Business Day (Johannesburg)
Zeena Isaacs
3 November 2009
Johannesburg — INFLUENTIAL Springbok scrumhalf Fourie du Preez yesterday reaped the rewards for his fine efforts on the field at international and domestic level this year when he was crowned SA Rugby Player of the Year.
It was the player's brilliant tactical kicking and ability to read the game and dictate play that made him a key figure in the Springbok team during the Tri-Nations and British and Irish Lions series, as well as for the Bulls in the Super 14 and the latter part of the Currie Cup series.
The prestigious award came only a few days after Du Preez was named man-of-the-match in the Currie Cup final against the Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld .
Du Preez faced tough competition for the award, with the other nominees being flyhalf Morné Steyn, flank Heinrich Brüssow, lock Victor Matfield and Springbok captain John Smit, who all made their presence felt this season.
Brüssow's brave efforts against the New Zealand captain and flank Richie McCaw and Australian flank George Smith among other world- class players, earned him the SA Rugby Young Player of the Year award. His efforts at the breakdowns for the Cheetahs in their clash against the British and Irish Lions also earned him the Provincial Player of the Castle South Africa 2009 Lions Series award.
Steyn's heroics, which included kicking a record 31 points against the All Blacks during the Tri-Nations series, a stunning penalty to seal the British and Irish Lions series victory and crucial penalties to guide the Blue Bulls to their first outright Currie Cup title since 2004, also did not go unnoticed. He swooped three awards, the Player's Player of the Year, Test Player of the Castle 2009 Lions Series and Super 14 Player of the Year.
Springbok coach Peter de Villiers was also rewarded for his superb achievements, taking the Coach of the Year award, while the Springboks were crowned the Team of the Year.
Western Province captain and flank Luke Watson, who has joined English Club Bath, took the Currie Cup Player of the Year award.
Commenting on Fourie's award, South African Rugby Union deputy president Mark Alexander said: "They were any number of outstanding Springbok performers who could have been among the nominations.
"It's a tribute to the sustained excellence of Fourie's play that he was chosen by the media for this prestigious award. There are very few players in world rugby who can claim to be as influential as he is."
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