McCaw wins IRB Player of the Year... again

Sod off, the trophy's mine.

Not really. Well, not yet anyway.

Yes, it's the that time of year where the powers that be at the International Rugby Board have announced the runners and riders for this year's IRB Player of the Year.

Joining reigning Player of the Year, New Zealand skipper Richie McCaw, on the shortlist are team-mate Mils Muliaina, France number eight Imanol Harinordoquy, Australian duo David Pocock and Kurtley Beale and South Africa's Victor Matfield.

It's an interesting, if slightly uninspiring selection.  No doubt gap-toothed gypsy and Sky Sports pundit, Stuart Barnes, was salivating into his Cornish pasty when he saw his ultimate commentating wank-fodder, Biarritz and France back-row forward Harinordoquy, in the top six.  McCaw's New Zealand team-mate, full-back Muliaina, has enjoyed a good season and starred in the All Blacks side that swept to an impressive clean sweep in this year's Tri-nations.  Only a Bledisloe Cup loss to Australia in Hong Kong created an annoying blot on New Zealand's copy book this season. McCaw, along with Dan Carter, was the crucial cog in a well-oiled All Blacks machine.

Wallaby flanker David Pocock has been immense at the breakdown and his inclusion is the one I am most pleased about.  The 22-year-old openside flanker has burst onto the international stage and it would be a brilliant achievement if he is the man to dethrone opposite number McCaw.  Pocock has arms as wide as Tim Payne's waist, is rumoured to be able to bench press a Ford Mondeo and could probably pluck a plane out the sky if he could be arsed.

His fellow green and gold team-mate, Kurtley Beale, is a full-back brimming with blistering pace - something England found out to their peril a couple of weeks ago.  To be honest, I expected Quade Cooper to beat him to the final list.  Then again, the Australia fly-half tackles as effectively as an arthritic cat with mild depression, which probably ruled him out.

And then there's Victor Matfield.  I have one question:  Why?

But who do you think should win, and who would you have liked to have seen on the list?  There's only one way to find out.  I've created a poll which you can find on the right-hand toolbar.  If there's someone you would have voted for but who isn't included, then please feel free to vent your spleen in the comments.

As for me?  Well, it's got to be McCaw again, hasn't it?

Heineken Cup Round 1: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly...

The Heineken Cup didn't fail to deliver in the opening round.  So much top quality rugby on display and I've had a brilliant weekend watching it.

But who shone amidst the cream of Europe, and who tried their best to secure their place on the "Brock James Heineken Cup Wall of Shame"?

Wonder no more...

The Good

The try of the weekend came courtesy of some unbelievable skill by Regan King.  Awesome.

Jonny Wilkinson and Paul Sackey linking up to seal a late win for Toulon with this:

Dimitri Yachvili, who kicked four second-half penalties to break Bath's hearts at the Rec.

Dave Walder.  Where would Wasps be this season without their underrated fly-half?  He almost single-handedly won them the game away at Toulouse.  OK, I'm going to overlook his last minute penalty miss as the rest of his game management was that good.

Topsy Ojo.  The London Irish wing is back to full fitness and is on fire, scoring a great interception try in the win over Munster.


The Bad

Goalkicking success (or the lack thereof) at Franklins Gardens.  Bruce Reihana and Shane Geraghty seem to be passing the "let's be inconsistently shit" baton between themselves at the moment.  Come on boys, no-one wants to be called the new Brock James, so pull yourselves together, please.  There are big problems in the goalkicking department for Northampton Saints, but this only falls into the Bad category as they did beat Castres.



Not quite what happened on Friday...

Erik Lund in Biarritz colours.  Not nice to see as a Leeds fan.  As for Iain Balshaw?  Couldn't care less.

London Irish drifting off.  A great win against European rugby supremos Munster, but the Exiles failed to close out the game and let the men from Limerick steal a last-gasp try to seal a losing bonus point.  What do bonus points make?  All the difference, that's what.  Toby Booth's men have made progression from arguably the toughest pool all the more difficult by not slamming the door in Munster's face.


The Ugly

Bath's failure to take a late drop-goal, bang in front of the posts, to regain the lead from Biarritz and win the game.  As it was, Olly Barkley didn't shout loud enough and Michael Claassens ignored him.  A Biarritz win, a home defeat for Bath and progression from the pool looking very tricky for Steve Meehan's men.

Stuart Barnes' nauseating man love for Biarritz number eight, Imanol Harinordoquy.  Listening to Barnes bleat on about his "amazing hands" made me sick in my mouth.  Twice.

Any more to add?

Six Nations Top Trumps: France

“Our team is very fit, but the Top 14 schedule is very punishing and we do not get a lot of time with the players. It’s tough, but we’re in good shape," said France coach Marc Lievremont.

Looks like he spoke too soon.  Lock Sebastien Chabal misses France's opening game against Scotland with a back injury and France will also be without injured centre/wing Damien Traille and prop Fabien Barcella.  Lievremont has made a few changes to his squad since November, with talented scrum-half and kicker Jean-Baptiste Elissalde replacing the banned Julien Dupuy.  Centre Mathieu Bastareaud returns after being dropped for the November tests and utility back Fabrice Estebanez also joins the squad.  There are a few shock omissions as once again Lievremont keeps everyone guessing.  Fly-half Frederic Michalak, full-back Maxime Medard, wing Cedric Heymans, and Stade Francais fly-half Lionel Beauxis, have all been left out.

In 2009's competition, France finished third behind Grand Slam champions Ireland and their auld enemy England.  France will be looking to build on their impressive 20-13 win over South Africa in November and forget about the 39-12 defeat against New Zealand.  With home games against their biggest rivals, Ireland and England, this could be France's year.

So how will they fare?

Scrum: 79/100.
Barcella's injury is a blow to France as he turned in strong performances against South Africa and New Zealand in the autumn.  The French back row is impressive though, with Dusautoir, Picamoles and Harinordoquy.  Chabal will miss the first game, but on the whole the scrum is an area of strength for France.

Line-Out: 68/100.
The second row looks a bit iffy for France, especially if Chabal misses more than the opener with his back trouble.

Attacking Flair: 88/100.
With Heymans and Medard left out in the cold, a certain amount of French flair has gone out the door with them.  However, Harinordoquy is an agile forward who scores tries and Rougerie's form has been good this season.  Poitrenaud and Clerc are both brilliant attacking players as is Malzieu.  France do seem to have a weakness at fly-half which might dampen the Gallic flair, but this is a team of flamboyant risk takers, which is exactly what I want to see from France.

Defence: 55/100.
Pah!  It's all about attack!

Stadium: 85/100.
Stade de France.  Capacity 80,000.

Snore Factor: 8/100.
Very low.  France are risk takers who play flamboyant, running rugby.  Dull is not the word.

Phwoargh Factor: 78/100.
Dieux Du Stade, anyone?

Scandal Potential: 76/100.
High.  I don't like to raise the subject again, but there's always the chance of a backlash over Gouge-gate.

As for the final standings:

Last season: 3rd.
Prediction for this season: 2nd.

And the IRB Try of the Year is...

...going to be decided by a public vote.

After the IRB Player of the Year debacle (where good old BOD was robbed) it's nice that the IRB are gifting the great unwashed of the rugby world the chance to have their say on this relatively meaningless award.  Whether this will descend into a purely partisan vote-fest with everyone voting for the player(s) from their own country I don't know, but as there are no Englishmen shortlisted at least some of us will be able to remain objective.  Like me for example.

The runners and riders

As an admirer of Rob Kearney (and as an admirer of his skills with a rugby ball) I was so very tempted to vote for the brilliant try he scored for the Lions this summer.  However when I saw Cedric Heyman's scintillating try against the All Blacks, the rugby lover in me looked beyond the wonder that is Rob Kearney and I realised that in my opinion there could only be one winner.

If you can't be bothered to click through to the IRB site then you can view Heyman's brilliant try here:

Winner winner chicken dinner

So do you agree that Heymans scored the try of the year?  Not that it's really that important.

The closing date for entries is the 31st December and you can click here to visit the IRB site to view the tries and find out how to vote.