PARIS – All Blacks flyhalf Daniel Carter was on Sunday named as the International Rugby Board (IRB) Player of the Year.
The awards proved to be a virtual clean sweep for New Zealand. The All Blacks were named Team of the Year while Graham Henry clinched the coaching award.New Zealand dominated 2005 winning 11 of their 12 Test matches.In June they were too strong for the British and Irish Lions, winning the series three Tests to none.They are also the reigning Tri-Nations champions and on Saturday completed a Grand Slam tour of the UK.Carter edged teammates Richie McCaw and Tana Umaga as well as South African duo Victor Matfield and Brian Habana for the top payer award.The Team of the Year award also went to New Zealand, while the under-21 Player of the Year award was given to Tatafu Polota-Nau of Australia.The under-19 Player of the Year award was scooped by Isaia Toeava from New Zealand.Everything the All Blacks touch seems to turn to gold.That’s the opinion of Wallabies coach Eddie Jones and the embattled handler is not far wrong.Quite aside from coming from behind to land the right to host the 2011 World Cup, New Zealand finished the year with the British Isles Grand Slam, for the first time since 1978, a 3-0 series win over the British and Irish Lions and the Tri Nations trophy with just one defeat by South Africa.However, there is still a huge question mark over New Zealand.So often have they dominated the three years in between World Cups, and then failed to deliver at the main event itself, that coach Graham Henry insists that this time round there has to be two All Blacks teams as they bid to win only their second global title since the inaugural 1987 edition.At the weekend.New Zealand completed their european tour with a 29-10 win over Scotland to claim the Grans Slam.The All Blacks already stormed into a 22-3 half-time before a clinical performance in the second half.-Nampa-ReutersThe All Blacks were named Team of the Year while Graham Henry clinched the coaching award.New Zealand dominated 2005 winning 11 of their 12 Test matches.In June they were too strong for the British and Irish Lions, winning the series three Tests to none.They are also the reigning Tri-Nations champions and on Saturday completed a Grand Slam tour of the UK.Carter edged teammates Richie McCaw and Tana Umaga as well as South African duo Victor Matfield and Brian Habana for the top payer award.The Team of the Year award also went to New Zealand, while the under-21 Player of the Year award was given to Tatafu Polota-Nau of Australia.The under-19 Player of the Year award was scooped by Isaia Toeava from New Zealand.Everything the All Blacks touch seems to turn to gold.That’s the opinion of Wallabies coach Eddie Jones and the embattled handler is not far wrong.Quite aside from coming from behind to land the right to host the 2011 World Cup, New Zealand finished the year with the British Isles Grand Slam, for the first time since 1978, a 3-0 series win over the British and Irish Lions and the Tri Nations trophy with just one defeat by South Africa.However, there is still a huge question mark over New Zealand.So often have they dominated the three years in between World Cups, and then failed to deliver at the main event itself, that coach Graham Henry insists that this time round there has to be two All Blacks teams as they bid to win only their second global title since the inaugural 1987 edition.At the weekend.New Zealand completed their european tour with a 29-10 win over Scotland to claim the Grans Slam.The All Blacks already stormed into a 22-3 half-time before a clinical performance in the second half.-Nampa-Reuters
