IRB Player of the Year 2013

Swiwi.

Finally! Via BOD's ultimate rugby app, we can vote for player of the year. No more of those lame IRB decisions...

Buer

Swiwi. wrote: »

Finally! Via BOD's ultimate rugby app, we can vote for player of the year. No more of those lame IRB decisions...

If Read doesn't get it there's something horribly wrong. I've a suspicion that Halfpenny will get the official award but Read has been head and shoulders the best player in the world this year.

The points system on which the IRB award is judged is massively flawed.

Buer

Also, poll needs editing!

Suggested options: Read, Halfpenny, Ben Smith, JDV, AWJ and Folau.

Swiwi.

Buer wrote: »

If Read doesn't get it there's something horribly wrong. I've a suspicion that Halfpenny will get the official award but Read has been head and shoulders the best player in the world this year.

The points system on which the IRB award is judged is massively flawed.

This one is run by the IRPA and you get to vote for each position (3 choices per position). My only complaint is that some players are out of position eg Picamoles at 6 and Fofana at 13

I did it quickly, but I have no shame in laying my cards on the table from 1-15: Corbisiero, Du Plessis, Figallo, Etzebeth, Retallick, Messam, SOB, Read, A Smith, Cruden, Savea, De Villiers, C Smith, B Smith, Dagg

I'm not going to enter into any debates (!), I did it off the cuff, and most people will choose a different selection to me.

I agree that Kieran Read is NZ's player of the year, although I fully expect Ben Smith to win the NZ Super XV player of the year. Brodie Retallick is also having a stellar year.

By the way, would you guys consider swapping McGrath for one of our surplus wingers? Ireland has a few wingers out injured, and and we could sure use a prop who can scrum.

Swiwi.

Buer wrote: »

Also, poll needs editing!

Suggested options: Read, Halfpenny, Ben Smith, JDV, AWJ and Folau.

Good selection. I'd add Juan Figallo, he was awesome in the RC.

Fireball07

It's international only yeah?

Swiwi.

Fireball07 wrote: »

It's international only yeah?

Not exactly. Sitivatu is one of the wing choices on offer.

Grimebox

Swiwi. wrote: »

Finally! Via BOD's ultimate rugby app, we can vote for player of the year. No more of those lame IRB decisions...

iPhone app?

Swiwi.

Grimebox wrote: »

iPhone app?

Yeah. But no doubt there's an android version too.

Grimebox

Swiwi. wrote: »

Yeah. But no doubt there's an android version too.

Can't find anything about it on the android app

Swiwi.

Grimebox wrote: »

Can't find anything about it on the android app

http://m.ultimaterugby.com/get-app

Mentions google play, maybe that is where to get the android app?

Cookiemunster

Grimebox wrote: »

Can't find anything about it on the android app

You have to update to the latest version, then tap the < in the top left corner. It's one of the menu options.

b.gud

Swiwi. wrote: »

http://m.ultimaterugby.com/get-app

Mentions google play, maybe that is where to get the android app?

Clicking on the Google Play link normally works :P

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ultimaterugby

Buer

Nominations are out: Halfpenny, Smith, Read and Parisse.

Swiwi.

Buer wrote: »

Nominations are out: Halfpenny, Smith, Read and Parisse.

At least those are 4 choices most should be able to agree on. No Carter or McCaw for a pleasant change. JdV is unlucky.

.ak

Has to be Read.

CatFromHue

Buer wrote: »

Nominations are out: Halfpenny, Smith, Read and Parisse.

Etzebeth as well.

Halfpenny or Read will get it I think.

pickarooney

presumably that's ben smith? bit too late to the party internationally and played out of his best position. Parisse had a couple of good games in the spring but I don't remember much since. read has overtaken halfpenny in the later half of the year and has not had a less than great game any time I've seen him.

Klunk_NZ

Actual player of the year: Read hands down
Likely recipient: 1/2 Penny.

This award is flawed to high hell.

Swiwi.

Klunk_NZ wrote: »

Actual player of the year: Read hands down
Likely recipient: 1/2 Penny.

This award is flawed to high hell.

Hopefully your good mate Kieran will get it. Do post a picture of you & him enjoying a quiet one over the summer months. Make sure the award is in the background so we know it's real

matthew8

Read for me and little doubt about it. If NZ win this Saturday they will have no choice but to give it to an all black after the perfect year.

Swiwi.

IRPA Players’ Player of the Year Award shortlist: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Kieran
Read (NZ), Ben Smith (NZ).

IRPA Players’ Newcomer of the Year Award shortlist: Israel Folau (Australia), Ben
Smith (NZ), Charles Piutau (NZ).

Ben Smith made his debut in 2009, but oh well...

Fireball07

Read & Folau for me.

thebaz

Swiwi. wrote: »

I
IRPA Players’ Newcomer of the Year Award shortlist: Israel Folau (Australia), Ben
Smith (NZ), Charles Piutau (NZ).

Ben Smith made his debut in 2009, but oh well...

after his performance on Sunday , and for the lions , I'd add Conor Murray to that list - incredible rise to the very top

Grimebox

What qualifies a new comer?

19543261

Someone Else We Want To Give An Award To But Cant Because Read Has It.

Swiwi.

thebaz wrote: »

after his performance on Sunday , and for the lions , I'd add Conor Murray to that list - incredible rise to the very top

Needs to back it up to make the player of the year, though. He was excellent on Saturday, but he hasn't had the consistency over 12 months of Read for example.

Swiwi.

Grimebox wrote: »

What qualifies a new comer?

I would have thought someone making their debut in 2013...but as I said Ben Smith is there

For me it's Folau, he only started playing rugby in about February, and he's already Australia's most dangerous back, and utterly imperious under the high ball.

thebaz

Swiwi. wrote: »

Needs to back it up to make the player of the year, though. He was excellent on Saturday, but he hasn't had the consistency over 12 months of Read for example.

meant , for the newcomer - i'd have him on the newcomer list

Grimebox

It must be so much fun being an all blacks fan!

[Jackass]

It's time for New Zealand player of the year award again?

Swiwi.

Grimebox wrote: »

It must be so much fun being an all blacks fan!

Yes & no. This year has been good of course, but I'm not nearly as optimistic about our RWC chances as some people. NZ are always the team others want to beat, and that means teams play that extra bit better against us.

I like our style of play, for me it's easy on the eye, but I accept it's not always the best style for winning crunch knockout games.

Tox56

Grimebox wrote: »

It must be so much fun being an all blacks fan!

It was only fleeting but being a Leinster fan around 2011/12 gave a glimpse into what it's like as a NZ fan I think, and while it was obviously great there are some downsides. It's win or bust, everyone expects you to win every game you play and taking positives from a defeat is difficult 90% of the time. Any slip-up and opposition fans/critics waste no time in sticking the knife in, any defeat is blown wildly out of proportion, the pressure during every game must be pretty intense. I'd imagine with the culture of constant success it's amplified in NZ

Lets be honest though, I'd kill for Ireland to be in that position

Klunk_NZ

Swiwi. wrote: »

Hopefully your good mate Kieran will get it. Do post a picture of you & him enjoying a quiet one over the summer months. Make sure the award is in the background so we know it's real

Mate, if Kezza wins it I'll spoon the award in his room (well his parents guest room now)

Swiwi.

Players' World XV of the Year: 15 Leigh Halfpenny (WAL), 14 Ben Smith (NZ), 13 Conrad Smith (NZ), 12 Wesley Fofana (FRA), 11 George North (WAL), 10 Aaron Cruden (NZ), 9 Aaron Smith (NZ), 8 Kieran Read (NZ), 7 Sam Warburton (WAL), 6 Liam Messam (NZ), 5 Sam Whitelock (NZ), 4 Eben Etzebeth (SA), 3 Adam Jones (WAL), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (SA), 1 Alex Corbisiero (ENG).

Interesting that although Warburton got a fair amount of stick on this forum, his fellow international players clearly rate him highly: no SOB, McCaw, Hooper or Dusautoir in sight.

Fireball07

But it's just wrong... he's there because he was a winning Lions captain. Which is a great achievement and everything, but his individual performances weren't that good. Hooper would have been a good shout, I think.

sydthebeat

I would have though retallick had a better year than whitelock.
Delighted for Cruden getting the recognition at last.

Adam Jones is laughable..... hanging on the coat tails of a reputation.

Other than that, meh i suppose its warranted. Fofana probably also there because of previous years performances and lack of a clear outstanding 12.

Swiwi.

Fireball07 wrote: »

But it's just wrong... he's there because he was a winning Lions captain. Which is a great achievement and everything, but his individual performances weren't that good. Hooper would have been a good shout, I think.

Well the world's elite players voted for him...and I doubt they did it out of a sense of nostalgia.

I don't necesarily agree, but at the end of the day these guys have actually played for and against him, and I guess they are pretty good judges of the players they rate highly as team-mates or opposition, so I can't argue too much.

Tox56

Swiwi. wrote: »

Well the world's elite players voted for him...and I doubt they did it out of a sense of nostalgia.

I don't necesarily agree, but at the end of the day these guys have actually played for and against him, and I guess they are pretty good judges of the players they rate highly as team-mates or opposition, so I can't argue too much.

Don't know about nostalgia or anything, but Warburton had a distinctly average AI series and can only really be said to have been his best for the last 2 games of the 6 Nations, Welsh fans were very frustrated Tipuric wasn't starting for them for the first few games. Warburton is absolutely world class at his best, don't think he's been that most of this season, and there is pretty stiff competition for that 7 jersey.

Hooper has been stupidly good this year, SOB too, was probably the only Irish player who did himself justice in the 6 Nations. Haven't seen enough of McCaw or Dusatouir to comment.

Fireball07

Swiwi. wrote: »

Well the world's elite players voted for him...and I doubt they did it out of a sense of nostalgia.

I don't necesarily agree, but at the end of the day these guys have actually played for and against him, and I guess they are pretty good judges of the players they rate highly as team-mates or opposition, so I can't argue too much.

Considering how many ex-players are absolutely terrible pundits, I don't think I'd put 100% stock in their opinion tbh. It is a good indicator, I suppose, and maybe he makes more of an impact than you'd think but he was very very poor for Cardiff at the end of last season and wasn't great in the 6 Nations either. Wales looked better with Tipuric iirc.


Which players actually vote for this aswell?

And I wonder..... if you're actually playing, how much do you notice how well a particular individual on the other side is playing?

Swiwi.

Fireball07 wrote: »

Considering how many ex-players are absolutely terrible pundits, I don't think I'd put 100% stock in their opinion tbh. It is a good indicator, I suppose, and maybe he makes more of an impact than you'd think but he was very very poor for Cardiff at the end of last season and wasn't great in the 6 Nations either. Wales looked better with Tipuric iirc.


Which players actually vote for this aswell?

And I wonder..... if you're actually playing, how much do you notice how well a particular individual on the other side is playing?

International rugby players association.

Much like Cruden v Sexton, I do think Warburton suffers a bit on this forum by competing with SOB for the 7 jersey. And players are definitely good at rating their opposites. I'd say they hold this new award in higher regard than other ones, as it's their peers recognising them as the best in their position for 2013.

Kiwi_knock

Ultimate Rugby IRPA Fans’ Awards. Category winners.

Fans’ Player of the Year: Kieran Read

Fans’ World XV of the Year: Alex Corbisiero (ENG), Bismarck Du Plessis (SA), Adam Jones (WAL), Eben Etzebeth (SA), Alun-Wyn Jones (WAL), Liam Messam (NZ), Richie McCaw (NZ), Kieran Read (NZ); Will Genia (AUS), Dan Carter (NZ), George North (WAL), Jean de Villiers (SA), Conrad Smith (NZ), Israel Folau (AUS), Leigh Halfpenny (WAL).

Some questionable selections (Corbs and Adam Jones), and most notably Dan Carter has really no place there. Would have Ben Smith ahead of Folau as well, probably have Aaron Smith ahead of Genia but it was not an outstanding year for any scrum half.

.ak

They're fans awards, so 8 out of 10 people just pick their favourite player in a position or people on past reputations. Not all fans are up to the minute with the sport.

Swiwi.

Kiwi_knock wrote: »

Some questionable selections (Corbs and Adam Jones), and most notably Dan Carter has really no place there. Would have Ben Smith ahead of Folau as well, probably have Aaron Smith ahead of Genia but it was not an outstanding year for any scrum half.

Ah come on dan carter had an awesome 80 minutes of rugby this year. 10 minutes in 8 games, each appearance sadly curtailed by injury. But those 600 seconds each match were pure magic.

[Jackass]

Corbisiero seems more highly rated than Healy these days. Interesting. I wonder who would have gotten the nod for the Lions if Healy didn't pick up an ankle injury.

Surprised no sign of Sean O'Brien either.

Those two and maybe still O'Connell the only Irish players who'd be in with a shout you'd feel.

Journeyman_1

[Jackass] wrote: »

Corbisiero seems more highly rated than Healy these days. Interesting. I wonder who would have gotten the nod for the Lions if Healy didn't pick up an ankle injury.

Surprised no sign of Sean O'Brien either.

Those two and maybe still O'Connell the only Irish players who'd be in with a shout you'd feel.

Corbisiero wasnt even picked for the squad initially if i remember correctly and was called out after healy got injured?

Fireball07

Corbs is a better scrummager than Healy though, and he helped pulverize the Aussies so he was always going to be included.

duckysauce

Fireball07 wrote: »

Corbs is a better scrummager than Healy though, and he helped pulverize the Aussies so he was always going to be included.

Gatty media worked there .

Tox56

Journeyman_1 wrote: »

Corbisiero wasnt even picked for the squad initially if i remember correctly and was called out after healy got injured?

Pretty much, he would probably would have been called out eventually for Jenkins but realistically Healy was going to start the first test, and I suspect he'd have started the other two as well