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
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30 Nov 2009, 02:36 am
@Kobus Kitty:
#245
Its been done now.
I personally think McCaw is the most important player to my team,so he would have my vote every year. But in saying that, even i thought he was very lucky to get it this year and was robbed last year.
30 Nov 2009, 02:37 am
@Hurricane:
So you think a mild thrashing of the on-off french is a better match than a game that only comes every 12 years that goes down to the wire at 25 all on the 80th minute? Wow.
We beat the two teams that beat France twice and once in the semi-finals. That’s how things work, if you’re not good enough to beat your teams on the way to the final then you get kicked out. The All Blacks weren’t good enough, the Springboks were. Don’t cry or beat your wife… It’s just a game.
30 Nov 2009, 02:37 am
@WakaNathan: Good article that by Hands. Could you not edit his “team for autumn” to satisfy some here who get hysterical about what world-beaters FdP and Brussouw are? So please take out the new George Gregan (aka Genia) and that heinous IRB award winning McCaw and put in FdP and Brussouw.
Hell I’m a saffer too so i know all about the irrational anger some of my countrymen show when their team has lost (again). By the way match of the weekend by far was that NZ v France game for which both teams and their players deserve accolades – I think everyone including Skoppie has now had a guts full of the kick and charge stuff we have had dished up this year as rugby. It is killing the game and rugby like we saw the AB’s play on Saturday will get the crowds back.
30 Nov 2009, 02:45 am
@Valkyrie:
#249
One thing he isnt is Arrogant.
He is a professional,he is prepared for everything. One thing you dont go over to a RWC is having a losing speech in your pocket. I would rather have a winning speech any day
30 Nov 2009, 02:50 am
@Kobus Kitty:
#251
Wow you dont read to well do you.
I said to me the french game was more important that the SA vs BIL game. The same French team that have won 6 out of the last 8 games against you guys.
So now you are calling me a wife beater?
Look as i have said,2007 RWC holders are the BOks,no problem really,at the time it was hard but we have all grown since then,shame i cant say that about you,you honeslty seem very childish.
30 Nov 2009, 02:52 am
@out wide:
#252
lol
I am hoping for this ping pong rugby to stop as well
30 Nov 2009, 02:58 am
@Hurricane: lol.you should seriously consider stand-up comedy!he went to france believing the graham henry aka harry potter’s hype that the kiwis have the number1 as well as the number 2 teams in world rugby.the only captain that had a world cup winning speech on arrival and he never came close to winning the actual thing.sometimes arrogance can bite you hard in the butt!
30 Nov 2009, 03:03 am
@Hurricane:
My reading is fine, this is what you said:
“The French and NZ game was by far the best game to watch out of all the games this year”
So which is it? And don’t call us the “RWC holders”… we are the World Champions.
30 Nov 2009, 03:05 am
@Valkyrie:
#256
I just say it the way i see it. No problem really is there?
NZ had 30+ very good players that are off international standards,proof in the pudding is that NZ played Ireland at home and at the same time sent a team to Argentina,we won all the tests. Now i know its hard to comprehend as SA have 15 good players and the rest will actually lose to Provincial teams as we all know this.
Again i will say the RWC was 2 odd years ago. What next you wanna talk about,did you hear USA landed on the moon?
30 Nov 2009, 03:12 am
@Hurricane:
Believe what you want but that wasn’t our second string team.
30 Nov 2009, 03:13 am
@Kobus Kitty:
#257
To me the French game was better,sorry about the confusion.
As for me calling your team the RWC holders,i can call them anything i like,really you have no say in the matter. At least i acknowledge you guys are the holders,its a shame you cant get your head around NZ being the best team in the world
30 Nov 2009, 03:24 am
@Hurricane:
I notice how a few meaningless wins in the North can boost ones ego about his team. How are the All Blacks the best team in the world? You lost to the Springboks three times this year, you didn’t beat them once. Please don’t tell me you are making these assumptions due to the IRB rankings?
30 Nov 2009, 03:32 am
@Hurricane: you can say what you want but as far i see it mccaw became a laughing stock at the world cup and probably never got rid of the pie from his face although it’s more than 2 years now.it only takes 15-22 good players to win a world cup which you kiwis can’t fully comprehend it seems.wake up and smell the coffee before it’s too late buddy.
30 Nov 2009, 03:40 am
@Kobus Kitty:
#261
Meaningless wins in the north??
Every test match is important to me.
Did you watch SA play all those meaningless games in the last 4 weeks? I bet you did.
IRB ranking is something that when you consistently win against teams and take every tour as important,unlike your theory of meaningless wins in the north , if the Boks had your attitude,i will see them slip to 5th in the IRB ranking. Lucky for them and SA not all have a **** attitude like you
30 Nov 2009, 03:43 am
@Hurricane: let me tell you this hurricane,with henry as coach you will never win a world cup and you can go right now to the bookies and put some money on that!
30 Nov 2009, 03:45 am
@Valkyrie:
lol
Exactly,it takes 22 to win a RWC and 22 to lose to provincial sides.
To us McCaw is the best player around,hes made his mistakes and unlike you,the perfect South African he acknowledges his mistakes and gets on with it.
I dont know why but its seems to be usual on here. When South Africa gets made a fool of like in the EOYT,you guys jump on with all the nastiness and bitterness towards all.
How about you take good hard look at yourself,you are not all that.
30 Nov 2009, 03:49 am
@Valkyrie:
#264
Cool.
As i have said,you being perfect and now you can see into the future,is there anything you cant do
30 Nov 2009, 03:53 am
@Hurricane:
One of the many reason why we win world cups and you don’t.
The Springboks use the NH tours mostly to see what depth we have. 2006, Jake White (even on a losing streak) sent a squad filled with up and comers to tour, we lost some games but we discovered Frans Steyn, a player who one year later would effortlessly fill the inside center position when Jean de Villiers got injured in the World Cup.
Like I said before, keep on winning those meaningless tests that come every year, we’ll keep winning the World Cups.
30 Nov 2009, 03:57 am
@Hurricane: @Hurricane: i can take being made a fool off in an end of year tour but i would not be able to live with myself being made a fool off for more than twenty years at rugby world cups!is it true that the suicide rate in nz,after every wc,actually rose substantially?heard a rumour to that effect.
30 Nov 2009, 03:59 am
@Hurricane: there is one thing i can’t do and that is sheep shagging…that’s just to grose to contemplate!
30 Nov 2009, 04:00 am
@Kobus Kitty:
@267
So this year the Boks sent there #B and C side and left there top team at home?
Thanks and we will keep winning test matches,as they are test matches. And you keep trying to find excuses as to why you guys once again slumped and collapsed on another NH tour.
30 Nov 2009, 04:09 am
@Valkyrie:
20years at RWC is 5 games.EOYT is jus about every year isnt it?
Tri nations is every year.How many times have you guys said this is our year,same with the Super 10/12/14. How many times have you been bought back down to earth after.
As for the suicide rate in NZ,it is high but the RWC years it does not rise. Just a silly made up story you South Africans love to believe. I just hope you are not being an *** about suicide cos its really no joke
@Hurricane:
#269
Whoa,now thats more like it. Its not all its cracked up to be,sheep shagging is rather boring,we shag spring boks now,put up less of a fight most year
30 Nov 2009, 04:14 am
@Hurricane: wrong again mr.know it all.last year we went unbeaten.we still got more grand-slams than you lot.last year we beat the english with a record score and this year you lot could not get more than twenty points against a team considerd weaker than last year.i recall one of your rugby writers saying it’s important for nz to smasg england with a record score.you lot are very delusional it seems on those two little islands of yours.i have a great idea for you guys,why don’t you arrange an island world cup,that way you will always win!great idea don’t you think!
30 Nov 2009, 04:14 am
@Valkyrie:
I believe domestic violence sky rockets after they get kicked out.
@Hurricane:
The Bok XV that played the club teams were filled with mostly quota selections.
The team that played a fresh France and Ireland were physically exhausted and missing a handful of crucial players. And yes, they were fatigued because unlike New Zealand, we actually care about our domestic competition and we put our top guys in the end rounds and finals (which were test match level)
At least the IRB made some sense in awarding the Boks the team of the year.
30 Nov 2009, 04:20 am
@Hurricane: as i said ,just heard this rumour.would not be joking about suicide but just find it strange and sad that it’s high in nz and i believe in ireland as well, countries with similar population levels.
30 Nov 2009, 04:23 am
nice chatting to you hurricane but i have to hit the sack now.cheers
30 Nov 2009, 04:33 am
@Valkyrie:
Last year,you walloped you 19-0.
Last year we went through the NH with out conceding a try,like this year.Thats 2 years running with a NH team scoring a try on their own home ground. I am proud of what as you say 2 little islands (even though its actually 3) has to offer when it comes to sport.
As for the Island cup,doesnt really bother me,we seem to have the edge over your guys,i would rather keep beating SA and watch people like you find excuses and start getting all nasty on Keo.
@Kobus Kitty:
Your first line says it all as if SA dosnt have a violence problem lol,clueless.Cant pull the wool over my eyes.
And well done to you guys for that Award,up to the EOYT i believed you guys deserved it and its good to see that the end tour didnt ruin which was up to that point a very good season. But leave the missing players and fatigue out of it please,all teams play alot of rugby,not just SA. And for once please say that the French and the Irish actully played better than you cos they were better.
30 Nov 2009, 04:48 am
@Hurricane:
Yeah, no. While we were winning hard fought, grueling encounters with the BIL… the All blacks were playing Italy. Its not just the number of tests you play, its who you play.
Sure, Violence in SA is an issue, but it certainly isn’t caused by losses in sport. To think that your whole country goes into mourning after an All Black loss really does show the mentality of New Zealanders. Pathetic.
3-0
30 Nov 2009, 04:51 am
For the record this is how POTY was selected:
Will Greenwood, Gavin Hastings, Raphaël Ibanez, Francois Pienaar, Agustin Pichot, Scott Quinnell, Tana Umaga, Paul Wallace John Eales and other judges from the irb watched over 63 hours of action from 49 matches, awarding points to the three players they thought stood out in each match.
No place for emotional flim-flam I love you FDP, Brussow blah blah blah. Just hard cold viewing, scoring, moving on.
As usual those who criticise will likely understand little about the process. Empty vessels, as they say.
30 Nov 2009, 04:55 am
@Kobus Kitty:
We played Italy and France,you know France the team you cant beat. Mind you maybe Namibia took out of you guys early on.
And yeah,no it is the number of tests you play. Playing 3 tests at home is easier than playing 3 tests away,dont you think no matter who you are playing.
NZ vs SA
Played 78 games NZ won 42
drew 3
SA won 33 due to NZ being Fatigued
Thank you
30 Nov 2009, 05:02 am
@Qrest:
Obviously you can see that a few South Africans think their players should have won it. You cant blame them,its been a good year for them up to the EOYT. Beating the ABs 3-0 may have clouded their vision. Damn these South Africans want everything,Super 14,tri nations,RWC,7s rugby,team of the year and noe they want player of the year,a bit greedy i must say
30 Nov 2009, 05:10 am
@Valkyrie:
And nice having this converstaion with you Valkyrie.
No doubt we talk a bit later,have a good one
30 Nov 2009, 05:25 am
Well done Mccaw but most of you foraging on the ground is illegal. Its bit poor that the grestest flouter of the law wins this award.
Then again looking at how the Kiwis get the rub of the green, its not surprising.
30 Nov 2009, 05:32 am
@Hurricane:
World Cups won
Springboks 2
All Blacks 0 (I, like many others don’t count 1987, as it was an invitational and considered a “friendly”)
30 Nov 2009, 05:35 am
Richie McCaw wasn’t even on the radar this year. Almost everyone besides New Zealanders and New Zealand lovers (you know, people who think the Haka is exotic and means something) knew that FDP should have won it.
30 Nov 2009, 06:30 am
@Kobus Kitty: Look mate the Boks beat the All Blacks 3-nil this is true but South Africa have lost to Ireland a team who havent beaten the All Blacks ever in nearly a 100years of playing each other come on you must be kidding your team lost to 2 club sides which I know they are not push over teams but even the All Blacks 2nd string team got the job done against Munster.I hope you can back to earth and make some good points I look forward to hear them.
30 Nov 2009, 06:33 am
@Kobus Kitty:
NZ have won the RWC,every other rugby nation excepts it bar some people in South Africa. If you can read and if you get the chance to see the RWC you will see NZ winners 1987
1987 was the roots of the tournament. Blame yourselves for not being invited but the top and the best international rugby teams were there. SA wasnt even in the top 20 teams in 1987. You missed out big time.
@Kobus Kitty:
Again another post that lacks the respect of other people and countries. The Haka does mean something to us.You dont have to like it,totally up to you,but when you say something make sure its correct,especially when its someone elses country and race.
You dont see me bad mouthing your people. I dont think i have met a person as immature as you on this site. An embarrasment to the good South African people out there.
30 Nov 2009, 06:36 am
@Kobus Kitty: Oh yeah you have won one more rugby world cup than NZ, a nation who has nearly 500,000 more registered rugby players than NZ and should be dominating world rugby more often than small little NZ.
30 Nov 2009, 06:48 am
@marvinb:
How many times has it been said here? That wasn’t a second string Bok XV. It was a side selected for political reasons.
@Hurricane:
Oh, that’s why the Springboks in 1986 beat the NZ Cavs 3-1 in a 4 match series.
Thanks to the IRB always brown nosing New Zealand, the 2011 RWC is going to be the biggest failure and will be lucky to break even. We don’t want to go back to the “grass roots”. What a joke.
The fact that you sheep are even defending McCaw winning the award just shows how blind and inbred you are.
30 Nov 2009, 07:04 am
@Kobus Kitty:
#288
Haha i was hoping you wuokld bring up the cavaliers.
Out of the 1987 All blacks,there was aname for them cos it was a new young team,only about 5 Cavaliers existed in the 1987 AB team
Cavaliers team in 1986
Kieran Crowley, Victor Simpson, Michael Clamp, Gary Knight, Alan Whetton, Gary Whetton, Andy Dalton, Hika Reid, Andy Haden, Jock Hobbs, Murray Mexted, Grant Fox, Warwick Taylor, Craig Green, John Ashworth, Andrew Donald, Wayne Shelford, Steve Mcdowell, Mark Shaw, Bill Osborne, Bernie Fraser, Wayne Smith, Robbie Deans, John Mills, Bryce Robins, Dave Loveridge, Steve Pokere, Frank Shelford
All Black team in 1987
Forwards Anderson, Brooke, Brooke-Cowden, Drake, Earl, Fitzpatrick, Jones, Loe ,McDowell, Pierce, Shelford,A Whetton,G Whetton,
Backs, Crowley, Fox ,Gallagher ,Green, Kirk (c) ,Kirwan, McCahill ,Stanley, Taylor, Wright
NOw I see 4-5 players from that Cavaliers team that made the 1987 RWC team. And remember the RWC wasnt played in SA. It was in NZ and OZ and we all know the excuses of travel you guys come up with
30 Nov 2009, 07:10 am
@Kobus Kitty:
I didnt defend McCaw winning the award,i said he was lucky. Actually we have moved on since then with you calling me a wife beater etc. You have a huge chip on your shoulder about anything to do with NZ.
30 Nov 2009, 07:14 am
Most reiduclas decision in the history of the game, McCaw was a non event this year, poor decision. I am seariously loosing respect for the IRB both regarding the lack quality in refs and the poor decision by the board.
We will have to stuff it up there asses by winning the WC again and dooing so without the objective reffing whitch seems is no longer the way of IRB, rather it seems that the ref sides with the lowest ranked team in a match, the AB’s being the exception to this rule (Wayne Barnes did not get the memo).
30 Nov 2009, 07:56 am
Hey Valkyrie and Hurricane, the World Health Organisation keep statistics on suicide which can easily be researched on the internet.
The rate of male suicide in South Africa is significantly higher than that in NZ, and the rate of female suicide slightly lower.
Further the WHO note that South Africa is rapidly becoming one of the suicide capitals of the world. Not a pleasant subject but since Valkyrie raised it I thought I’d add a bit of facts to his hearsay.
30 Nov 2009, 08:02 am
Even though i think McCaw is one of the most influential players ever to have played the game – FDP certainly deserved this award – very puzzling
30 Nov 2009, 08:59 am
McCaw undoubtedly the best player on the planet over the last 5 years. But this was not a great year for him. Missed the June tests with injury. captained ABs to 3 defeats against the boks, and was outclassed by the newcomer Brussouw in 2 of those 3 games.
Only thing we can be sure of is Richie will be a spent force by 2011. IRB probably recognising his impact in the eyars gone by and recognising he’s on the decline.
Have the ABs got a backup yet?
30 Nov 2009, 09:10 am
@Hurricane: Hurricane, the reason Kobus calls us wifebeaters is because he tried it once, she left him bloodied and bruised, hes now jealous because hes such a weak little man he cant do it to his own… now you watch, he’ll be bringing out something I said 5 months ago, the mentality of the man… see, they have one good year amongst the ordinary last 15 and their arrogance comes out…
all the talk about the NH tours not being important, but boy did you see the knives come out for their players after each and every subsequent loss… hilarious…
Thats why hes called kitty, because hes a soft *****… plain and simple..
30 Nov 2009, 09:57 am
What? Wait a minute, what the hell is goings on here.
30 Nov 2009, 10:01 am
@poppa69:
Woah, Poppa, nice long post… and it’s all about me? Bringing up your racist remarks must have really made you MAAAAD.
30 Nov 2009, 10:04 am
@poppa69: I’ll take 2 ‘ordinary’ world cups in the last 15 to your invitational one 22 years ago.
30 Nov 2009, 10:06 am
Richie?
WHAT A F*CKING JOKE
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