ZeFrenchy
First XV
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- Feb 3, 2011
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Aren't the November tests also considered for this?
I don't think any frenchman should be there. This was the year where we got a hiding from the Wallabies in Paris, we lost to Italy for the first time, we lost pretty humilliatingly to England and we lost to Tonga.
From the SH, Genia had an outstanding EoYT and 3N, but a poor WC. Pocock has been inmense all year, so he desrves his spot. Boks have been underwhelming, even if they had a pretty strong EoYT... I guess the one that comes closest to that list, IMO, is Jacque Fourie... but really a step down from the list members. The AB's have had a good year, despite losing the 3N. Kaino had a good Grand Slam tour and an outstanding WC, so he deserves his spot as well. I may be repeating myself, but Owen Franks and Brad Thorn have been really, really good all year long, though less visible than many of the others. They deserve to be shortlisted certainly more than Weepu and probably more than Nonu (who's been very good too, though).
From the NH... the ones that have been good have been inconsistent. Scots beat the Springboks but then had a bad 6N and a bad WC. Wales had a terrible EoYT and a pretty bad 6N. Many players have had a very good WC, but have started to shine only recently. North and Roberts are perhaps the exception (Warburton dump-tackled his chances). Ireland has been inconsistent, with the exception of SOB (whose international form/results have been far from his club's). England beat Australia and almost won the GS. The best players then were Lawes, Flood and Ashton. None of those were good enough to compensate their average WC. Italy... well, Castrogiovanni and Parisse were good as usual, and Masi was decent too (his "player of the 6N" award was undeserved though imo). Parisse would deserve the most a nomination, but he's already been shortlisted and as hehas no chance of winning, I don't see the point in nominating him. Gorgodze has had no international achievement as to earn a nomination.
My seven would be:
Kaino
Thorn
Franks
Pocock
North/Roberts (there has to be one welshman!)
SOB
Unlucky to miss out: Read, Nonu, Genia.
I think that if NZ wins the cup, there is no way someone from a different side will win. If that victory includes detroying the french setpiece as an important factor, then Franks or Thorn should get it (forward domination is what has gotten them to the final). If not, Kaino would be more appropiate. If the world ends and NZ doesn't win the cup, then it must go to Pocock.
I don't think any frenchman should be there. This was the year where we got a hiding from the Wallabies in Paris, we lost to Italy for the first time, we lost pretty humilliatingly to England and we lost to Tonga.
From the SH, Genia had an outstanding EoYT and 3N, but a poor WC. Pocock has been inmense all year, so he desrves his spot. Boks have been underwhelming, even if they had a pretty strong EoYT... I guess the one that comes closest to that list, IMO, is Jacque Fourie... but really a step down from the list members. The AB's have had a good year, despite losing the 3N. Kaino had a good Grand Slam tour and an outstanding WC, so he deserves his spot as well. I may be repeating myself, but Owen Franks and Brad Thorn have been really, really good all year long, though less visible than many of the others. They deserve to be shortlisted certainly more than Weepu and probably more than Nonu (who's been very good too, though).
From the NH... the ones that have been good have been inconsistent. Scots beat the Springboks but then had a bad 6N and a bad WC. Wales had a terrible EoYT and a pretty bad 6N. Many players have had a very good WC, but have started to shine only recently. North and Roberts are perhaps the exception (Warburton dump-tackled his chances). Ireland has been inconsistent, with the exception of SOB (whose international form/results have been far from his club's). England beat Australia and almost won the GS. The best players then were Lawes, Flood and Ashton. None of those were good enough to compensate their average WC. Italy... well, Castrogiovanni and Parisse were good as usual, and Masi was decent too (his "player of the 6N" award was undeserved though imo). Parisse would deserve the most a nomination, but he's already been shortlisted and as hehas no chance of winning, I don't see the point in nominating him. Gorgodze has had no international achievement as to earn a nomination.
My seven would be:
Kaino
Thorn
Franks
Pocock
North/Roberts (there has to be one welshman!)
SOB
Unlucky to miss out: Read, Nonu, Genia.
I think that if NZ wins the cup, there is no way someone from a different side will win. If that victory includes detroying the french setpiece as an important factor, then Franks or Thorn should get it (forward domination is what has gotten them to the final). If not, Kaino would be more appropiate. If the world ends and NZ doesn't win the cup, then it must go to Pocock.
)
