rugby365's Annual Awards
The exhibition match at Twickenham a few weeks ago brought the curtain down on another blockbuster international rugby season which delivered spectacular action on-and-off the pitch. Looking back on the year, rugby365 brings you a collection of some of the biggest winners and losers!
It’s been a memorable year for the South Africans after the Springboks claimed an historic British and Irish Lions as well as Tri-Nations Series wins, while the Bulls secured a 2009 double, winning both the Super 14 and Currie Cup competitions.
Ireland meanwhile, capped off a superb season themselves with an epic win over this year’s form team, the Springboks, at Croke Park in November, this after claiming a Grand-Slam Six Nations crown early this year.
It was also a year in which a number of seasoned stars and relative rookies enhanced their reputation and a year which entertained us with some memorable quirky moments – we reward them all!
rugby365’s Annual Awards for 2009:
Player of the Year: Fourie du Preez (South Africa)
All Black skipper Richie McCaw may have won the IRB’s points-based award a few weeks ago but it certainly sparked an outcry from the Irish as the stellar display of Brian O’Driscoll was conveniently overlooked. It was tight call but in the end, for us, the mercurial Bok scrumhalf Fourie du Preez, edged Ireland’s hero after his instrumental role in the highly successful campaigns of the Boks and Bulls.
Team of the Year: Springboks
In this category Ireland again made a strong impression via its Six Nations victory; while Leinster also walked away with Heineken Cup silverware earlier this year. South Africa dominated the IRB Sevens landscape while the Bulls also further entrenched its status as the world’s premier rugby franchise by completing a unique double. The Springboks claimed the Tri-Nations trophy, which included a hat-trick of wins over arch-rivals the All Black and also recorded an historic Lions Series win – all that sees them claim our award as 2009’s best outfit.
Match of the year: SA v B&I Lions (2nd Test, Loftus Versfeld)
The all-Irish Heineken Cup semi-final between Munster and Leinster, in front of a capacity crowd at Croke Park, was thrilling to watch while the Currie Cup semi-final cliffhanger between the Sharks and Cheetahs highlighted the value of the domestic competition. But Morne Steyn’s last-gasp 53-metre penalty to clinch a memorable Springbok series win in the second Test over the Lions at Loftus was a fairytale ending to a fantastic and significant match.
Coach of the year: Declan Kidney (Ireland)
Richard Cockerill steadied the Leicester Tigers’ ship through some testing waters all the way to the Guinness Premiership title after the sudden departure of Heyneke Meyer, while Frans Ludeke silenced a lot of critics as he guided the Bulls to Super 14 and Currie Cup glory. Bok coach Peter de Villiers also deserves a special mention for keeping this team gelled and so well organised but Ireland boss Declan Kidney takes our award after leading his charges to the grand slam Six Nations triumph as well as beating the Boks in the “Clash of the Champions” in the Croke Park epic in November.
Best “foreign player”: Rocky Elsom (Leinster)
The forgotten-man of South African rugby, Joe van Niekerk, has rejuvenated his career with Toulon while London Irish’s Samoan centre, Seilala Mapusua, has been hailed the Premiership’s best. All Black lock Chris Jack had a significant impact on Western Province’s Currie Cup campaign but Wallaby skipper Rocky Elsom was sensational during his Heineken Cup stint with Leinster and he capped it off with a Man of the Match performance in the final.
Worst “foreign player”: Sireli Naqelevuki (Western Province)
Unknown South African prop Frik Venter was snapped up by Saracens for two months but subsequently released for “personal reasons” without even getting a start for the English club. But Rassie Erasmus’ unwavering faith in Fijian recruit Sireli Naqelevuki was severely questioned when he single-handedly cost Province a place in the Currie Cup final and he will face an uphill battle to win over Cape fans in 2010.
Newcomer of the year: Heinrich Brussöw (South Africa)
The Wallabies have unearthed a few gems this year; scrumhalf Will Genia along with prop Benn Robinson, have been labelled the “finds” of the season while rookie flank David Pocock has uprooted veteran George Smith from his spot in the Wallaby line-up. Ireland’s Johnny Sexton, England’s Courtney Lawes, France’s Yann David and Bok Superboot Morne Steyn all shone on the global stage this year but breakdown menace, Heinrich Brussöw, had the world buzzing as he added a new dimension to the Boks.
“Special” Awards:
George W Bush Foot-in-Mouth Award: Bok coach Peter de Villiers created a silly sideshow to a remarkable series with his “I know what I am and I don’t give a damn” and “If we want to eye-gouge any Lions we will go down to the bushveld like we do and eye-gouge them there.” comments during a heated press conference during the Lions series.
Forgotten Hero Award: They say class is permanent and form is temporary; and hopefully that is the case for Ricky Januarie – the Boks’ toast of Dunedin in 2008, who has since been shipped off to Swansea for more game-time. Shame, poor guy. Ricky out on loan
Fighting a Losing Battle Award: The Golden Lions for trying to keep Jaque Fourie, Willem Alberts and Louis Ludik.
Biggest Chequebook Award: Has to go to Western Province after signing superstar Bryan Habana for a cool R3 million. Habana accepts WP offer
Cruel and unusual punishment Award: Goes to the IRB citing commissioners for some of their “bizarre” findings in 2009. Farcical system should be cited
The Joost van der Westhuizen Scandal Award: Tiger Woods – yes, we know this is a rugby website, but we had to mention good ol’ Joost (and Tiger) somewhere!
Ambiguous Job-title of the Year Award: Heyneke Meyer after being named the Bulls’ new “Executive: Rugby Coaching.” (We’re still trying to figure it out). Meyer back in Bulls’ kraal
And finally…for his shocking rendition of the SA anthem (which surprisingly got more people to actually learn the anthem) the rugby365 award for Disservice to the Game goes to the infamous anthem butcher, Ras Dumisane. Click here – to listen to the Anthem anarchy.
