championship:

"A shortlist of 12 nominees for the Player of the Championship for the 2017 RBS 6 Nations has been announced with players from all six countries in contention.

Having won the RBS 6 Nations title for the second year running, England provide the most players with three, second row Joe Launchbury, fellow forward Maro Itoje and centre Owen Farrell.

After their impressive campaign Scotland have two players nominated including last year's winner Stuart Hogg, joined by Finn Russell, while Rhys Webb and Ken Owens are nominated from Wales.

Camille Lopez, the Championship's top points scorer, and Louis Picamoles are both included from France, while Ireland pair CJ Stander and Conor Murray make the list, as does Italy skipper Sergio Parisse.

Players at every RBS 6 Nations match this year have been awarded or deducted points based upon several different performance categories which cover all aspects of the game. These categories are proportionately weighted based on the different positions by an algorithm created by Accenture, Official Technology Partner of the RBS 6 Nations.

This year, Accenture has worked very closely with Accenture Analysis Team member, and former South Africa and Italy coach, Nick Mallett to draw up a shortlist of 12 players who have displayed specialist skills and outstanding ability throughout the whole Championship."

Linky Goodness

Well he won the 606v2 poll so deserved.

Is it a panel decision or public vote?

IanBru wrote:Yes! Well done Hoggy!

Mega-lols at the Glasgow team meeting:
https://twitter.com/Scotlandteam/status/844892273909338112

Mega Lols?

It will be either Hogg, Launchbury of Stander IMO. No one else came close.

Cyril wrote:Is it a panel decision or public vote?

Public vote. He got a quarter of votes.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:It will be either Hogg, Launchbury of Stander IMO. No one else came close.

Picamoles made 360 odd metres, half over the gainline, MOTM vs England and played well every game.

Ah it was Hogg. Fair enough, most skillful player in the tournament anyway.

Didn't these people read he can't defend!?

2 years in a row well done to the lad. Quality player.

Scottrf wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:It will be either Hogg, Launchbury of Stander IMO. No one else came close.

Picamoles made 360 odd metres, half over the gainline, MOTM vs England and played well every game.

How many meters did Stander make? Picamoles is a fine player but not sure he was better than Stander.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

IanBru wrote:Yes! Well done Hoggy!

Mega-lols at the Glasgow team meeting:
https://twitter.com/Scotlandteam/status/844892273909338112

Mega Lols?

I bet Stander is well jel.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:It will be either Hogg, Launchbury of Stander IMO. No one else came close.

Picamoles made 360 odd metres, half over the gainline, MOTM vs England and played well every game.

How many meters did Stander make? Picamoles is a fine player but not sure he was better than Stander.

Don't know. Fewer than 335, but can only find the most per team (Zebo for Ireland).

Scottrf wrote:Well he won the 606v2 poll so deserved.

606v2 has spoken!

This is how you end up with Trump and Brexit though

Scottrf wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:It will be either Hogg, Launchbury of Stander IMO. No one else came close.

Picamoles made 360 odd metres, half over the gainline, MOTM vs England and played well every game.

How many meters did Stander make? Picamoles is a fine player but not sure he was better than Stander.

Don't know. Fewer than 335, but can only find the most per team (Zebo for Ireland).

Do you have a link? Im sure Stander was up there anyway.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:Do you have a link? Im sure Stander was up there anyway.

Official website, click a team then match data.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:It will be either Hogg, Launchbury of Stander IMO. No one else came close.

Picamoles made 360 odd metres, half over the gainline, MOTM vs England and played well every game.

How many meters did Stander make? Picamoles is a fine player but not sure he was better than Stander.

In terms of quantity of carries, Ireland's CJ Stander was unrivalled across the RBS 6 Nations with 103 in total, more than 30 ahead of the next highest carrier.

As a result he made 234 metres with ball in hand, while also beating 14 defenders, and he also became the first forward to score a hat-trick in the Championship since France's Michel Crauste in 1962.

Read more at http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/news/31584.php#S8L2rST5bh68ElXv.99

Wow, Picamoles made a lot more yards than Stander with a lot fewer carries.

Plus, the majority of Stander's were against Italy so they shouldn't count.

Cyril wrote:Wow, Picamoles made a lot more yards than Stander with a lot fewer carries.

Plus, the majority of Stander's were against Italy so they shouldn't count.

The majority of Picmoles' were on George Ford so they shouldnt count either.

Scottrf wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:Do you have a link? Im sure Stander was up there anyway.

Official website, click a team then match data.

Go raibh maith agat.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

Cyril wrote:Wow, Picamoles made a lot more yards than Stander with a lot fewer carries.

Plus, the majority of Stander's were against Italy so they shouldn't count.

The majority of Picmoles' were on George Ford so they shouldnt count either.

You've got me there!

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:Do you have a link? Im sure Stander was up there anyway.

Official website, click a team then match data.

Go raibh maith agat.

New keyboard needed, Guns?

No I am teaching you lads some Irish. Just means thanks.

Cyril wrote:Wow, Picamoles made a lot more yards than Stander with a lot fewer carries.

Plus, the majority of Stander's were against Italy so they shouldn't count.

2.3 metres per carry by Stander. If we discount his tries vs Italy he would on average be falling backwards per carry so that would be unfair.

RBS 6 Nations Player of the Championship Shortlist

1. Stuart Hogg (Scotland) - 29,374 votes - 24.60% of the vote
2. CJ Stander (Ireland) - 18,078 - 14.95%
3. Louis Picamoles(France) - 15,528 - 12.84%
4. Joe Launchbury (England) - 10,836 - 8.96%
5. Finn Russell (Scotland) - 10,093 - 8.35%
6. Conor Murray (Ireland) - 9,566 - 7.91%
7. Owen Farrell (England) - 7,611 - 6.30%
8. Rhys Webb (Wales) - 6,672 - 5.52%
9. Sergio Parisse (Italy) - 4,033 - 3.34%
10. Ken Owens (Wales) - 3,696 - 3.06%
11. Camille Lopez (France) - 3,015 - 2.49%
12. Maro Itoje (England) - 2,027 - 1.68%

Total Votes: 120,889

RBS Player of the Championship - previous winners

2016 - Stuart Hogg
2015 - Paul O'Connell
2014 - Mike Brown
2013 - Leigh Halfpenny
2012 - Dan Lydiate
2011 - Andrea Masi
2010 - Tommy Bowe
2009 - Brian O'Driscoll
2008 - Shane Williams
2007 - Brian O'Driscoll
2006 - Brian O'Driscoll

Read more at http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/news/31588.php#75I2bQ8tiHtfH1Jq.99

Not sure how Owen Farrell made the short list. He was fairly average against Ireland and Italy and possibly below his best over all. Odd inclusion.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Well done Stuart Hogg, Player of the championship 2 years running!

Well played indeed, But someone should tell him its a team game.

Just think Joe Launchbury deserved it for his high class performances in every game, really stepped up to the plate.

TightHEAD wrote:

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:Well done Stuart Hogg, Player of the championship 2 years running!

Well played indeed,

But someone should tell him its a team game. Just think Joe Launchbury deserved it for his high class performances in every game.

He did well for a fat dude alright. In fairness to he he was very good in most games but spectacular in none unlike Hogg.

I must have missed his performance vs England.

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:

RBS Player of the Championship - previous winners

2016 - Stuart Hogg
2015 - Paul O'Connell
2014 - Mike Brown
2013 - Leigh Halfpenny
2012 - Dan Lydiate
2011 - Andrea Masi
2010 - Tommy Bowe
2009 - Brian O'Driscoll
2008 - Shane Williams
2007 - Brian O'Driscoll
2006 - Brian O'Driscoll

Read more at http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/news/31588.php#75I2bQ8tiHtfH1Jq.99

So, only 2 forwards have won it. Fairplay to Paul O'Connell & Dan Lydiate - makes their win extra special.

Really surprising that Itoje came last with less than 2% of the vote: 12. Maro Itoje (England) - 2,027 - 1.68%

Sin é wrote:

Tattie Scones RRN wrote:

RBS Player of the Championship - previous winners

2016 - Stuart Hogg
2015 - Paul O'Connell
2014 - Mike Brown
2013 - Leigh Halfpenny
2012 - Dan Lydiate
2011 - Andrea Masi
2010 - Tommy Bowe
2009 - Brian O'Driscoll
2008 - Shane Williams
2007 - Brian O'Driscoll
2006 - Brian O'Driscoll

Read more at http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/news/31588.php#75I2bQ8tiHtfH1Jq.99

So, only 2 forwards have won it. Fairplay to Paul O'Connell & Dan Lydiate - makes their win extra special.

Just goes to show that it's always the Pink Cowboy Hat wearing fraternity that carry the result every year. If you're not darting, ducking, zipping, zapping and diving for a tryline, then you're not seen by the voting casual classes of the 6N.

TightHEAD wrote:I must have missed his performance vs England.

Hogg was fairly spectacular v Ireland and Wales and good v Italy and France. I guess thats why he won rather than his bad day v England.

TightHEAD wrote:I must have missed his performance vs England.

Yeah kinda strange to get it considering he bailed when the going got tough.

Sin é wrote:

So, only 2 forwards have won it. Fairplay to Paul O'Connell & Dan Lydiate - makes their win extra special.

Really surprising that Itoje came last with less than 2% of the vote:  12. Maro Itoje (England) - 2,027 - 1.68%

I dont think its that surprising. He was played out of position for the whole tournament and was calling lineouts for the first time. I dont think he was anywhere near as good as he was last year. I think someone like Tadgh Furlong could have been short listed ahead of him.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:I must have missed his performance vs England.

Hogg was fairly spectacular v Ireland and Wales and good v Italy and France. I guess thats why he won rather than his bad day v England.

Bad day? I don't know how his performance can even be measured as a bad day when all he did was strip a huge lock of the ball in contact and get clotheslined and sent of for an HIA, with only 18 mins on the park but fair enough...

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:I must have missed his performance vs England.

Hogg was fairly spectacular v Ireland and Wales and good v Italy and France. I guess thats why he won rather than his bad day v England.

Bad day? I don't know how his performance can even be measured as a bad day when all he did was strip a huge lock of the ball in contact and get clotheslined and sent of for an HIA, with only 18 mins on the park but fair enough...

That sounds like a bad day to me. Im sure he would have preferred to play the whole game.

Poor old Heaslip. Yet another snub and a missed publicity opportunity. He can't even put 'nominated' on his headed paper 

Cyril wrote:Poor old Heaslip. Yet another snub and a missed publicity opportunity. He can't even put 'nominated' on his headed paper 

Oh don't worry about him. Him and the Leprechaun are on holidays in the Maldives.

Cyril wrote:Poor old Heaslip. Yet another snub and a missed publicity opportunity. He can't even put 'nominated' on his headed paper 

He is still the face of the six nations.

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

Cyril wrote:Poor old Heaslip. Yet another snub and a missed publicity opportunity. He can't even put 'nominated' on his headed paper 

He is still the face of the six nations.

I've always liked Heaslip, but I suspect Stander will nick his shirt going forward with POM installed at 6.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

GunsGermsV2 wrote:

Cyril wrote:Poor old Heaslip. Yet another snub and a missed publicity opportunity. He can't even put 'nominated' on his headed paper 

He is still the face of the six nations.

I've always liked Heaslip, but I suspect Stander will nick his shirt going forward with POM installed at 6.

Its possible but Im guessing Heaslip will get at least another 15 caps for Ireland, either from the bench or as a starter. He just signed a three year central contract extension and will more than likely be picked for the next RWC. Pom and SOB are more injury prone than Heaslip so through injury or design there will be rotation.

I wouldnt be surprised if he is selected for the Lions too.