I would have gone with McCaw, Read, Lobbe and the 4th could be a toss up between a few. Carter maybe, he has played very well when not injured and who else would go ahead of him? Habana would be a fair shot actually. A few other AB's could be put on a larger short-list but there's no need for more than 1 or 2 from one team. Hooper if he had played the June tests would be on it I'm sure, I still would have given him the Australian gong over Nathan Sharpe, who is a solid player but not much more.
Michalek obviously very good in the Autumn tests but not much else. Can't really say too much for the NH, don't get to watch too much (no Eurosport or Setanta). Sergio Parisse is always a pleasure to watch but will never win it playing for Italy. It's a shame Nick Evans is stuck being a Kiwi, he'd be England's #1 ten for a start and one of the world's best at the moment.
From the shortlist it's hard to see how McCaw won't win it, even though Read should get it.