New Zealand Rugby
Carter not included on Player of the Year shortlist
ESPN Staff
December 10, 2012
New Zealand's Dan Carter takes on the Scotland defence, Scotland v New Zealand, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland, November 11, 2012
Dan Carter may have won the IRB Player of the Year honour but he does not even make the shortlist for New Zealand's top award © Getty Images
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Players/Officials: Dan Carter | Richie McCaw | Kieran Read | Conrad Smith
Teams: New Zealand

Newly-crowned International Rugby Board Player of the Year Dan Carter has failed to make the shortlist for New Zealand's Player of the Year award.

Carter recently fought off competition from New Zealand team-mate Richie McCaw, France's Frederic Michalak and England's Owen Farrell to be named the world's best international player in 2012 but the New Zealand Rugby Union clearly think he was not even one of the best three All Blacks in the last 12 months.

McCaw heads the three-man shortlist for the prestigious Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year award having steered the All Blacks to the inaugural Rugby Championship title. The talismanic flanker will be attempting to claim the honour for the fourth time but will face stiff competition from another previous winner in No.8 Kieran Read who has received widespread praise for his endeavour for the All Blacks this year.

Veteran centre Conrad Smith completes the line-up and will be chasing an awards double having also been nominated for the Super Rugby Player of the Year gong thanks to his efforts for the Hurricanes earlier this year. Crusaders playmaker Carter also fails to earn a nomination for this award with title-winning Chiefs duo Aaron Cruden and Craig Clarke set to vie for the judges' vote with Smith.

The winner of both awards will be announced in Auckland on December 14.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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