IRB Awards - Top 5 Rugby Stars of 2008
Welcome back!
The International Rugby Board (IRB) player of the year award will be awarded on 23 November where five players will all compete for the biggest honour in the game.
Four players from the northern and one from the southern hemisphere were shortlisted by the panel after watching almost 50 hours of rugby and 35 tests.
The shortlisted players were Dan Carter (New Zealand), Shane Williams and Ryan Jones (Wales), Mike Blair (Scotland) and Sergio Parisse (Italy).
THe players stood out after the panel went through each match and selected the three best players from each match. The panel consists of Tana Umaga, Raphael Ibanez, Will Greenwood, Francois Pienaar, Agustin Pichot, Gavin Hastings, Scott Quinnell, Paul Wallace and is chaired by John Eales.
If Dan Carter was to win he would be the first player to win two IRB player of the year awards.
Who do you think was the best player of the year?
Tri-Nations Stars set to play in Europe
Several Tri-Nations stars will make their debuts in the coming weeks as Dan Carter arrived to meet his new team Perpignan from where he will commence his six month contract on 1 December 2008.
Dan Carter is perhaps the worlds biggest rugby star and will draw worldwide attention and no doubt will be the focus of every opposition player when he lines up in the French Top 14 from December.
Meanwhile, Australian star Rocky Elsom will also make his debut for Leinster this weekend in what will be only the start of major some major stars joining from Australia in the coming years to European rugby.
Rugby Tri-Nations: New Zealand 19 South Africa 0
The New Zealand All Blacks shocked the South African Springboks at Newlands with a 19-0 victory. In a tough match where the All Blacks scored three tries to nil to keep their hopes of a Tri-Nations victory alive the Boks will be licking their wounds comtemplating what might have been.
The All Blacks led from the 7th minute after a try to Conrad Smith after a loose ball was grabbed by McCaw and kicked ahead. Smith won the race of Butch James to score. The Springboks had a chance to strike back shortly after but a pass by Montgomery was ruled forward on what was a near certain scoring opportunity.
The Springboks had several other chances, one through JP Pietersen who was brought down on the line while the best chance came to Habana who after an evasive run appeared to score in the corner but replays showed Habana had put a foot into touch.
The half-time break arrived with the Springboks ruing their missed chances and losing 5-0.
The second half opened with more Springboks attack and two missed penalties to Montgomery. This was the beginning of the end for the Boks as all the pressure they sustained was unable to bring them any points and the All Blacks tightened the screws.
In the 55th minute John Afoa forced his way over the line for the All Blacks only to be denied after the video referee determined he was in touch. It did not take long until the All Blacks sealed victory through the deft skill of Dan Carter in the 66th minute who on the back of 12 phases stepped inside two players to lunge over the line to score beneath the posts.
The victory was sealed in the 74th minute with a terrible pass from de Villiers that led to an All Black intercept and try to Keven Mealamu. The All Blacks has sealed victory and the South African crowd were stunned. The South African’s will have to dig deep next week as the Tri-Nations are virtually gone from their grasp.
Springbok fans will be asking what happened to the side that won the World Cup only last year? Did you watch the game, share your thoughts in our comments section!
New Zealand 19
Tries: Conrad Smith, Daniel Carter, Keven Mealamu
Goals: Daniel Carter 2 conversions
South Africa 0
Rugby Tri-Nations Preview: South Africa vs New Zealand
The Rugby Tri-Nations clash between the South African’s and New Zealand will play a major part in deciding the outcome of the 2008 Tri-Nations series. A loss to New Zealand will count them out of the chance of winning the Tri-Nations while a win to South Africa will make it a two horse race with the Australian Wallabies.
The Springboks and All Blacks are under extreme pressure. The loser will come under extreme pressure. A loss for Henry will cost him his job, even a win against Australia in Brisbane on 13 September is unlikely to save him. New Zealand supporter’s are calling for his head and any think less than Tri-Nations success is a failure for a nation that considers Rugby to be the only sport in town.
For the Springboks the jury is still out on new coach Peter de Villiers, some would say what more can he do? Alot more some Springboks fans proclaim! PDV as he has become known has pulled off some selections decisions that have puzzled the fans, Francois Steyn is no longer an automatic selection and Ricky Januarie the star from the Dunedin victory has been replaced by Fourie du Preez.
Some have critisied the decision to select Fourie du Preez but I believe this is a masterstroke. His match last week against a poor Argentina was excellent and his crisp passing and skill in clearly superior to Januarie. Januarie has done nothing wrong but when you have a player like du Preez he must be considered an automatic selection.
PDV has also stated this year that he will pick specialists for position’s. This has been behind the decision of players like Steyn struggling to get first team selection. It is a hard call to relegate Steyn but he will be keen to again show his skill of the bench this week.
So where will this game be won and lost? The contest will be full of venom and we can expect the game to be played much like the two dynamic matches in New Zealand. The breakdown will be action packed, with the respective backrows going toe to toe. McCaw the All Black will need to be stopped for the Springboks to be a chance. Burger will pull out all his spoiling tactics and aggression to try and ruffle McCaw’s usual calm composure.
The selection of Montgomery at fullback for the Springboks was a puzzling heavily critisied and labelled a sentimental move. We will know tomorrow but I consider it a masterstroke. Montgomery who will join the 100 match club, only the ninth player and first South African will add composure and a booming kicking game to the Boks. Monty’s performance will likely decide the match, will he be at his best or meltdown, whichever Monty shows will determine the result.
The backlines are equally dynamic, the Boks have depth galore but the All Blacks have Carter. Dan Carter has been exceptional this year and totally destroyed the Wallabies at Eden Park. The Boks will need to close him down to be a chance. His partnership with Andrew Ellis will be important. Ellis played out of his skin against Australia and his incessant pestering of Luke Burgess and decisive kicking game took the pressure off Carter allowing him to shine brighter. The Wallabies were never able to close them down, mostly on the back of a dominant breakdown and set piece.
The Boks will need Victor Matfield and Andries Bekker to deliver at the set piece. Bekker replaces Bakkies Botha who has left a big hole for the Boks. Botha’s loss opens the door to the Bekker to prove he has what it takes for the Boks. Matfield was a slow starter to the Tri-Nations and has now warmed into top gear. He experienced some issues adjusting to the pace of the new ELVs are playing in France but it is hard to keep legends down and his place in Boks folklore is well secured. Matfield is the best lineout exponent in the world and will as usual dominate the lineout.
The Ruck and Maul Prediction: Springboks by 6.
I am expecting the home crowd to inspire the Boks to victory. The All Blacks with McCaw will be much stronger than the side that the Boks beat at Carisbrook but with Matfield and Burger in the Boks team I think they will have too much firepower.
I expect Dan Carter and Richie McCaw to play well but the Boks backrow will get the better of the All Blacks and the scrum will hold it’s own against the slightly superior All Blacks. The real Butch James and Percy Montgomery will deliver for the Boks and Peter de Villiers will be praised for his inspired decision of Fourie du Preez at half who will turn in a cracker of a performance.
South Africa
Percy Montgomery, JP Pietersen, Adrian Jacobs, Jean de Villiers, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Andries Bekker, CJ van der Linde, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira.
Reserves: Adriaan Strauss, Brian Mujati, Danie Rossouw, Luke Watson, Enrico Januarie, Francois Steyn, Conrad Jantjes.
New Zealand
Mils Muliaina, Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, Ali Willliams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Stephen Donald, Isaia Toeava.
Rugby Tri-Nations: New Zealand 39 defeat Wallabies 10
The New Zealand All Blacks haved produced a strong performance to wipe the Wallabies off the park at Eden Park in Auckland. The result continues the 22 year losing record at Eden Park and extends their losing streak overseas in the Tri-Nations to 15 games.
The All Blacks turned in a dynamic performance to dominate at the breakdown and showed the passion and commitment that has become a trademark of the All Blacks. This was the All Blacks of old playing for each other and for New Zealand. With pride on the line and the reputation of the team the All Blacks delivered their finest performance since the World Cup to smash the Wallabies.
In the space of seven days the Wallabies seemed to play like New Zealand last week, they were outnumbered at the breakdown and made poor options. Often the Wallabies would kick the ball away when they had the ball in a position where they could generate some pressure.
The All Blacks were a total constrast as they kicked from their own quarter instead of running last week. McCaw made an instant difference and his leadership lifted the whole team as did the massive home support at Eden Park. Dan Carter once again was sensational, he was at his best with kicking and organised the play brilliantly. Constantly Carter kicked long and it was his decisive play that dictated the game.
Both sides exchanged penalties early on with Giteau giving the lead to the Wallabies in the 4th minute. Carter soon struck back and then in the 14th minute the All Blacks took the lead through a Carter penalty, 6-3. The game came to life in the 20th minute after a Wallaby lineout throw failed to go 5 metres, the ensuing scrum lead to a Woodcock try after some strong All Black phase play. It was only minutes later Woodcock scored again off the back of a lineout and a fantastic kick from Cowan to push the Wallabies deap back into their own territory.
The Wallabies looked in deep trouble down 18-3 when a brilliant rehearsed move with a brilliant series of passes from Giteau, Barnes and finally Mortlock to a dashing Ashley-Cooper gave the Wallabies a great try from the back of the scrum, the conversion made it 18-10. The Wallabies were back in the game but gave away a penally just before the break when the All Blacks were almost over the line. Carter converted for a 21-10 lead at halftime.
The game was soon out of the grasp of the Wallabies after Nonu scored a try in the 44th minute. The All Blacks resumed the second half much like the first half and the try virtually sealed the Wallabies feat. The conversion of the Nonu try gave the All Blacks a 28-10 lead. Two more penalties to Carter further extended the lead until a run away try in the 82nd minute to Nonu after the Wallaby attacking ball was turned over and an 80 metre run provided the All Blacks with a controversial try in the corner. Nonu was tackled by Tuqiri right on the line and appeared to lose control of the ball over the line but the video referee awarded the try. Carter failed to convert and the final score of 39-10 humiliated the Wallabies.
The win will ensure that Graham Henry is given a lifeline for the time being and the Wallabies will have to look deep to recover before the South African tour in the coming weeks. Carter was brilliant and a clear man of the match, Nonu, Kaino, So’liolo, McCaw, Woodcock, WIlliams and Thorn were all sensational. It was harder find strong performers for the Wallabies as the All Blacks never let them into the game, Smith was again a standout but other strong performances were few and far between. Giteau had a night to forget and was clearly over-rawed by the occasion and Burgess was also rattled, without a clear platform the Wallabies were never in the match.
The next Tri-Nations Rugby match will be between South Africa and New Zealand on 16th August.
New Zealand 39
Tries: Tony Woodcock 2 tries, Ma Nonu 2 tries try
Goals: Carter 5 penalties, 2 conversions
Australia 10
Tries: Adam Ashley-Cooper try
Goals: Matt Giteau conversion, penalty
Share your thoughts on what you thought of the game tonight in our comments section, who did you think was the star of the game?
Bledisloe Cup - All Blacks vs Wallabies Preview
Tomorrow night will be a key test for both the All Blacks and the Wallabies at Eden Park in Auckland. The All Blacks have never lost three in a row under Henry and the Wallabies have not won at Eden Park since 1986. It is shaping as another wonderful game in what have been a tough and highly competitive Tri-Nations Rugby series to date.
With Australia at the top of the Tri-Nations table with a game in hand over South Africa and New Zealand a win here would put them in the box seat to win the Tri-Nations and also the Bledisloe Cup. A win by New Zealand would make the Tri-Nations a close even contest between all the teams before the trip to South Africa.
Australia’s coach Robbie Deans has had unprecedented success for the Wallabies, with a five from five winning start since taking over from John Connelly. This is arguably his biggest test as the trip to Auckland, a traditional boneyard for Wallabies teams will pit him against the team he would have loved to coach.
For New Zealand the heat has been on Henry. unlike Deans who is still openly celebrated in New Zealand, Graham Henry is almost on his knees. The New Zealand crowd will lynch him if the All Blacks fail and Henry’s head could be on the chopping block as early as next week. A win is essential for the All Blacks.
Where will the game be decided? No doubt the forwards will be the key as will the breakdown. Having two terriers like Phil Waugh and George Smith who is in career best form prowling the breakdown the Australian side will try to dominate. The work of McCaw will be essential, if he is rusty early on the All Blacks could be on the backfoot. McCaw knows how important the match is and will be up for the game of his life.
The forward match last week was surprisingly even. the Wallabies believe in themselves now and play with the passion that has not been in their game since the 2003 World Cup. It is now of never as the new blood in the team and the enthusiam Deans has given the team has them no longer fearing the All Blacks.
For the All Blacks to win they will have to dominate early, the modern day All Blacks are a confidence team and if they get down early they may struggle to fight back. The home crowd will be a massive inspiration and the Wallabies will face a far more hostile crowd that the crowd that faced the All Blacks in Sydney.
The Ruck and Maul is predicting an All Blacks win by 6. I expect the All Blacks to come out ferociously and try and dominate the Wallaby forwards. If the Wallabies are still within a try at halftime then I would start to think the Wallabies could come back, they seem to believe they can win under Deans and this is the energy and desire that has always been a part of the All Blacks but seems increasingly on the wane under Henry. I expect McCaw to be the key inspiration for the win but expect Smith will go toe to toe in what will be an epic clash.
I am looking forward to the game and would love to hear from anyone on their tips and also comments from anyone who is going to or at the game. Please post a comment and share your thoughts.
The respective teams for the second Bledisloe clash are;
Australian Wallabies
Adam Ashley-Cooper, Peter Hynes, Stirling Mortlock, Berrick Barnes, Lote Tuqiri, Matt Giteau, Luke Burgess, Wycliff Palu, George Smith, Phil Waugh, Nathan Sharpe, James Horwill, Al Baxter, Stephen Moore, Benn Robinson.
Reserves: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning, Dan Vickerman, Hugh McMeniman, Sam Cordingley, Ryan Cross, Drew Mitchell.
New Zealand All Blacks
Mils Muliaina, Richard Kahui, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan, Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson, Piri Weepu, Stephen Donald, Anthony Tuitavake.
McCaw to lead All Blacks at Eden Park
Richie McCaw has returned to the All Blacks team to lead them into a must win Tri Nations and Bledisloe Cup clash against the Wallabies at Eden Park in Auckland. The reputation of the All Blacks and the coaching career of Graham Henry all depend on a make or break victory. A loss will certainly cost Henry his job and force New Zealand Rugby into total damage control.
To make matters worse the All Blacks have a number of players under injury clouds with Piri Weepu put on standby as the third choice halfback behind Ellis and Cowan. Andrew Hore and Keven Mealumu have both been named at hooker as an injury cloud still hangs over Hore with a bruised hip.
The All Blacks have made some positional changes and adjusts to the lineup with Leon McDonald replacing Mils Muliaina at fullback as he moves to the wing to replace Tuitavake. Richard Kahui returns to the bench with Conrad Smith taking his place at outside centre.
The New Zealand squad is;
Leon MacDonald, Mils Muliaina, Conrad Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Dan Carter, Jimmy Cowan/Piri Weepu/Andrew Ellis, Rodney So’oialo, Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore/Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Andrew Hore/Keven Mealumu, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Adam Thomson/Daniel Braid, Jimmy Cowan/Piri Weepu/Andrew Ellis, Stephen Donald, Richard Kahui.
Wallabies celebrate Bledisloe win
The Australian Wallabies produced one of their finest team efforts in recent years to down the New Zealand All Blacks 34-19 in Sydney last night. In what was a fantastic match the Wallabies deserved their win with a magnificent team effort.
This was one of the most hyped Bledisloe Cup matches in recent memory, perhaps since 2003 as new Wallabies coach Robbie Deans was to face off against the man who won the New Zealand coach over him, Graham Henry. It was billed as a match where Robbie Deans wanted to make the All Black selectors ro regret their decision to re-appoint Henry and despite that it was anything but a grudge match. Both teams started dynamically but it was the All Blacks that slipped up first when Brad Thorn tackled Giteau high near the posts and was sent to the bin for 10 minutes, it was hardly a sin bin offence but Australia thrived on this period of 14 men from the opposition.
Giteau took the penalty and Australia were on the board first. It was not much longer until a fantastic effort from the Wallaby team and some inspired play at the ruck with a long Burgess pass and a fine low pickup by Giteau before unleashing an unmarked Cross down the left wing to score. It was soon 10-0 and the All Blacks looked shell shocked.
The Wallabies were dynamic around the ground with Smith, Elsom and co dominating the breakdown, even the much maligned scrum held up first and did not look like cracking early on. It was not until half way into the first half when the All Blacks started to find their mojo. It was the brilliance of Dan Carter who inspired the counter attack and eventually the All Blacks scored after an 80 metre try that went through a number of hands until Mils Muliaina scored. It was the sign for the All Blacks to spring into gear and they began to dominate for the next period. However, the Wallabies were to score next with a fantastic effort again by Tuqiri and then a kick ahead by Ashley-Cooper who was in fantastic form at the back for Peter Hynes to score. The Wallabies were looking at a 17-5 lead with two minutes till half time but the dynamic All Blacks again sprung into gear and scored a length of the field try to Andrew Hore. It was half-time and both sides looked exhausted, the score 17-12 to the Wallabies.
The second half started with the All Blacks of old as they rushed the breakdown, the previously dominant efforts of Smith, Elsom and the forward pack seemed subdued as the All Blacks gave it their all and it paid a big return with a fantastic series of plays providing a try to Andy Ellis. It was converted by Dan Carter who was starting to exert his considerable class into a 19-17 lead. The All Blacks looked to have the running now but the Wallabies never gave in as Smith and Barnes, then Giteau and Horwill dug deep to produce some amazing aggression at key moments to pull of great tackles and ball steals. It was Smith who stood up most when it all countered and he played an insprirational role in the performance of the Wallabies as they struck back. The try finally came to Rocky Elsom who incised the All Blacks through the middle of the field to run over 25 metres and score under the posts. It was the fantastic play of the Wallabies, with Giteau playing a major role in the stages leading up to the try.
The Wallabies then extended the lead with a Giteau drop goal from his opposite foot with 12 minutes remaining. With a lead of 8 points the victory was almost sealed. However, the Wallabies were not done their as they produced some dynamic play with their substitutes on and Phil Waugh smashing the All Blacks at the breakdown the Wallabies delivered a series of telling moments that symbolised the game, they pulled off big tackles when it mattered and then turned key ball over at the breakdown and then unleashed an enthusiam rarely seen from the Wallabies. With the Wallabies stringing phases together they unleashed Hotwill close to the line and he barged over to cap off a sensational individual match and team effort. The Wallabies won 34-19.
Ir is hard to single out any one player for the Wallabies but it was perhaps Giteau, Smith, Elsom, Barnes and Horwill who had the biggest impact but it was the whole team that delivered brilliantly. The forwards looked inspired and Australia dominated the breakdown, they held firm in the scrum for the majority of the game and the backs prospered with a platform to work with in attack. The defensive effort was hard and each tackle seemed to pound the confidence of the All Blacks, Smith typified this with some bone crushing tackles and fantastic play around the ground. It is hard to imagine a Wallabies team that does not have him in it playing a major role.
The only negative for the Wallabies is Rocky Elsom who has been ruled out of this weeks match due to a ligament strain. Australia will take on the All Blacks next week in Auckland in what is shaping as a make or break game for Graham Henry. If the All Blacks lose I don’t think we will see Graham Henry leading his team on the Northern Hemisphere tour at the end of the year. Even if they win it looks like the damage has been done.
Do you have a comment about the game? Share your thoughts!
Australia 34
Tries: Ryan Cross, Peter Hynes, Rocky Elsom, James Horwill
Goals: Matt Giteau 4 conversions, 1 penalty and 1 drop goal
New Zealand 19
Tries: Mils Muliaina, Andrew Hore, Andrew Ellis
Goals:Dan Carter 2 conversions
NZ All Blacks name McCaw for Wallabies
The New Zealand All Blacks have named their squad to take on the Wallabies on Saturday in Sydney in the first Bledisloe Cup match of 2008.
In what was a major decision by Henry and the selectors they have announced Richie McCaw in the squad. McCaw was not expected to be back in action until mid August after sustaining an ankle injury against the English side in June. Australian coach Robbie Deans only last week commented that McCaw is a quick healer and he was not surprised if McCaw made a surprise return for the Wallabies clash well it looks like he was correct. McCaw has to complete a fitness test but is a likely starter. Daniel Braid will replace McCaw should he be ruled out.
The backline offered the only other major change with Conrad Smith benched at outside centre for emerging talent Richard Kahui taking his place. Kahui has impressed in his earlier opportunities and will be taking on Stirling Mortlock’s replacement which could be Adam Ashley Cooper in a move from the fullback position.
The All Blacks team is;
Mils Muliaina, Anthony Tuitavake, Richard Kahui, Ma’a Nonu, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Daniel Carter, Andy Ellis, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw, Rodney So’oialo, Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Greg Somerville, Andrew Hore, Tony Woodcock.
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa, Anthony Boric, Sione Lauaki, Jimmy Cowan, Stephen Donald, Conrad Smith.
South Africa nail All Blacks 30-28 in thriller
The long and successful winning stretch that New Zealand have maintained at home since 2003 was beaten when South Africa pulled off a miraculous win in the dying stages to stun the All Blacks and the home crowd in Carisbrook Stadium.
It was some Ricky Januarie magic with just four minutes on the clock that won the Springboks the match. Trailing 28-23 Januarie sold the All Blacks a dummy then did a kick and chase to recover the ball and score. It was a moment of brilliance from the tenacious and hard working No 9. Francois Steyn nailed the kick from a tight angle to give the Boks a 2 point lead with only minutes on the clock.
The All Blacks had a late chance to steal victory but a failed with Dan Carter attempting a drop goal only for it to be charged down. It was victory to the Springboks and you had thought they won with World Cup again with their celebrations and rightly so as winning in New Zealand has seemed impossible for 5 years.
SOUTH AFRICA 30
Tries: JP Pietersen, Ricky Januarie
Goals: Percy Montgomery 3 penalties, Butch James 2 penalties and a drop goal, Francois Steyn conversion
NEW ZEALAND 28
Tries: Sione Lauaki
Goals: Dan Carter 6 penalties, conversion and a drop goal