Richie McCaw the 28-year-old AB Captain is the recipient for the IRB’s prestigious Player of the Year award straight after leading his side to a comprehensive 39-12 victory over France at the Stade Velodrome in Marseille today where he earned his 80th test cap (43rd as Captain) against the French. McCaw having also won IRB player of the year in 2006 is only player ever to have been honoured twice.
The incomparable flanker said he was “humbled” to be named the best rugby player on the planet for the second time in his career accepted this latest accolade in the same manner he has received most of the plaudits through his remarkable career – “It’s a huge honour, if you think about all the great players around the world, to be singled out is pretty humbling. In a team sport it’s hard to pick one guy out. You can’t pick up awards like that if you haven’t got a team that’s pretty special. We’ve had a challenging year but everyone in the latter half of the year has stood up. I’m just proud to be a part of that. You’ve got to always remember that it’s your mates alongside who probably deserve some credit as well. It’s a pretty proud thing that I’ll look back on having achieved. It’s pretty cool.”
McCaw’s long-time team-mate Mils Muliaina said the latest accolade for a player fast approaching folklore status in New Zealand rugby was thoroughly deserved. “There’s no doubting how good a player Richie is, he’s world-class & it’s probably between him and Dan for the best in the world. It’s great for them to recognise Richie in that stature. The guys are just delighted because he’s a great leader and a great rugby player.”
I got almost all my wishes this weekend … ssiigghh … It must be nearly Christmas !! 😀
In other news – There was a tragic accident at a Mealamu family touch tournament that left one child dead (6 years old) & another (3 years old) in hospital. The incident – what appears to be goal posts collapsing – occurred at Tamaki College (Keven’s old high School) about 2.30pm (NZT) yesterday. Devastatingly sad for Kevey, a devoted family man 😥
2@ R_P – Shame man, that is sad for the family
Hi RP that is very tragic, congratulations on your teams win. Was boreing to watch a whitewash was hopeing for an epic battle of North against South.
Hello GBS 🙂
In other news, i didnt know Nigel Owens was a poof.Just read it in yesterdays paper after the hub told me bout it to confirm. he enjoys bullsh*tting me cos i seem to believe most that i am told.
A congrats to RP, you cant help it,
but i dont share all the excitement
yesterday RM was a cheat again and then being rewarded leaves a sour taste in my mouth
the could easily carded him and his mates
lucky they did not play in green and gold.
Super
You can disagree, after all everyone of us is entitled to our opinion, but you don’t make your player seem greater by stepping on the repuation of another.
Consider this : McCaw, despite missing several early tests made 220 tackles in 2009 test matches – a full 20 more than any other All Black this year. On Saturday night in Marseille he led (from the front as he always does) a resounding finale & I think it is THAT the “never say die, 110% effort for 81 minutes, leading from the front” which earned him player of the year.
McCaw had the good grace to say he was humbled by the outstanding company he was in when paying tribute to his fellow nominees.
We will just have to agree to disagree.
@8 – Yeah congrats RP – great player and certainly didn’t choose himself. The AB have just concentrated on playing rugby like true professionals. A sign of a great team who can after one long season still keep winning. Well done on your team and they made the frogs look like boys.
Let me get ready for work. Have a good one all.
Irish
Thank you 😀 Your boys did as I predicted too … I consider myself quite the Oracle 😉
RP
Must say the AB’s and Irish look to have some really good talent coming through in time for the 2011 Rugger World Cup in All Black land. Predict both to be real contenders.
RP
I said before the game that the Irish backs were going to be the difference between winning and losing and so it was. So proud of the guys!
Rob Kearney proved his class and BOD wasn’t far off either. Have to say that the Bok front row was superb – until they moved Smit to tight head and the scrums went backwards again. Can’t think the logic of the coaching staff. JdV also brought fire power into the backline but was brought on too late. It was a close thing, but in the end I believe the best team won.
Let me go do some work – almost 7
#15 Irish
First up congrats Irish – your team thoroughly deserved their win on Saturday! The game itself was a bit like a re-run of Gorillas in the mist though. Well, from where I was sitting anyway…
However, it was played in a good spirit showing up the press for the stirrers that they are.
Everything of the best in your defence of the Six Nations.
Groente
#16 Fender
Thanks mate – could have gone either way though – thanks and to your team too.
Irish Devil @ 12
Yes, I like the look of some of our rookies 🙂 There is a beautiful article written by Marc Hinton who interviewed him in the last few days. Made me cry, go have a read :
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/all-blacks/3106492/Gilt-edged-Zac-Guildford
8 – RP, Like Super says maybe they give those awards out a year late 😉 FdP or BOD will have to see who get it next year. Honest thought it would be between those two who would get it and thought probably FdP would just edge BOD and get it. Was very surprised to see Richie get it. Then he deserved it 100% they year before and never got it.
Yip, Agree with you RP. Your ABs are back for sure. They were just superb on Saturday night. AB’s never stay down for long. Hoping our Boks bounce back next year too.
Ony one game left of rugga this weekend against the BaaBaas. I just sit back and relax to watch that one. Never take it serious. Like I did growing up. Then it was a real BaaBaa side. Made up of Irish and British Lions only they were called Barbarians when playing at home. Now it is a world mixture in the BaaBaa game. For me it is not the same. Wish they could go back to having it like it was. Would have been a massive game then coming up. ABs will win it this Saturday.
Now for the S14. Not even sure who your team is there. Who do you support in the S14?
RP @ 18 – Wow a great read – it just shows the passion of pulling an AB jersey over your head. Respect for the dude for sure.
first paragraph last line meant the year.
Howzit Irish, Are you over your well deserved hangover 😉
Proteas also lost by a huge margin yesterday. SA just never had a good sporting weekend. We thrashed England on Friday night and the came back to thrash us yesterday.
One more odi game and that is on Friday in Durbs. Then a day night game there also depends who wins the toss. Have to bat first.
20 – Irish it is like that with Bok players. Once they pull that jersey over the passion is awesome.
Hope it will be back next year.
Now looking forward to the S14 but my Team (Sharks) not sure if they will do well at all next year. We have a terrible draw and we need centres. WE going to miss Fransie Steyn HUGE next year. Like our rugby chat show here said yesterday. He should have been selected for the eoyt. If it was not for Fransie in the game against the ABs in NZ we probably would have lost. He got 3 massive long distance kicks over. 60m think the other two around 55m and 53m. He can kick in the wet too. We missed him. Zane played fine but can not kick like Fransie.
8 RP
Hi RP
Well done to your team for the best game of rugby I have seen this year!
By best, I mean the great mix between hard basic forward play and bullet proof defense, combined with brilliant running skills. It was really exciting to see a team play the game as it was intended to be played.
Your team respected the possession they won by using it constructively, positively and creatively, as opposed to the mindless kicking of hard won ball back to the opposition that us Saffas had to endure on Sat. 34% possession says it all.
We are obviously chuffed by all the trophies we won this year, but let’s hope for more intelligent game plans and resource utilization next year.
Congrats to Richie – he’s been a great player over the years
Irish Devil @ 20
Yes – Zac Guildford – now there is an extraordinary feat to accomplish in a singel year that was laced with such sorrow.
Puma @ 19
I loved so much the joy with which they clearly played on Saturday night in Marsaille & it wasnt just about the points. They got some big pushed on in the forward & then the backs sliced through at some lovely angles & finally, they defended liek demons. It did not all work perfectly but it was like they suddenly found what was lost 😀
My S14 side is Blackadders lot 🙂
SA Barbarians @ 24
Thanks. Yes it was a beautiflly played game – by both sides. Enjoy those trophies cos we are coming hunting next season & we will be locked & loaded with live ammo – You are after all the most worthy of opponents 😀
To all Saffas – Congrats on winning Team of the Year 🙂
27 RP
🙂
I am sure you will be coming at us hard next year.
It has never been different, and I hope it never changes!
28 RP
aaaaaw no need to mentioned it, most of us are a humble lot :blush: but thanks anyway 🙂
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