South Africa’s Bryan Habana has won the International Rugby Players’ Association (IRPA) try of the year award for his score against New Zealand in September, it was announced Thursday.
The winger became the second Springbok to win the award, following Jaque Fourie who was honoured in 2009 for his try in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions.
Habana, the 2007 International Rugby Board (IRB) player of the year, stunned world champions New Zealand when he took a pass from flanker Francois Louw at full speed, chipped ahead and gathered to score a try that briefly handed the Springboks the lead seven minutes into the second half of the contest in Dunedin.
However, the All Blacks recovered to win 21-11.
“Scoring a try against the All Blacks is always special, but scoring against them in New Zealand, is even more special,” said Habana in a statement.
“I really enjoyed getting across the try-line in Dunedin — contributing to the success of the team and also lifting the spirits of my team-mates.
“Winning this award is very special and hopefully I can continue scoring tries for the Springboks for a very long time,” added Habana, 29, who has so far grabbed 47 tries in 83 Tests for South Africa.
Fourie, All Blacks great Mils Muliaina, Wales’s former IRB player of the year Shane Williams and Japan’s Daisuke Ohata, the leading try scorer in Test rugby, formed the panel of judges who chose Habana’s effort ahead of the three other shortlisted tries scored by New Zealand duo Hosea Gear and Julian Savea and Julien Malzieu of France.
Consideration was also given to votes cast by rugby fans from all around the world via the IRB’s interactive platforms.
Jerry
Guest
Point taken - they do tend to go for individual brilliance over team cohesion.
Neuen
Roar Rookie
Correct but which of the nominees won it in the end?
Jerry
Guest
Yeah, but they include team tries too - look at that video of the 2010 nominees. There are plenty of tries which the try scorer was set up and didn't have to do a lot.
Neuen
Roar Rookie
Aah but its not a award handed out to the team but the individual.
Dan
Guest
I don't know if it's just me, but Habana's seemed the least impressive of that lot to me. Great little chip and regather through the middle, but I thought the others all required greater team cohesion and more work, particularly that French try where the winger beat 4 or 5 guys...
Neuen
Roar Rookie
I think you must take into account its a South African winger. They use to chasing kicks a lot so they will have to do as much as they can with what they receive. Just to put into context their previous record try scorer was a scrumhalf!
Neuen
Roar Rookie
Jerry there I agree with you totally concerning the selections. It looks like the policy was to select tries from Tier ! nations only. But then again it is te IRB just look at the player of the year nominees. Its a total laugh especially seeing Farrel in there.
all7days
Roar Guru
:)
Of course there could be more factors than pDV, but then it is uncanny as soon as Habana is back with his Bulls coach his cinfidence and form returns.
Most definitely cm. :)
cm
Guest
"Pretty is as pretty does", or something like that, biltongbek. Let me just say, then, that Habana's try was beautifully worked. Is that lingo acceptable? :-)
Jerry
Guest
Yeah, but given Habana hasn't exactly set the world on fire for the Stormers you could simply argue he lost form. Happens with wingers all the time (eg Joe Rokocoko, Ben Cohen)*. PDV may have been a factor, sure, but I don't think you can dismiss 4 years of poor form that simply. *they rarely regain that form once lost, so it's pretty impressive that he has done so.
You're right Jerry, Habana got lucky.
You seem in a foul mood jerry. I am not ignoring anything, I am merely showing the effect PDV had in 35 tests on Bryan Habana. Surely when considering four year cycle and 35 test matches there is more than enough proof that something was wrong?
Jerry
Guest
I find you can make stats look very good if you ignore things.
Jerry
Guest
Dude, I was just refuting an incorrect statement of fact. Do I think Savea has had as good a season as Habana? No, not really. But I also don't think Habana is the best thing since sliced bread and walked on water in 2007 etc.. Habana's try was good, sure. But this is a pretty weak selection compared to previous years winning efforts or even nominees. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhV6aNXK9Yo Have a look at that and ask yourself how many of those tries are better than anything in this year's list? Also, some of the tries in 2010 were team tries which refutes the notion that this award is only about individual brilliance that some have suggested upthread.
If nothing else, Habana will be a legend in his own country. The only shame is the 35 tests and 10 try waste he had with PDV. If you remove that from his record, Habana has a very good strike rate indeed. 47 tries in 84 matches. excluding his time under PDV he has scored 37 in 49 matches.
Neuen
Roar Rookie
But try to think from a neutral point of view. Try using your head and not your heart. Forget about who is the inform winger or not but who's 1 moment of magic was the best? Habana cutting through NZ running at full speed chip gatjhers and scores against the no 1 team in the world? or Savea scoring a try against a team ranked 10th in the world? Savea´s try which involved him chasing a Dan Carter cross kick and getting the bounce of the ball. I don't think it is better than what Habana did and that is run, chip gather and score by himself
all7days
Roar Guru
the try scorer gets the award so it's clearly individual. This is definitely the best individual try this year. He had to do so much. He ran the perfect line with insane speed to get past Smith. He then sizes up the situation, commits Savea and chips at the perfect time. The chip lands away from the defense and bounces straight into his arms. I enjoyed Gear's smashing of the Irish player more, but this has to be harder to do. i don't like it when a non Kiwi player is the best in his position. I think Habana is the best 14. He has been the best for a long time and I hope leaves the game a legend.
Think about it this way, we have no nominations for Player of the year, so the IRB consoles us with the try of the year. ;)