Boks dominate IRB nominations

The Springboks, following their victory in the 2004 Tri-Nations tournament and wins over Ireland and Wales, look set to sweep the boards at the International Rugby Union (IRB) Awards after receiving nominations in all the major categories.

More awards for Joubert and White?

The nominations cap off a remarkable season for the Boks who, after bumbling out of the 2003 World Cup in Australia, have had a dramatic change of fortunes under the tutelage of new coach Jake White.

White took charge of the team at a desperate time when the Bok image and SA rugby as a whole were left in tatters, following a number of embarrassing defeats and scandals - none less so than 'Kamp Staaldraad' - that were endured during former coach Rudolf Straueli's reign.

White's positive style of leadership proved the catalyst for the team's success and the former South African Under-21 coach has unsurprisingly been nominated for the Coach of the Year award alongside France mentor Bernard Laporte, with the latter leading his team to RBS Six Nations triumph in 2004.

The Boks will take on France and Portugal for the Team of the Year award, while outstanding young Bok flanker Schalk Burger and centre Marius Joubert, who ran in a hat-trick of tries against the All Blacks, will both be in line for the Player of the Year Award.

And Ireland centre Gordon D'Arcy, meanwhile, will be looking to cap off his year with another Player of the Year Award, after having already scooped the Six Nations and Ireland equivalent earlier in the season.

D'Arcy was close to unheard of outside of Ireland at the beginning of the season, but after his riveting performances in the Six Nations, he was heralded as an equal to Irelands favourite son - Brian O'Driscoll.

New Zealand also weigh in heavily at the Awards, but not at senior level, with their age-group stars dominating the nominations.

Jeremy Thrush and Mikaele Tuu'u have both been nominated for the Under-19 Player of the Year, while outstanding centre Luke McAlister and Jerome Kaino, who helped secure the U21 World Cup for the Kiwis, will contest the U21 category.

World champions England, who have suffered a fall from the heady heights of World Cup success with five losses this season, are conspicuous by their absence in the major categories. But RWC captain Martin Johnson will be on hand to present the Team of the Year Award.

But, regardless of the results of the ceremony, it is South Africa who will have the first and the final say of the evening with the Boks' World Cup-winning fly-half Joel Stransky hosting the event.

The Awards will be held at London's Royal Lancaster Hotel, on 28 November 2004.

The full nominees and categories are as follows:

IRB Player of the Year:
Serge Betsen (FRA)
Schalk Burger (SA)
Gordon D'Arcy (IRE)
Matt Giteau (AUS)
Marius Joubert (SA)

IRB Team of the Year:
France
Portugal
South Africa

IRB Coach of the Year:
Bernard Laporte (FRA)
Tomas Morais (POR)
Gordon Tietjens (NZ Sevens)
Jake White (SA)

IRB Under 19 Player of the Year:
Fabien Cibray (FRA)
Jeremy Thrush (NZ)
Mikaele Tuu'u (NZ)

IRB Under 21 Player of the Year:
Jamie Heaslip(IRE)
Jerome Kaino (NZ)
Luke McAlister (NZ)

IRB Sevens Team of the Year:
Winner: New Zealand

IRB Sevens Player of the Year:
Simon Amor (ENG)
Ben Gollings (ENG)
Lucio Lopez Fleming (ARG)

IRB Referee Award for Distinguished Service
IRB Women's Personality of the Year
Spirit of Rugby Award
The Vernon Pugh Award for Distinguished Service
IRB Chairman's Award
IRB Development Award