IRB Player of the Year Bryan Habana
South Africa winger Bryan Habana has been named the International Rugby Board’s player of the year. Habana, 24, beat Argentina’s Felipe Contepomi and Juan Hernandez, All Blacks flanker Richie McCaw and French centre Yannick Jauzion to the award, probably helped by his equalling Jonah Lomu’s record of eight World Cup tries. At the same time champions South Africa were named team of the year, with Jake White top coach. The try of the year went to the Eagles flier Takudzwa Ngwenya’s who’s try for the United States in their World Cup pool defeat by the Springboks, during which he outstripped Habana, was chosen.
The winners were selected by an independent panel of judges that was made up of former internationals, with every Test from the start of the RBS Six Nations to the World Cup final taken into account.