Last Night’s Top 14 Awards Will Make Munster Fans Wonder What Could Have Been

Johan Goosen was named the best player in the Top 14 for the 2015/16 season by his peers last night.

Many Munster fans will remember that Goosen was a high-profile target for the southern province last season as they looked to sign a long-term solution at outhalf.

The Racing 92 star can play fly-half, full-back and outside centre and recently made his comeback to international rugby with the Springboks in the Rugby Championship, where he wore the number 15 jersey.

Goosen got the award ahead of team-mate and former New Zealand fly-half Dan Carter and the Fijian Joshua Tuisova from Toulon.

“I wasn’t expecting it. When I look at the other names… Dan… no need to say anything more,” Goosen told AFP.

“And as for Josua, he had a great season, so I take this award with great humility.”

There’s much speculation as to why the deal never materialised, depending on who you want to believe. Former Munster winger John Kelly who is currently chairman of the province’s Professional Game Board indicated they were in the market but were frustrated by the IRFU’s policy for the signing of international players.

Former Munster outhalf and current Racing 92 defence coach, Ronan O’Gara however said there was no truth in the deal, stating that he was never going anywhere.

Either way a player of his talent and ability certainly would be of serious use to Munster this season and many fans will be thinking what could have been for the province.

To make matters worse, Racing, who won the Top 14 last season, also took the award for best coaching team for Laurent Travers, Laurent Labit and a certain Ronan O’Gara.