Barrett snubbed for top honour

Beauden Barrett has been rated the second best player in the world with the All Blacks getting just two players in the top 10 list of a respected rugby magazine.

Rugby World has produced a list of the Top 100 players in world rugby and Barrett, who was adjudged World Rugby’s player of the year, was kicked off the number one perch by English pivot Owen Farrell.

‘‘He’s a giant of a player, a man with edge and bite,’’ said English rugby writer Stephen Jones of Farrell in the magazine’s latest online edition.

An English publication, rugby World rated just two All Blacks, Barrett and lock Brodie Retallick, in the top 10.

England and Lions youngster Maro Itoje has been rated the fourth best player, ahead of giants of the game like Kieran Read (15) and Sam Whitelock (18).

Fiji sevens star Leone Nakarawa took the third spot on the list.

Farrell played a big role in England’s Six Nations title in 2017 as well as the British and Irish Lions’ drawn series on New Zealand soil.

Meanwhile, Black Ferns Kendra Cocksedge (16), Portia Woodman (26) and Kelly Brazier (72) made the top 100 list.

No French players made the top 10 while only one from Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

All Blacks Rieko Ioane (11th) and Sam Cane (13th) also made the top 20.