Brad Morgan
8 November 2007
Springbok wing Bryan Habana was named SA Rugby Player of the Year at the annual SA Rugby Awards Banquet in Sandton on Wednesday evening ahead of four of his fellow World Cup winning teammates: Victor Matfield, Percy Montgomery, Juan Smith and Fourie du Preez.
Any one of the five players would have been a worthy winner but Habana, who was recently crowned the International Rugby Board's Player of the Year, took the honours after a sensational season during which he lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy with the Boks and the Super 14 title with the Bulls.
It is the second time he has been named player of the year after he previously won the award in 2005.
Tries galore
Since South Africa's tour of Ireland and England at the end of 2006, Habana has played 13 tests - missing out on six due to injury – and scored 14 tries, including four against Samoa in the Springboks' opening match of the World Cup. He finished with
eight tries in France, equalling Jonah Lomu's record for the number of tries scored at a single World Cup finals tournament.
He also dotted down eight times in the Super 14, including scoring the winning try in the Bulls' 20-19 victory over the Sharks in the final, which earned him the Try of the Season award.
About the only time Habana clearly had to settle for second was when he raced a cheetah to draw attention to the dangers the world's fastest animal on land faces.
Super 14 Player of the Year
His Bulls' teammate, Fourie du Preez, rated by many as the best scrumhalf in the world, was named the Super 14 Player of the Year.
Reflecting the theme of winning teams producing award winners, Willem de Waal was named Currie Cup Player of the Year. The Cheetahs' flyhalf helped his team to a third successive title by scoring 212 points, making him the highest points' scorer in the competition by some distance.
De Waal added a second prestigious award when he was named the South African Rugby Players Association's Players' Player of the Year.
The talented and versatile Francois Steyn picked up the award for the Most Promising Player of the Year; he made a huge impact for the Springboks at the World Cup after replacing the injured Jean de Villiers at centre, and became the second youngest player ever to play in a World Cup final.
Sevens' star
Mzwandile Stick was named the Sevens Player of the Year following a season in which South Africa finished fourth in the IRB Sevens Series and won the Dubai Sevens.
The Vodacom Cup Player of the Year award went to Zane Kirchner. He enjoyed a fine season for Griquas at fullback, leading to the Blue Bulls signing him up for next season after the retirement of their long-time number 15, Johan Roets.
Jonathan Kaplan was recognised as the top referee when he won the Referee of the Year award for the second time in succession.
Women's award
Boland's Natasha Hoffmeester was named the Women's Rugby Achiever of the Year.
Johan van Deventer, a member of the South African under-19 team that finished runner-up to New Zealand at the World Championships, was named Under-19 Player of the Year, while Wilton Peterson of Free State was named the Craven Week Player of the Year.
Elgar Watts was named National Club Player of the Year after his team, Stellenboach University, claimed the national club championship title for the second time in three years with a 24-8 victory over Pretoria University.
AWARD WINNERS
Absa SA Rugby Player of the Year
Bryan Habana (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
SARPA Players’ Player of the Year
Willem de Waal (Vodacom FS Cheetahs)
Sasol Springbok Sevens Player of the Year
Mzwandile Stick
Sasol Most Promising Player of the Year
Francois Steyn (The
Sharks)
Vodacom Super 14 Player of the Year
Fourie du Preez (Vodacom Blue Bulls)
Absa Currie Cup Player of the Year
Willem de Waal (Vodacom FS Cheetahs)
Vodacom Cup Player of the Year
Zane Kirchner (Wildeklawer Griquas)
Supersport Try of the Year
Bryan Habana (winning try, Vodacom Super 14)
Sasol SA U19 Player of the Year
Johan van Deventer (Golden Lions)
SARU National Club Championship Player of the Year
Elgar Watts (Maties)
BA Women’s Player of the Year
Natasha Hoffmeester (Boland)
Marriot Referee of the Year
Jonathan Kaplan (SA Rugby)
Coca-Cola Craven Week Player of the Year
Wilton Petersen (Free State)
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