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Men's 15s World Player of the Year was only a two horse race
By Ben Smith
There were only two real possibilities for men’s 15s World Rugby Player of the Year after the shortlist of four were named; Ireland’s Caelan Doris or South Africa’s Pieter-Steph du Toit.
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Sense has prevailed, with Du Toit crowned for the second time, after pandering to the crowd with three out of four Springbok nominations, with two players who were token nominations.
Lock Eben Etzebeth at the tail end of his international career is nowhere near the best player on the planet.
He’s good enough to keep playing Test rugby and winning caps for South Africa, but he isn’t the Springboks most influential player, let alone deciding Test matches. That he can do his core job on the field adequately does not mean he is worthy of being crowned the world’s best player.
In the 27-20 win over Ireland to start the year he made less than half the tackles as Du Toit, and made four carries for four metres. In the second Test loss to Ireland again he made half the amount of tackles as Du Toit, and again logged four carries for four metres. He conceded one turnover and won none.
He is anchoring a strong lineout and is an aerial asset. With ball-in-hand he’s been ineffective with a far more limited game than RG Snyman and Du Toit.
His work off-the-ball around cleaning rucks, contesting opposition throws and pressuring opposition kickers is important, but it’s not the main character plot line. A supporting actor doesn’t win the best actor award. In terms of dictating Tests and making the plays that win them, Etzebeth is not on the radar and for that reason his nomination was farcical.
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He was outplayed by both Scott Barrett and Tupou Vaa’i when the Springboks beat the All Blacks twice, in two of the ‘marquee’ wins of the season for the Boks.
In Johannesburg he was named on the bench and played for a total of 32 minutes. He had seven carries for all of 10 metres, averaging 1.4 a carry, better than his Ireland series at least. He added a turnover and a handful of tackles. An admirable cameo but far from deciding the Test.
Back in the starting line up Etzebeth topped the missed tackle count in Cape Town with four, with zero turnovers won and a penalty conceded. Meanwhile Barrett and Vaa’i combined for three turnovers won, both kept a clean sheet and made double digit tackles each. The All Blacks’ lineout edged South Africa’s.
So what signature performances in 2024 are there for Etzebeth in his claim to the award? 12 carries for 14 metres against Scotland, where he was picked up and manhandled by a hooker?
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It’s a similar story for Cheslin Kolbe, despite being a human highlight reel and one of the game’s most valuable and marketable players. When Kolbe makes big plays, they become iconic.
Yet for Kolbe to be a genuine World Player of the Year winner, he would have to produce these in every Test, which he has not done.
Kurt-Lee Arendse has perhaps produced as much this year on the opposite wing. In Brisbane against the Wallabies Arendse had three line breaks and two tries, one in which he skinned three or four defenders from a standing start to score under the posts. The ball barely came Kolbe’s way that afternoon. The life of a wing is boom or bust.
Against England at Twickenham a two-try performance by Kolbe arguably decided the game in the final wash. His second try, with De Allende playing a large part in making the initial break, was brilliant.
His other big moment of the year was an opportunist try against Ireland in the first Test pouncing on a poor James Lowe throw in. That key score proved to be a difference maker.
He arguably had a game-winning play for milking a penalty against the All Blacks in Cape Town which led to the game-sealing try. His theatrical dive chasing a kick won a penalty which was kicked into the corner, with Marx ultimately crashing over for an 18-12 lead. If we want to reward football antics, then we can add that to the resume.
In most of the other Tests Kolbe has produced some long line break that wasn’t finished. Against the Wallabies in Perth, All Blacks in Cape Town, against Argentina. Unfinished line breaks that result in turnovers and lost possession are not that valuable, despite highlighting Kolbe’s game-breaking talent.
Kolbe and Etzebeth’s nominations were effectively “career service awards”, an attempt to recognise their popularity and fame as players rather than their actual on-field 2024 influence. Kolbe’s case was stronger than Etzebeth’s, but there are plenty of non-nominated players who have done more.
All Blacks fullback Will Jordan has produced more attacking play than Kolbe with seven Test tries this year and many more line breaks. Wallabies fullback Tom Wright has arguably too. Damian McKenzie has directly influenced the outcome of far more Test wins than both Boks combined this year.
Ultimately sense prevailed and the award was given to a player who at least had rights to it, the Springboks most influential player Pieter-Steph du Toit.
The 32-year-old routinely produces the most during Springbok wins. It’s Du Toit’s pressure on defence that often chokes out opposition. He will often top the tackle count and make the last-ditch saves that matter. He’s competing at more rucks slowing down opposition ball, competing against the throw and his motor doesn’t stop. He played multiple positions and the most minutes. His production is double that of Etzebeth.
He’s been the best on ground in multiple Tests this year, in Brisbane against the Wallabies, against the All Blacks at Ellis Park, Ireland in Pretoria.
Thankfully Du Toit is deserving of the award in 2024 but a rethink is needed to stop nominating players purely for being famous, their reputation, or their play from previous years.
Go behind the scenes of both camps during the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa in 2021. Binge watch exclusively on RugbyPass TV now
The term "media bias" implies a pervasive or widespread bias contravening of the standards of journalism, thought that's appropriate, however Ben isn't a journalist he gives his opinion and as we know opions are like A-holes everyone has one
Interesting. 🧐
Not a solitary word from the esteemed 🥴 author as to why Doris was nominated as the second horse in the running?
So was it a one horse race then?
How did Ireland's alleged choking go in Durban?
At least, you accept that PSDT and SA are the whiners who tried to win by cheating and whining to the referee. Lots of cheating in the RWC 2023 QF too.
Stealing that joke for future 🤣
I think you could be right on the Englishman angle. Don't know too many Irish who use the word "muttonhead" in the vain he's trying to use it in.
You see BS when you white Saffers (and you're white drop your ruse) make xenophobic comments, they are just flagging themselves as the type of white South African who would have been a defender of your despicable State back in the day. You are just too stupid too see it. When you say these things in front of non whites from your own country they will think you're just the type of Kant who would have them in chains a few decades ago. And you are that Kant.
Jealous rugby panel every award should have gone to the bokkie
Oh Ben please.You could at least not make it so obvious that you absolutely detest anything remotely Springboks.Your assessments of Kolbe and Eben are so biased I was actually embarrassed to even finish the article.If that is the extent of your journalistic skills I suggest you change profession or sign up for a refresher course in unbiased journalism
Hey all I finally had the idea to start a online petition to put a stop to this guys unprofessional bias writing. https://chng.it/CnGd4kQz6C
Ireland, France against the best team their stats is very very poor. You can’t says a player is the best in the world if he never competed against the best and win games. I haven’t seen any north hemisphere team in World Cup doing great except England in 2019 against all black but none of English players were mentioned in nominees only France DuPont or Ireland. Look at what happened with coach of the year nominee, Rassie have shown to be ahead of all coaches on earth including the world rugby commenter as a whole yet he was ignored because he is from south hemisphere and jealous. How can someone who won World Cup twice in row be ignore over someone who never win or went to final? Disgusting! This year the best team and coach is bokke won 11 out of 13 by one point but never recognised still…. Is a shame to world rugby without fairness.
Problem with north hemisphere think their opinion matters to the rest of the world. DuPont is praised for nothing, those mater covered and turnover won how did they benefit their respective team? Eben showed up at competitive games while DuPont don’t show up! Even the award given is on seven because he was playing there, most of the time he was on the bench. If DuPont was playing his rugby on 15 , he was going to be named in nominee for simple reason, France seems to be owning this awards.
More drivel from the failed accountant. This man is not a journalist. He's a troll and his "opinion" should be judged accordingly.
Look forward to a similar analysis about how Daret wins coach of the year, or DuPont 7s player of the year with only three tournaments. I'll give you Sititi over SFM
Ben Smith. My Man! So glad this is only "opinion piece". I was Reading the headline and straight away assumed you meant a 2 horse race between Pieter and Cheslin. There was no way you you meant Caelan.
Cheslin is not only the most exciting winger of this generation, but also a multi disciplined performer, Defence, Lineouts, Conversions and scrumming. LOL. He can do it all. He can put players twice his size on there rear ends and side step at full pace around on coming traffic on a penny.
I will also note that there has been since 2009 till 2017 only NZ winners bar the great one Thierry Dusautoir for France in 2011. And this was because they were the best team in the world winning back to back world cups, also having the best players at that time nominated. Never before has there been more than 2 players from the same country nominated for the award, but this year there was 3 from SA. All Dbl World Cup winning Players.
No one has been so put out about who was nominated in earlier awards, but for some reason you are.
I am thankful that its not up to you to decide on the "token" choices. (Rather lets not use that language again). The world chose the players and lets leave it there.
I don't Blame Rugby Pass for allowing this to print, but there should have been some profound editing on this.
Thanks for your opinion, But maybe lets keep it that just yours not anyone else's.
Oh dear, how the truth hurts.
in todays media biosphere the way to be succesful is by writing some fact-free drivel with lots of nonsensical pretences .....
Hogwash
All 4 nominations should have been Boks.Being real now,sorry.Next year maybe all the other teams will maybe preduce real stars.
Selectively quoting rugby stats to support a cultural bias sets the author up for justified questioning of motive, let alone his significant lack of understanding for what a player brings to a team that makes the whole greater than the sum of its parts. Click baiting probably, either way it's shallow, I expect better here.
The Afrikaaner Claret extracted in Durban was vintage Double Dutch.
I just googled double dutch. That's disgusting RW. This is a family site. Why would the farmers want to have s€x with their sheep?
You're not that good at this are you?
Cue a SA V NZ d1ck measuring competition......
You remind me of a chap called Turlough who used to prowl these parts. Got very uppity about everything remotely near to a criticism of Ireland.
He would also refer to measuring Willies in some of his posts. Seemed a bit obsessed about measuring Willie’s to be honest.
🤫 not a place for whining chokers......
Ben Smith your a biased against the Springboks -making it so obvious as a journalist makes you totally inadequate and not worthy of being taken seriously.
Bro you the ONLY dude comparing BOKS and ALL BLACKS to decide WHO YOU THINK IS BETTER.
WHAT DID THE ALL BLACKS WIN? ACTUALLY? HOW do you compare Eben with Scott Barrett?????He is NOWHERE NEAR that level & never will be. Not even mentioning Vaa'i.
The All Blacks won NOTHING significant. Their Biggest achievement in the last 14 months was beating Ireland in a QF & losing in the Final against the BOKS.
In 3 years they've lost 6 TIMES to this Bok team?
Ben Smith your rugby commentary is polarized and one-sided. It is always contently based and not contextual. Both Kolbe and Etzebeth are without doubt 2 of the best players currently on the planet and to chalk their nominations off as token, serves only to confirm your lack and appreciation of a genuine athletic ability tempered with the nuanced genius that both players naturally exude.
Still not quite sure how you are still able to pen articles for rugby publications of this quality, but hey, you sticking around still provides us with plenty of laughs. Keep it up Ben. I'm sure there are other sporting codes that desperately need your commentary on, like tiddley winks, curling or perhaps even marbles....
Please understand the background to Smith's bitterness.The All Blacks were generally hammering Springboks heavily in one on ones up to 2019 and had a winning record against them...and Smith was all happy to praise the odd SA victory (like those on Breakdown!).. then the Boks went and won back to back World Cups and to his absolute chargrin they had 4 W.Cups to All Blacks 3!...he is passionate about rugby but the Boks latest success has made him go completely "befok"...please go easy on him🙏
I’ve never read such bull, I went back to the top of the article and saw that it was written by Ben Smith - no worries; makes sense now.
I realised that it was tripe when he started saying that a lock had only made half as many tackles as the world’s greatest flanker! Apples and oranges!
Silly goose you are Benjamin..
“Lock Eben Etzebeth at the tail end of his international career is nowhere near the best player on the planet.”
This has to be the most outrageous comment of 2024.
Ben Smith and rugby IQ have no right to be in the same sentence.
As a BOK supporter I hate to admit that Ben is actually correct here! PSDT was the most deserving and made reasonable arguments with an obvious bias but great arguments
Ben Smith makes ludicrous comments to purposely stir up the Bok supporters...it grates him no end they have 4 World Cups yet have an overall losing record to his beloved All Blacks...please ignore his "throwing toys out cot" syndrome...the man needs scapegoats.
I love it. Simultaneously congratulating PSDT while at the same time getting his barbs in on other Boks and praising the All Blacks.
Ben still manages to criticize while applauding PSDT 😁
What about Ox Nche? Best loosehead in the world. Surely deserved a nomination. Cheslin did deserve his nomination. His impact was immense. He tackles so well and makes so many big plays on defence. He is the most versatile player on the planet. He is also strong in the air. Jordan has plenty of weaknesses in his game and didnt make a big impact until the Bledisloe and the end of year tour. Tom Wright was part of a team that lost 5 out of six in The Rugby Championship and if Mckenzie was that good he would not have been dropped for the ageing Beauden Barrett. So lets be real none of them were possible nominees. Du Pont also played half the year with the sevens so he was out of contention.
Ben Smith = 🤡
🙄
The only token nominee was Doris. He’s a sh1t Kieran Read.
That is very rude towards Kieran Read
Here we go again...Arbitrary attacks on Ireland and Irish players....
Is this Site for all rugby supporters or just SA and NZ ones?
Doris is good at croc rolls and press conferences. Not sure why ppl rate him so highly
None of the guys asked to be nominated and to write such hateful drivel is seriously poor form. Rugbypass really need to rethink their journos and not publish absolute rubbish like this.
Wow.... Just wow!
Eben managed to make more meters and average more meters per carry than both Barrett and Vaai in both games and played fewer minutes.
Eben also made double digit tackles in Capetown and actually had 3 more tackles than both players. plus he had a higher completion rate than vaai and equal to Barrett in Joberg. Yes he was manhandled by a 113kg hooker but I believe Barrett was sat down by a 75kg winger. Which is more acceptable?
What BS about Kolbes line break completion. So Dmacs, and Will Jordan and right have far more line breaks... that must mean the ABs and wallabies have out scored every team... oh wait. In half as many games in the TRC Kolbe had 1 less clean break than Will Jordan and topped the list for defenders beaten with 21, next best was 17 and it wasn't DMac, wright or Jordan.
SA Rugby online fanbase, "Stop feeding this moron!"
Bok hatey drivel. All four are solid candidates Legit rugby folk would applaud any of them getting the prize.