Bok pair up for IRB award
Frans Steyn and Fourie du Preez have been nominated for the IRB Player of 2009.
The Bok pair are nominated alongside Irishmen Jamie Heaslip and Brian O’Driscoll, Tom Croft (England), Matt Giteau (Australia), and All Blacks captain Richie McCaw. The winner will be announced during the final weekend of November internationals, as will the Team of the Year and Coach of the Year.
Du Preez is widely tipped to receive the award, but there have been numerous surprises in this process before (Shane Williams won last year). Steyn, who has now been overlooked by Bok coach Peter de Villiers as he’s playing overseas, was a surprise nominee ahead of Bok vice-captain Victor Matfield and Heinrich Brussow.
Will Greenwood, Gavin Hastings, Raphaël Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Agustin Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga, Paul Wallace and convenor John Eales formed part of the independent panel who watched 46 matches to come up with the nominees.
‘The list of past winners includes the iconic names of the decade – Jonny Wilkinson, Schalk Burger, Richie McCaw, Fabien Galthié, Dan Carter, Bryan Habana and Keith Wood have all been worthy recipients of the Award,’ said IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset. ‘Richie McCaw could become the first player to receive the accolade twice.’
‘Now that the shortlist has been selected the panel will reconvene at the completion of the November tests when the IRB Player of the Year will be selected,’ said Lapasset. ‘The announcement will be made at the conclusion of the final weekend of matches.’
November 16th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
#42 fantasticbarnsmell: Great nic! lol
November 16th, 2009 at 7:52 pm
#29 Big Hit:
Far better my arrrrrrrrrrse. Brussow can be considered to have won the battle vs McCaw at Bloem; it was even-stevens at Durban where Brussow was pinged for illegalities and by Hamilton McCaw was back to his best and owned him. Lets not mistake a wonderful new player coming on the scene with too much helium in the hysterics stake. I dont see Brussow the ball-carrier, or as a lineout option, or as a link-man – otherwise you are just comparing breakdown-skills. Brussow is a gem but he simply doesnt bring as much to the game as McCaw does. Juan Smith brings way more to the Bok game in comparison to Brussow too.
As for ‘whinging’ to the IRB, who did that exactly ? I can only remember 1 whinge to the IRB in 2009 and it came courtesy of an armband.
November 16th, 2009 at 8:04 pm
#52 WakaNathan: Whateva wankernation. like McCaw is a real lineout option! Haha!! Did you see Ratel the ball-carrier in the CC final. Ritchie was injured most of the year! WTF? Come on dude do you hate us so?
November 16th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
#53 Ratel Brussow (MSIUR):
You really are a smallminded little man. Just because I gave a balanced critique of your new wee hero does not suddenly equate to me ‘hating’ anyone. Neither does me making FdP as Player of the Year in to ‘loving you’. Its called objectivity, Ratel, acquaint yourself some time.
McCaw takes alot of pill at lineout. He also takes many kickoffs. And is a ballcarrier. My only point was that he has a far greater range of skills. Which he does.
Im intrigued that you now acknowledge that McCaw ‘was injured’, this is a change of tune to when it suited you ie comparing an injured player to a fit 1, earlier in the season ie at Bloem. Fit again, McCaw outplayed Brussow at Hamilton without question.
The point is that McCaw played better in the season when he wasnt nominated than in the season he was. But since Durban he has been the dominant no7 fer sure.
I would most certainly nominate Brussow as Newcomer of the Year tho. Does that make you feel better, Schnookums ?
November 16th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
#54 WakaNathan: Why come on to an SA site and cause ****? Small-minded? Hate us, yes. I support the All Blacks over all NH sides. I used to respect them more though. Now i can’t stand your arrogance and even enjoy watching you lose to old enemies like the Aussies. Schnookums? Well why don’t you tell tour management that they can’t just change the rules everytime they lose. Shame. Brussow outplayed McCaw in the S14, so bt your admition McCaw dominated Hamilton (your opinion), drew at Durban (your opinion!), got smoked in Bloem (both of ours) and got smoked in S14 Crusaders vs Cheetahs (my opinion). That equates to, objectively, Ratel outplaying McCaw. Just like Morne Steyn had a better year than Matt Git and Francois Steyn shouldn’t be there at all??? WTF. Why don’t you just go and blog with other NZers?
November 16th, 2009 at 8:49 pm
#55 Ratel Brussow (MSIUR):
continue to ‘enjoy watching NZ lose’ to others and I’ll stick with the small-minded critique rather happily. On that basis, this EOYT must be slowing eating away at temper thresholds like never before.
Do you think the Boks have a chance against the SA-racens for their first win on tour ?
BaXXies !
November 16th, 2009 at 9:01 pm
#56 WakaNathan: “continue to ‘enjoy watching NZ lose’” thanks, I will. You guys seem to be doing it more and more these days! How’s that trophy cabinet? 3-0
November 16th, 2009 at 9:12 pm
#54 WakaNathan: I see you are still trying to polish yourself, give it up you will never shine
November 16th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Pretty pathetic.
Precisely why I think some saffa supporters are far and away some of the most fragmented bunch of ignorant fools going. Sorry to say.
****** this trophy phobia is seriously some kind of **** measuring competition, never seen such a bunch of insular inferiority complex willy wanky’s anywhere. Wtf is this idiocy all about actually, sure would like to know. Its fast dawning on me exactly how far gone some rugby enthusiasts psyches have degenerated into mindless maniacal stupor.
November 16th, 2009 at 10:18 pm
fransie steyn should not have been nominated.
the real chillie boy – habenero – was outstanding this year.
by far the best finisher in world rugby this season. maybe the best ever.
the boy is a superstar!!!!
November 17th, 2009 at 1:25 am
#52 WakaNathan: yes, far better. How McCaw or Croft were nominated I have no idea.
November 17th, 2009 at 8:38 am
#56 WakaNathan: Dont go blog with other NZs. I for one love hearing from a Kiwi perspective in you, Nils and NZMaori, English in Big Hit, Aussie in Donut Dunning. It would be insanely boring if we all agreed and we would be the poorer for it.
November 17th, 2009 at 8:47 am
There can only be one winner – Fourie du Preez. He has been consistantly outstanding this season and delivered the goods when it mattered most.
November 17th, 2009 at 9:49 am
#60 charo: I think they meant Morne Steyn and someone made a mistake and now it’s too late to fix it.
November 17th, 2009 at 11:02 am
#62 Taahirah:
Have no fears, I wouldnt dare leave you alone with Ratel and Transformation and JL1, that would be scary enough for anyone.
November 17th, 2009 at 5:18 pm