Shortlist announced for IRB Player of Year

[WB3]

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?

I think it is more grudging acceptance than love.

As for his onfield contribution, I am fairly sure that his involvements are numerous (less so than before? who knows) and significant (no argument) and his leadership of the team is exceptional. He is the complete package, we don't like it, we just acknowledge it.

 

[MajorlyRagerly]

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?

Quality post, enjoy the rant.

Your right, he isn't half the player he used to be. Sometimes I think he's twice, but more accurately probably 1.2 times.

Don't let the man love for McCaw cloud the view of Pocock, either in Aus or NZ. He's brilliant, strong, quick, skilful and a player any country would love to have. But that doesn't automatically make him the best on the planet. He will be, I have no doubt. but I really hope it's not 2011, as you can be sure as shit the IRB POTY will come from the WC winning team...

Off topic - I think unAustralian is the worst word in the world. Makes me cringe whenever I hear it. But I guess that's here nor there really.

 

[Aussie D]

Thought Richie deserved the award this year moreso than last year (Fourie DuPreez was robbed I telz ya). Well played the man who refs don't penalise (enough).

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

The award could of gone either way McCaw or Pocock. But quite simply McCaw is still the best at his trade and he has been such a successful captain once again this year, picking up another Tri Nations and Grand Slam.

Pocock is so close to stealing his thunder and the title, but give him another year. Maybe he will shine at next years world cup and take it in style.

 

[Gagger]

Indeed, that was quality Reddy

Even though I reckon McCaw's changed his game more out of necessity than design - I reckon he's lost the half a yard of pace to the tackle required to be the best fetcher (unless you just come from the wrong side everytime) - I can't diagree he didn't deserve the gong. Fuckit

Having said that, if the gong had gone to Bam-Man I reckon you could justify it

 

[Bullrush]

We could have justified it going to almost any of the players on the short list....just they weren't quite as justified as McCaw.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

Would have struggled to justify Matfield, and Mils apart from the Long Service Medal.
The Hairy Donkey isn't even wanted by his National Team. Even harder to justify that.

The voters were all long serving veterans from their nations, and would typically favour the strategic leader over the younger player.

Our Bam Bam's time will come very soon, provided he can keep injury free.

 

[DPK]

Off topic - I think unAustralian is the worst word in the world. Makes me cringe whenever I hear it. But I guess that's here nor there really.

Fucking agree.

 

[#1?]

Quality post, enjoy the rant.

...

Off topic - I think unAustralian is the worst word in the world. Makes me cringe whenever I hear it. But I guess that's here nor there really.

MajorlyRagerly, your observation divagates well of the topic, but I agree with your statement. "UnAustralian" is usually used by persons with less than honourable intent.

 

[en_force_er]

divagates

Pretty sure I saw you use this in another thread and it leads me to ask, did you draw it in a word of the day calendar?

Anyway, Pocock plays the way McCaw used to (with much sucsess) and is very much on on-baller, ruck-ready opensider and Richie, for whatever reason, is now more a link man.

Now, that doesn't mean McCaw doesn't get some pilfers and Pocock doesn't play link man but I mean generally.

 

[Hugh Jarse]

en_force_er. Well spotted.

See here for more:http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/forum/threads/6702-Most-Erudite-Poster-Word-of-the-Week-Competition?p=196091#post196091

 

[MrMouse]

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?

Lovely rant!

Pretty sure they got the 2022 Soccer WC, but you know what? I do reckon Qatar deserved it just as much as Australia. If that's "unAustralian" fine by me, as others have mentioned it's a bastard of a word.

500 Monopoly dollars on Pocock for 2011 when we win Bill...

 

[Enzedder]

Shouldn't Fourie du Preez get it to make up for not getting it last year?

No. They have to give it to Richie 3 times to make up for when they mistakenly gave it to some wet rag of a Welsh winger.

 

[DPK]

No. They have to give it to Richie 3 times to make up for when they mistakenly gave it to some wet rag of a Welsh winger.

Fair 'nuf.