Julian Savea’s barnstorming try against France
The contenders for the International Rugby Players’ Association (IRPA) Try of the Year 2015 have been revealed by World Rugby, with the winner to be announced at the World Rugby Awards on 1 November.
New Zealand winger Julian Savea has 2 tries on the shortlist with the other try-scorers being French prop Vincent Debaty, Welsh flanker Justin Tipuric, Tonga winger Fetu’u Vainikolo and Japan fullback Ayumu Goromaru.
The 6 tries were selected by the IRPA Try of Year panel of former players in Ireland’s Shane Horgan, All Black Christian Cullen, Serge Betsen of France and South Africa’s Stefan Terblanche.
The winner, though, will be determined by guests at the World Rugby Awards at Battersea Evolution in London on 1 November, who will be able to view the shortlisted tries and register their votes during dinner with the accolade presented later in the evening.
Debaty’s try against England in the Six Nations back in March began in their own 22, the ball being worked along the line to winger Noa Nakaitaci, who broke down the left and then stepped inside Mike Brown, finding the French prop coming around in support to take the offload and run in.
The next try in the calendar year was Vainikolo’s and came in the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup in July and also began in the 22, Kurt Morath’s cross-field kick bouncing up into the arms of the Tongan winger who shrugged off 4 players to run in a try against the USA.
Tipuric turned Ireland replacement Ian Madigan inside out to score in Wales’ warm-up victory in August, the flanker combining with Tyler Morgan down the left wing to create the scoring opportunity at the Millennium Stadium.
The remaining 3 contenders come from Rugby World Cup 2015 with some quick handling among the Japanese backs creating the angle for winger Kotaro Matsushima to slice through and release Goromaru to keep the Brave Blossoms’ hopes alive against South Africa.
Savea’s 2 tries both came against France in the quarterfinals and were contrasting in style, the 1st running onto a sublime offload from Daniel Carter and the 2nd seeing the All Black charge through 3 defenders to touch down.
World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “We have been lucky enough to witness some fantastic tries during 2015 and these tries are testament to rugby’s character-building values of teamwork and enjoyment and I am looking forward to seeing who the Awards’ guests will give the honour of scoring the IRPA Try of the Year 2015 to.”
IRPA Executive Director Rob Nichol said: “With so many great international tries scored this year, involving both individual brilliance and great teamwork, it was a difficult process to settle on just 6 nominees and they would all be worthy of the award.”
For more information on the World Rugby Awards visit, www.worldrugby.org/awards.
PREVIOUS WINNERS:
- 2014 – Francois Hougaard (South Africa) – South Africa vs New Zealand
- 2013 – Beauden Barrett (New Zealand) – New Zealand vs France
- 2012 – Bryan Habana (South Africa) – South Africa vs New Zealand
- 2011 – Radike Samo (Australia) – Australia vs New Zealand
- 2010 – Chris Ashton (England) – England vs Australia
- 2009 – Jaque Fourie (South Africa) – South Africa vs British & Irish Lions
- 2008 – Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland) – Australia vs Ireland
- 2007 – Takudzwa Ngwenya (USA) – South Africa vs USA