Beauden Barrett wins world player of the year award!!

https://www.worldrugby.org/news/293375

Shortlist:
BEAUDEN BARRETT (NEW ZEALAND)
The 26-year-old could become only the second player to win the prestigious accolade two years in a row after another impressive season in the All Blacks No.10 jersey. He celebrated his 50th test against Samoa with a two-try, 24-point haul and a piece of All Blacks history alongside his brothers, and finished the Lions series as top point scorer with 41. The attack-minded fly-half, who is equally at home at full-back, continued to torment defences with his instinctive play and captained the All Blacks for the first time in the non-capped victory over the Barbarians earlier this month.

OWEN FARRELL (ENGLAND AND LIONS)
Another player nominated for the second year running and third time in total, Farrell continued to pull the strings for England and the Lions at inside centre in 2017. He started all five tests in England’s victorious Six Nations campaign, reaching 50 caps for his country against Italy in February and breaking through 600 test points in the final round loss to Ireland. The 26-year-old also started the three tests on the Lions tour of New Zealand, the first of them at fly-half, and contributed 31 points in the drawn series.

ISRAEL FOLAU (AUSTRALIA)
The oldest of the nominees at 28, Folau has been back to his scintillating best in 2017. The full-back came into the year without a try in his previous 11 tests, but rediscovered his scoring touch to set a new Australian record for tries in a calendar year with 12 in his 10 tests, failing to cross the line in only two matches. The first Wallaby to score doubles in three consecutive tests back in June, he was joint top try-scorer in the Rugby Championship and will be missed on their end of year tour after electing to take a break after a long season.

RIEKO IOANE (NEW ZEALAND)
Ioane, the youngest of the nominees at only 20, is also nominated for the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year award having made the All Blacks starting left-wing spot his own following a two-try haul in his first test start against the British and Irish Lions in June. He then shared the top try-scoring honour in the Rugby Championship after topping the charts for defenders beaten, clean breaks and metres made, and arrives in Europe with a record of eight tries in as nine starts this year.

MARO ITOJE (ENGLAND AND LIONS)
The Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2016, Itoje is nominated for this prestigious award for the second year running after continuing his impressive form in 2017. Deployed at blindside flanker, rather than second-row, throughout England’s victorious Six Nations campaign, his performances ensured his place on the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand. He came off the bench in the first test and earned a starting spot in the second-row for the remaining tests.

Winner: Barrett

Maro and Farrell? Lol.

What would Picamoles have to have done to get on the list? Immense every week in a struggling pack for Saints, and then an excellent 6 Nations?

Is Itoje just going to be on the list until his retirement now?

EDIT: Supposedly just based on international performances. Disregard. But Itoje still shouldn't be there.

Anyone else think this is one of the weakest shortlists in a long time?

Scottrf wrote:What would Picamoles have to have done to get on the list? Immense every week in a struggling pack for Saints, and then an excellent 6 Nations?

Is Itoje just going to be on the list until his retirement now?

Itoje is a really good player but surely 2016 was a better year for him. Not sure I would have included him either.

I still feel that the timing of the list and selection is disjointed.

I know the NH Club season STARTS in the Autumn of any given year but in my mind the International season begins with the real contest in February called the 6N and in my mind that means that after the summer break, this Autumn International series is the last of the International season fixtures... and should be included in 2017 considerations of best Player rather than waiting to be included in 2018's considerations.

By the time this year's nominations are drawn up, last year's Autumn Internationals are long since forgotten in the summations of worth.

scottrf not sure you can cite Picamoles Saints form as a reason to nominate but dismiss that both Itoje and Farrell won the European Champions Cup again.

If we are talking solely about international level - Picamoles had a summer to forget whilst Itoje and Farrell emerged as key figures for the Lions.

beshocked wrote:scottrf not sure you can cite Picamoles Saints form as a reason to nominate but dismiss that both Itoje and Farrell won the European Champions Cup again.

If we are talking solely about international level - Picamoles had a summer to forget whilst Itoje and Farrell emerged as key figures for the Lions.

It's a team game, and neither were the best Sarries player. Being good in an excellent side isn't as good as being excellent in a poor side.

But just realised it's international only, in which case neither were the best England player.

Scottrf wrote:

beshocked wrote:scottrf not sure you can cite Picamoles Saints form as a reason to nominate but dismiss that both Itoje and Farrell won the European Champions Cup again.

If we are talking solely about international level - Picamoles had a summer to forget whilst Itoje and Farrell emerged as key figures for the Lions.

It's a team game, and neither were the best Sarries player.

But just realised it's international only, in which case neither were the best England player.

True it's a team game but both are/were important players for club and country and for the Lions.

Well probably if we go on purely internationals probably Lawes should be nominated instead.

He's probably had his best season of rugby IMO.

beshocked wrote:scottrf not sure you can cite Picamoles Saints form as a reason to nominate but dismiss that both Itoje and Farrell won the European Champions Cup again.

If we are talking solely about international level - Picamoles had a summer to forget whilst Itoje and Farrell emerged as key figures for the Lions.

Not sure Farrell was a key figure for the Lions. He did some things really well but others quite badly.

Sexton was probably better than Farrell overall in internationals.

beshocked wrote:

Scottrf wrote:

beshocked wrote:scottrf not sure you can cite Picamoles Saints form as a reason to nominate but dismiss that both Itoje and Farrell won the European Champions Cup again.

If we are talking solely about international level - Picamoles had a summer to forget whilst Itoje and Farrell emerged as key figures for the Lions.

It's a team game, and neither were the best Sarries player.

But just realised it's international only, in which case neither were the best England player.

True it's a team game but both are/were important players for club and country and for the Lions.

Well probably if we go on purely internationals probably Lawes should be nominated instead.

He's probably had his best season of rugby IMO.

Launchbury was England's best player in the six nations IMO.

Collapse2005 wrote:Launchbury was England's best player in the six nations IMO.

But that was a tossup with Lawes IMO, and on top of that Lawes played well last AIs (Launch was banned) and for Lions.

Sexton didn't have a better 6 nations than Farrell. Missed 2 games and got sin binned vs Wales.

beshocked wrote:Sexton didn't have a better 6 nations than Farrell. Missed 2 games and got sin binned vs Wales.

That's a brilliant 6N by his standards

beshocked wrote:Sexton didn't have a better 6 nations than Farrell. Missed 2 games and got sin binned vs Wales.

The sin binning was ridiculous. He was lying under Jonathan Davies who was lying on the ball. If anything Davies should have been binned for slowing his own ball down.

Collapse2005 wrote:

beshocked wrote:Sexton didn't have a better 6 nations than Farrell. Missed 2 games and got sin binned vs Wales.

The sin binning was ridiculous. He was lying under Jonathan Davies who was lying on the ball. If anything Davies should have been binned for slowing his own ball down.

If I remember correctly Sexton was killing the ball near his try line. You can't do that. You have to at least make some effort to get away.

Collapse2005 wrote:

beshocked wrote:Sexton didn't have a better 6 nations than Farrell. Missed 2 games and got sin binned vs Wales.

The sin binning was ridiculous. He was lying under Jonathan Davies who was lying on the ball. If anything Davies should have been binned for slowing his own ball down.

Sexton deserves to be sin-binned every game. Was watching the 2013 3rd Lions test v Australia the other day, he was completely at fault for Australias try and then had a huge temper tantrum when he was brought off. No wonder no-one likes him.

MichaelT wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:

beshocked wrote:Sexton didn't have a better 6 nations than Farrell. Missed 2 games and got sin binned vs Wales.

The sin binning was ridiculous. He was lying under Jonathan Davies who was lying on the ball. If anything Davies should have been binned for slowing his own ball down.

Sexton deserves to be sin-binned every game. Was watching the 2013 3rd Lions test v Australia the other day, he was completely at fault for Australias try and then had a huge temper tantrum when he was brought off. No wonder no-one likes him.

I do.

But I can understand why fellas from the other lovely Nations of the world don't.

beshocked wrote:

Collapse2005 wrote:

beshocked wrote:Sexton didn't have a better 6 nations than Farrell. Missed 2 games and got sin binned vs Wales.

The sin binning was ridiculous. He was lying under Jonathan Davies who was lying on the ball. If anything Davies should have been binned for slowing his own ball down.

If I remember correctly Sexton was killing the ball near his try line. You can't do that. You have to at least make some effort to get away.

Its not possible to kill the ball if you are under it.

Its dependent on the number of test games you play as well - the more you play, the more points you can earn. Anyone missing a game or two through injury or suspension won't get a nomination. I presume that is why Conor Murray didn't get a nomination - he was injured during the Six Nations.

He's also from Munster - which is another automatic 15 points deducted from his score.

Sin é wrote:Its dependent on the number of test games you play as well - the more you play, the more points you can earn. Anyone missing a game or two through injury or suspension won't get a nomination. I presume that is why Conor Murray didn't get a nomination - he was injured during the Six Nations.

Itoje missed last years AIs through injury.

Those games don't count for this years nominations though do they?

Collapse2005 wrote:Those games don't count for this years nominations though do they?

That was my very point earlier... yes, I believe they do. The AIs of one year are considered part of the International season of the following year.... it seems.

Sexton was rightly binned.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Sexton was rightly binned.

How can you justify binning him when Davies was lying on top of him? Where was he mean to go? The ball was on top of Sexton under Davies, it was a typically ludicrous decision from Barnes.

Nope. Deliberately landed and slowed ball. That near the try line always should end with a yellow.

Good one Sexton.

Took one for the team and the famous Dark Arts of Irish rugby. If ya can't play clean ya just gotta go dirty.... it's war.

Where's Alun Wyn Jones' name on that list? Disgusting!

No 7&1/2 wrote:Nope. Deliberately landed and slowed ball. That near the try line always should end with a yellow.

Landed underneath the ball? Thats a new one.

Landed on the wrong side and slowed the ball deliberately. As fly says above he pretty much had to do it or he felt he did. You're never going to escape a card doing it though.

He didnt slow the ball Davies did. If Davies got off Sexton the ball was there for wales.

Oh well. He lands there again he'll get pinged again and you'll blame someone else again.

Griff wrote:Where's Alun Wyn Jones' name on that list? Disgusting!

That’s what everyone was thinking.

Where is Heaslip? He's always on these lists.

#disappointed

You must have forgotten to put in your vote this year, Cyril, as he's always on your mind

Farrell seems to always be on the list too even if he hasn't had a great season at international level.

Collapse2005 wrote:Farrell seems to always be on the list too even if he hasn't had a great season at international level.

His kicking probably keeps him on the list

no 7 & 1/2 and I agree. Sexton deserved to be yced. If it's in the middle of the field it's only a penalty.

Is it perhaps unfortunate? Yes but if you didn't sin bin for that play then more players would look to kill the ball on the line, only to concede a penalty.

To be honest I'd like to see more YCs for slapping the ball down in try scoring opportunities. You see too often players outstretched with no chance of catching the ball and only a penalty.

beshocked wrote:To be honest I'd like to see more YCs for slapping the ball down in try scoring opportunities. You see too often players outstretched with no chance of catching the ball and only a penalty.

I think that's one of the things that's pretty consistent tbh.

beshocked wrote:no 7 & 1/2 and I agree. Sexton deserved to be yced. If it's in the middle of the field it's only a penalty.

Is it perhaps unfortunate? Yes but if you didn't sin bin for that play then more players would look to kill the ball on the line, only to concede a penalty.

To be honest I'd like to see more YCs for slapping the ball down in try scoring opportunities. You see too often players outstretched with no chance of catching the ball and only a penalty.

And yet it's from some of those finger-tip, dramatic collections/interceptions that some of the most exciting tries come from. So it's all a matter of the eye of the ref - a player has to be given the opportunity to intercept without having the cloud of instant yellow card on his brain if he mucks it up.

I think this angle is pretty damning for Sexton. Lying on the ball, no attempt to roll away, playing dead. Disgusting.

Is this turning into another Irish injustice thread ?

LordDowlais wrote:Is this turning into another Irish injustice thread ?

We're learning how to do it, Lord. Your Bibles on Pro12 have become mandatory reading for said Degree Course in Injustices Perpetuated Onto Us.

In general and I know he's missed a few games now due to personal circumstances retallick is the best player in the world for me and the most important to nz. They look a huge step up when he plays.

Disgusting that Jonathan Davies is not on the list

DISGUSTING!!!!!!!!

Seems a bit strong for an arbitrary award that he isn't going to win anyway

I know it's been done to death, as much as I rate Farrell (pretty highly) I don't think he's ever done anything to put himself on this shortlist once, let alone three times.

mikey_dragon wrote:I know it's been done to death, as much as I rate Farrell (pretty highly) I don't think he's ever done anything to put himself on this shortlist once, let alone three times.

Even as an England fan I tend to agree. It's a tough list this year really, my initial thoughts are probably between Reiko, Itoje and Barrett. I'd love to see Itoje win it, just to get it away from the SH really and the way the NZ guys rated him so low in the Lions 2nd test.