The Six Nations have released their 12 nominees for Player of the Tournament, and there are a number of slightly bizarre inclusions as well as notable absentees,
Voting open for RBS 6 Nations Player of the Tournament 2016 #RBS6Nations https://t.co/DIsOp7gAV9 pic.twitter.com/qzMIGb1R2e
— Guinness Six Nations (@SixNationsRugby) March 20, 2016
Ireland half-backs Conor Murray and Jonny Sexton can surely consider themselves slightly fortunate to be included at the expense of the likes of Dan Biggar and Jamie Roberts, while CJ Stander seems fairly hard done by considering his gazillion carries and mammoth performances - particularly over the last two weeks of the tournament.
Here is the list of nominees in full:
Deserved nominations for Scotland's Duncan Taylor and genuine contender Stuart Hogg, along with French flier Virimi Vakatawa. Jack Nowell, who undoubtedly had an impressive tournament, is a more surprising inclusion, while his Grand Slam winning teammates George Kruis and Maro Itoje are nowhere to be seen.
Naturally, the announcement has been met with an element of scepticism by rugby's Twitter community:
Six Nations have somehow compiled a 12-man player of the tournament shortlist that doesn't include George Kruis, Maro Itoje or Jamie Roberts
— Alex Lowe (@AlexMLowe) March 20, 2016
Nowell made the short list for Six Nations Player of the Tournament he has been good but not exceptional like Kruis and Itoje #rugbyunited
— Neil Fissler (@neilfissler) March 20, 2016
Anyone going to mention @taulupe 's contribution? Our best player throughout 6 Nations - as usual! #ScrumV
— Dame Gwinnie of The Beacons (@gwinniejones) March 20, 2016
How the hell has George Kruis not been nominated for player of the @rbs_6_nations ???
— Ben Gandy (@bgandy) March 20, 2016
Why is @CJStander not a contender for 6 nations player of the championship @rbs_6_nations? He was phenomenal unlike the mediocre Parisse!
— Andy Canavan (@AsCanavan) March 20, 2016
Who would you vote for as 6 Nations Player of the Tournament?
