Four Welsh players nominated for player of the Six Nations award...!

Well despite there being another round of rugby to go, the voting can now begin for 'Player of the Tournament'.
http://www.rbs6nations.com/en/player_of_rbs_6_nations.php

Here's the list of players from the 6 Nations website.

• Julien Malzieu (France)
  
• David Denton (Scotland)
  
• Mike Phillips (Wales)
  
• Sergio Parisse (Italy)
  
• Yoann Maestri (France)
  
• Dan Lydiate (Wales)
  
• Jonathan Sexton (Ireland)
  
• Sam Warburton (Wales)
  
• Ross Rennie (Scotland)
  
• Alex Cuthbert (Wales)
  
• Donnacha Ryan (Ireland)
  
• Imanol Harinordoquy (France)

(Just to explain players make the list for having won man of the match)

Now it's always struck me as odd that the 5th and final round isn't taken into consideration, clearly winning Man of the Match on the final Saturday means less than on the first?
Also it's surprising to see no English players on the list. Hard luck to Manu Tuilagi & Tom Croft as I was pretty sure one of them was going to win MOM on Sunday.
And speaking of surprises, no George North? No Richie Gray? No Jonathan Davis? No Wesley Fofana?

Anyway based on that list I'd go for David Denton, hard to believe he only got his first cap this year. Big and powerful going forward, strong in defence, and with great handling skills that must be the envy of some of the Scottish backs...

Anyhow out of that list who would you pick? And who should really be on the list?

Four Welsh players nominated for player of the Six Nations award.

The full list is:

Sam Warburton

Dan Lydiate

Alex Cuthbert

Mike Phillips

Julien Malzieu

Yoann Maestri

Imanol Harinodoquy

David Denton

Ross Rennie

Jonathan Sexton

Donnacha Ryan

Sergio Parisse

Id go for rennie - stand out 7 by far.

Why on earth is Richie Gray not on that list? standout player in every Scotland game i watch.

Out of that lot i would pick Imano Harinodoquy, And Dave Denton.

Fofana's absence is a strange one indeed.

Scot Abroad wrote:Fofana's absence is a strange one indeed.

monty junior wrote:Why on earth is Richie Gray not on that list? standout player in every Scotland game i watch.

Your both right, 2 stand out players there. But due to the neither winning MOM awards, they can't be considered.
Does seem bizarrely stupid decision by those in charge of the 6 Nations.

No English players is harsh. Farrell, Corbisiero, Geoff Parling, Dan Cole, Lee Dickson would have been deserved nominees.
Don't think Malzieu should be on that list. Also agree with above, Fofana and Gray should be there. Mike Phillips? has been pretty important for Wales but hasn't played that well

I voted for Cuthbert

Who published this list?

It's not very good at all!!

I can see cases for some (Denton, Ryan, Parisse, Malziue, Lydiate, Warburton) but some on there are dull (Phillips, Sexton, Hari)

Theres also a few names omitted that I think deserve to be there...

Farrell
Kearney
Gray (35 lineouts won in a row)
JD2
Fofana

And cases can be made for:

Cole
Pape
Botha
North
1/2p

Hmm, there're arguably the most important games yet to be played - can't see the point of starting the competition before the end of the tournament. Still... from that pretty poor list Parisse is the only real candidate. (Phillips?!).

I didn't see this one, i have just voted on another board. I said i would vote for either Imanol Harinodoquy, or Dave Denton.

I personaly dont see how any one can vote for the likes of Sam Warbutton when he has not played in every game.

It is a stupid way of making the shortlist. Surely it couldn't be that difficult to make up a panel to pick the shortlist. So that players who have been consistent throughout the tournament without actually winning man of the match could be considered.

From last year I think the "men of the matches" on the final weekend are added to the poll after the games are played but obviously this puts them at a disadvantage.

They had to take me off the list to balance it up.

Yeah can't beleive richie Gray isn't there, he would have been my choice.

So basically Tommy Bowe could go on to break the scoring record and not make the list at least???

And Scotlands lineout went 35/35 without a loss, surely Grey has to take some credit from that!

My vote from that list... Denton, beating Malzeiu and Cuthbert by a nose.

As a Welshman I have to say Rennie.

I have merged the two threads for the six nations player of the tournament.

How can Warbs be in there, he went off at half time against Ireland, did not play against Scotland or Italy! This is daft in the extreme, I Evans and Adam Jones have played all games with credit in the forwards and 1/2 Penny/ J Davies/G North in the backs. Alex Cuthbert had two good games and was not in the other two but has played very well.

Why is Gray not in the group, he has to be in there! ahead of all the Welsh players in the group above.

Is it based on MOTM only?

Denton has really impressed but i had to go with Parisse. He's been everywhere and sometimes watching Italy is like watching Parisse and 14 other blokes.

From a Scottish point of view Rennie and Denton have been great (yet they've both been subbed during games for no apparent reason) but the omission of Richie Gray is very strange. He's been the standout lock in the championship and must be in line for the Lions test team.

thebluesmancometh wrote:Is it based on MOTM only?

It seems so

No English players? France could end up losing 2 games and drawing another and have 3 players in the list and England possibly losing 1 game with none, interesting.

gowales wrote:

thebluesmancometh wrote:Is it based on MOTM only?

It seems so

That would be the explanation.

People really need to red the original post. It's those that got MOTM awards only.

One interesting thing is that even though England have won 3 games no English players have had MOTM. Is that because we rely of good team performances or that we were really lucky to win?

If it is based on MOTM the vote is meaningless as it is down to the bias of a TV pundit on the one off games, Croft should have got MOTM against France but because French pundit chose his own player the fact is he did not bother to make a key tackle on Croft. This is a rubbish way to select the best player over the 6N.

glamorganalun wrote:If it is based on MOTM the vote is meaningless as it is down to the bias of a TV pundit on the one off games, Croft should have got MOTM against France but because French pundit chose his own player the fact is he did not bother to make a key tackle on Croft. This is a rubbish way to select the best player over the 6N.

That said many English fans were calling for Croft to be dropped prior to the last game due to his ineffectiveness. one good game would not make him a candidate for player of the Tournament.

To only include MOTM awardees is a very limited way of selecting the player of the tournament. What if they were crap in the rest of their games, or got injured?

Got to say that Richie Gray has probably been the best player throughout the tournament IMO. He is consistently off the scale.

It's ridiculous that it's based on MOTM when they could have had 4 nightmare games. A realistic group that have stood out would include but not be limited to: North, Halfpenny, Barritt, Farrell, Bowe, Kearney, Gray.

farrell obviously- but he isnt on the list

HammerofThunor wrote:People really need to red the original post. It's those that got MOTM awards only.

One interesting thing is that even though England have won 3 games no English players have had MOTM. Is that because we rely of good team performances or that we were really lucky to win?

er neither, just odd voting- croft, morgan and farrel where the outstanding performers last game- the french tv picked the motm. it means zip all

Farrell was, Croft was very average first half and Morgans fitness levels took their toll.

am I the only one to find this a completely ridiculous way of choosing the player of the 6Ns (and not just because there aren't any Englishmen there - despite England being on course for a second place finish). Basically you can have one excellent match and four rubbish ones and still make the shortlist (or just one excellent match but be injured for the other four), but play 5 merely very good matches and you've got no chance?!?!

From that list, I'd go with Cuthbert or the Donkey.

Out of that list I would say its between Lydaite, Denton and Rennie and I went with Lydiate.

I do agree that there are some players that warrant a place on list

Morgan wouldnt be nominated if they decided the shortlist it in a sensible manner, nor would Croft unless he had an absolute blinder against Ireland but he wasnt up to scratch until the France game. Farrell maybe...

I'm not bothered that there are no English nominees considering the way its determined. There are more deserving players from other teams based on their individual performances.

I have voted for Lydiate (no suprise there i guess)

Shocked at the ommision of Farrell and Dickson. For me they have definately been the stand out half backs in the tournament. Fofana has been the most impressive French player and also not made the list.

The criticism of the selection criteria is justified imo. Phillips should not of been motm against Ireland there was arguably 29 better players then him on the pitch that day and his performances have only got worse since.

This list is ridiculous. No Ferris?? Warburton?? He has played 2 and a half games! Is it based on who has got MOTM? Otherwise this list is terrible. Plus it is thanks to the most irritating pundit in rugby (Davies) that a welsh player always gets the MOTM award.

Warburton , Lydiate , Cuthbert, Philips, Ryan, Denton, Rennie, Sexton, Parisse, Harinordoquoy, Malzieu, Maestri.



It begs belief how such an awful list could be compiled. Firstly, why isnt the list out after the last game?

Player wise, Ryan has been a sub, Sexton's been poor, Malzieu hasn't been great, and neither has Phillips. The others have a right to be there but they missed some star players of this years tournament: Kearney, Ferris, Best, POC, Bowe, Gray, Roberts, Jones, Jenkins, Farrell, Dusatoir, and more.

Now having said all of that i have just been informed that the selections were based on man of the match awards which makes it all the more ridiculous.

It's how they do it every year unfortunately - think Masi of Italy won it last year. Not sure folk pay much attention to it tbh

Denton.
Certainly Fofana is in the mix along with Richie Gray.
Don't know why its picked before the last match. Don't know why its picked at all in a team sport like Rugby.

If picked after the last match, an Englishman might have a chance to be nominated (but Denton would still win, in my most humble and respectful opinion).

offload wrote:Denton has really impressed but i had to go with Parisse. He's been everywhere and sometimes watching Italy is like watching Parisse and 14 other blokes.

Thats deep

Submachine wrote:

offload wrote:Denton has really impressed but i had to go with Parisse. He's been everywhere and sometimes watching Italy is like watching Parisse and 14 other blokes.

Thats deep

i heard someone say that about Linda Lovelace and John Holmes.

Where's Kearns said Bod

Wales - Jon Davies is by far your stand out man

Others are
Farrell?
Bowe?
North?
Ferris?
Fofana?

beggars belief really

How odd.

Cari's boyfriend is about to break the try scoring record, Fofana has been explosive and scored a couple of critical tries in matches, Davies has been the best link man in any midfield and Farrell has played like an old pro which is amazing given that he's about nine or something.

Out of that list I would go for rennie.

Really the best welsh players have been jiffy jnr, north, Phillips, Adam jones and how Leigh halfpenny isn't considered is ridiculous.

For Ireland ferris, POC, Kearney are the standouts with a mention to Bowe for his try scoring.

Richie gray would have been my pick though.

I can see why they have done it motm because who ever hasn't won one its all subjective like when we come on this forum and discuss someone's performence. Some will be impressed whilst others will believe they didn't do much. Still, Jon Davies the player of the tournament for me.