Just what is the IRB trying to prove?
SOMEBODY should cite the International Rugby Board for nominating Owen Farrell for the international player of the year award.
It smacks of a political statement rather than a sensible assessment of the world’s best players through 2012.
Surely, IRB boss Brett Gosper will launch another appeal. This one may be justified. Alongside All Blacks captain Richie McCaw, a three-time winner of the award, test rugby’s record points scorer Dan Carter and reborn French first five-eighth Frederic Michalak, Farrell looks like a schoolboy, as out of place as a kilt in central London.
It’s been some time – nine years to be exact – since Jonny Wilkinson last won the award. That’s no excuse for a political French kiss. No reason to appease and pander to the Poms.
Farrell, the son of dual international Andy, has pedigree. He made his debut in this year’s Six Nations and is a talented test rookie, an accurate goal-kicker and strong defender. But as Stuart Lancaster’s second-choice pivot and after just nine tests, he is not fit for such a nomination. Not yet anyway.
Many thought Farrell made the shortlist of the young player of the year award, only to stare in disbelief on second glance.
The saving grace for the IRB would be if Farrell had been included as part of a policy to recognise future stars.
Otherwise, the governing body has created unnecessary confusion.
To be fair, Farrell didn’t ask for the nomination.
And it is one the 21-year-old could probably do without, just two days before he starts, by default, with Toby Flood injured, in the No 10 jersey against the world champions.
He didn’t need further pressure and scrutiny in front of 80,000 at Twickenham.
In the end it won’t matter, because when McCaw inevitably wins the prize at least the award will regain some credibility.