World player of the Year – Brian O’Driscoll
A toss-up between centurion BOD and the IRB’s World Player of the Year Richie McCaw, McCaw has been imperious yet again this year but O’Driscoll has been more prominent and achieved more throughout the duration of the year. 2009 could be said to be the year of BOD. At the beginning of the year he played a crucial role in Ireland’s first Grand Slam since 1948, then in May came Heineken Cup Glory with Leinster, then a Lions tour to South Africa and finally just last weekend he capped of an unbelievable season when Ireland beat the world champions. In every one of these occasions O’Driscoll has played a massive role. In the Six Nations he scored in all but one game and was named Man of the Match in the final game against Wales. In the Heineken Cup semi final he scored that famous interception try which put Munster to bed and was again named MOM. In the final he was equally inspiring and landed a vital drop-goal. During the Lions tour, O’Driscoll formed arguably the best centre partnership in the world with Wales’s Jamie Roberts and to cap it all off it was O’Driscoll’s bone crunching tackle on Zane Kirchner that dislodged the ball and secured a famous victory against South Africa this autumn
Welsh Player of the Year – Gethin Jenkins
Who else but Jenkins, he is simply unbelievable and has cemented his place as the best loose head in the world. Jenkins’s scrummaging is sometimes overlooked, but he is more than a match for any tight head currently playing in the world game. His work in the loose certainly cannot be overlooked. Having Jenkins in your team is like having an extra back row forward. He has a great engine, soft hands and is unbelievably fast considering he is a prop. He has proved crucial to both the Cardiff Blues and Wales this season and was one of the first names on the sheet for the Lions in South Africa.
Young Player of the Year – Leigh Halfpenny
This was a close call with many youngsters making prominent steps into world rugby. Most notable are Australia’s current crop of rookies including James O’Conner David Pocock and Will Genia, not to mention Heinrich Brussow. But it is Halfpenny who has shined the brightest throughout the year. From playing for Wales in the Six Nations to grabbing a brace of tries in the EDF Cup Final, Halfpenny has been a joy to watch. He capped of a meteoric rise when he was selected for the Lions although his trip was cut short by injury. He has struggled to hit the heights so far this season but will be hoping to spark into life over the festive period
Try of the Year – Imanol Harinordoquy v Ireland, Feb 7
Club Try of the Year Leigh Halfpenny v Gloucester, EDF Cup Final, Apr 18
Team of the Year
15 Mils Muliaina
A difficult one, Lee Byrne was the standout performer at the start of the year but has been blighted by injuries since the Lions tour. Rob Kearney picked up the no.15 and put in some big performances. But Mils has performed consistently for New Zealand and guided the Chiefs to a first S14 final.
14 Tommy Bowe
Has been a stand out performer through out the season whether playing on the wing or the centre for the Ospreys, Ireland or the Lions. Bowe is big fast and gutsy.
13 Brian O’Driscoll
The year of BOD. He has been a class above the rest this season and has achieved more in one season than many achieve in a career. Was written off by many but has bounced back and returned to fine form. Fearless in defence, a master of the tackle and jackal, and as threatening in attack as ever.
12 Jamie Roberts
Another tough decision but I have gone for Roberts over the likes of Ma’a Nonu and Jean de Villiers. The Lions player of the series was in sublime form and shot from being relatively unknown to one of the biggest names in world rugby. He shone for Wales in the Six Nations, was a fundamental part of Cardiff’s cup conquests and ran through Springboks for fun. He has been quieter so far this season and will want to find his Lions form in time for the Six Nations
11 Bryan Habana
There has been a glut of talent on the left wing this season. Joe Rokocoko, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Shane Williams have all put in big performances but Bryan Habana has again been a cut above the rest. Habana is a threat with or without the ball and terrorises the opposition. Habana was consistent in the S14, scored crucial test tries for South Africa to knock the Lions out and bagged a hat trick in when Barbarians beat New Zealand last weekend
10 Daniel Carter
Again a number of players have stood out this season. Stephen Jones for the Lions, Morne Steyn in the Tri-Nations and Matt Giteau sporadically throughout the season. After a six-month stint in Perpignan was cut short by injury Carter returned to New Zealand and has regained the no. 10 slot. He has become New Zealand’s record points scorer and continues to set the standards of fly half play.
9 Fourie Du Preez
The best scrumhalf in the world. Has been pushed all the way by Mike Phillips but just edges due to Phillips missing the Autumn Internationals. Shoving the likes of Bakkies Botha around is no mean feat and Du Preez controls the game like no other .
8 Sergio Parisse
A difficult position to fill with no real standout candidates. But Parisse’s form in the Six Nation deserves a place. He is inspiring for the Azzuri and is at the centre of everything good the Italians do. A fantastic leader and one of the best carriers off the back of the scrum
7 Richie McCaw
The IRB world player of the year. McCaw continues to define the role of a modern open side flanker and is a master of the dark arts. He is both destructive and constructive, often providing the link for the All Blacks. McCaw is an assuring presence in the side and they struggle without him.
6Rocky Elsom
With Brian O’Driscoll, Elsom inspired Leinster to Heineken Cup glory and Murrayfield echoed with chats of Rocky. Has a phenomenal work rate and always makes yards. The current Wallabies captain
5 Victor Matfield
The best lineout operator in the business. Matfield dominates the opposition and is a major force with or without the ball. He has done it all.
4 Simon Shaw
The old war horse battles on and 12 years after first pulling on the red shirt of the British and Irish Lions he returned to South Africa with the class of 09. The man is an enforcer in the tight and his contribution rucking, mauling and scrummaging is invaluable
3 Ben Alexander
Has been the corner stone of the Australian pack this season. Two years ago the Australian scrum was in pieces but with Benn Robinson, Alexander has turned this around. Australia finished the season with the best scrum in the world.
2 John Smit
This is cheating a bit since Smit played much of the season on the tight head but his leadership is invaluable and a place had to be found for the Lions series winning captain.
1 Gethin Jenkins
Another vintage season from the man they call melon and he is finally getting the plaudits he deserves. Jenkins’s scrummaging is world class and his defensive covering and work in the loose unbelievable.
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