Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

European Player of the Year shortlist unearths ongoing debate

Alex Goode tackle Darren Sweetnam

The European Player of the Year shortlist was whittled down to five players yesterday, and it is no surprise that it is occupied by Leinster and Saracens players.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Champions Cup finalists have undoubtedly been the two best teams in Europe this season, and the shortlist reflects this.

The Irish side are represented by hooker Sean Cronin, prop Tadhg Furlong and centre Garry Ringrose, while Saracens’ prop Mako Vunipola and fullback Alex Goode fill the other two spaces.

Very few fans seem to object to this shortlist on Twitter, and it has been remarked upon that three front-row players are in the running for the award.

However, what has been questioned is the fact that Goode is up for the award despite perennially shunned by England.

Video Spacer

This how many Saracens and England fans have reacted:

https://twitter.com/steven_casta21/status/1121053696874381313?s=20
https://twitter.com/pilsbury44/status/1121284331530440706?s=20
https://twitter.com/smudger233/status/1121165927989547008?s=20
https://twitter.com/damnthatcursor/status/1121108438669516800?s=20
https://twitter.com/dombuckley/status/1121138058462670848?s=20

ADVERTISEMENT

Goode’s omission by England head coach Eddie Jones has been a hot topic for debate this season, given his wonderful form. The fullback has been imperious at the back for the English champions, and his ability to slot in at fly-half only makes him more valuable for whomever he plays for.

However, despite having played for England 21 times, the fullback has only earned two caps under Jones, with his last in 2016. He is part of a cohort of players that are performing superbly this season to no avail. Gloucester’s Danny Cipriani is another player that is struggling to work his way into national contention, despite showing some of the best form in England. With the World Cup rapidly approaching, they both have precious little time to make an impression.

But while Cipriani’s off-field antics in the past have hampered his international progress, Goode has been squeaky clean, leaving fans all the more baffled as to why he has not been selected.

This would not be the first time that an Englishman has won the award despite being excluded from the national team. In fact, it has happened to Johnny Wilkinson, Steffon Armitage and Nick Abendanon.

ADVERTISEMENT

However, the distinction would be that those three were all plying their trade in France when they won the award. Despite calls for a change in policy, those players were ineligible to play for England and they knew that. However, this may be the first time that a player based in England wins the award despite not featuring for his country.

Looking at what many have said on social media, Goode looks to be the favourite to scoop the coveted award, and many will hope that is decisive factor that Jones needs to eventually pick him.

ADVERTISEMENT

South Africa vs New Zealand | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

Argentina vs Australia | The Rugby Championship U20's | Full Match Replay

Saitama Wildknights vs Tokyo Sungoliath | Japan Rugby League 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

The Game that Made Jonah Lomu

The gruelling reality behind one of the fastest sports in the world | The Report

Boks Office | Episode 40 | The Steven Kitshoff Special

Perry Baker in the house | HSBC Life on Tour | Los Angeles

Confidence knocks and finding your people | Flo Williams | Rugby Rising Locker Room

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

S
Solenn Bonnet 1 day ago
Leinster cleanse palette with record URC scoreline against Zebre

My name is Solenn Bonnet, and I am a single mother navigating the challenges of raising my two-year-old child while trying to make ends meet. I came across a trading platform that promised astonishing daily profits of 18%. The allure of such a high return on investment was too tempting to resist, and I found myself drawn into cryptocurrency trading. Excited by the prospect of financial freedom, I invested a significant amount of my savings, totaling over 5.7 BTC. However, what started as a hopeful venture quickly turned into a nightmare. The platform was a scam, and I lost everything I had invested. The emotional toll of this loss was immense; I felt devastated and helpless, struggling to provide for my child and keep up with my bills. In my desperate attempt to recover my funds, I sought help from various recovery experts. Unfortunately, I encountered numerous fraudulent individuals who claimed they could help me retrieve my lost money. Each time I reached out, I was met with disappointment and further scams, which only deepened my despair. Last year was one of the most challenging periods of my life, filled with anxiety and uncertainty about my financial future. Feeling overwhelmed and at a loss, I confided in a close friend from church about my situation. She listened compassionately and shared her own experiences with financial difficulties. Understanding my plight, she introduced me to Tech Cyber Force Recovery, a group of skilled hackers known for their expertise in recovering lost funds. Skeptical yet hopeful, I decided to reach out to them as a last resort. Their services came at a higher cost, but my friend generously offered to help me with a partial payment. I was amazed by how quickly they responded and began the recovery process. Their team was professional, efficient, and incredibly supportive throughout the entire ordeal. To my relief, they successfully recovered more than I had lost to those heartless scammers. This was truly transformative, and I felt a sense of relief and gratitude that I hadn’t felt in a long time. I strongly encourage anyone who has faced similar challenges or fallen victim to scams to reach out to Tech Cyber Force Recovery. If you’ve invested in a fraudulent platform like I did, they are highly capable of helping you reclaim your hard-earned money. Don’t lose hope; there is a way to recover what you’ve lost.

CONSULT TECH CYBER FORCE RECOVERY

EMAIL.. support@techyforcecyberretrieval.com

WhatsApp.. +15617263697

website.. https://techyforcecyberretrieval.com

Telegram.. +15617263697

0 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ JP du Preez, the 650-day injury lay-off and the 'miracle' bone donation JP du Preez, the 650-day injury lay-off and the 'miracle' bone donation
Search