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Springboks fans are irate at the lack of South African representation in World Rugby’s end-of-year awards shortlists.
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Not one South African has been selected for either the World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year or the World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year.
Two Australians, an Englishman and a Frenchman have been nominated for the Men’s World Player of the Year, but there was no room for Siya Kolisi – or any other Springbok for that matter. Antoine Dupont, Michael Hooper, Maro Itoje and Samu Kerevi were all shortlisted for the prestigious award, as revealed this morning.
New Zealand’s Will Jordan, Australia’s Andrew Kellaway, Wales’ Louis Rees-Zammit and England’s Marcus Smith were nominated for Breakthrough Player of the Year.
There is also no South African representation for coach of the year. Allan Bunting/Cory Sweeney (New Zealand Women’s Sevens), Ian Foster (New Zealand Men), Simon Middleton (England Women) and Dave Rennie (Australia Men) were all nominated in that category.
Springboks fans have taken to social media to vent at the omissions, some taking it as a subtle dig by World Rugby at the World Champions.
“If ever World Rugby sent out a big [single finger emoji] to the Springboks, it’s this year’s World Rugby awards! I’m sorry, but Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth not even being nominated is a travesty. A shocking call!,” wrote one furious fan.
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If ever World Rugby sent out a big "??" to the @Springboks, it's this year's @WorldRugby awards! I'm sorry, but Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth not even being nominated is a travesty. A shocking call!
— Wim Pretorius (@Wimster101) November 15, 2021
Another wrote: “Worthy players but shocked that Siya Kolisi isn’t even nominated… Was expecting a showdown between him and Hooper with a side of Dupont.”
Worthy players but shocked that Siya Kolisi isn't even nominated…
Was expecting a showdown between him and Hooper with a side of Dupont https://t.co/fVFQwIYand
— Tight Five Rugby (@TightFive_Rugby) November 15, 2021
“Lol Face with tears of joy and no Springboks in sight. Think maybe Siya Kolisi is playing NFL this season. What a joke but anyway will probably spur the Boks even more on this weekend at Twickenham,” wrote another exasperated fan.
Lol ? and no Springboks in sight. Think maybe Siya Kolisi is playing NFL this season. What a joke but anyway will probably spur the Boks even more on this weekend at Twickenham.
— Masu’d Dasoo (@MasudDasoo) November 15, 2021
With current Springboks Director of Rugby Rassie Erasmus currently embroiled in a disciplinary procedure with World Rugby, the timing the of the selection seems – to some minds – to be somewhat less than mere coincidence.
World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “The World Rugby Awards are the ultimate accolade for rugby, and we are delighted to honour the outstanding players and individuals who have made an impact on our game on and off the field in 2021.
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“The pandemic and its consequences have restricted several unions from playing international games this year and we recognise that not all rugby stars have had a chance to shine. Nevertheless, the World Rugby Awards Panel has done an amazing job in selecting suitable candidates in each category and I would like to congratulate all nominees who, deservingly, have been shortlisted for this year’s awards.”
Comments on RugbyPass
I’ve actually never heard of the guy (then I don’t watch League as it is boring). But if he is good enough.. then good luck to him. If not, well, he can always return to league.
2 Go to commentsIt is pretty clear that by almost any measure that NZ are a more successful rugby nation than South Africa. Quite aside from the distasteful events during the last RWC final. NZ lead SA in all significant measurements.
37 Go to commentsDickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
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