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The deeds of Qantas Wallabies young guns David Pocock and Kurtley Beale have already received acclaim in Australia this season, but the star pair could receive even more accolades on the international stage after being nominated for the International Rugby Board’s prestigious Player of the Year title.
Pocock and Beale are among six nominees for the annual award, which was last year won by All Blacks skipper Richard McCaw.
The role of honour in terms of the past award winners reads like a who’s who of the game’s greats, with the Wallaby pair’s possible addition a remarkable achievement in itself, given that they are both in the relatively formative stages of their respective international careers. No Australian has won the award previously in its nine-year history.
Pocock, who won the acknowledgement of both his peers and the public when he scooped the John Eales Medal and the Australia’s Choice Player of the Year awards at last month’s Australian awards night in Sydney, has exactly doubled his tally of Test caps this year.
The 22-year-old started 2010 with 15 appearances to his name, just six of which had been starts, but on Saturday night in Paris will play his 30th international – having started in all 15 Tests played by Australia this year.
Beale has similarly enjoyed a stellar rise over the last 12 months. This weekend a year ago, Beale became the 836th Wallaby when he made his debut off the bench against Wales in Cardiff.
The 21-year-old has gone on to figure in all but two of the Tests played by Australia this year.
Saturday night against France will be his ninth consecutive start in the number 15 jersey for the Wallabies, with the run of appearances including his immortal after the final siren penalty goal from halfway against South Africa which handed Australia its first win on the South African high veldt in 47 years from 13 attempts.
Australia’s overall improvement this year has been recognised by the panel with the Qantas Wallabies one of two teams to receive two nominations for the award alongside the All Blacks, who’ve had McCaw and fullback Malili Muliaina nominated.
The other nominees are South African lock Victor Matfield and French No 8 Imanol Harinordoquy .
The winner of the award will be announced by the IRB in Dublin next Wednesday [Thursday morning, Australian time] after the selection panel convenes to sort through the merits of the short-listed nominees.
The Team of the Year and Coach of the Year awards, which are straight selections, will also be announced at this time.
Past Winners of the IRB Player of the Year Award
2001: Keith Wood (Ireland)
2002: Fabien Galthie (France)
2003: Jonny Wilkinson (England)
2004: Schalk Burger (South Africa)
2005: Daniel Carter (New Zealand)
2006: Richard McCaw (New Zealand)
2007: Bryan Habana (South Africa)
2008: Shane Williams (Wales)
2009: Richard McCaw (New Zealand)
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
Pocock hasn't put a foot wrong all year. He definitely deserves it. Victor Matfield deserves one but not for this year.
Smoke me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast.
Pocock stands head & shoulders above everyone else listed there im afraid.
Whether he wins or not, this is another huge accollade for a great player.
Well done Bam Bam.
I feel it has been an honour and a privedge to watch him from that first trial match against the Cheetahs to now, and see the growth, and such a nice person to boot.![]()
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
Haven't seen enough of Harinordoquy this season to comment on him.
Victor, Richie and Mils have been as consistent as always, I don't think this season has been any better than many other fine ones by them.
Beale has had good matches but is far from being able to be called the best in the world.
So, for my biased vote, Bam should be a shoe in...
Pretty amazing they can only find one NH player.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Winner will be announced tomorrow morning at ~ 3am
Dear Lord, if you give us back Johnny Cash, we'll give you Justin Bieber.
Dave really deserves it. It had better not be McCaw again! There hasn't been an Australian player chosen yet which seems strange
go you good thing, cant see why he wont take this out
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Unfortunately for us the award has gone to Richie McCaw
All Blacks clean up awards
But the fact that Dave was nominated as I said in previous post is a huge acciolade none the less. Nothing wrong in coming just behind the great Richie and when all is said and done the All Blacks were the best side in the past year and by a huge margin.
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
well done to Bam Bam for getting nominated in the first place, fortunately he is still relatively at the start of his career whereas Richie wont be around for much longer.
To a long and prosperous career filled with accolades. long live the Bam
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I reckon that's more a team award, and nobody can argue that the all blacks are the best team in the world a year before the world cup
C'mon the![]()
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they should create a new award...
the McCaw medal for Gamesmanship..
..gutted Poe didnt get it.. dirty cheating McCaw.. grrrrrrr
Hard luck Bam, it won't be the last time he's nominated.
"Bloody oath we did!"
Nathan Sharpe, Legend.
Back luck Bam.
I love this quote in the story
"Henry has previously been named coach of the year in 2005, 2006 and 2008."
Without even looking it up, I now know that 2007 must have been a world cup year!