The nominees for World Rugby Player of the Year have been unveiled and they do not make good reading for English supporters.
It’s not all that surprising after they left their own party early, but Welsh and Scottish fans will be happy to see an inclusion each.
Shortlist
- Daniel Carter (New Zealand)
- Michael Hooper (Australia)
- Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
- Greig Laidlaw (Scotland)
- David Pocock (Australia)
- Julian Savea (New Zealand)
There’s no room for any of Ireland’s Six Nations winning team, but in a World Cup year the performances in autumn were always going to count for more.
The inclusion of Greig Laidlaw and Alun Wyn Jones won’t come as much of a surprise to anyone who watched them put in two fabulous performances in the World Cup.
The Scottish captain was particularly impressive as he almost inspired his side to a famous win over Australia in the quarter-finals. He is currently the tournament’s second top points scorer on 79 points, while Jones was a rock for the Welsh in a tournament that left them ravaged with injury.
Michael Hooper and David Pocock are the frontrunners for the award, having combined to devastating, turnover-making effect for the Wallabies.
Dan Carter and Julian Savea may overtake them if they can help New Zealand to retain their World Cup trophy.
Former Wallabies star John Eales said: “Being a World Cup year, particular weighting has been given to World Cup performances, where there are four candidates who will contest the final on Saturday.”
The panel that decided the six-man list consists of Will Greenwood, Gavin Hastings, Raphaël Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Agustín Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga and Paul Wallace.
It also includes journalists Pierre Galy (AFP), Stephen Jones (The Sunday Times), Georgina Robinson (Sydney Morning Herald), Jim Kayes (TV3 Ireland) and Sergio Stuart (Olé, Argentina) and ‘the 20 participating teams at the World Cup’.
We will find out the winner on Sunday evening.
