I’ll vote for Sexton: O’Driscoll
Rugby update
Dublin: Irish rugby great Brian O’Driscoll has confirmed he will be voting for Johnny Sexton for the World Rugby Player of the Year award in Monaco on Sunday.
The ex-Leinster centre is part of the committee that will choose the premier rugby player on the planet for 2018.
Following Ireland’s victory over world champions New Zealand, Sexton is being tipped to pip two-time winner Beauden Barrett to the award. However, Barrett (27) has claimed the award for the past two years and will also have his backers.
The other nominees are New Zealand wing Rieko Ioane and South African stars Faf de Klerk and Malcolm Marx.
The shortlist was selected by a panel made up of Rugby World Cup winners Richie McCaw, John Smit, George Gregan, Maggie Alphonsi and former England coach Clive Woodward alongside Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll, Fabien Galthié and Agustín Pichot.
But O’Driscoll told Off the Ball that he feels it is a straight choice between Sexton and Barrett. He explained: “The committee has a conference call this evening. I will be doing some listening early on to what my southern hemisphere fellow panellists will be saying.
“South Africa had to have an enormous November for Faf de Klerk and Mark to step out. Ioane has been very good throughout the year, prolific, but by his standards not as good in November.
“Barrett hasn’t been as good in November as perhaps he was in certain times of the year. People are probably a bit hung up on him not taking his drop goal in Wellington against South Africa but you forget that he scored four tries against Australia as well.
O’Driscoll went on to explain that despite Barrett’s incredible performances, he would find it hard to look past Sexton. -The Independent week’s 16-9 loss to an exceptional Ireland in Dublin. The latter result has prompted many, including Hansen, to label Ireland as World Cup favourites in Japan next year.
The armwrestle at Aviva Stadium was a far cry from the three romps against Michael Cheika’s Wallabies. New Zealand won the Tests in Sydney, Auckland and Yokohama by a combined tally of 115 to 45, scoring 17 tries in the process.
Yet they went tryless in Dublin.
Hansen said there was a noticeable step up required this year against the Springboks, who had been fodder for the All Blacks in recent Rugby Championship campaigns.
“There is no doubt the style of game that is played by South Africa is similar to the style played up here (northern hemisphere), ” he told reporters.
New Zealand’s season finishes with a Test against Italy in Rome on Sunday. -Planet Rugby