<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Fushitsusha @ Oct 14 2009, 02:55 AM)
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (danger @ Oct 13 2009, 04:42 AM)
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nickdnz @ Oct 13 2009, 05:14 PM)
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Fourie du Preez makes a strong case. I would say the candidates that may be in the running are.
South Africa: Have had a very strong year in rugby, most likley a SA player will get the award.
Jaque Fourie
Fourie du Preez
Bryan Habana (probebly not twice though)
Victor Matfield
Morne Steyn
Heinrich Brusow
Australia: Little chance to be honest.
Rocky Elson
Matt Giteau
New Zealand: Not a great year for NZ so very unlikley a player will be chosen, especially considering key players haven't really stepped up.
Mils Muliaina
Richie McCaw (Has actually performed pretty well, but hasn't been with a winning team)
Comrad Smith
Ireland: May have a chance of a player selected, but I wouldn't rate anyone's chances too highly
Bryan O'Driscol
Paul O'Connel
Wales:
Shane Williams
Jamie Roberts
Other then those players, I can't see anyone else realistically taking the award. Maybe some others but none that, in my opinion, will be up for the running.[/b]
That analysis is far too reasonable. It actually makes sense, which is something that these awards are at odds with.
In 2008 Richie McCaw got a few games in with the ANZC winning cantabs, then captained the Crusaders to the Super 14 ***le, then captained the allblacks to the Bledisloe and Trinations. He then captained NZ to a Grandslam in which none of the home nations could score a single try, every game was a thrashing (bar plucky munster).
So obviously the 2008 player of the year was Shane Williams. Richie McCaw didnt even get a nomination, Ryan Jones did though.
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Provincial and club competitions don't come into account with this award... internationals only...
Also, it's judged on form starting from LAST YEARS AI's through until the end of this years Tri Nations...
The reason why last years award was lacking in Southern Hemisphere representation was due to there being no EOYT because of the World Cup in 2007...
The upcoming tests won't come into account for this years award...
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Then why wasn't there such a lack of southern hemisphere players in the 2004 awards.. Either way i think its bullshit.
Mike Blair, Ryan Jones and Shane Williams in the top 5 players in the world? Just because there is no EOYT doesn't mean the Trinations ceases to be a recognised competition. Its the top 3 nations in the world