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This year is moving quickly already, so it’s time we wrapped up last year’s awards. Let’s fire it up again with our picks for Try of the Year. Inevitably the majority come from the World Cup, but there is room for a little sevens, especially some magic from the first two stops of the new season. It was nearly impossible to whittle it down with so many great contenders, and it’s so difficult to pick one from another that we’ve decided to run our 10 favorites, nine in chronological order and then the winner at the end.
July 12 – Harry Jones – Canada vs Argentina – Pan Am Sevens
It’s not so much the magic of this one as the sheer determination of Jones to get over the line and earn a gold medal at the Pan Am Games in Toronto. The win over New Zealand earlier in the year was big, but surely this was the crowning achievement of the team in an otherwise turbulent year. With close to 20,000 in attendance the atmosphere was incredible and how about that call from Bryan Kelly?
September 20 – Chris Wyles – USA vs Samoa – RWC 2015
The Eagles didn’t enjoy much of the tournament but this was a moment to savor. Ironically it came from a rare Wyles mistake as he shanked a clearance kick straight into a Samoan player, and the result was a wide open midfield and try-time for the American captain.
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September 25 – Santiago Cordero – Argentina vs Georgia – RWC 2015
Those who regularly watch the Pumas play knew of Cordero’s talents, but he showed it on the biggest stage of all at the World Cup. This was one of several examples of his blistering footwork, and one of the best individual efforts on show, if not the best.
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October 4 – Joaquín Tuculet – Argentina vs Tonga – RWC 2015
The game was still fresh and the Tongans actually in the lead at this point. Juan Imhoff started the counter attack and both backs and forwards combined to score a brilliant try, with Tuculet finishing off a terrific offload from Ramiro Herrera.
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October 4 – Juan Imhoff – Argentina vs Tonga – RWC 2015
Tuculet’s score opened the floodgates, as the Pumas struck again immediately from the kickoff. Cordero’s stepping got things started and perfect hands put Imhoff in for a sensational team try.
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October 6 – Carlos Arboleya – Uruguay vs Fiji – RWC 2015
It was a long 12 years between drinks but it was worth the wait. Los Teros finally got back on the World Cup try sheet, and of course it was a front row who got the plaudits. A cracking blindside break from Agustín Ormaechea and a beauty angle from Arboleya to barrel over the line.
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October 18 – Juan Imhoff – Argentina vs Ireland – RWC 2015
Argentina had already stung Ireland once in the opening minutes of the quarter-final and then disaster struck for the men in green, or absolute magic if you’re a Pumas fan. Some phase play stretched the defense, quick hands put Sanchez into space, and an inch-perfect kick ahead set up Imhoff for a finish that’s as good as it gets.
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December 4 – Perry Baker – USA vs New Zealand – Dubai 7s
New Zealand have looked disheveled in the start of the new sevens season while the Eagles have been outstanding. Some loose support work left the door open for Folau Niua and the turnover gave Baker a chance to make history with an incredible display of strength and speed to finish in the corner. Madison Hughes knocked over the conversion and for the first time ever, the USA had beaten New Zealand.
December 12 – Carlin Isles – USA vs Australia – Cape Town 7s
As if in reply, the fastest man in rugby gave us a scintillating reply a week later. He had just made a tru-saving tackle and then pulled off the try of the tournament, and one of the best of the year with an unbelievable show of raw pace.
THE WINNER
September 26 – DTH van der Merwe – Canada vs Italy – RWC 2015
This was simply too good to ignore. Nathan Hirayama had opened Canada’s account and from the kickoff Tyler Ardron handed it to his star winger to have a go, and what a result. The fend, the pass, the support from Ciaran Hearn, and then the genius angle back across the defense to score one of the tries of the tournament. DTH van der Merwe takes home goods for the 2015 Try of the Year.
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