Rugby's best rate Schalk tops
Brad Morgan
24 November 2004
Schalk Burger has been rewarded for an impact-filled first year of international rugby by winning two prestigious international awards. Following up on his selection as South African Player of the Year, Burger's huge contribution to the Springboks' revival was recognised at the International Rugby Players' Association Awards.
He won the Players' Player of the Year award - a treasured honour, given that it is recognition given by one's fellow internationals - and Best International Newcomer. It marked the first time that a player had won both awards.
Voting is held among players from New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, England, Ireland, Wales, Scotland and France.
'An incredible year'
"It has been a fantastic season, with South Africa winning the Tri-Nations, and now this caps an incredible year for me", Burger said.
Despite his comments, this might not be the cherry on the top for the fiery
flanker. He is in line to add the International Rugby Board's (IRB) Player of the Year award to the three he has already won.
The IRB Awards take place in London on 28 November, with Burger up against fellow Bok Marius Joubert, Ireland's Gordon D'Arcy, France's Serge Betsen, and Australia's Matt Giteau for the prize.
Interestingly, Burger beat D'Arcy to win the Newcomer Award. Former SA under-21 captain, Clyde Rathbone, now a Wallaby, was another who was nominated.
In the Players' Player of the Year category, Burger edged out Betsen to take the honours.
Springboks up for IRB Award
Apart from Burger and Joubert being up for the IRB Player of the Year, the Springboks are also in the running for a major award, despite recent disappointing defeats to Ireland and England. They face opposition from France and Portugal for Team of the Year.
France claimed the Grand Slam in winning the Six Nations title, while Portugal won the
European Nations Cup. South Africa won the Tri-Nations title for the first time since 1998.
The man who has been at the forefront of the Springboks' revival, coach Jake White, has been nominated as Coach of the Year. Up against him are France's Bernard Laporte, Portugal's Tomas Morais, and New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tietjens.
'Team of the Year means a lot to us all'
"To be nominated for Team of the Year means a lot to us all", White told the IRB Awards website, "but all the more considering where we were a year or so ago. It also means a huge amount to the nation as a whole."
Should Springbok fans need a reminder, one year ago South African rugby was in turmoil following a failed World Cup campaign that was preceded by the controversial and widely criticised "Kamp Staaldraad".
"I just hope that, whether we win prizes or not at the IRB Awards, we can build on what we've
achieved so far", White said.
"I've backed myself until 2007, and I'm asking the players who want to be around in 2007 to do the same, never to be compromised, and never to allow it to become easy to play for South Africa."
| 
