No Irishman and only one player from the northern hemisphere in the running for the IRB Player of the Year award? Here are five players from this side of the world we think should have made the cut.
Sean O’Brien
Considering that he was voted European Player of the Year, Guinness Rugby Writers of Ireland Player of the Year, Player of Pool C in the World Cup and nominated for the Six Nations individual gong, O’Brien’s mantelpiece is already tight for space, but that doesn’t mean he shouldn’t have gotten a mention here.
The Tullow Tank is possibly the most feared ball-carrier in the game at the moment and rubbished concerns about his ability to play openside with a series of stunning performances in New Zealand. He’s probably paying the price for a somewhat muted (by his standards) display against Wales in the quarter-finals, his only average performance of the season.
As injustices go, this ranks up there with Richie McCaw beating Brian O’Driscoll to the award in 2009.
Imanol Harinordoquy
Thierry Dusautoir made the final cut, but we think the powers that be at the IRB chose the wrong French back-row forward amongst their nominees for the most prestigious individual award in world rugby.
He was immense against England in the World Cup quarter-final, as he was against Ireland in the Six Nations earlier this year. He’s the equivalent to Ireland’s Paul O’Connell – when he delivers a big display, his team tend to follow suit.
Harinordoquy is one of the few reasons France can cling to wildly optimistic hopes of an upset against the All-Blacks at the weekend, although we miss him from the days when his Phantom of the Opera–like mask gave him an even more mythical quality on the pitch.
Chris Ashton
As much as it pains us to admit it, Ashton deserves recognition for what has been a tremendous season from an individual point of view. Sure he’s smug, sure we can’t stand that arrogant swallow-dive of his and sure he seems to sum up all that is wrong about the thoroughly dislikeable England squad, but it’s hard to argue against a man that scored 12 tries between the World Cup and the Six Nations.
If, like us, you’re feeling a little dirty reading gushing praise of the Northampton winger, just have another look at England teammate Manu Tuilagi cracking him with one of the finest belts we’ve ever seen earlier this season and you’ll be just fine. Never gets old.
Sergio Parisse
Simply a phenomenal player. If there was a transfer market in international rugby, Parisse would be up at the top of nearly every country’s wish-list as he has the whole package. He’s a fine ball-carrier, excellent at the lineout, has the hands and balance of an outside centre and if you haven’t already cast eyes on her, he has a fine missus to boot.
Inspired Italy to their memorable victory over France in the Six Nations and was having a good World Cup until the wheels fell off the Italy train against Ireland in Dunedin.
Jamie Roberts
Roberts has been a one-man wrecking ball at the World Cup to date and such was his influence on an ebullient Wales outfit that he even managed to fill in at scrum-time when Sam Warburton was sent off against France. Didn’t set the world alight in the Six Nations, but if Piri Weepu was acknowledged for what he did at the World Cup, Roberts should have been too.
Donncha O’Callaghan will have nightmares about being steamrolled by Roberts in the quarter-final, but he wasn’t the only one that shuddered at the thought of the 6’4” and nearly 18 stone Roberts at full flight.
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