Jean de Villiers has been name the best player in South Africa for 2008 winning the SA Rugby Player of the Year award. There was really no surprise there as he was head and shoulders above everyone else. Some had doubted him after his had to pull out of the World Cup last year after sustaining a bicep injury but he has come back even stronger after that injury.
De Villiers was also named Players’ Player of the Year. I was a bit surprised that Beast Mtawarira was not named the Young Player of the Year, that award went to Robert Ebersohn from the Free State Cheetahs. Ryan Kankowski walked away with the Super 14 Player of the Year whilst his Sharks teammate Jean Deysel was named Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year.
The SuperSport Try of the Year went to Ricky Januarie for his try against New Zealand in Dunedin.
Loading ...
I am in full agreement with 99 % the awards, the exception being for the young player of the year award. Here I vehemently disagree and sense that maybe the selectors know that the Beast has many more accolades ahead of him. He definitely deserved to take that one.
I am glad though that Jean won and as per my disagreement with Ron in an earlier posting, Jean did not win the S14, the CC nor the Tri Nations and yet he won the player of the year award. The Sharks were the SA team of the year both at S14 and CC and had many contenders for that award but the it still went to Jean because although his Provincial and Regional teams were not the best, he still stood out as an individual. I still maintain, he certainly deserved to be shortlisted for world player of the year, despite not having an ounce of silverware in his cabinet.
I am glad to see you did not comment about the Try of the Year.
How could I forget the sweetest moment of the SA calender???????? We look forward to many more similar moments in months to come!!!
I knew you would go there!!