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Results are in at the World Rugby Awards

By Sam Smith
Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane celebrate a try for the latter

The results are in from the World Rugby Awards and it’s no surprise to see New Zealand dominant in Team and Player of the Year categories. The only real surprise might be that Steve Hansen was pipped by Eddie Jones for Coach of the Year.

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And the winner is…

World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year: Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
World Rugby Women’s Player of the Year: Portia Woodman (New Zealand)
Team of the year – Black Ferns (New Zealand)
Coach of the Year – Eddie Jones (England)
World Rugby Referee Award – Joy Neville (Ireland)
IRPA Try of the Year – Joaquin Tuculet (Argentina)
World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year – Rieko Ioane (New Zealand)
World Rugby’s Men’s 7s Player of the Year – Perry Baker (USA)
World Rugby’s Women’s 7s Player of the Year – Michaela Blyde (New Zealand)
IRPA Special Merit – Rachael Burford and Richie McCaw
Award for Character – Eduardo “Coco” Oderigo
Vernon Pugh Awards for Distinguished Service – Marcel Martin

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Bull Shark 34 minutes ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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