Award nominations deserve prize in their own right
OPINION: The ASB Rugby awards nominations announced on Sunday were so thoughtfully put together they should put to bed the fatigue we can sometimes feel when it comes to awards season.
The right players, the right coaches and the right teams have been picked.
For example, Sarah Goss’ performance in the World Cup final was inspirational and she belongs beside Rieko Ioane and Sam Whitelock in the best player category.
The nominating panel of Brent Anderson (NZ Rugby’s head of community rugby), former NZ Rugby chairman Mike Eagle, broadcaster Tony Johnson and All Blacks legend Graham Mourie should take a bow and World Rugby should take note.
When awards are done right they play an important role in the rugby calendar. It is more that an opportunity to don suits and frocks. Those who have done the work deserve the plaudits.
The contrast with the World Rugby awards is impossible to ignore. Beauden Barrett was named the best player of 2017 while Whitelock, Ireland No 9 Conor Murray and Welsh centre Jonathan Davies could not even make the finalist list.
Even the All Blacks No 10 said he was ‘‘surprised’’ that he won. To Barrett’s credit, he accepted the award with good grace. World Rugby’s nomination had put him in an awkward position, accepting an award that most people thought belonged elsewhere.
There can be no such qualms about the NZ Rugby awards.
In particular the Super Rugby player of the year award nominations show a keen eye for the detail of the game. The three names put forward were Whitelock, Hurricanes wrecking ball Ngani Laumape and Crusaders No 10 Richie Mo’unga.
Damian Mckenzie and Jordie Barrett would have been worthy selections too, and perhaps with more obvious highlight reels, but Mo’unga’s nomination shows their appreciation of how he was so valuable in constructing the Crusaders’ attacking gameplan.
Despite this Laumape must be a good shout. His nomination holds so much merit because it recognises the Hurricane’s capacity for self-improvement. To look at Laumape in 2016 and to look at him this year is like observing a different athlete.
He is fitter and holds his speed for longer. He has brilliant footwork and an increasing range of subtle touches.
In fact, if you think of the players who really troubled the Crusaders this year, Laumape is up there.
It took some quick thinking from the Crusaders’ coaching panel - and Scott Robertson has been nominated for coach of the year - to negate the damage Laumape was doing in the Crusaders-hurricanes game in Christchurch in May.
A watershed year for women’s rugby has also been recognised by the panel. If you have yet not seen the women’s World Cup final between the Black Ferns and England do yourself a favour and set aside a few hours to watch it.
The Black Ferns had to go deep into the well to overcome a strong England side and did so because they had the ability to tactically mix things up during the game as well as tackle themselves to a standstill. It was a performance that captured the heart and mind.
The winners will be announced this evening but the nominations have already hit the mark.