SEMI RADRADRA
Ranked among best 4 players in the world
Fiji Airways Flying Fijians centre Semi Radradra is among the best top 4 rugby players in the world- according to an influential English newspaper. Radradra’s commanding performance during the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, which saw him being awarded twice for the Best Player of the Match award.
Playing for a Tier 2 team, Radradra was the first player from a losing team to win the award. This was in their painful 29-17 loss to Wales. Radradra finished the game with 148 metres from 15 runs, with five tackle busts and two linebreak assists in a man-of-the-match display in a losing side.
Former England five-eighth Stuart Barnes believes Radradra would start in any nation in the tournament.
“All the best players are here at the World Cup and there is not one team that he would not walk into the team,” Barnes said of Radradra who was ranked fourth by The Times.
The Somosomo, Taveuni native was rated ahead of New Zealand’s Brodie Retallick, Tom Curry of England and Springboks winger Cheslin Kolbe.
The top award was given to England lock Maro Itoje.
Owen Slot, The Times’ chief rugby correspondent, wrote that Itoje dominated the lineout against the All Blacks’ four jumpers, locks Retallick and Sam Whitelock and starting back rowers Kieran Read and Scott Barrett.
“The British & Irish Lion neutered New Zealand’s apparent strength,’’ Slot said.
“The All Blacks didn’t rule the lineout. Itoje did. Of course, he might object to that assessment, because it is a team game and all that. However, he stole two of the All Black throws in the first half and forced New Zealand into an early tactical substitution.
“He also made two turnovers. He was the most influential player on the pitch.
“That is why he is our world No 1 player, because of the number of games on which he imposes this relentless, over-bearing influence. Ask the opposition and they will tell you that he is hell to play against.’’
Itoje produced the most ruck turnovers (11) at the World Cup, five more than a chasing pack of five players, including three of the world’s best flankers, Ardie Savea (New Zealand), Justin Tipuric (Wales) and Curry (England).
He also hit the most rucks (221), one more than Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones.
THE TIMES TOP 10 PLAYERS
1-Maro Itoje (England, lock), 2-Beauden Barrrett (New Zealand, first five-fullback); 3-Antoine Dupont (France, halfback); 4-Semi
Radradra (Fiji, wing-centre); 5-Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa, flanker); 6-Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa, wing); 7-Brodie Retallick (New Zealand, lock); 8-Ardie Savea (New Zealand, loose forward); 9-Kyle Sinckler (England, prop); 10-Tom Curry (England, loose forward).