Fans have shredded World Rugby’s nominations for the 2022 Player of the Year award with Eben Etzebeth beating out a fellow Springbok for the prestigious accolade.
World Rugby on Monday confirmed their four-player shortlist for the 2022 Player of the Year award.
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Springbok centre Lukhanyo Am was among the nominees, which also included Ireland duo Johnny Sexton and Josh van der Flier as well as France captain and 2021 winner Antoine Dupont.
However, Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth was left out, despite playing in every one of South Africa’s Test matches in 2022 to date and making his 100 Test appearance in July.
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Ardie Savea, who starred for New Zealand as the All Blacks retained the Rugby Championship and bounced back from a poor start to the year, was also surprisingly snubbed.
SARugbymag.co.za readers took the opportunity to vote for their four-player list for the award, and the result was a more palatable shortlist.
Etzebeth was the clear favourite with 24% of the vote, followed by Am (20%), Savea (19%) and Dupont (11%).
Left out from World Rugby’s nominations are Sexton and Van der Flier, while France No 8 Gregory Aldritt and Argentina star Emiliano Boffelli were also not considered good enough for a nomination.
Photo: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile via Getty Images
