Dan Carter player of the year and World cup pool

Gotta love pool A!
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/8031537/All-Blacks-avoid-pool-of-death-for-2015-World-Cup


Pool A
Australia
England
Wales
Oceania 1
Playoff winner

Pool B
South Africa
Samoa
Scotland
Asia 1
Americas 2

Pool C
New Zealand
Argentina
Tonga
Europe 1
Africa 1

Pool D
France
Ireland
Italy
Americas 2
Europe 2

Still clearing the eyes...I see it was posted.
Cant agree with Carter over McCaw. But at least its 3-2 between the two

Crazy choice. Carter never looked comfortable. Had good games first up against Ireland and then solid but unspectacular in the RC. NZ didn't look as comfortable with DC not playing but he looked great against Scotland and not a lot else. Against England he had a shocker.

McCaw was back from injury and looked consistently imperious. Can't understand but sure he doesn't care and happy for DC.

Like our RWC pool, but some big matches to win. As it should be...

Yeah people tend to forget when he doesnt play or kick well. McCaw has been nothing less than heroic putting himself on theline time after time and still pushing the barriers.

These days I couldnt care if Carter played or not. Between good innings hes either injured or quiet, almost disinterested sometimes.

I think that's harsh on him. Against SA we noted his absence. We have replacements in Cruden and Barrett but they don't have his talent. Not yet. Still think both DC and McCaw can play in 2015. McCaw to move to 6 (who knows if Kaino can return) and DC on the bench or playing the first half.

McCaw has been robbed! You're the greatest Ritchie!

Yeah I suppose so. Just think sometimes he tends to cruise a little and decides when he really wants to play, in other words, you never know what you gonna get from Carter from match to match. With McCaw- its easy- you just get the usual blood sweat and tears.

Perhaps it's time to put the award up to the rugby public... Like the ballon d'or. Rather than a pool of 10 old pros. All the major rugby writers (yes even chris rattue), current coaches of tier 1 domestic leagues and current test players.

Put the award up for all domestic and test rugby so that guys like ngwenya for instance can have a realistic chance of winning....until then it will come from the 5 major unions near every time for the foreseeable future.

Carter had a good season, but not standout and I think there were probably 3-4 ABs who had arguabl better seasons.

Agree...I believe the order was...

McCaw
Read
Dagg
SBW (probably higher if its purely for the limited matches played)
Savea
then probably Carter and Harris
(Hore would have been there if not for...)

I can't believe Carter got close. Agree McCaw wayyyyy ahead of anyone else in the ABs. Not sure if any non AB was really in contention.

Isn't it weird how we get Arg in our pool again?

and tonga...write in France and we've a rematch

can't believe it. played off the park by Farrell on Saturday

seriously McCaw deserved it much more...

Mad for Chelsea wrote:can't believe it. played off the park by Farrell on Saturday

seriously McCaw deserved it much more...

'One swallow doesnt make a summer'

Certainly no better example of that one!

What do you mean Argentina in our pool again nganboy? We played them in the quarters last time. Tonga was in our pool last time and they outplayed us in the second half.

Agree Dagg, Read and probably a few others like Conrad Smith and Savea were better than Carter this year. Maybe it's sympathy for missing out on the RWC again. Whatever the selection criteria is, it's obviously a joke.

Taylorman wrote:

Mad for Chelsea wrote:can't believe it. played off the park by Farrell on Saturday

seriously McCaw deserved it much more...

'One swallow doesnt make a summer'

Certainly no better example of that one!

Especially not in the autumn

Taylorman wrote:Yeah I suppose so. Just think sometimes he tends to cruise a little and decides when he really wants to play, in other words, you never know what you gonna get from Carter from match to match. With McCaw- its easy- you just get the usual blood sweat and tears.

Agree completely.
I actually thought the award was McCaw's award to lose. I don't think I saw anyone play consistently better or lead better than McCaw. I really didn't think it close.

Another vote for Richie here

It should have been McCaw.

Well deserved IMO and I predicted he would win.

kiakahaaotearoa wrote:What do you mean Argentina in our pool again nganboy? We played them in the quarters last time. Tonga was in our pool last time and they outplayed us in the second half.

Agree Dagg, Read and probably a few others like Conrad Smith and Savea were better than Carter this year. Maybe it's sympathy for missing out on the RWC again. Whatever the selection criteria is, it's obviously a joke.

oops you're right. Getting old can't remember some important things now.

Tonga could give us but particularly Argie a scare in this pool as well.

The IRB got it right with Team/ Coach of the Year but Ritchie McCaw was obvious Player of the year.To Be Nominatated on 5 occassions and
win 4 was maybe overkill even for" Captain Tackles".
Dan Carter is by some margin the best 10 of the last decade,but has been dogged by niggling injuries since the RWC.
The abuse by some on him for his performance was unfair /hyper critical on Saturday.Yes he missed two straight forward kicks at goal and a tackle,he also did many good things.
.For instance an inch perfect cross-kick which would have lead to a try but for a marginal off side.
His performance by HIS standards average by many others and few shone on saturday.
IF you have watched his play over the years often he has had days with Goal kicking.When either he kicked hardly any or all of them,in one match he and Percy Montgomery.In Montgomery`s final Boks appearance two of the Worlds leading goal kickers,kicked one between them [DC}.
Read or Conrad Smith deserve honourable mentions here.
The Draw SHOULD mean an unbeaten group for the All Blacks again taking nothing for granted.
England`s group is the hardest one 3 years on any two of three could progress
the hosts may even bow out at that stage.Lets hope not!!! RWCs are for Train Spotters EVERY match matters to me.