Robbie Deans has hailed Matt Giteau a little marvel after the Wallabies ace was named on the shortlist for world rugby’s player of the year award.

Giteau, 27, is among seven nominees, joining South African favourite Fourie du Preez, his Springboks teammate Francois Steyn, Ireland’s Brian O’Driscoll and Jamie Heaslip, New Zealand captain Richie McCaw and England flanker Tom Croft.

Giteau last month received the John Eales Medal as Australia’s player of the year after dominating for the Wallabies and the Western Force in the Super 14 and setting countless tryscoring and pointscoring records along the way.

Despite the Wallabies finishing last in the Tri Nations, Giteau tallied an Australian-record 72 points during the tournament and is also the side’s leading tryscorer in 2009.

Among several other notable records, Giteau became Australia’s all-time highest tryscorer against the Springboks with another three five-pointers taking his tally to nine and also completed the rare career double of 100 points for the Wallabies against both South Africa and New Zealand.

All this while being charged to direct the Australian backline during a generational change at the Wallabies.

The brilliant five-eighth has missed just one of Australia’s 26 Tests in 2008-09 and Deans said his nomination was “just reward” for one of the most durable and accomplished players in the game.

“It’s great. He’s clearly a class act, but it’s his consistency,” Deans said.

“He’s been one bloke who’s been a constant and he fronts up every week. He’s got a great ethic, not only in games but in his preparation.

“The circumstances around him haven’t always been easy, but he’s one bloke who’s been pulling on the reins and been a point-of-difference player for us from the start of the year to the end.

“And he’s remarkably resilient. He’s pretty tough.”

Giteau was also nominated for the award in 2004 after his first full season in the Test arena.

“Last time I probably took it for granted a little bit,” he said.

“It’s extra special and something I am pretty proud of. To be recognised amongst this calibre of players is obviously an honour.

But he’s not expecting to win, tipping du Preez and McCaw to fight it out.

South Africa’s dominance of the Tri-Nations and their series victory over the British and Irish Lions is recognised by the inclusion of crafty halfback du Preez and the versatile Steyn.

Ireland also have dual representation after classy centre O’Driscoll and dynamic back-rower Heaslip helped clinch the Emerald Isle their first Six Nations crown since 1948.

The winner will be announced at the end of this month.

Previous winners: Keith Wood (2001), Fabien Galthie (2002), Jonny Wilkinson (2003), Schalk Burger (2004), Dan Carter (2005), Richie McCaw (2006), Bryan Habana (2007), Shane Williams (2008).

© AAP 2012

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