Comments on: Giteau nominated for world rugby’s player of the year

By: Rin

Rin — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:42:25 +0000

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.

By: Sylvester

Sylvester — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:53:39 +0000

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.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:23:40 +0000

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.

By: Rin

Rin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:07:43 +0000

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.

By: Rin

Rin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 07:01:45 +0000

yes it does -
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IRB_International_Player_of_the_Year

By: Rin

Rin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:57:26 +0000

Sorry Jerry is correct on that one. Its the internationals that fall within the NH international season that gets counted.

By: pothale

pothale — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:10:49 +0000

Clearly you don’t watch a lot of rugby then.

By: Rin

Rin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:57:06 +0000

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.

By: pothale

pothale — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:56:52 +0000

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.

By: Rin

Rin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:52:47 +0000

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.

By: Rin

Rin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:50:36 +0000

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.

By: Ziontrain

Ziontrain — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:45:24 +0000

The noble piece prize for Rugby is spot on….Giteau please…Matfield not even nominated?

By: pothale

pothale — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 20:09:36 +0000

Except if it’s given to Foureye du Preer, of course.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:38:15 +0000

Yeah, the Super 14, GP etc aren’t considered.

By: Colin N

Colin N — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:30:37 +0000

What’s the award based on? Just international form?

By: Jerry

Jerry — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:12:31 +0000

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.

By: Ziggy

Ziggy — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:01:35 +0000

This award is becoming a joke – like the Nobel peace prize or ‘employee of the month’

By: pothale

pothale — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:53:11 +0000

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.

By: pothale

pothale — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:51:32 +0000

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?

By: pothale

pothale — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:42:18 +0000

The voting period starts from Jan 2009 – including 6 Nations, Lions tour, 3 Nations, June tests and November tests.

By: Mick Gold Coast QLD

Mick Gold Coast QLD — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:46:14 +0000

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!!!

By: Viscount Crouchback

Viscount Crouchback — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:04:23 +0000

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.

By: Knives Out

Knives Out — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:05:00 +0000

The same Mike Phillips who outplayed Du Preez in the Lions series? I must be talking about him, yes.

By: Frank O'Keeffe

Frank O'Keeffe — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:25:10 +0000

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.

By: Colin N

Colin N — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 11:22:47 +0000

Carter? He missed six months of the season.

By: Sylvester

Sylvester — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:21:22 +0000

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.

By: adam

adam — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:18:35 +0000

matt giteau very overated iam shock heinrich brussouw isnt there

By: Jerry

Jerry — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:49:06 +0000

MIls was below average in the TN, and has only been solid in the NH matches so far.

By: PastHisBest

PastHisBest — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:11:55 +0000

And he only played internationals in the second half of the year Jerry.

By: Jerry

Jerry — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 04:55:20 +0000

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.