Willie le Roux, Jean de Villiers, Bismarck du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth and Francois Louw have all been nominated for a new Players Association player of the year award.
As would be expected, New Zealand players dominate the nominations for the new award, organised by the International Rugby Players’ Association, with 14 All Blacks among the 45-strong list of contenders.
What many would find surprising though, is that Wales, soundly beaten on the weekend, have more players nominated for the award, than the Springboks … The nominees include 12 All Blacks, 3 Wallabies, 1 England player, 5 South Africans, 8 Welshmen, and 4 French players.
Players and officials alike will be invited to pick their Player of the Year, International Newcomer of the Year, International Team of the Year, and World XV of the Year, from the list of three nominees for each jersey number. Fans can also vote for their own Player and World XV of the Year awards using the Ultimate Rugby app.
The winners will be announced on November 26 as the northern hemisphere Test window closes.
The Nominees:
15: Willie Le Roux (RSA), Leigh Halfpenny (Wal), Israel Dagg (NZL)
14: Israel Folau (Aus), Ben Smith (NZL), Napolioni Nalaga (Fij)
13: Wesley Fofana (Fr), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Conrad Smith (NZL)
12: Jamie Roberts (Wal), Ma’a Nonu (NZL), Jean de Villiers (RSA)
11: George North (Wal), Julian Savea (NZL), Sitiveni Sivivatu (NZL)
10: Dan Carter (NZL), Johnny Sexton (Ire), Aaron Cruden (NZL)
9: Kahn Fotuali’l (Sam), Aaron Smith (NZL), Will Genia (Aus)
8: Kieran Read (NZL), Sergio Parisse (Ita), Toby Faletau (Wal)
7: Sean O’Brien (Ire), Richie McCaw (NZL), Francois Louw (RSA)
6: Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Arg), Louis Picamoles (Fra), Liam Messam (NZL)
5: James Horwill (Aus), Brodie Retallick (NZL), Alun Wyn Jones (Wal)
4: Sam Whitelock (NZL), Eben Etzebeth (RSA), Joe Tekori (Sam)
3: Juan Figallo (Arg), Adam Jones (Wal), Census Johnston (Sam)
2: Bismarck Du Plessis (RSA), Benjamin Kayser (Fra) Richard Hibbard (Wal)
1: Vincent Debaty (Fra), Alex Corbiseiro (Eng), Marcos Ayerza (Arg)
“What many would find surprising though, is that Wales, soundly beaten on the weekend, have more players nominated for the award, than the Springboks ”
This cant be surprising as these players played a big part in helping Wales win the Six Nations and the Series win for the B&I Lions.
They cant just be judged on the past weekend.