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Please don't hand any awards out to Ian Foster
And the nominees are…
Well, in the case of New Zealand coach of the year, there are none.
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Unusual that.
Here is a prize that celebrates the highest achiever among the coaches of our national rugby teams and yet no-one has been formally listed. It’s not like it was a packed field, either.
As far as I can tell, only four teams actually took the park properly in 2021: the All Blacks, Black Ferns XVs, Black Ferns Sevens and men’s seven a-side team.
I’ll confess I had to check that Clark Laidlaw was still head coach of the men’s sevens side. Fair to say he probably won’t be winning, anyway.
That leaves Ian Foster (All Blacks), Glen Moore – who went 0-4 with the Black Ferns this year – and then Allan Bunting and Cory Sweeney, fresh from helping guide the Black Ferns Sevens side to Olympic gold.
Look, I’m not that big on awards. There’s too much subjectivity, among other things, for my liking.
But New Zealand Rugby (NZR) are staging their annual awards and have named finalists in various categories, just not in the premier coaching one. Perhaps there’s not enough to celebrate?
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In keeping with my lack of enthusiasm for awards, I’ll be honest and say I don’t know who won last year’s overall prize, the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year. I do know that Black Ferns halfback Kendra Cocksedge claimed it a couple of years ago and I would probably award it to a female player this time too.
In fact, Black Ferns Sevens captain Sarah Hirini probably ought to win the Tom French Cup, the female sevens prize and then the Kelvin R Tremain, given her immense contribution to that Olympic gold medal.
A win for Bunting and Sweeney, against their unnamed peers, would cap a pretty impressive night for female sevens all round.
If we’re talking about the stand-out male player of the season, then Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane, Will Jordan and Ardie Savea are the listed nominees. All had their moments, but I’d probably try and mount the strongest argument for Barrett.
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The thing is that no All Black really presented a compelling case this year, which was reflected in World Rugby’s own award nominees.
No New Zealander made the shortlist of four for men’s player of the year, although Foster did find himself among World Rugby’s finalists for coach of the year.
I don’t want to labour the awards point too much but, again, I’ve no idea who was world player of the year in 2020. I’ve a feeling Beauden Barrett, Daniel Carter, Richie McCaw and Kieran Read have claimed that prize in the past, but rugby is about team achievements.
It’s about winning games and tournaments and having a squad who swept all before them.
When we fixate on the achievements of goal kickers and ball runners, we overlook the contribution of others on the paddock who’ve paved the way for those individual highlights to happen.
No matter how esteemed a judging panel might be, it’s all just an opinion. In the end, teams and players and coaches are actually judged on the Rugby World Cups they won and not a lot else.
These are interesting times for the game in New Zealand. Our flagship 15 a-side teams both had a humbling time of it in Europe, there’s no certainty that Super Rugby Pacific can be successfully staged next year – nor much enthusiasm for the domestic product we’ve had for the last two seasons – while provincial rugby barely registers with the public anymore.
Heck, we can’t even find some finalists for coach of the year.
Far from needing a televised night of backslapping next week, NZR should actually be thinking about how to reconnect with a fanbase that have become rather apathetic.
The good folk at NZR don’t like it when people are critical of their stewardship of the game or say uncomplimentary things about the All Blacks’ coach and the players.
Frankly, a few home truths should be the least of NZR’s worries. The real problems come when people can’t even be bothered to complain anymore.
We’re almost at that point. That point where people are more interested in their streaming services, than Saturday’s big game.
Have some awards, if you must. Separate the good from the not-so-good, if you have to.
But don’t put it on TV. Not in 2021 when the rank and file know there wasn’t much to get enthused about.
And, for God’s sake, don’t hand any awards out to Ian Foster.
Comments on RugbyPass
Oh wow… “But as La Rochelle proved in winning in Cape Town this season, a cross-continental away assignment need not spell the end of days.” La Rochelle actually proved quite the opposite. After traveling to Cape town and back they (back-to-back and current champs) got mercilessly thumped the next week. If travel is not the reason, why else would a full-strength powerhouse like La Rochelle get dumped on the @r$e$ one week later?
26 Go to commentsYou know he can land a winning conversion after the full time siren is up. (Even if it takes two attempts.)
5 Go to commentsA very insightful article from Jake. I would love to know how South African’s feel about their move to Europe. Do you prefer playing in Europe or want to go back to Super Rugby?
2 Go to commentspure fire
1 Go to commentsA very well thought out summary of all the relevant complications…agree with your ”refer the Cricket Test versus 20/20 comparison”. More also definitely doesn't necessarily mean better!
2 Go to commentsMust be something when you are only 19 y.o and both NZ and France want you. Btw he wasn’t the only new caledonian in french U20 as Robin Couly also lived in Noumea until 17. Hope he’s successful wherever he chooses to play.
7 Go to comments“Several key players in the Stade Rochelais squad are in their thirties” South Africans are going to hate the implications of that comment!
5 Go to commentsI know Leinster did a job on La Roche but shortly after HT Leinster were 30-13 ahead of them and at a similar time Toulouse were trailing Exeter. At 60 mins Leinster were 27 ahead but after 67 mins Toulouse were only 19 ahead before Exeter collapsed. That’s heavier scoring by Leinster against the Champions. I think people are looking at Toulouses total a little too much. I also think Northhampton are in with a real chance, albeit I’d put Leinster as favourites. If Leinster make the final I expect them to win by more than ten and with control.
5 Go to commentsHey Nick, your match analysis is decent but the top and tail not so much, a bit more random. For a start there’s a seismic difference in regenerating any club side over a test team. EJ pretty much had to urinate with the appendage he’d been given at test level whereas club success is impacted hugely by the budget. Look no further than Boudjellal’s Toulon project for a perfect example. The set ups at La Rochelle and Leinster are like chalk and cheese and you are correct that Leinster are ahead. Leinster are not just slightly ahead though, they are light years ahead on their plans, with the next gen champions cup team already blooded, seasoned and developing at speed from their time manning the fort in the URC while the cream play CC and tests. They have engineered a strong talent conveyor belt into their system, supported by private money funnelled into a couple of Leinster private schools. The really smart move from Leinster and the IRFU however is maximising the Irish Revenue tax breaks (tax relief on the best 10 years earnings refunded at retirement) to help keep all of their stars in Ireland and happy, while simultaneously funding marquee players consistently. And of course Barrett is the latest example. But in no way is he a “replacement for Henshaw”, he’s only there for one season!!! As for Rob Baxter, the best advice you can give him is to start lobbying Parliament and HMRC for a similar state subsidy, but don’t hold your breath… One thing Cullen has been very smart with is his coaching team. Very quickly he realised his need to supplement his skills, there was talk of him exiting after his first couple of years but he was extremely shrewd bringing in Lancaster and now Nienaber. That has worked superbly and added a layer that really has made a tangible difference. Apart from that you were bang on the money… 😉😂
5 Go to commentsNot sure exactly what went wrong for him at Glasgow but it’s pretty clear he ain’t Franco’s cup of tea. Suspect he would have been better served heading out of Scotland around the same time as Finn, Hoggy and Jonny!
1 Go to commentsBulls disrespected the Northampton supporters and the competition. Decide quickly, fully in or out.
26 Go to commentsI wonder if Parling was ever on England’s radar as a coach? Obviously Borthwick is a great lineout coach, but I do worry he might be taking on too much as both head coach and forwards coach.
1 Go to commentsJason Jenkins has one cap. When Etzebeth was his age he had over 80 caps. Experience matters. He will never amount to what Etzebeth has because he hasn’t been developed as an international player.
2 Go to commentsSays much about the player picking this gig over the easier and bigger rewards offered to him in Japan. Also says a lot about the state sanctioned tax benefits the Irish Revenue offers pro rugby players, with their ten highest earning years subject to an additional 40% tax relief and paid as a lump sum, in cash, at retirement. Certainly helps Leinster line up the financial ducks in a row to fund marquee signings like this!!! No other union anywhere in world rugby benefits from this kind of lucrative financial sponsorship from their government…
5 Go to commentsTrue Jordie could earn a lot more in Japan. But by choosing Leinster he’ll be playing with 1 of the best clubs in the world and can win a champions cup and URC…..
6 Go to commentsThanks for that Marshy, noticed you didn't say who is gonna win it. We know who ain't gonna win it - your Crusaders outfit. They've gone from having arguably the best Super Rugby first five ever, to having a clutch of rookies. Hurricanes all the way!
1 Go to commentsGeez you really have to question the NRLs ability to produce players of quality. Its pathetic. Dont the 25mil in Aus produce enough quality womens players. Sad.
1 Go to commentsBulls fan here, and agree 100% with the conclusion (and little else) of this article. SA sides should absolutely f-off from the champs cup until we get fair scheduling, equal support for travel arrangements and home semis. You know, like all the european teams get.
26 Go to commentsI’m yet to see why Grace would be an ABs contender. He’s pedestrian and lacks the dominance required of a top flight 8.
11 Go to commentsGee my Highlanders were terrible. They have gone backwards since the start of the season. The trouble began when we left Millar behind to prep as the 10 against the Brumbies and he was disconnected from the team that came back from Aussie. We rested Patchell for that game and we blew an avalanche of ball in good attacking positions in the 1st half. Against the Rebels we seem to of gone into a pod system with forwards hanging off from the breakdown leaving Fakatava to secure our ball!
80 Go to comments