World ranked No 1 New Zealand has the most entries with 14 players, followed by Wales (8), South Africa (5), France (4), Argentina (3), Samoa (3), Australia (3), Ireland (2), England (1), Italy (1) and Fiji (1).
The shortlist for the Fans’ Player and World XV of the Year awards (in order of playing position) is:
1. Vincent Debaty (Fra), Alex Corbiseiro (Eng), Marcos Ayerza (Arg)
2. Bismarck du Plessis (SA), Benjamin Kayser (Fra), Richard Hibbard (Wales)
3. Juan Figallo (Arg), Adam Jones (Wales), Census Johnston (Samoa)
4. Sam Whitelock (NZ), Eben Eztebeth (SA), Joe Tekori (Samoa)
5. James Horwill (Aus), Brodie Retallick (NZ), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
6. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Arg), Louis Picomoles (Fra), Liam Messam (NZ)
7. Sean O’Brien (Ire), Richie McCaw (NZ), Francois Louw (SA)
8. Kieran Read (NZ), Sergio Parisse (Italy), Toby Faletau (Wales)
9. Kahn Fotuali’l (Samoa), Aaron Smith (NZ), Will Genia (Aus),
10. Dan Carter (NZ), Johnny Sexton (Ire), Aaron Cruden (NZ)
11. George North (Wales), Julian Savea (NZ), Sitiveni Sivivatu (NZ)
12. Jamie Roberts (Wales), Ma’a Nonu (NZ), Jean de Villiers (SA)
13. Wesley Fofana (Fra), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Conrad Smith (NZ)
14. Israel Folau (Aus), Ben Smith (NZ), Napolioni Nalaga (Fiji)
15. Willie Le Roux (SA), Leigh Halfpenny (Wales) Israel Dagg (NZ)
There are some odd ones. You have George North listed, but not Habana who skinned him on Saturday and who has scored spectacular tries against the best this season. The much overrated Welsh seem to have far too many candidates. And how did the utterly useless Horwill make it. Much too much appears to have been made of the Lions win against a weak Wallabies outfit.
