By AFP
November 17th 2009 @ 3:02am
Giteau nominated for world rugby’s player of the year
Australian back Matt Giteau is one of seven nominations for world rugby’s player of the year. Giteau, who plays both five eighth and inside centre, would be considered something of an outsider to take out the award given he wasn’t at his best during the 2009 Tri Nations where Australia only won one game.
New Zealand flanker Richie McCaw could become the first man to twice win the award after being shortlisted.
South Africa’s dominance of the Tri-Nations and their series victory over the British and Irish Lions is recognised by the inclusion of versatile back Francois Steyn and scrum Fourie du Preez, who picked up his national player of the year award earlier this month.
Ireland are represented by captain Brian O’Driscoll who scored the converted try that levelled the Test against the Wallabies on Sunday, and back row forward Jamie Heaslip.
England flanker Tom Croft is also in the running for the individual award, which, along with the IRB coach and team of the year awards, will be announced at the end of this month.
The nominees were selected by a panel comprised of former internationals Will Greenwood, Gavin Hastings, Raphael Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Agustin Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga and Paul Wallace, which was chaired by Australian legend John Eales.
Previous winners include former Ireland captain Keith Wood, who won the inaugural award in 2001, Jonny Wilkinson (2003) and Dan Carter (2005). Wales wing Shane Williams is the current holder.
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Jerry said | November 17th 2009 @ 3:51am | Report comment
Du Preez has to be hands down favourite for this, though BOD is also a strong contender.
Giteau being nominated is bizarre, his international form has been decidedly average.
Dean Pantio said | November 17th 2009 @ 10:59am | Report comment
Du Preez easy. No other player comes close to his domination this year.
I don’t see how Croft gets a nomination ahead of Moody.
As for Giteau – who the hell nominated him? Seriously. Must be the same clown who thought the dwarf Shane Williams was the best player in the world last year.
Rusty said | November 17th 2009 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
I would struggle to see how Moody would get a nomination either
johnno42 said | November 17th 2009 @ 3:51am | Report comment
matt giteau for Player of the Year…
you’re shi**in me right???
Knives Out said | November 17th 2009 @ 4:09am | Report comment
Benn Robinson, Simon Shaw, Victor Matfield, Heinrich Brussow, Mike Phillips/Fourie du Preez, BrianO’Driscoll, Tommy Bowe.
Thems my picks. Some of the real selections are, as Jerry notes, bizarre.
Rin said | November 17th 2009 @ 11:02am | Report comment
Mike Phillips?? you have to be joking
Knives Out said | November 18th 2009 @ 12:05am | Report comment
The same Mike Phillips who outplayed Du Preez in the Lions series? I must be talking about him, yes.
Rin said | November 18th 2009 @ 10:50am | Report comment
mmm we must of been watching different Lions series cause the only thing Phillips was doing better than Du Preez during the series was his usual ‘niggle’ tactic, i recall the commentators even saying they had been disaapointed with his approach to the game. See you in 12 years.
pothale said | November 18th 2009 @ 10:56am | Report comment
Rin – you were watching a different Lions series. KO was talking about this year’s one.
Phillips was pretty handy in those tests – a fact acknowledged by more than just NH commentators.
Rin said | November 18th 2009 @ 5:07pm | Report comment
oh yeah the one where you guys lost …. sorry i totally forgot…. i thought you were talking about the one in 1997 when i was 14 years old, you know the one it was the last time the lions won a series.
Mungehead said | November 17th 2009 @ 4:36am | Report comment
Du Preez should be a shoo-in out of that lot. Thin pickings this year? Giteau is an odd choice as mentioned, but even McCaw has been below his best. Presumably they’re trying to make up for last year’s oversight, where by rights he should have won it but wasn’t even nominated!
pothale said | November 17th 2009 @ 4:51am | Report comment
I’d have O’Driscoll and Broussow as my two picks.
For consistency and impact of performance in every test match, I’d figure O’Driscoll would shade it.
Who Needs Melon said | November 17th 2009 @ 5:40am | Report comment
Makes you wonder who comes up with these lists and how. Seems like they just said to themselves “Well, the Wallabies have always been a pretty good side – we’d better pick one of them” [runs finger down list of players names] “Giteau is a name everyone knows. Done!’.
Ziggy said | November 17th 2009 @ 6:07am | Report comment
What I find incredible is that the man who has totally dominated line out play like no other period in the history of the game could not even manage a mention. His influence on match results has been a critical factor in the Boks success. Eales chaired the panel?
Jerry said | November 17th 2009 @ 7:03am | Report comment
That’s a good point, Ziggy – I’d say he’s been more influential than Broussow (who I think was a bit over-rated to be honest).
Croft shouldn’t be there, nor should Giteau.
PastHisBest said | November 17th 2009 @ 4:11pm | Report comment
And he only played internationals in the second half of the year Jerry.
Brendan said | November 17th 2009 @ 8:16am | Report comment
KO
Simon Shaw??? What, exactly, has he done this year??? Don’t reply to the effect that he outplayed the bok locks in the Lions series this year because he didn’t. He’s not a bad lock just not half as good as you like to make out.
Viscount Crouchback said | November 18th 2009 @ 2:04am | Report comment
Shaw beasted Bakkies Botha in Pretoria. It was truly something to behold. His performance against the French at Twickenham was also fantastic. But two performances aren’t enough, imo. Tom Croft also produced about two performances – again, not enough. I’m sure there are lots of bemused Springboks scratching their heads at this list. Perhaps we’ll see the white armbands out in Italy this weekend.
Rin said | November 18th 2009 @ 10:52am | Report comment
Was that also the Shaw who got totally outplayed in the lineout and also yellow carded for a legitimate foul play that is not for having a weak shoulder while getting cleaned out of the ruck.
Ben C said | November 17th 2009 @ 8:45am | Report comment
Seems like they had to pick an Australian and no one lower than 6 gets a look in.
Jez said | November 17th 2009 @ 9:01am | Report comment
Fourie Du Preez wins.
Enough said.
van der Merwe said | November 17th 2009 @ 9:11am | Report comment
Has the IRB’s semi-illiteracy cost Morne Steyn a nomination?
Willem said | November 17th 2009 @ 9:22am | Report comment
I was thinkin the same thing, cant help but think they mite have the wrong steyn up there
MarkR said | November 17th 2009 @ 2:07pm | Report comment
I was also wondering that one. This is a weird bunch, can’t comment on the NH players but I would’ve picked Mils ahead of McCaw for NZ or even Thorn…actually I’d pick Thorn. Brussow was borderline decision but not his fault he played with such a dominant pack. Not sure who I’d pick from Oz but definitely not Giteau, at the mo I place him somewhere between Carter & Donald – before you all shoot me it’s due to the fact he’s always overplaying his hand much as Donald does.
Also agree with how does Matfield miss out, he’s brilliant…the swine….hurry up & retire already.
Jerry said | November 17th 2009 @ 4:49pm | Report comment
MIls was below average in the TN, and has only been solid in the NH matches so far.
Jerry said | November 17th 2009 @ 2:55pm | Report comment
The voting period goes all the way back to last years NH tours, so I imagine Morne Steyn not playing in any of those tests counted against him.
pothale said | November 18th 2009 @ 4:42am | Report comment
The voting period starts from Jan 2009 – including 6 Nations, Lions tour, 3 Nations, June tests and November tests.
Rin said | November 18th 2009 @ 4:57pm | Report comment
Sorry Jerry is correct on that one. Its the internationals that fall within the NH international season that gets counted.
Terry Kidd said | November 17th 2009 @ 10:03am | Report comment
Do the rules say only one from each country? If so I can understand Du Preez over Matfield, but I would be happy if both are on the list. From NZ I would say Brad Thorn. From Ireland either Tommy Bowe or Paul O’Connell.
From my Wallabies … WTF ??? .. Matt Giteau ?? No way, it has to be Benn Robinson !!!
Jerry said | November 17th 2009 @ 12:33pm | Report comment
Nope, cause there’s two Boks and two Irish in the list.
Rin said | November 17th 2009 @ 10:38am | Report comment
Surprised that Brussow didnt make the list, but i have been told that the panel only takes into consideration games from the Spring tours last year to the beginning of the Spring tours this year. i.e. they dont consider the games played in the spring tour this year so far as criteria they go to next year. That probably why Benn R. didnt get a look.
Surprised by McCaw inclusion as not at his best at least this year.
du Preez has to be a shoe-in for the win, but then again the favourite horse doesnt always win.
Rin said | November 17th 2009 @ 10:41am | Report comment
http://www.paddypower.com/bet/rugby-union/irb-player-of-the-year?ev_oc_grp_ids=9747
interesting to see the bookies have Bod as big favourite, i thought he had a very ordinary Lions tour…
Dean Pantio said | November 17th 2009 @ 11:04am | Report comment
Well that seems reasonable following William’s win… Perhaps it’s more a reflection that too many Irishmen and rugby illiterates are punters?
pothale said | November 18th 2009 @ 4:51am | Report comment
He did? Ordinary like Fourie de Preez and Victor Matfield you mean?
Must have been that 6 Nations Grand Slam in which he scored 3 critical game tries then.
Imagine an Irish bookmaker having a favouritism towards an Irish player – what is the world coming to?
Rin said | November 18th 2009 @ 10:57am | Report comment
Ordinary like the 6 nations where the best team cant even beat the Wobblies (at home!!). It must be hard playing the scots, italians and a crap english side.
pothale said | November 18th 2009 @ 11:10am | Report comment
Clearly you don’t watch a lot of rugby then.
stillmissit said | November 17th 2009 @ 1:21pm | Report comment
This rubbish should not be country specific but the best player in the world regardless of where they come from.
IMNSHO – and in no order as my brain cant work like that.
DuPreez
Matfield
Carter
McCaw
Broussow
Morne Steyn
O’Driscoll
Du Preez to win by a continental mile.
Gits – maybe a couple of years ago but certainly NOT this year. Unfortunately we dont have any player remotely close to this bunch YET!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Colin N said | November 17th 2009 @ 9:22pm | Report comment
Carter? He missed six months of the season.
Jerry said | November 18th 2009 @ 5:12am | Report comment
I don’t think he should have been nominated, but he didn’t miss that much of the international season. He missed the tests against France and the first half of the TN. More like 6 weeks.
Colin N said | November 18th 2009 @ 5:30am | Report comment
What’s the award based on? Just international form?
Jerry said | November 18th 2009 @ 5:38am | Report comment
Yeah, the Super 14, GP etc aren’t considered.
formeropenside said | November 17th 2009 @ 1:44pm | Report comment
Well, Giteau, *has* been one of the best international 12’s running around in the last year. It’s a shame he’s in fact been playing 10 all that time, however.
Roger said | November 17th 2009 @ 2:12pm | Report comment
Whilst not a winner, I think Benn Robinson would have been a worthy nominee. I cannot recall one prop that has gotten it over him.
adam said | November 17th 2009 @ 8:18pm | Report comment
matt giteau very overated iam shock heinrich brussouw isnt there
Sylvester said | November 17th 2009 @ 8:21pm | Report comment
I’m not sure McCaw has been as below par as everyone thinks.
I think he’s suffered by association because the ABs pack failed to assert itself in the losses to South Africa this Tri Nations. From what I observed, often he was one of the first to the ruck, or made the tackle, but was smashed back by two or three opposition players due to lack of support.
Also, I believe it the judging period includes last year’s end of season tour and excludes this current one. McCaw played quite well in that Grand Slam.
My pick for the award would still be du Preez though.
pothale said | November 18th 2009 @ 4:53am | Report comment
The judging period does not include last years end of season tour, and does include this years. That’s why they have nominations, but won’t announce until AIs are over.
Rin said | November 18th 2009 @ 5:01pm | Report comment
yes it does -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRB_International_Player_of_the_Year
Jerry said | November 18th 2009 @ 5:23pm | Report comment
Actually, I had a look on the IRB website, and it does look like the award covers the calendar year. It looks like it’s been changed to cover that period this year, whereas previously it did cover the NH season.
Sylvester said | November 18th 2009 @ 7:53pm | Report comment
I stand corrected:
“The IRB Player of the Year Award is the ultimate accolade for a player and takes into account performances in all internationals played during the year, including the RBS Six Nations, British & Irish Lions Test Series, Tri Nations and the June and November Tests,” said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.
Rin said | November 19th 2009 @ 10:42am | Report comment
I guess i may be wrong, Im still not convinced i think Lapasset spoke from the hip and just threw in all the tournaments. It doesnt make sense that they make the selection now when pretty much only half of the Spring tour games have been played, i mean what if say BOD or duPreez gets a red card in the next match would they still be considered.
Frank O'Keeffe said | November 17th 2009 @ 9:25pm | Report comment
I just wish a player like Benn Robinson, a prop who goes about his business the game way each game, who scrummages correctly, imparts pressure on his opposition, is good for a pilfer or two, and has a high tackle count – I just wish a player like that would be nominated for this award.
Giteau for all his flash, hasn’t had a great year. In fact when you look at how many games Australia won with Giteau these last few years, and then look at how highly he is rated, surely Giteau has to be one of the mosrrated players in the last 10 years.
Mick Gold Coast QLD said | November 18th 2009 @ 2:46am | Report comment
Giteau? Player of the year?
They. Have. Got. To. Be. Joking.
During the Global Financial Meltdown in the USA they locked people up for pocketing unearned profits!!!
Ziggy said | November 18th 2009 @ 5:01am | Report comment
This award is becoming a joke – like the Nobel peace prize or ‘employee of the month’
pothale said | November 18th 2009 @ 6:09am | Report comment
Except if it’s given to Foureye du Preer, of course.
Ziontrain said | November 18th 2009 @ 9:45am | Report comment
The noble piece prize for Rugby is spot on….Giteau please…Matfield not even nominated?