Brilliant Du Preez snubbed
29 Nov 2009
Fourie du Preez has unbelievably been overlooked for the IRB World Player of the Year award, with Richie McCaw claiming the top prize.
In a decision even more perplexing than the 2008 one which saw Wales wing Shane Williams win the award ahead of more deserving candidates, McCaw, who was anonymous in three defeats to the Springboks this year and nowhere near as prolific for the Crusaders as he has been in the past, was preferred to the superlative Du Preez.
The Bulls man was without peer in world rugby in 2009, playing a central role in the franchises Super 14 and Currie Cup success and in the Springboks’ Tri-Nations and British & Irish Lions campaigns.
The snub, and that of coach Peter de Villiers, who has lost just four of 12 Tests in 2009 (one of those in which he opted to field an understrength side with the Lions series sealed), for the Coach of the Year award (Ireland’s Declan Kidney won), won’t do anything to dispel the growing perception that the IRB has an axe to grind with the world champions.
The selection panel of Will Greenwood, Gavin Hastings, Raphaël Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Agustin Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga, Paul Wallace and convenor John Eales, supposedly watched over 63 hours of action from 49 matches, awarding points to the three players they thought stood out in each match.
If this is the case, those who voted for McCaw either conveniently forgot to take delivery of the Springboks’ footage, or, despite their illustrious careers, know nothing about the game.
Let us also not forget that they omitted other exceptional Springboks Victor Matfield, Heinrich Brussow and Morne Steyn from the shortlist, all of whom have outshone the other candidates – Ireland’s Jamie Heaslip and Brian O’Driscoll, Australia’s Matt Giteau and England’s Tom Croft.
The IRB couldn’t be so blatantly biased as to overlook the Springboks for the Team of the Year award, and they deservedly scooped won that category, but it doesn’t ease the sense of frustration at being cheated out of the two other premier prizes.
By Ryan Vrede
354 Comments
Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 7 8 » Show All
29 Nov 2009, 13:59 pm
@grant10:
The comp runs from the EOYT last year and ends before this years. So our performances recently were’nt considered.
29 Nov 2009, 14:01 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark): Yep…the silverware is why we got the Team of the year…but we been pretty unconvincing since we last added to the cupboard
29 Nov 2009, 14:01 pm
@David: okay….i dont pay much heed to the Rugby oscars…..then most say how can you drop a IRB player of the year award and all that rubbish….
Very subjective…for me Brussow was amazing every game except for 1….
So…enough said.
29 Nov 2009, 14:04 pm
The Boks (like the Bulls) have the ability to win the big games. That’s what makes a great team.
Yes we sucked on this tour, but isn’t it the 2008 tour that’s taken into account for the 2009 team of the year award? I might be wrong.
I’m a Sharks fan so I know what I’m talking about (the Sharks rank right up there with our cricket team and NZL in terms of choking).
PS I would love SA,NZL and Aus to form a “Lions” team. Can you imagine the hidings we would give those boys!!!
29 Nov 2009, 14:05 pm
@David:
I thought so:
So based on the Boks from Nov last year to BEFORE the tour this year, we were far and away the best team.
This years tour counts towards next years award.
29 Nov 2009, 14:12 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark):
How can the Lions tour be the deciding factor?
Boks were lucky to win it and overall conceded more points than they scored. Hardly decisive
Other than the EOT tour and the Lions tour the Boks were outstanding (the tri-nations domination was huge)
29 Nov 2009, 14:13 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark): Yep…but Sanzar would load that team with AB’s and Ozzies…and don’t expect any players of colour to be getting a free ride selection wise…and even the B&I Lions would get thrashed by a southern hemisphere combination
29 Nov 2009, 14:15 pm
@chch – welcome back Laulala: Bulls/Boks were also pretty outstanding in Super 14
29 Nov 2009, 14:19 pm
@chch – welcome back Laulala:
Boks won 2-1 mate. The Lions were outscored by the Boks in 1997 too, but we all know what happened there.
Why I say the Lions tour was the swing vote was because Ireland and the Boks won their major comps (3N and 6N). The Boks got that little bit extra from the Lions tour.
29 Nov 2009, 14:21 pm
@Storm outta hell:
They should think about it, now that would be a huuuuuge money spinner.
29 Nov 2009, 14:22 pm
McCaw is without doubt my favourite player in ruby, but even he would admit that he didn’t deserve this ahead of du preez. He was without doubt the best player in the world and even brussow outplayed McCaw in the trinations with even the New Zealanders admitting this. Absolute rubbish. O’driscoll was also right up there. AWE
29 Nov 2009, 14:24 pm
Why should we care?
No idea what difference it makes to anybody, McCaw didn’t play against France (2) and the Boks (2) and the ABs still lost the 3rd Test with him.
And, S Williams the 2008 player of the year? please
29 Nov 2009, 14:26 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark):
Just to give it some perspective that losing margin was equal to the worst All Black result in all history.
@Storm outta hell:
The Bulls were very good. The Crusaders almost missed their 4th semi final
29 Nov 2009, 14:29 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark): Yah…but the results would be so one-sided there won’t be any home crowd support
29 Nov 2009, 14:29 pm
FdP’s snub likely intended for SARU in general and the two 3rd Worlders Organ and PdV in particular, JS too.
The shameless duds let loose their enlightening ‘visions’ to share with the rest of the rugby world and here is the gentle stub as a pay back
29 Nov 2009, 14:29 pm
@chch – welcome back Laulala:
Chch, we all know the Boks lose games like that now and again (well, since 92 anyway).
I like to look at stats that matter aka silverware.
29 Nov 2009, 14:32 pm
@CenturionShark (aka LondonShark):
Team of the year is based on results. All Blacks were out of it before we were halfway through.
29 Nov 2009, 14:34 pm
@chch – welcome back Laulala:
Actually when GH decided not to tell the team that they needed to beat France by six points he pretty much conceded it and I think was April
29 Nov 2009, 14:38 pm
@Puma: Aha…like maybe don’t count the games Carter wasn’t playing (2 in SA this year, France loss) and the games Williams, Kahui, etc etc were out – the excuses just rolling out from bokke. Too tired diddums, injuries – join the club.
Truth is Bokke peaked in Hamilton and have been slipping ever since. Good season for sure, but very poor finish has ruined it. 3N wooden spoon on current form.
Six losses counting the clubbies by the way.
29 Nov 2009, 14:44 pm
@Hondo: Yep…just keep the 3rd worlders in their place..a subtle kinda message…playing the race card again..?
29 Nov 2009, 14:48 pm
Not a great weekend of sport for SA. Still think there is something in our pshychology that lacks a killer instinct when another team is down…. kinda like the brits when u expect them to lose and they bounce back.
IRB award should have been FDP or BOD – personally expected BOD to get it because even in losing sides he stood out. McCaw has always been fantastic- but was kept quiet by Brussouw in three games and his team won nothing of consequence this year. Not his fault he was chosen, but sure he is as surprised as everyone else….
29 Nov 2009, 15:03 pm
FdP was overlooked, he just wasn’t good enough.
One can even judge by his hair that he spent most of his time running backwards
29 Nov 2009, 15:04 pm
@OCO:
Should I mention that he also can’t pass or kick to the right?
29 Nov 2009, 15:09 pm
@chch – welcome back Laulala:
Results = silverware.
The Lions could have smacked us by 50 in that match. The series was done and dusted.
29 Nov 2009, 15:11 pm
Was pretty surprised mc caw got top dog,but making out the IRB are biased towards S.A makes you look like a ****.Also getting tired of hearing about how tired S.A players are after a hard year,what a load of s..t.Saturday against the ba bas will be our 6th consecutive game,which will make 15 in one year and we seem to be improving.Ok you’ve had a couple of injuries,what nation hasn’t,we’ve had to play retards and inexperienced players like stephen donald,isacc ross,tialata etc in key games because of injuries and have suffered the consequences[mainly against S.A]but you just have to get on with it….I would say S.A have had a very good year and the ABs a s..t one….but as the old saying goes ,your only as good as your last game.
29 Nov 2009, 15:16 pm
@Hondo: are you sick or what?how in heavens name can you put a racial spin to an issue of fdp not getting the best player award.maybe he was not good enough or maybe kicking was not the judges cup a tea.i think they preferred lazy running,illegally slowing the ball,lying on the wrong side of the maul etc.
29 Nov 2009, 15:22 pm
Who cares what Hondo thinks; his views are irrelevant unless they result in an actual lynching.
29 Nov 2009, 15:23 pm
I cannot believe how insecure you guys are. Every Time something doesn’t go your way, a new conspiracy theory is mooted. While I agree McCaw did NOT deserve the award, to then make a leap by crying conspiracy, is indicative of a massive inferiority complex!
29 Nov 2009, 15:23 pm
Surely it’s Hayman with an “a”.
29 Nov 2009, 15:24 pm
There’s some political considerations here, they wanted to spread the awards out a bit. SA weren’t going to get Team of the Year and Player of the Year with FdP, certainly not three with Coach as well. Likewise they weren’t going to give Coach of Year to Ireland and also Team and Player awards – they just got one. With one more award to go – NZ weren’t serious contenders for Team or Coach awards this year so they gave them the Player award.
29 Nov 2009, 15:27 pm
@rich1: the more reason not to lose too much sleep over these awards.
29 Nov 2009, 15:33 pm
Earl Rose should have been IRB player of the year.
29 Nov 2009, 15:34 pm
Or Adi Jacobs.
29 Nov 2009, 15:45 pm
It was Fourie or BOD. End of story. McCaw was made to look like he was searching for parking by Brussouw. Shocker.
29 Nov 2009, 15:45 pm
After his performance last night, and the manner in which he has been a catalyst for his team all year, I thought BOD deserved to be Player of the Year more than Fourie du Preez. The manner he just consistently slides off tackles baffles me!
And with Coach of the year. I’m a big fan of PDV, but on the basis of Ireland being undefeated this year, surely Kidney does deserve the award?
29 Nov 2009, 16:18 pm
I’m sure Fourie DuPreez is devastated.
not
29 Nov 2009, 16:39 pm
@Ian:
@ 127
well
HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !
29 Nov 2009, 17:11 pm
richie is a truly great player. can’t complain.
29 Nov 2009, 17:17 pm
why do we South African’s have this conspiracy theory that everyone is out to get us? load of shite. the panel voted, richie won. Well done to him.
29 Nov 2009, 17:39 pm
Congrats to all the players/teams on their respective awards. Was a great year’s rugby…. I think Richie’s massive EOYT clinched it for him. I personally don’t subscribe to the fawning over Fourie. I think the guy is a very very good player, but I see him as limited and one-dimensional when the chips are down. To me, Brussow was the Bok of the year without a shadow of a doubt.
Oh and please can we get Poppa to award us the Most Despised Nation On Earth award, based, of course, upon his exhaustive research based on the comments of a handful of bloggers. And while we’re at it, we can award him with the Nobel Prize for Social Antropology, based on hs own experiences and a lifetime of experience in wife-beating, alcoholism, internet porn and not having a life or any friends.
29 Nov 2009, 18:32 pm
Why is everyone working themselves into a frenzy herewhile saying the same thing.
Clearly the trend set means that FdP will be the winner next year.
So chill out yáll
29 Nov 2009, 18:34 pm
@Atreides:
LOL
29 Nov 2009, 19:57 pm
@Atreides LOL:)
29 Nov 2009, 20:10 pm
@Atreides: RMC should have won the award last year.
FdP or Matfield should have won it this year.
Matfield was not even nominated (he even captained the Bulls!)
I suppose I would prefer RMC winning it to BOD. I can’t stand the man – he is a great player, but he is the biggest whinger, whiner, sh**te stirrer who ever graced the fields in the no 13 jersey.
I am not sure that I would prefer him to Jacque Fourie or even Conrad Smith.
29 Nov 2009, 20:27 pm
@Heavens Game: Matfield was the probably the players player. The other guys are executive picks. Money spinners, Jonah Lomu types. Good for the game and very visible.
I thought Ben Robinson should have a mention too. Turned the Aus scrum into a real scrum, and had all the other skills too.
But I don’t think tight forwards ever get a look in…to ugly to be the face of the game:)
29 Nov 2009, 20:29 pm
@Heavens Game:
My thoughts exactly. Good on McCaw, he’s a great player.
29 Nov 2009, 20:31 pm
Without doubt, Fourie Du Preez outshone Richie McCaw this year. The panel have let themselves, the IRB and the rugby community down.
PDV did not deserve the best coach award. I agree with them here. He has some way to go before being seriously considered for this award.
29 Nov 2009, 20:36 pm
@muffy: You have a point there about Robinson – no one can say the Aus scrum are pushovers now. Robinson however has made his impact this year, like Brussouw. Matfield has dominated lineout play for a few years. Comparable players would be Eales, Jones and Andrews. But even they did not dominate like he has.
He probably will be known as the best player never to have won the IRB player of the year.
Hope not though. Good point about the flashy guys, though. Its a pity because the engine room is where domination is established
29 Nov 2009, 20:38 pm
@Hondo: Ag rubbish man.
29 Nov 2009, 20:44 pm
Fourie du Preez the most overrated scrum half on the face of the earth. Last year 2008 he threw all his toys out his cot because he was too chicken to get his head around elv’s and his game showed it. He was hugely instrumental in Sa losing the tri nations 4 games from 6 which he started 4 and lost 3. This year he shone behind a kick and chase game plan when his opportunist streak put him in the limelight a few times, but when chips are down he’s the most negative influence on a team you can find and his service to his back line possibly one of the absolute worst in the game. People still can’t work out exactly what the cause is for Sa’s dismal back line non entity rugby. Well look no further than Fdp he’s the root cause of all the concern the veritable n’ggr in the wood pile the architect of the malady. Get him out the team and watch a whole new game plan evolve. Fdp is the cause of most of our stagnant **** rugby.
Pages: « 1 2 [3] 4 5 6 7 8 » Show All
Have your say
You must be logged in to post a comment.