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Barrett and Ioane shortlisted for Men's World Player of the Year gong
By Peter Thompson
Beauden Barrett is in the running to claim back-to-back World Rugby Player of the Year awards and his New Zealand team-mate Rieko Ioane is also on a five-man shortlist.
Barrett became the fifth consecutive All Blacks to win the prestigious gong last year and the fly-half could retain his crown in Monte Carlo on 26 November.
Ioane only made his Test debut 12 months ago and the rapid wing has been recognised for a magnificent start to his international career, having scored nine tries in 11 matches for the world champions.
England duo Owen Farrell and Marro Itoje have been shortlisted for the second year in a row following outstanding displays for their country, the British and Irish Lions and Saracens.
Itoje was named 2016 Breakthrough Player of the Year and will be hoping to land the big prize this time around.
Australia full-back Israel Folau has also been shortlisted after scoring an Australian record 12 tries in 10 Tests this year.
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Latest Comments
Hard disagree. For those who want to turn rugby into league, there’s already league: a sport nobody cares about, globally speaking.
The beauty of rugby is in its variability: many different ways to win. I want to see running rugby, I want to see free flow counter-attacking rugby, but I also want to see mauls, and scrums, and lineouts, and proper breskdown battles with exciting turnovers.
There is a reason rugby is a top 10 global sport, whereas no one really gives a hoot about league. You’ve seen 20mins of a league match, you’ve seen it all.
I don’t want to see rugby degrade into 80 mins of foot race. And I don’t think, that that’s what the majority of rugby fans want.
Go to commentsYikes, what a hosing.
Don’t think the Bears are legit title contenders. You can lose, but not like this. Getting bent over and pumped like this completely removes the fear factor of s team.
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