Sorry, Beauden you’re not the best

All Blacks star Beauden Barrett has been rated behind Fiji lock Leone Nakarawa and England playmaker Owen Farrell on a list of the best rugby players in the world in 2017.

Barrett – World Rugby’s player of the year a second successive season – was joined in the Rugby Pass.com website’s top 10 players by two All Blacks team-mates and former New Zealand international Charles Piutau.

But Rugby Pass writer Alex Shaw acknowledged it was a ‘‘controversial’’ decision to demote Barrett to third.

However, he claimed Farrell deserved second place ahead of the All Blacks star after guiding Saracens to the European Champions Cup title, England to a Six Nations title and the British and Irish Lions to a series draw with the All Blacks.

‘‘There will be no shortage of people who think Barrett should be above the Englishman but on merit, Farrell has a compelling case,’’ Shaw wrote.

‘‘Not only did he lift two trophies to Barrett’s one, he also played a bigger role in ‘winning’ the Lions an unexpected draw in New Zealand, than Barrett did in that same series.

‘‘Obviously, they are both world-class players who excel in different areas.

‘‘However, in terms of looking at 2017 in a bubble, the nod goes, ever so slightly, to Farrell.’’

Shaw said Barrett, ‘‘as an individual, is arguably the most dangerous attacking rugby player on the planet’’.

‘‘With ball in hand, Barrett was a magician this year, carving up defences with his hands and feet, as well as displaying an up-andunder kicking game that has no rival in the modern game.’’

All Blacks wing Rieko Ioane and England lock-blindside flanker Maro Itoje rounded out the top five.

England prop Maro Itoje was sixth with Piutau – now playing for Irish province Ulster ahead of a lucrative move to English club Bristol – at 7, All Blacks fullback Damian McKenzie at 8, Scotland centre Huw Jones 9th and England lock Courtney Lawes at 10.

Rugby Pass said ‘‘no other player in the world can do what Nakarawa does’’ for French club Racing 92 and Fiji with his ‘‘ability to keep phases alive with offloads’’ an his ‘‘formidable lineout work, powerful carrying and committed defence’’.

Other Kiwis in the top 30 were All Blacks flanker Sam Cane (12), midfielder Anton Lienert-Brown (19), captain Kieran Read (21), midfielder Ngani Laumape (26 and Ardie Savea (30).

There was no place for New Zealand player of the year Sam Whitelock despite one of his best seasons for the All Blacks.