NZ Clean Up World Awards
World Rugby, which used to be called the International Rugby Board, has announced its major awards for 2014 and, unsurprisingly, New Zealand dominate.
They take the Team of the Year Award, the Coach of the Year Award and the Player of the Year Award.
The last time New Zealand were not the Team of the Year was in 2009. Thus for the fifth successive year the All Blacks are the team of the year – unsurprisingly. After all they end the year ranked comfortably at No.1. In the year they beat all other high- ranked sides and lost just once – to South Africa in Johannesburg, drew just once – with Australia in Brisbane – and won all the rest.
Their coach, Steven Hansen, is the Coach of the Year for the third successive year. The last time the Coach of the Year was not a New Zealander was in 2009 when it was Declan Kidney of Ireland.
The player of the year is the 23-year-old New Zealand lock, Brodie Retallick. He follows Kieran Read and Dan Carter for the honour.
The other candidates from whom the choice was made were Julian Savea, Duane Vermeulen, Willie le Roux's and Jonathan Sexton.
The awards are made by a committee of great players – John Eales (Australia), who chairs the committee, Will Greenwood (England), Gavin Hastings (Scotland), Raphaël Ibanez (France), Francois Pienaar (South Africa), Agustín Pichot (Argentina), Scott Quinnell (Wales), Tana Umaga (New Zealand) and Paul Wallace (Ireland).
Previous Teams of the Year
2013: New Zealand
2012: New Zealand
2011: New Zealand
2010: New Zealand
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 Coaches of the Year
2013: Steve Hansen (New Zealand)
2012: Steve Hansen (New Zealand)
2011: Graham Henry (New Zealand)
2010: Graham Henry (New Zealand)
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)
Previous Players of the Year
2013: Kieran Read (New Zealand)
2012: Dan Carter (New Zealand)
2011: Thierry Dusautoir (France)
2010: Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
2009: Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
2008: Shane Williams (Wales)
2007: Bryan Habana (South Africa)
2006: Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
2005: Dan Carter (New Zealand)
2004: Schalk Burger (South Africa)
2003: Jonny Wilkinson (England)
2002: Fabien Galthié (France)
2001: Keith Wood (Ireland)
