A prominent New Zealand publication has singled out lock Eben Etzebeth as the “real” Test player of the year after World Rugby snubbed all Springbok and All Blacks players on its list of nominees for the official award.
Wallabies Michael Hooper and Samu Kerevi, Englishman Maro Itoje and Frenchman Antoine Dupont make up the four-man shortlist of candidates for the official World Rugby Player of the Year gong.
This despite the fact that Jacques Nienaber’s team has this year twice beaten the British & Irish Lions to win the series 2-1, stopped the All Blacks on the Gold Coast and claimed away wins over Six Nations champions Wales in Cardiff and title-challengers Scotland in Edinburgh.
READ: Boks snubbed for World Rugby award
The Springboks currently top World Rugby’s official rankings, after a 15-point victory at Murrayfield and Ireland’s toppling of New Zealand in Dublin. The All Blacks, who rank second in the world, have also not had any players nominated.
It is the first time that neither South Africa nor New Zealand will be represented since the inaugural year of the award in 2001.
The release of the names of the nominees has caused a furore on social media, with many lambasting the selection panel, consisting of former Test captains John Smit, Richie McCaw, Thierry Dusautoir, George Gregan, Brian O’Driscoll, ex-England coach Clive Woodward, Melodie Robinson, Maggie Alphonsi and Fiona Coghlan.
Writing in his column, StuffNZ‘s Paul Cully has given a detailed explanation why believes Etzebeth should not only have been nominated but awarded the World Player of the Year award.
It is a tough ask, namely because there isn’t anything resembling a global season so for the most part the judges are comparing apples with oranges.
Still, when it comes to picking an award, surely it would be easier to stick to some simple principles.
For example, ask yourself, ‘Who has the best tight five in the world?’, and then follow it up with ‘which player in that tight five has been the most consistent?’
If you follow that logic – and, sorry halfbacks and No 10s, most tests are still decided by the big men – then Springboks enforcer Eben Etzebeth is the player of the year.
The Springboks beat the Lions, beat the All Blacks once in the Rugby Championship tests they really got up for, have maintained their No1 ranking in the world, and are 2-0 on their European tour after crushing a pretty good Scotland team at the weekend.
Despite these achievements, Etzebeth remains something of an underrated player.
He’s got far more in his toolbox that given credit for, and this year has showcased some nice handling skills, as well as being used as the world’s biggest kick chaser.
So, the World Rugby nominations are in – but the debates have barely started.
