IRELAND OUT-HALF Johnny Sexton has missed out on the World Rugby Player of the Year award, after New Zealand second row Brodie Retallick was selected as the 2014 winner.
A series of superb performances for Ireland in 2014 had seen Sexton included on a five-player shortlist for the trophy, but an independent panel has named the 23-year-old Retallick as their final choice.
The Chiefs’ second row becomes the fourth player from New Zealand to win the World Rugby [formerly known as IRB] Player of the Year award, following in the footsteps of Richie McCaw, Dan Carter and Kieran Read.
South Africa pair Willie le Roux and Duane Vermeulen, Julian Savea of New Zealand, and Sexton completed the five-man shortlist alongside Retallick this year.
Despite his youth, Retallick has already racked up 35 caps for New Zealand, impressing with his line-out ability, aggressive rucking, strong ball-carrying and clever short passing game.
Once again, the World Rugby Player of the Year award has been closely contested with each of the five nominees having shone on the international stage in 2014,” said the organisation’s chairman, Bernard Lapasset.
“Brodie Retallick has been at the heart of another hugely successful year for the All Blacks with his superb lineout skills, ball carrying ability and work at the breakdown playing a huge role in a June series win against England, the Rugby Championship title and a strong November series.”
New Zealand were named World Rugby Team of the Year for the eighth time and Steve Hansen is the World Rugby Coach of the Year for the third year in a row.
Very lazy choice for coach of the year Hansens a good coach but Schmidt was magnificent
Ya your dead right! Never mind the blacks breaking the world record of any team for consecutive wins throw in southern nations championship win and where they are now…. Very lazy choice!
Subjective awards are meaningless anyway.
@phillipryan did the AB not just equal the record cause they drew 12-12 with oz when they lookin to break it?
Don’t loose too much sleep he was never going to get it
If he goes though the 6 nations and the world cup the way he has gone through the last 3 games he’ll get it next year .
Should do! His all round performances have been superb and and his place kicking has improved quite a lot. If he keeps this form coming into the six nations and world cup then he is surely in with a shout.
Fancy that. A man from New Zealand named player of the year. A Cinderella story, if ever there was one.
Nothing worth getting upset over.
If sexton was from the south he would of won. Irb prefer to award anyone who plays down south
He wouldn’t have been my winner! Savea or Le Roux would have gotten it off me
Never heard of him
John if you’ve never heard of Retallick you obviously don’t know or watch the fantastic game that is Rugby Union. Well deserved. Maybe watch a game or two and you might be qualified to comment then champ.
It may be a long shot, but if Murray keeps up his form, I’d stick a few quid on him for next year.
If an ape coached NZ they’d still win, and the ape would get coach of the year. Although that’s more or less what’s currently happening. They’re about to be toppled in the next year, far to many close games and a shambles at fly half to maintain their supremacy going forward.
No disrespect to apes meant by the way, I just don’t think they’re coaching material. Although I’m sure they’d make a monkey out of me.
Apparently Joe isn’t even the radar in New Zealand….. Maybe we should be thankful the sign him up to a 10 year contract.
Shame on them if they’re not considering him!
I’m not being bitter but I find it very hard that southern and northern players are put in same category cus lets be honest they hardly play each other and its very mindset in both spheres probably fair if they spit them (exulting Rwc years)
Wouldn’t say bod would have been overly impressed if he did get it!
Hard luck Johnny