There's been quite a reaction to the controversial omissions from the POTY shortlist
The World Rugby player of the year shortlist has been announced, and three players from this Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final have made the list.
Rugby Championship winners and RWC finalists Pieter-Steph du Toit and Cheslin Kolbe are nominees, as is their opponent on Saturday Tom Curry.
Elsewhere, Wales’ Grand Slam-winning captain Alun-Wyn Jones has earned a place, as has the All Blacks’ flanker Ardie Savea.
The final place on the list is taken by the United States’ Joe Taufete’e, who becomes the first player from a tier two nation to be selected. The hooker became international rugby’s top try-scoring front row forward earlier this year, overtaking 2001 player of the year Keith Wood, and now has 20 tries in 27 Tests.
Many people have been campaigning for a player from a tier two nation to make this list, and while it is something to be celebrated, the choice of player has raised a few eyebrows given the RWC we have just witnessed.
A few exceptional players were unlucky not to make the shortlist this year! #RWC2019 pic.twitter.com/ihNPVnWy2k
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 1, 2019
After Japan’s heroics, topping Pool A by beating Ireland and Scotland, and giving South Africa a tough test in the quarter-finals, many expected a member of their team to make the list. Wingers Kenki Fukuoka and Kotaro Matsushima, No.8 Kazuki Himeno and hooker Shota Horie are just some of the names that have been mentioned by fans on social media as candidates.
However, perhaps the most surprising omission of all is Fiji’s Semi Radradra, who many people felt was the best player in the world when he was setting the pool stages alight.
Elsewhere there is some surprise that neither Owen Farrell nor Maro Itoje have made the list, not only for their success at the RWC, but having swept all before them domestically with Saracens.
This is what has been said:
https://twitter.com/slatterywill/status/1190196920565817345?s=20
https://twitter.com/cs0mnersmith/status/1190164685653458945?s=20
https://twitter.com/gforce_14/status/1190223423101911042?s=20
https://twitter.com/BHHooker/status/1190147972857782273?s=20
https://twitter.com/TheTiercel/status/1190166799914061824?s=20
https://twitter.com/DaveEgan01/status/1190167331718258688?s=20
https://twitter.com/RiriAure/status/1190228837457682432?s=20
https://twitter.com/sansom_tom/status/1190121000957964289?s=20
@WorldRugby No Semi Radradra??? https://t.co/xYpgYZasb2
— KVITI 101 (@Ftau_19) November 1, 2019
This is no discredit to Taufete’e, as his record is mightily impressive, but there were moments during Fiji’s campaign at this RWC where Radradra looked simply unstoppable. His power and movement, allied with a great offloading game, helped him top almost all ball-carrying charts at the end of the pool stages. The monstrous hit that he put on Liam Williams when Fiji faced Wales is also an example of how destructive the former league star is in defence.
The fact that the Bordeaux back is now so keenly sought after in both codes is indicative of how highly regarded he is.
Ultimately, it is nigh on an impossible task to whittle the best players in the world to a six-person shortlist, but some players may feel aggrieved. Jonathan Sexton’s reign as the world’s best will end on November 3rd as the new winner will be crowned, but Saturday’s final may determine who the gong goes to.
Press conference with Warren Gatland and Alun Wyn Jones and Gatland’s final game as Wales head coach ended in defeat. New Zealand emphatically won the World Cup bronze medal 40-17 at Tokyo Stadium.
Comments on RugbyPass
The Black Ferns 7’s have been without Captain Sarah Hirini now since Dec 23 in Dubai where she suffered a bad ACL injury - hopefully she is on the road to recovery for Madrid and Paris. Now also have Tyler King and Shiray kaka on the Injured List but the Team still found a way to win in Singapore and claim the overall Title.
1 Go to commentsUtter grub, hope he gets his leg broken. Shocking he is still playing after intentionally breaking quinn tupaeas knee
2 Go to commentsGreat to see NZ 7s teams finally coming into form and playing at the level that is expected of them.
2 Go to commentsChief Cheapshot on the market again.
2 Go to commentsCrusaders went all in to buy Hotham and Kemara staight from Hamilton Boys. Then they picked up Reihana and Hohepa; all have been dropped for superstar Havili, who is a very good fullback, that’s it. Ennor and Goodhue were schoolboy stars too but went backwards at the Crusaders. Maybe they have finally decided to give another poach Levi Aumua the ball?
10 Go to commentsJoe S has some talent to pick from. The Reds loosies look the best in Super? Aus might just give Razor a headache this year. Int. experience v Cantab greenhorn:) Should be fun.
10 Go to commentsEnd to end play, “THE FANS” this game was entertainment of the best. The conditions added to the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsSorry to say, but sadly the sadas were just ordinary and havilli at 10 as an abs selection just won’t cut it. He’s better suited in the centre’s and is a victim of past charge down kicks, he’s too slow under pressure. There’s better talent further north and I don’t mean dmac however I believe razor will sort him out. A feature of his presents on the park is the fact that the guys will follow him.
10 Go to commentsMarler was brilliant throughout both in the scrum and open play. His slap made virtually no contact with Ramos who milked it for a penalty when he could have been a decent sportsman and laughed it off, it was non-violent and shouldn't have been penalised. Smith failed repeatedly to kick when necessary and put up a couple of bombs into the TLS 22 that just handed back possession at key moments to the other side.
3 Go to commentsCros was outstanding and rightly awarded France TVs player of the match award. Mallia was brilliant as usual (the y is below the 6 on a UK keyboard and he deserves better than that). Level also seems to have been scored harshly as he walked the ball into touch under pressure from a Lynagh kick from well outside his own half which should never have led to a 50-22. Agree with BullShark that Dupont, while class at times, seemed to go missing for patches in the second half with props, hookers and wings frequently filling in at 9 as he couldn't get off the deck and up to the next ruck on time. A 7 by his standards at best, his kicking was also too long, too often. Kinghorn's overall contribution was worth well more than a five.
3 Go to commentsThe Harlequins team must be in minus figures. Did the reporter actually watch the game?
3 Go to commentsHow on earth did Walker escape a red card? Not dangerous? Dupont has his face in a mask earlier this season. Shocking decision. What is the point of TMOs? We had the Fassi ‘non-penalty try’ yesterday and now this.
2 Go to commentsCould have been a different result but yet again French tv able to affect the result by not showing the very clear high shot on harlequin centre if this would have been on a French player would have been on screen at least five times
3 Go to commentsAmazing. The losing team’s ratings are higher than the winning team’s. Mallia definitely didn’t deserve a y. What game were you watching? Should have got a w or an x. ADP hardly featured in that second half. At one point I wondered when he’d been subbed. Seems to me as if he gets an automatic 9 just for getting onto the team sheet.
3 Go to commentsI’m sorry. That second half was far from enthralling. It was painful to watch.
2 Go to commentsVery generous! If you’d missed the game, reading this you’d conclude that it was the Quins front row that cost them the game. Marler getting a blanket 6 for his demented contribution to the game. Puzzling.
3 Go to commentsCan’t see Toulouse beating Leinster at this rate.
7 Go to commentsADP was having a very average game until winning that penalty for Toulouse, sticking his big head in the way. “The head of God”?
7 Go to commentsHarlequins doing their best to do as little damage as possible with all the possession. Looks like they skipped catch and pass drills this week.
7 Go to commentsSeeing pictures of Jacques high-fiving it with Irish players breaks my heart. Too soon. I need more time.
1 Go to comments