Shortlist announced for IRB Player of Year

[Bullrush]

Just heard the news - can't believe McCaw won it. Especially seeing as Pocock out played him a couple of times this season and then went on to dominant every other team this year. G&GR bloggers out there, I would love for somebody to do a season stats comparison, POCOCK VS McCAW.

McCaw winning these awards now, when his form has declined slightly, just adds to the myth.

Reddy, a few of the GR&G regulars grudgingly agree with the IRB.

Yeah think FP summed it up pretty perfectly. I am a bit surprised at the decision though, only because the IRB has awarded the player of the year to someone who you could actually consider to be player of the year. McCaw is an almost complete player, and as the captain and best player of the best side in the world he deserves everything that comes to him.

Except the World Cup.

It's funny, I don't think as a PLAYER that McCaw was the best AB, let alone the best in the world...and yet, I am voting for him because of his mesmeric leadership qualities...his fucking aura. To create a cross-code analogy, it's like taking Chris Judd and Dane Swan's baby and instilling it with Brett Kirk's leadership and Leigh Matthews' hardness. At least.

So playing wise I'd go:

1. Pocock
2. [I agree on this] Read
3. McCaw (generous!)
4. Beale
5. Muliaina
6. Harinordoquy
7. Matfield

But I'm voting for the real McCaw

We all knew McCaw would get it.

Pocock might have been close or even better than him in the number 7 role, but his leadership and the AB record were always going to give him the trophy.

Well done, Richie and NZ Rugby. Nice to see you guys peak twelve months out again!

He does deserves it; just a great player who has changed his style over the years to be a complete footballer and captain.


Pocock isn't of the same standard yet, whilst probably a better pure fetcher than McCaw these days, that is because McCaw has evolved into being just deadly with ball in hand (running and passing) and in support

Just for the record, especially in regard to my long-held opinion that referees are soft on McCaw, I've voted for McCaw. It was a fucking travesty that he won it last year, but I think he shades the other guys this year. Wouldn't mind if he didn't get it, though.

Surely Beale only deserves his nomination on the basis of his play in the last 4-6 months? Given that this is the IRB Player of the Year I doubt he'll come close. McCaw this year and he deserves it, though it's a shame 2010's achievements will be tarnished for him in the eyes of the world by the fact that he really didn't deserve it last year.

Pocock close, Hairydonkey the dark NH horse.

McCaw - much as I would love to see Pocock get it, McCaw is ahead of the field. Whether refs are, or are not "softer" on him (I tend to think not), no-one can deny he delivers very good performances almost all the time, and when he is at his best, nobody is as good for mine. It is the fault of referees / law-makers, if anyone, if people think he ought to get pinged more.
Matfield - great player, but really, is he a stand-out this year?
Beale - not enough over the whole year. We might all be saying differently next year.
The Burro - can't comment as I have not seen enough of him.
Mils - probably 3rd in the pecking order.
I agree Read maybe deserved a spot too.

Its between Pocock & McCaw IMO, although Beale has been the most exciting player this year, I'd probably go McCaw but wouldn't lose sleep if Pocock or Beale won it. It depends whether Richie is as invisible to the judging panel as he is to referees.

No way Pocock out-played McCaw this year. McCaw consistently leads the All Blacks for:

* being one the first 3 to the breakdown
* tackles made
* turn-overs
* ball carries

As well carrying the captain's responsibilities. You'll notice that when the games get tight, McCaw steps up his game and does things like calling the line-outs to himself, making more tackles and dictating how the ABs play.

When you're doing all this for the No.1 ranked team in the world which has won the Tri-Nations, the Bledisloe and completed a Grand Slam, I think there is pretty good justification to be named World's Best....unless all those accomplishments are mythical.

 

[Blue]

McCaw deserves it. Lead like a champion and performed in every single test. Pocock had a lot of great moments but there were a few games he was fairly anonymous. His time will come for sure.

 

[Blue]

McCaw winning these awards now, when his form has declined slightly, just adds to the myth.

Unfortunatley that satement makes your objection laughable. McCaw was mercurial. Especially on tour.

 

[DPK]

Pocock didn't outplay Richie. He put immense pressure on McCaw at the breakdown, and probably gave him the toughest time out of all the Tests this year, but he didn't outplay him.

He'd have to humiliate him like Pocock vs Burger in Brisbane to get the award.

 

[Epi]

Of course he deserved it.... Doesn't mean we have to like it...

 

[cyclopath]

would just like to know from you guyz. Do you genuinely believe Richie is a cheat or is it all somehow for show? cos I actually dont know

Scarfy and Gagger believe it, but they're haters!!!!
I may be making up the bit about them really believing it!

 

[Jethro Tah]

As released on WikiLeaks in an email from Umaga to John Eales just before it was shut down:

“.... and after the towelling your guys gave the frenchies I’ve got Ibanez on my side, and obviously Greenwood will never vote for an aussie. Look we both know Pocock had a better year and Richie has won it too many times already but I have something going so just hear me out. How about we vote for Richie, Henry and the ABs then this will give them a false sense of entitlement to the cup next year. The added home crowd pressure will see them crash and burn (as they always do) then Henry will be hung out to dry. Your Wallabies will probably get it so Deans will get a blank cheque from O’Neil for another 4 years giving yours truly a clear run at the top job. I will make it worth your while. Hell, I could even get you in at Toulon if you want ............”

Allegedly

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

As good as Pocock is and will be, McCaw is still the gold standard of opensides in world rugby and fully deserves all the accolades. He'll need to be looking over his shoulder though.


As for the cheating part, well he is a flanker. It's part of the job description. I have to marvel at how well he plays the refs though.

 

[Groucho]

McCaw is a deserving winner, but the fact that a 24 year old Pocock can run him so close bodes very well for Pocock's career.

Kiwis might discount Pocock's all-round game, but that is only because he is playing to the Wallaby game plan. As a former schoolboy representative centre, Pocock has distributive and linking skills that he simply isn't required to use, since his current brief is to play on the ball, all the time.

Let's see how he improves.

 

[farva]

McCaw is a deserving winner, but the fact that a 24 year old Pocock can run him so close bodes very well for Pocock's career.

Kiwis might discount Pocock's all-round game, but that is only because he is playing to the Wallaby game plan. As a former schoolboy representative centre, Pocock has distributive and linking skills that he simply isn't required to use, since his current brief is to play on the ball, all the time.

Let's see how he improves.

Exactly. Pocock showed against France he could provide good go forward. He has more strings to his bow than just fetching.

 

[Groucho]

Exactly. Pocock showed against France he could provide good go forward. He has more strings to his bow than just fetching.

Indeed, farva. The boy's successes are ahead of him.

But for now, all kudos to McCaw. The great player of his generation. Maybe Pocock will be the next - although there is obviously competition.

 

[Budgie]

As much as I would have liked to see our David Pocock win, Lord Richie deserved and was the clear standout from the shortlist.

David's time will come as Lord Richie slows down. Our man is on the rise.

Surprised to see that Ted Sandyman, the #8 from the Pilbarbarians, missed out on making it to the short list.

Ted had an awesome year and thoroughly deserved recognition. These gin soaked IRB old fogies need to start looking at the world beyond what they can see through the the bottom of their Gordon's Gin bottle.

 

[Jnor]

McCaw is a deserving winner, but the fact that a 24 year old Pocock can run him so close bodes very well for Pocock's career.

Kiwis might discount Pocock's all-round game, but that is only because he is playing to the Wallaby game plan. As a former schoolboy representative centre, Pocock has distributive and linking skills that he simply isn't required to use, since his current brief is to play on the ball, all the time.

Let's see how he improves.

Pretty sure Pocock's 22, so even better for us. As much as I would've liked to see him win it, Richie was probably the right call. Congrats and good on him.

 

[Scarfman]

I'm amazed at the number of comments on my video like this one this morning:

Although some of the plays are dodgy, you should spend more time looking at the ruck - breakdown rules a bit more... for example at 4:41 - how many Springbok players have entered the tackle area?....1! At what point is an opposition ruck formed?.....as soon as two players form the ruck....in the interim period, there is no offside position for clearing players out.

This is the same garbage that all people attribute to Mccaw who is the greatest no 7 in world rugby!! Go AB's

Knowing the rules of rugby is one thing, knowing how to count must be another.

 

[Rothschild]

I'm amazed at the number of comments on my video like this one this morning:
Knowing the rules of rugby is one thing, knowing how to count must be another.

Please excuse my affrontery to criticise one so exhalted, however it's Laws not rules

 

[fatprop]

Exactly. Pocock showed against France he could provide good go forward. He has more strings to his bow than just fetching.

He can, but his attack style is more Phil Waugh than George Smith, McCaw is more George Smith in attack - head up looking for options.

Pocock is more head down and charge, effective but limited - he will improve though, he is still a baby

 

[DPK]

Depends on the situation, fatprop. On a number of occasions I've seen Pocock be a great linkman, he has a pretty good passing game. Always got to be careful about pidgeon holing players.

 

[fatprop]

Depends on the situation, fatprop. On a number of occasions I've seen Pocock be a great linkman, he has a pretty good passing game. Always got to be careful about pidgeon holing players.

This forum would have about 20 posts if we stopped pigeon holing players.

 

[Scotty]

As good as Pocock is and will be, McCaw is still the gold standard of opensides in world rugby and fully deserves all the accolades. He'll need to be looking over his shoulder though.


As for the cheating part, well he is a flanker. It's part of the job description. I have to marvel at how well he plays the refs though.

He is the gold standard for a player of any position, not just opensides.

 

[Reddy!]

There is alot of love on this forum for McCaw, and quite frankly it is unAustralian, unless of course you are a Kiwi living in Australia, which most of them are. Soon you'll be saying - no wait, you probably already are - that Qatar deserves the 2018 Football World Cup.

I think it has just become a truism that McCaw is a great player, when in actual fact, and it is a fact, he isn't half the player he use to be. I am so confident about this that I don't require stats to back me up.


Okay okay okay, I think I've lost you. Pocock for 2011 player of the year? Can you place a bet on this?