Dan Carter, World Rugby Player of the Year 2015
Gregor Paul selects his World XV for 2015 which features 6 All Blacks, 3 Australians and Argentinians, and 1 Fijian, Georgian and Scotsman — and nobody from South Africa, England, Ireland, Wales or France.
15 Ben Smith (New Zealand):
Ben from all accounts had an outrageously good season. He captained the Highlanders to the most unlikely Super Rugby title and then inspired the All Blacks to a World Cup victory. His aerial skills and footwork are unbelievable.
14 Adam Ashley-Cooper(Australia):
Ashley-Cooper is the Wallaby version of Smith. He’s a superb all-round footballer who continually does the right thing. Has pace, footwork, awareness and the ability to covert half-chances. Was deadly at the World Cup.
13 Mark Bennett (Scotland):
A rugged, tough ball runner with innate timing. Picked off the intercept try in the World Cup quarter-final that should have sunk Australia and contributed some big tackling and deft passing.
12 Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand):
Ended his All Black career in the best possible way. Most direct and destructive midfielder world rugby has known. And yet he’s more than bash and dash – throws a cracking long pass, has soft hands and a clever short kicking game.
11 Juan Imhoff (Argentina):
He found his best form at the World Cup and it was impressive. He’s got natural predatory instincts and the pace and power to make good on them. Scored a try against Ireland that was hugely under-appreciated – his timing, decision making and skill were all first class.
10 Dan Carter(New Zealand):
The old class returned once he had the confidence in his body. Vintage Carter. No one else could have snapped those critical goals, or kicked as accurately under pressure as he did. Ten years after he beat the Lions with his running game, he won a World Cup with his kicking game.
9 Aaron Smith (New Zealand):
Was electric for much of Super Rugby and while his passing and running were the headline acts, his kicking game developed into a world-class component of his armoury. Does anyone in the game have a better step?
8 Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia):
This dude played only 45 minutes against the All Blacks at the World Cup and he was the official man of the match. He’s huge, agile, smashes people off the ball and, despite being the size of a house, motors around and keeps up with the ball.
7 Richie McCaw (New Zealand):
The old master played as well as ever and while some of his Aussie backrow mates won rave reviews, neither David Pocock nor Michael Hooper offered the same range of skills and overall influence as McCaw. He cleaned them both up in the World Cup final.
6 David Pocock (Australia):
He was shown up in the World Cup final for having only the one trick, but it is a magnificent skill he has. No one is as effective at the breakdown as Pocock and his ability to win as much ball as he did had a major impact on the World Cup.
5 Leone Nakarawa (Fiji):
The big Fijian showed an incredible ability to offload and yet not shirk his core roles. He won lineout ball, tackled like a loose forward and carried the ball like an outside back. Was named as the Pacific Island Players’ Association Player of the Year.
4 Sam Whitelock(New Zealand):
The more he played, the better he got. Was a towering force at the lineout and took some critical steals in the World Cup semifinal win over South Africa. What impressed most about him, though, was his tackle count. Whitelock racks up the same sort of numbers as the best loose forwards and he’s also become a world-class ball carrier.
3 Ramiro Herrera (Argentina):
Anchored an impressive Pumas scrum and also thumped about. A huge man but he wasn’t in any way lumbering. Gave the Argentines an air of intimidation.
2 Agustin Creevy (Argentina):
The Pumas captain is a late convert to the hooking role and there is still much of the loose forward about him. He gave Argentina much of their go-forward and added a sparkle to their play with his clever offloads. Threw well at the lineout and got his body into great positions over the tackled ball.
1 Scott Sio (Australia):
A strong, agile, mobile prop with the technical ability and skills to hold his own in the set piece and yet play a meaningful role elsewhere. The Wallabies haven’t had a player likes this for decades.
nzherald
@ Just For Kicks: don’t tempt them JFK. Quieter the better.
17500 litres of beer sold on day 1 – I wonder how sales are going today?
@ Just For Kicks: Fleck did score the odd quite neat try though. He also spilt one while showing off to the gallery. Remember that one?
we need both these two to get to their respective 50’s. It’s all about confidence. Certainly for Hash.
@ Just For Kicks: better I expect. They were just warming up and acclimatising to the Breweries’ spring water in the local Castle Draught. That water’s special.
Tassies wrote:
I remember that one well
@ Just For Kicks:
pretty much sums up the personality NO?
127 @ Tassies: Yup – loves his own pecs too
Stokes form continues. Elgar out. Good take by the Captain
commentator’s curse. Incredible. Smith’s words were still ringing in his ears when that happened.
Sorry Compton, not Captain
match poised
Packed off side field, and Amla threads the needle. Good stuff
OK, all done on the tweaking of the last lot of Articles…
Now I just need to start adding more news… I suppose!
Hehehehe
@ grootblousmile: all washed down with one of your Smirnoff Spins maybe?
I thought I heard a noise. Nearly had a heart attack.
Roots having a shocker of a game
watching this is nervous and thirsty stuff. Better fetch something cold from the fridge. AB dropped.
I reckon Root & V Zyl may share a couple of sad beers tonight
that’s better. A bitterly cold Windhoek always works to soothe the nerves.
don’t you think the punters at Newlands looked bored? I mean what a miserable day at the cricket they’re having. NOT. Nice shot AB.
Lets hope that was a very costly drop
There was certainly a lull for a while. No noise from the Barmy Army, SA digging in, but a wicket, a drop catch and a very miserable Anderson have changed that. The Army has regrouped and the white knight DeVilliers is marauding
Comptons a good fielder
This atmosphere is sooo unlike Test match cricket. I mean it’s one bloody great big party on my screen. In my day there was a hush around the ground when the bowler turned and charged up to the crease. But it is quite lekker to watch have to say.
The frightening thing is; these guys(Barmy Army) are only just getting warmed up for tonight. I expect few are thinking about bed before midnight. And this goes for all 5 days(and nights). The poor old liver.
The Barmy Army are a special breed, thats for sure. I have always wondered where they get their money from, though and how they manage to get so much time off.
Just For Kicks wrote:
With the current value of the Rand they can be on the dole and live like kings here
At last, something to cheers about. Well dome Amla. Good, grafting 50. Forms returned, and time to cash in.
nortie wrote:
very true, they must be nursing some serious hangovers, but the numbers don’t change whether its SA, Aus or the Caribbean.
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