IRB Player of the year - 2010

[cyRil]

How can it be anyone except for MaCaw? Seriously. How?

Because you - are - GAY!

 

[SpanishBob]

Agree about Mattfield; he shouldn't be there at all.

The others probably deserve the mention. But is beyond my understandng the absence of Kieran Read. For me he is the player of the year. I was expecting Bowe there, after being selected as the best 6 Nations Player.

Harinordoquy is a great player, no doubt, and he was probably the best french player in the Six Nations, when he played as 8. Anyway not just Read, but also Heaslip is far better and more complete in that same position.

I think Muliaina is a world class player, I'm happy to see him in the list although he has probably had better seasons (but the fact of being the NZ most capped player of all times must have been descisive).

I think it will be a tough contest between McCaw and Pocock, with the aussie winning. I would give it to Richie anyway, but he has already won twice in the past.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Don't think McCaw has been standout this year either,
Damned good - yes.
But Pocock (imo) was the standout 7 in this years 3N.
Then again, he didn't have his best year last year, but won it, so who knows!

 

[munstermuffin]

Did I read somewhere McCaw is favourite

 

[Teh Mite]

McCaw getting it again is as much a bullshit as Cunningham never getting Man of Steel.

 

[cardassian]

In this lineup it has to be Pocock, however if Read was nominated I'd give it to him.

 

[SavageLez]

I think McCaw deserves the award this year but because he unjustly got it last year i would like to see Mils Mulian get it. A great comeback!
Fourie Du Preez should have got it in 2009 as he was instrumental in beating the All Blacks 3-0, Bulls winning the Super 14, the Currie Cup and the Springboks beating the British Lions. I dont have a fu...ng clue how McCaw got it last year after a **** season.

McCaw was amazing this year though! Maybe they should give it to Fourie Du Preez this year, lol!

 

[Feicarsinn]

I think McCaw deserves the award this year but because he unjustly got it last year i would like to see Mils Mulian get it. A great comeback!
Fourie Du Preez should have got it in 2009 as he was instrumental in beating the All Blacks 3-0, Bulls winning the Super 14, the Currie Cup and the Springboks beating the British Lions. I dont have a fu...ng clue how McCaw got it last year after a **** season.

McCaw was amazing this year though! Maybe they should give it to Fourie Du Preez this year, lol!

That's a funny way to spell Brian O'Driscoll*.



































*A million points for bringing up squabbles old.

 

[SavageLez]

I love Brian O Driscoll but he should have received this award years ago, he is too old and not as effective anymore!
Unfortunately he will probably fall under the same category as Fourie Du Preez and never receive the award.

The sad thing is that if McCaw gets it this year and NZ win the WC next year he will get it again. That would be 4 times!!!

 

[Sam Owen]

I love Brian O Driscoll but he should have received this award years ago, he is too old and not as effective anymore!
Unfortunately he will probably fall under the same category as Fourie Du Preez and never receive the award.

The sad thing is that if McCaw gets it this year and NZ win the WC next year he will get it again. That would be 4 times!!!

The good thing about Ritchie is hes always there and always playing to a good standard. Compared to a no.9 or a centre you'd think that a flanker is more likely to get injured but no. Ritchies probably played more games than BOD and Du Preez in the last 2 years and probably won more than them too. I wouldnt say Ritchie is my player of the year but he'd be up there as one of the hardest and most consistent.

 

[madflyhalf]

To me, the point is:

In 2009 the Award must be given to Brian O'Driscoll. It was his best year ever, Grand Slam in 6N, Heineken Cup with Leinster, and with B&I Lions he partnered with Roberts at centre, in one of the few section where the Lions were better than the Springboks. It means something.
It's been a mistake not to give him IRB Player of the 2009.

This is year should be McCaw, without any doubt.

But for what happened last year, now I will support anyone but McCaw!

 

[Amobokoboko]

It should be Poccock, Mils or the French guy. But I guess McCaw will win it.

 

[nickdnz]

To me, the point is:

In 2009 the Award must be given to Brian O'Driscoll. It was his best year ever, Grand Slam in 6N, Heineken Cup with Leinster, and with B&I Lions he partnered with Roberts at centre, in one of the few section where the Lions were better than the Springboks. It means something.
It's been a mistake not to give him IRB Player of the 2009.

This is year should be McCaw, without any doubt.

But for what happened last year, now I will support anyone but McCaw!

In 2008 McCaw captained Canterbury to an NPC Championship, Crusaders to a Super 14 Championship, All Blacks to a Bledisloe Cup, Tri Nations and Grand Slam (by the largest margin ever), so naturally it went to Shane Williams. McCaw deserved his award just as much as any other player who has won it.

I'd be very, very suprised is McCaw won it for a third time, never mind this year.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Yeah, but Shane Williams also got the 6N grandslam/triple crown/everything going in that as well as being top try scorer, so it's all swings and roundabouts

 

[Larksea]

Pocock is a very good player but he's still no McCaw.

I look at the AUS vs. NZ games and head to head Pocock overall I think Pocock won the breakdown battle but McCaw was better in every other aspect of the game. Including pulling off some match winning plays to win test matches against Australia.

Mills has been brilliant and this nomination should silence all his haters, he scores and sets up so many of the AB's trys and yet he's so sure at the back, he's the best 15 in the world and for some time now.

These awards are a bit of a lottery though, McCaw's won it twice but I think the year he deserved it the most Shane Williams won it and I dont think McCaw was even nominated. And again this year as far as NZ players that should be nominated Kieran Read should be top of the list but he's not even there.

 

[Feicarsinn]

I love Brian O Driscoll but he should have received this award years ago, he is too old and not as effective anymore!
Unfortunately he will probably fall under the same category as Fourie Du Preez and never receive the award.

The sad thing is that if McCaw gets it this year and NZ win the WC next year he will get it again. That would be 4 times!!!

Whatever you say...

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

It should be Poccock, Mils or the French guy. But I guess McCaw will win it.

Pretty much my sentiments.

Also still a bit peeved that neither du Preez or O'Driscoll got it last year; clear stand-outs IMO... NZ losing 3-0 to SA and McCaw was silenced by Brussouw in the few games and still.. 2009 to McCaw so because of that I think the clear favourite is Richie.

 

[Gavin]

It just said on the BBC website that McCaw was named player of the year.

Now on IRB site : http://www.irb.com/history/awards/newsid=2041119.html#new+zealand+honoured+trio+irb+awards

New Zealand captain Richie McCaw has been named the International Rugby Board Player of the Year 2010 in association with Emirates Airline.

The 29-year-old flanker is the first player to receive the prestigious accolade three times, as well as in consecutive years, cementing his position as one of the greats of the Game.

The accolade completes a hat-trick of IRB Awards for New Zealand announced today, with the All Blacks named IRB Team of the Year 2010 in association with Emirates Airline and Graham Henry unveiled as IRB Coach of the Year for a record fourth time.

Henry has previously been named IRB Coach of the Year in 2005, 2006 and 2008 and New Zealand are named IRB Team of the Year for the fourth time in six years.

McCaw faced stiff competition for the Player of the Year Award with teammate Mils Muliaina, South Africa's Victor Matfield, Imanol Harinordoquy from France and rising young Australia stars David Pocock and Kurtley Beale all performing superbly during the year.

However, it was McCaw, who captained the world's number one ranked team to a record of 13 wins from 14 matches during 2010, including a Tri-Nations ***le and an unbeaten end of year tour to Europe, that consistently impressed the IRB's Awards Panel with some outstanding performances to cement his stature as one of Rugby's great leaders.

"It's been a good year and everyone has made a huge effort, from the coaches right through all the players. It's been a lot of fun as well to work with quality players, and I just love playing Rugby and especially international Rugby," said McCaw, along with Muliaina now the most capped All Black of all time.

"This Award is very special but wouldn't happen without an exceptional team who are good mates, and that's something I am equally proud of."

IRB Coach of the Year Graham Henry added: "I am very proud to be awarded this honour again. The Award reflects the hard work of the team, and I am delighted the All Blacks have also been named IRB Team of the Year."

"It is also an Award for Team Manager Darren Shand who does a fabulous job, and for the exceptional coaching team who work with me. I am extremely fortunate to have a group of guys who are exceptionally good at what they do."

"Richie McCaw is a phenomenal captain. He just gets better and better the more he does it and the team now is a very experienced side with him and Mils on 94 caps each, and nine players in the side with more than 50 caps," added Henry.

The IRB Player of the Year Award is selected by the IRB Awards independent panel of judges, comprising former internationals with over 500 Test caps between them. Will Greenwood, Gavin Hastings, Raphaël Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Agustín Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga, Paul Wallace and convenor John Eales watched over 78 hours of action from 59 matches, awarding points to the three players they thought stood out in each match.

"Rugby is fortunate to have a player and person of the calibre of Richie McCaw. He is an outstanding captain, a world class player and a role model for our sport. In winning the Award three times, Richie has truly cemented his place right up there amongst some of the greats," said Eales.

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset added: "It has been a compelling year of international Rugby as we count down to what promises to be a special Rugby World Cup 2011 in New Zealand."

"The All Blacks have consistently performed to the highest standards this year, they are number one in the IRB World Rankings and have lost just one match in 2010. Richie McCaw, Graham Henry and the entire New Zealand team are deserving recipients of these prestigious awards."

The accolades cap a phenomenal year for New Zealand Rugby with Julian Savea winning the IRB Junior Player of the Year in June and Carla Hohepa named IRB Women's Personality of the Year in September after a magnificent Women's Rugby World Cup.

The other IRB Awards in association with Emirates Airline to be presented in 2010 include Samoa's Mikaele Pesamino as the IRB Sevens Player of the Year in May, IRB Development Award winner Brian O'Shea in October and Colin High, who received as the IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service last month. The Spirit of Rugby Award was presented on Saturday to Virreyes Rugby Club in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Previous Winners of IRB Player of the Year Award:

2009 - Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
2008 - Shane Williams (Wales)
2007 - Bryan Habana (South Africa)
2006 - Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
2005 - Daniel Carter (New Zealand)
2004 - Schalk Burger (South Africa)
2003 - Jonny Wilkinson (England)
2002 - Fabien Galthié (France)
2001 - Keith Wood (Ireland)

Previous Winners of IRB Team of the Year Award:

2009 – South Africa
2008 – New Zealand
2007 – South Africa
2006 – New Zealand
2005 – New Zealand
2004 – South Africa
2003 - England
2002 - France
2001 - Australia

Previous Winners of IRB Coach of the Year Award:

2009 – Declan Kidney (Ireland)
2008 – Graham Henry (New Zealand)
2007 – Jake White (South Africa)
2006 – Graham Henry (New Zealand)
2005 – Graham Henry (New Zealand)
2004 – Jake White (South Africa)
2003 - Clive Woodward (England)
2002 - Bernard Laporte (France)
2001 - Rod Macqueen (Australia)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Boooooourns
Booooooooooourns

 

[TRF Mr Fish]

I have no gripes with the selection this year - I don't think many will really.