JOHNNY SEXTON AND Conor Murray are the only Irish players on the shortlist for RBS Six Nations Player of the Tournament 2016.
The Irish half-backs feature in a 12-man selection which was released on Sunday evening, topped by England’s Grand Slam winning trio Billy Vunipola, Jonathan Joseph and Jack Nowell.
Fans can vote for their favourite here, with the winner set to be announced on Wednesday 23 March.
George North, who ran in four tries, is one of two Welsh nominees alongside Gareth Davies while legendary Italian number eight Sergio Parisse is also in contention for the award, which was won by Paul O’Connell in 2015.
Scotland (Stuart Hogg and Duncan Taylor) and France (Guilhem Guirado and Virimi Vakatawa) also have two representatives each on the shortlist.
RBS Six Nations Player of the Tournament 2016
- England: Billy Vunipola, Jonathan Joseph and Jack Nowell
- Wales: Gareth Davies, George North
- Ireland: Jonathan Sexton, Conor Murray
- Scotland: Stuart Hogg, Duncan Taylor
- France: Guilhem Guirado, Virimi Vakatawa
- Italy: Sergio Parisse
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McFadden surely
They’ve left him out because he’s a lock for World Player of the Year.
I’d personally go for Kevin Maggs, but I suppose everyone is entitled to their opinion
Vunipola should walk that
Vunipola or Hogg. But from an Irish perspective, it’s between Stander, Sexton and Heaslip.
Hogg all the day long! Incredible tournament.
Amazed Stander isn’t nominated and sexton is, just illustrates how poor the quality of outhalf in Europe at the moment
Sexton’s place kicking wasn’t his usual form in this tournament but he was exceptional in open play and put his body on the line so many times to create plays for others.
His place kicking wasnt his usual form in that he didnt miss many.
He impressed me far more this tournament than in previous ones when he got more attention. Deserves to be nominated.
@patrickdaly I definitely agree with you. He’s tough no doubt but Sexton is over rated to my mind and always has been – above average with some brilliant performances but never consistently world class. His place kicking has slipped, and was never great under pressure on the international scene in the first place (in fact his percentages slip substantially when he’s in a green shirt). Running set pieces and in open play his passing is so readable he might as well walkie talkie his plans to the opposition defence. There’s no disguise or guile whatsoever. He’s decent in defence and still Ireland’s best 10 by a way but wouldn’t get a start in any SH team at this stage of his career.
Missed 5 place kicks actually Martin – four penalties and a conversion.
I said he’s a good player and well above average, he’s just not consistent enough to be truly world class in my opinion. His place kicking is excellent but the rest of his game is behind some SH counterparts. He tries to do too much.
NZ, SA and Aus don’t need him. Definitely best OH of the NH internationals.
And today Martin Johnson picked him as lions starting 10 and Matt Dawson as best 10 of this 6 Nations today also. But sure what do all the national, club, provincial, lions coaches, rugby journos and ex pros know…?
AlexOlsenRox – the Lions are a NH team and the 6N is a NH tournament. I said across two posts he was both Ireland and Europe’s best OH. I stand by my opinion that he is not the best OH in the world though.
Sorry comment wasn’t directed at you !
Martin Quinn back with his nonsensical insults? (if you can call them that) he seems to think he is funny or something along those lines, well at least someone does..
Sextons play acting by faking a head injury will be a black mark against him. No player of the 6N for him. It was always going to be a yellow card for that clear out, but that sort of codology reaction has no place in Rugby. It will deminish the reaction to a player when they are properly hurt.
Perhaps he didn’t realise his head hurt until he sat up. If he was faking it surely he would have been holding his head from the start.
Every year they ask this question, every year the answer is the same. Sergio Parrise is the best number 8 and leader of calamitous misfits ever to grace a pitch.
People are overlooking the fact that they deliberately gave a couple of nominations to each country. There’s a good few players on that list who don’t stand a chance of winning. It’s gotta be between Vunipola, Joseph, Biggar and Hogg, with Vunipola being my pick.
What is strange is that no 2nd row and only 1 front row were selected. I thought Jonny Gray, Kruis and AW Jones had fantastic tournaments.
Has to be Vunipola. He was the critical difference against Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
This would have been my list:
England: Billy Vunipola, Maro Itoje and George Kruis
Wales: Jamie Roberts, George North
Ireland: Jonathan Sexton, CJ Stander & Jamie Heaslip
Scotland: Stuart Hogg, Duncan Taylor
France: Guilhem Guirado
Italy: Michele Cambagnaro
My list:
eggs
milk
candles
doylies
mass card
andrews liver salts.
But each to their own
There’s no bread at home either Jim, could you pick up some Brennans?
List makes no sense.. Nowell (1 try) in and Watson (3 tries) left out, also more dangerous in the loose and better under the high ball.
Gareth Davies played reasonably well but was dropped for the last game. Several other Welshmen had a better tournament like Biggar who’s kicking was excellent, had plenty of line breaks and bagged two tries. Sexton was good but based on this tournament, Biggar was better because of his more reliable kicking.
Stander not being there baffles me. Was outstanding for large parts of every game, even against France and England.
Duncan Taylor seems to be on the list for one breakaway try against France. Didn’t notice him do much else.
Vakatawa is probably the most dangerous player of the championship in the loose, but a major liablility in defence. Had some really bad missed tackles and is dodgy under the high ball.
Parisse is there on merit, not form. He cut an understandably dejected figure all chamionship, but didn’t play to his own high standards.
There are too many wrong statements in this comment to reply to without writing an essay length comment
Surprised Stander , Roberts or Watson weren’t nominated .I’d say it’s between Vuniopla and Hogg.
Guirado has to win it
List is a bit heavy on backs and light on the forwards. What about the new Saffers, WP Nel and Stander?
Hogg deserves this, but I’m surprised Maro Itoje didn’t make the cut, he was seriously brilliant. He’ll be a serious problem for the other teams for the next decade.
Sexton is so overrated. His kicking under pressure is dismal.
3 centres nominated but Sean Farrell had Andrew Trimble in his team of the tournament
Damn. 3 wingers.
Parisse doesn’t deserve to be there this time , Itoje is missing