RuckedOver's 2014 Gong-Fest

As 2014 bites the dust, we at RuckedOver take a look at the best, the worst, and the weirdest of the year in our annual gong-fest, which, to be honest, is the only set of awards in the rugby world anyone really cares about.  Probably.

International Team of the Year

The All Blacks were, by and large, awesome once again (yawn), and England Women were deserved winners of the World Cup, but I find it hard to look past Ireland.  Let's not forget just how crap they were for most of 2013, and they lost their talisman, Brian O'Driscoll, mid-way through this year.  But Joe Schmidt is building a side with power, invention and pragmatism in equal measure; a side that can start to get noted as genuine World Cup contenders (albeit dark horses), with convincing wins over South Africa and Australia providing plenty of optimism for fans from the Emerald Isle. 

Domestic Team of the Year

Northampton Saints and Toulon spring to mind quickly, with both bringing home domestic and European doubles, but let's be honest, they were pretty much favourites before the year began, with out and out quality bursting from the seams.  But the big surprise for me was the Waratahs, who won their maiden Super XV title.  Yes, they have a sprinkling of stardust via the likes of Izzy Folau, Kurtley Beale and Adam Ashley-Cooper, but it is the emergence of new stars from their ranks that have really propelled them into 'Champion' status – the intelligent and sharp Bernard Foley and the amusingly large Will Skelton were two real stand-outs this year.  A great year for Sydney-siders.

Player of the Year

Brodie Retallick was the pundit's choice, winning the World Rugby Player of the Year award despite looking like Lurch from the Adams Family, but I'm leaning towards Duane Vermeulen.  The big South African has really added to his game, going from a cumbersome thug to athletic maestro in just over a year, and can now genuinely be placed into the same bracket as the exceptional Keiran Read.  Yes, he works well in the tight and makes yards where you shouldn't, but his ability to attack the wider channels – in a very Read-like manner – has been a huge asset for the Springboks, who have used sublime offloading skills and surprising pace for a big chap to great effect.

Breakthrough of the Year

George Ford and Malaki Fekitoa look like they will be big stage players for the next decade or so, but the emergence of Rhys Webb has really impressed me.  Mike Phillips has held down that 9 shirt for the best part of 6 years, despite being appallingly average for the last 3, and so it is great for Welsh rugby that someone with real intelligence, pace and confidence has stepped in to make the shirt his own.  Yes, he still has some learning to do, but he looks like a guy who will be giving defensive coaches nightmares for years to come.

Team of the Year

1. Joe Marler (England), 2. Agustin Creevy (Argentina), 3. Owen Franks (New Zealand), 4. Brodie Retallick (New Zealand), 5. Samu Manoa (USA), 6. Chris Robshaw (England), 7. Richie McCaw (New Zealand), 8. Duane Vermeulen (South Africa), 9. Rhys Webb (Wales), 10. Johnny Sexton (Ireland), 11. Julian Savea (New Zealand), 12. Jean De Villiers (South Africa), 13. Tevita Kuridrani (Australia), 14. Ben Smith (New Zealand), 15.  Willie Le Roux (South Africa).

Coach of the Year

It could quite easily have gone to Gary Street for leading England's Women's side to World Cup glory, but Joe Schmidt has to take the award.  Taking on a side that was about as threatening as a damp flannel, Schmidt has re-ignited that trademark passion and aggression within the ranks and has complimented it with an accurate gameplan for the pack and real variety in the backline.  He also seems to have coped with the loss of Brian O'Driscoll pretty well, although the search for his long term successor goes on.

Try of the Year

Derick Hougaard v New Zealand.  It doesn't matter that he had a pants season when you get to finish off this beauty.  Watch and drool:

Match of the Year

There were so many to choose from – the Springboks downing the All Blacks, England and Ireland in a classic arm wrestle, but the second test of South Africa v Wales in the summer had it all.  Utter heartbreak for the men in red, but 100% commitment from both sides and some wonderful tries to boot.  Also known as Liam Williams' worst day of the year.

The Danny Care Sh*t Haircut Award

With Danny Care's haircut swaying dangerously towards the sensible these days, I'm left with no choice than to look to Jack Nowell once again.  The only saving grace of that straightened, coloured, mulletted and rat-tailed monstrosity of a turd on his bonce is that it's covered up by a scrum cap.  Awfully decent of you, Jack.  A special mention to Luke Cowan-Dickie, who still has a sh*t mullet, but at least it's not coloured any more.  The pair of them, between them, are risking Exeter's status as everyone's favourite second side.

Surprise of the Year

The Chiefs have surprised the Premiership this year with many (including myself) anticipating that they would struggle, and Ireland's resurgence has certainly raised a few eyebrows, but I think the whole of England is pretty much stunned by just how cr*p London Welsh are.  They caused an upset by beating Bristol to reach the Premiership, surprised us all by sacking off half of that promotion winning side and filling the spaces with journeymen and Premiership rejects with nonetheless top-flight experience, and then that side continued to surprise us by shipping roughly 50 points a game.  Yes, the side has not been put together well, despite the efforts of their talented coaches, but it still goes to show the problems that the ludicrous Play-Off system in the Championship pose, forcing clubs to panic buy with no time for integration.

Cock-up of the Year

Liam Williams, Dylan Hartley or Delon Armitage all deserve slaps around the head for various incidents of stupity, but the overall award actually goes to the Leicester Tigers management.  Whether that's Richard Cockerill, or the men above him (such as Peter Tom), I don't know, but what we do know is that the decision not replace Matt O'Connor with an established backs coach was a brain-bustingly crap decision.  Geordan Murphy will one day be a fine coach, but not after half a season, and the man who became 'attack coach', Paul Burke, was officially the world's most boring man – the poor bloke was given the chop for the mistakes of the men above him.  If you compare Leicester's approach to Northampton's, who snapped up the well-regarded Alex King, the results are clear to see – and not just from the last encounter, where the Tigers were outplayed despite having a 1 man advantage for 70 minutes.  A side boasting the likes of Tuilagi, Burns, Goneva, Tait, Allen and Benjamin should not be less threatening than a bag of kittens and, although Aaron Mauger has been booked in for next year, it is 12 months too late from the Leicester board.

Quote of the Year

"I don't hate anyone.  Peace and love.  I just don't like c*nts." – Martin 'Confucius' Castrogiovanni.



Words to live by, Castro.  That seems like an appropriate note on which to wish everyone a very Happy New Year and a successful 2015!