IRB Player of the Year Shortlist

2 Comments

A complete joke of a list. Want to know how I can tell? Tom Croft is on it, that surely is pushing things far too far!

Also of note is that Gethin Jenkins isn’t on it. Far and away the best loosehead prop in the world (in my opinion of course) he has been spectacular for Wales, and the Lions in the summer, for 2 years now. How he hasn’t got a mention I have no idea. especially not when Tom Croft does.

Some worthy names there though, Brian O’Driscoll has had a had a fine year for example, as has Jamie Heaslip if you forget about the British Lions.

Other deserving names such as Victor Matfield are also notable absentees, whilst one South African fan noted that Francois Steyn isn’t even teh best Steyn playing rugby in South Africa, never mind top player in the world

The IRB Player of the Year Shortlist

Francois Steyn
Fourie du Preez
Richie McCaw
Tom Croft
Jamie Heaslip
Brian o’Driscoll
Matt Giteau

Previous IRB Player of the Year Award Winners

2001 – Keith Wood
2002 – Fabien Galthié
2003 – Jonny Wilkinson
2004 – Schalk Burger
2005 – Dan Carter
2006 – Richie McCaw
2007 – Bryan Habanna
2008 – Shane Williams

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2 Comments »

derek jones said:

This is a strange list to be honest, in what ahs been a strange year of Rugby.British and Irish Lions performing well but only winning one test,New Zealand under performing in the tri-nations,South Africa outstanding all summer but currently off the boil.So all the leading players in these teams would have a chance to appear on the list.However fron purley a Northern hemisphere point of view i would give to O’Driscoll mainly because of his resiliance and his determination to win.

# 20 November 2009 at 12:30 am

Ieuan Morgan said:

Surely Du Preez is stand out favourite considering SOuth Africa’s dominance and he is arguably one of the finest scurm halves ever to have played the game. Croft’s inclusion is strange, as is Gethin Jenkins ommisson. He is truly an incredible player, his work rate is scary and the tackles he puts in are incredible. IF he doesn’t get the recognition outside of Wales, then he can be proud that every welshman recognises him as a welsh ledgend.