New Zealand's best: Steve Hansen and Richie McCaw
All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw has been named the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial Player of the Year in New Zealand's annual rugby awards.
The ceremony also saw accolades for All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen, and the world champion All Blacks.
McCaw's consistently outstanding performance, relentless workrate and inspiring leadership on and off the field, have seen him take the title for the fourth time in the 18-year history of the award. McCaw, 31, was also named the Kelvin Tremain Memorial Player of the Year in 2003, 2006 and 2009.
In a year in which he anointed several new All Blacks and led a convincing international campaign, head coach Hansen picked up his first Coach of the Year Award, seeing out challenges from Chiefs Coach Dave Rennie and All Blacks Sevens maestro Gordon Tietjens.
The All Blacks' continued dominance through the international season which saw them take a clean sweep of the June Tests, retain the Bledisloe Cup and win the Rugby Championship and a three from four record on the End of Year Tour resulted in them winning the Team of the Year award. They edged out Super Rugby Champions, the Chiefs and five-in-a-row ITM Cup winners, Canterbury.
Auckland loose forward Rawinia Everitt has been rewarded for a solid season both in the Women's Provincial Championship and in the black jersey with the Black Ferns, as she was named the NZRU Women's Player of the Year.
All Blacks and Chiefs loose forward Liam Messam was named the Tom French Memorial Maori Player of the Year, while Manawatu Turbos and New Zealand U20 emerging talent Jason Emery won the NZRU Age Grade Player of the Year.
This year's IRB Sevens Player of the Year Tomasi Cama has added the NZRU Sevens Player of the Year to his bow, while professional-player-turned-professional-referee Glen Jackson was named the NZRU Referee of the Year.
An inspiring season from Hurricanes captain and centre Conrad Smith saw him pick up the Super Rugby Player of the Year award, while Canterbury's Robbie Fruean picked up the ITM Cup Player of the Year award for the second time, having won it in 2010. Wanganui's Peter Rowe was named the Heartland Player of the Year.
Special presentations of greenstone mere were made to All Blacks Sevens captain DJ Forbes, and All Blacks Sevens veterans Lote Raikabula and Sevens Player of the Year Tomasi Cama, to mark 50 tournaments each. A mere was also presented to All Blacks assistant manager Gilbert Enoka in recognition of his assisting the team in 150 Tests.
Comments
startledwombat says...
The Coach of the Year would have been a very hard one to decide. Whoever lost would have good cause to feel aggrieved.
APV1: just spend an entire game watching McCaw - his lines, ability to tackle, ability to predict the play 2 or sometimes 3 phases ahead, as well as do the Captain's job and decide the right tactics for each situation. He's also pretty good at turnovers and his body strength over the tackle ball is ignored at one's peril.
To describe McCaw as a "mediocre chump" is to reveal yourself as a less worthy student of the game than what you rate yourself.
Posted 19:35 14th December 2012
blackblood says...
Let all of us take a moment to consider how the great man has enhanced our experience watching and playing the game of rugby.
Posted 19:11 14th December 2012
JayStarr says...
Finally sense prevails ! If even the country where the IRB Player of the Year comes from picks 4 players ahead of him, then you know the IRB's approach is seriously flawed!
Richie was the best this year, period. He looked hungrier than ever - and that is absolutely remarkable. I was never a big McCaw fan... but after this year I have no choice. He was immense in every game he played. This guy is half duracell bunny half tazmanian devil... I'm hoping he now breaks people's perception of how old you can be and still be a top rugby player. I say go for 35 Richie!
Posted 18:47 14th December 2012
bokbevok says...
So the knew meaning of awards in rugby union is " you were a great player but had a average year but hopefully this award will make you play better."
Blindness seams to of got you this, better go say thank you to Read he dominated the breakdown, carrys for the Blacks.
Posted 18:42 14th December 2012
Isograford says...
Clearly the decision that should have been made by the IRB also. But then, maybe they think he's won it too much. Carter winning it over McCaw was a bit like the debacle of Shane Williams winning it over him a few years back.
Aussies were quick to champion Pocock (a little like how quick they were to champion Cooper as the best 10), but he's not half the warrior McCaw has been, nor has his allround game. McCaw is the best 7 the games seen, possibly it's best ever player.
Posted 18:20 14th December 2012
jaswai says...
@ruggaa121 he is indeed the opensides openside. I can barely believe he exists let alone copy what he does.
Best player in the world for the last couple of years. Not a proper rugby fan if you don't have the wherewithal to accept that. Or english without the means for Sky and an alarm clock.
Makes a mockery of the IRB awards. Carter is a fine player and a top guy but didn't play enough this year to warrant the win.
And his home nation agreed.
Posted 17:11 14th December 2012
three6three6 says...
The name Richie McCaw has become synonomous with top level performances on the rugby pitch, inspiring leadership and a steely determination to win matches. He should have been awarded the IRB Player of the year as well - his performances eclipsed those of Dan Carter.... But then again we will see how the All Blacks are able to live without Richie's influence next year, when the All Blacks will play a three match series against France without him.
Posted 16:20 14th December 2012
ruggaa121 says...
before i get my jimmys rustled the below comment threw me off mentioning Owen farrell. the O stands out and without knowing it was the 'choice bro' awards that part would be for the IRB player of year!
Posted 16:08 14th December 2012
ruggaa121 says...
give me 2 or 3 years ago and as an openside myself Mccaw was the everything in my world. he epitomised how i played and i would watch his movements like a hawk. as times progressed i guess i havent had to focus on him all the time being it a given that i know he's always there. for him to win this award shows If you look at the finer side of professionalism, captaincy and winning the world cup, he hasn't taken a step back since. Always involved and as a foreigner i've got nothing but respect for king richie.
at the same time players like Sergio Parisse, Lobbe and Habana could have been nominated and i would have been all the same respectful.
Posted 15:59 14th December 2012
APV1 says...
What a remarkable decision. Who made it? This just makes a nonsense of all awards, for all reasons, the world over. This mediocre chump isn't good enough to lace up my boots and yet they give him this?!
At least Owen Farrell will be happy - not the only player to be nominated for (and, in this case win!) an award incorrectly.
Posted 14:51 14th December 2012