BEAUDEN BARRETT COULD follow New Zealand great Richie McCaw in winning World Rugby’s player of the year award two years in a row after the All Blacks fly-half was shortlisted for the 2017 prize on Monday.
The fly-half, given the award in 2016, is looking to emulate flanker McCaw’s feat of 2009 and 2010, after starring for the All Blacks in their drawn Test series with the British and Irish Lions, scoring 41 points.
Barrett, 26, is joined on a five-strong list of nominees by New Zealand team-mate Rieko Ioane, the England and Lions duo of Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje, as well as Australia’s Israel Folau.
A new panel featuring Argentina great Agustin Pichot, France’s Fabien Galthie, Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll and former England coach Clive Woodward will take on board the views of supporters, international captains, coaches and the media before making their decision, with the winner announced at World Rugby’s annual awards dinner in Monaco on November 26.
“There have been numerous highlights from a fascinating year of international rugby that comprised an outstanding Women’s Rugby World Cup, a compelling British and Irish Lions tour, Six Nations and The Rugby Championship competitions and a superb programme of Test rugby,” said World Rugby chairman Bill Beaumont.
“I am sure there will be lots of debate over the coming weeks,” the former England and Lions captain added.
“I’d like to thank the panel for their expert consideration and look forward to the winners being announced at the World Rugby Awards in Monaco.”
New Zealand’s Portia Woodman and Kelly Brazier, two of the stars of the Black Ferns’ World Cup triumph in Ireland in August, are among the nominees for the women’s player of the year award along with France’s Romane Menager and Safi N’Diaye.
England’s Lydia Thompson completes the shortlist.
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Does Beauden Barrett still wear a Meath GAA jersey under his All Blacks jersey?
I reckon Itoje will win it. He’s been phenomenal in the last year.
It’s a pity no Irish player nominated. Murray and Furlong unlucky.
Great shortlist but Izzy maybe fortunate to be there. Wouldn’t consider him the best Wallabies player this year let alone in the world’s top 5.
@Gavin Healy: Have to disagree Folau has had an incredible season at international level. He scored 12 tries in 10 games this year in a team that struggled for large parts of the year. Hard to see past Beaudy but Folau has a shout.
The vote’s a formality. Barrett is rugby porn. Someone get on to NZ and ask them how the hell they managed to clone DC.
@Nicola Laura O’Connor: DC is a better place kicker, but BB is faster. Both are 10/10 in the skills department
@Nicola Laura O’Connor: DC single handedly destroyed one of the best Lions teams ever assembled (BOD stuff aside). Barrett had that exact same stage to perform on and didn’t. He has the potential to be another DC or better, but he definitely hasn’t done that yet.
@Jack Strong: before I (inevitably) get jumped on for that comment I’ll qualify it. Barrett didn’t underperform against the Lions, he was targeted and still did well. DC however, was targeted as the Blacks main threat and still utterly, utterly embarrassed the Lions. That’s the difference between the two at the moment.
@Paul K Murphy: A lions team full of superstars does not make it the best ever assembled. In fact thats an impossible thing to judge. All you can judge them on is performance and this all black side is just as dominant as any other all black side in terms of winning, so logically the Lions of 2017>2005
Sorry, was meant as a reply to Jack Strong, not you. DC didnt destroy the best ever Lions team. Also DC was targetted because there was a larger gap between him and his replacement than there is now. Also because he was injury prone. The ABs currently have 5 or 6 players in every position. Targetting any individual is pointless.
@Rudiger McMonihan: I don’t get the point you’re trying to make, because you’re disagreeing with me but helping prove my point? You’re correct, the Blacks team of 05 is nowhere near as good as the present, and yet DC still shone in a time when 7s weren’t as in fashion as they were now. DC was the obvious danger man in the way Barrett and still ripped them to shreds. That Lions team of 05 was one of the best squads in their history, it contained a world cup winning squad in England and the triple crown winning Ireland squad, the expectation on them to perform was huge.
Don’t understand Farrell?
@Chris Mc: as much as I dislike him Farrell is up there with Barrett for talent! He’s just class, at 10 and 12 he’s top class! Fully deserves to be on the list!
Farrell has won more than Sexton, but I dont think thats just down to him. Theres 15 players on a team and if i had to choose between the two of them I know who id pick.
@Paul K Murphy: didnt mean shit when BOD had it nicked off him by McCaw back in ’09!
Heineken cup, grandslam , player of tournament and McCaw had missed half the Tri Nations (think South Africa won it too that year)
@Paul K Murphy: not until sexton started did the lions get a grip on the allblacks. Also v Ireland he was average
@Chris Mc: I agree. All I can say is that anybody who thinks Farrell is a better out half than Sexton is totally deluded. Eddie Jones, I am convinced ,does not rate Farrell as an out half and consistently picks an inconsistent Ford at out half for England. A coach would always pick his best outhalf in the 10 jersey and Jones picks Farrell as a centre.
Rieko Ioane over Beauden this year for sure. The young lad is unreal.
Serious strength and pace – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A31IxaqZFzc&t=169s
Farrell for me. Best out half in the world as much as it galls me to say it.