England great tips Owen Farrell over Beauden Barrett for Player of the Year
Former England international Jason Robinson has backed Owen Farrell to be crowned World Rugby Player of the Year after being included among the nominees.
Saracens fly-half Farrell is up against Beauden Barrett, Israel Folau, Rieko Ioane and clubmate Maro Itoje for the prestigious honour, at the end of a year in which he has won the Six Nations with England and played a key role in the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand.
But Robinson – nominated himself in 2002 – believes Farrell is the standout contender.
“There’s some great nominations there but I’d like to see Owen Farrell,” Robinson, speaking on behalf of Land Rover at the annual HITZ Awards, told Omnisport.
“I just think he’s been a key player for English Rugby, a great performer whether it’s been in an England, Saracens or a Lions shirt.
“He’s a young man that’s taking on so much responsibility yet delivered, so for me my man would be Owen Farrell.”
However, Robinson recognises Farrell will face stiff competition for the prize.
“Beauden Barrett is a world-class player,” he added. “When you look at trying to fill Dan Carter’s shoes, there’s not many players that are close to it.
“But he’s just taken the reins and he’s been one of the key reasons why New Zealand have kept the form and keep on winning, so he’s definitely a contender.
“Maro Itoje has been phenomenal, a young player that’s come through the ranks and done really well.
“He’s sailed through it and made it look so easy, even though he’s worked so hard, and for a young man to hold his own, to keep taking those steps, to keep delivering, to still have that hunger that he has, he’s going to be phenomenal player.
“He’s already a great player now, but if you look in four or five years’ time he’s going to be phenomenal.
“Israel Folau is a nightmare for any opposition to play against, he’s a big player, he’s got great hands, goes up for the ball really well, he’s got lots of pace and can certainly score lots of tries.
“He’s certainly been one of the key players for Australia, another fantastic player.”
***Jason Robinson is a Land Rover ambassador. Land Rover is a key partner of HITZ, the sport for change programme. @LandRoverRugby #WeDealInReal***
Comments on RugbyPass
Excellent analysis Nick as we have come to expect. I was not really aware that NFL strategies have been adopted by rugby teams, especially in defence. One point I would make is that the Northhampton attacking player on the end of the chain in the video examples has not maintained the correct depth to be effective. In the footage shown the outside player is too flat to make the best of the opportunity his inside players have provided. In each case they have to reduce speed and turn their body backwards to secure the ball, losing all momentum and giving the impressive scrambling defence the chance to shut down the threat.
1 Go to commentsMorning, John. Do you think that it may be a good idea to rest both teams from the Madrid comp leading in to the Olympics
2 Go to comments« I am preparing myself for much more, something much bigger. I’m focussing on the next cycle, » You don’t say…
1 Go to commentsGeez plenty of time to come right before test season starts. Dont panic mr Mannering!!!!!
1 Go to commentsGreat read Nick. The Reds really have been great to watch this year, and the improvement of not only the players you mention, but the squad in general has been obvious. The Reds 10/12 play making axis is a nice counterpoint to the 10/15 partnership at the Brumbies and Rebels. If Schmidt was to pick say, Lolesio, Paisami and Wright / Kellaway, would this be too many play makers? I notice in a lot of those clips Tim Ryan playing across the field in support of Vunivalu. Is this a feature of Kiss’s structure?
2 Go to commentsSo sad, god rest him. Too young to be gone. RIP
2 Go to commentsRIP big man 🙏
2 Go to commentsThe GB coach. “Just because we don’t get together as much as other teams we don’t use that as an excuse for performances when we don’t hit the mark”. Why mention it at all then?
1 Go to commentsNo mention of the yellow card for Harlequins which really cost them.
3 Go to commentsThought you’d left us Nick. Good to have you back writing for us. So hunter ikitau works? I reckon wright kellaway as two of the back 3. Tim Ryan and Toole looking good for strike winger but I still want the power of korobeiti and figure our forwards still need him to help them out. Million dollar question is who plays 10? I’m thinking Noah for his kicking and combo with wright. Reckon the pair adds up to an attack and kellaway will help. Can you comment on Zac Lucas in Japan? How is he going?
2 Go to commentsMack Hansen, Ethan Roots, Taine Plumbtree, Louis Lynagh, Emmanuel Meafou? Which country do you want to pick your Barbarians from?
3 Go to commentsInstead of apologising, try to act like an adult, fcknut.
3 Go to commentsLooks like the Force twisted his leg…ahem arm
7 Go to commentsScotland should change their name to the Barbarians
3 Go to commentsThe game was already over leave the bloke alone ….from a Welsh fan 😀👍
3 Go to commentsShamefully the Toulouse players acted like footballers, falling down feigning injury at the slightest knock. About time refs penalised this play acting.
8 Go to commentsAnother non Scot for the anti Scot Townsend. Soon there will be no Scottish born and bred players in the National team.
3 Go to commentsGreat comeback to the playing field by Richie Mo’unga after the loss of his father. A great performance by Richie . I know him well and he is a great guy. On and off the field one of the greatest for the Crusaders. Scott Robertson would have loved him in his All Black’s side. A very missed player and person.
3 Go to commentsYeah nah he comes across as a funny bloke, but that stopped abruptly after the Nutcracker Prince debacle✋
3 Go to commentsAt this point I can’t watch him without thinking he’s a dirty slimebag. He should have been banned for the same amount of time that Quinn was out. It took Tupaea near on a fricking year to get fit enough to play again and his leg will never be the same. The other crap thing is that he was at ABs level and now he has to claw his way back there when he could have had several games under his belt.
7 Go to comments