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David Pocock Nominated for iRB Player of the Year
The deeds of Qantas Wallabies young guns David Pocock and Kurtley Beale have already received acclaim in Australia this season, but the star pair could receive even more accolades on the international stage after being nominated for the International Rugby Board’s prestigious Player of the Year title.
Pocock and Beale are among six nominees for the annual award, which was last year won by All Blacks skipper Richard McCaw.
The role of honour in terms of the past award winners reads like a who’s who of the game’s greats, with the Wallaby pair’s possible addition a remarkable achievement in itself, given that they are both in the relatively formative stages of their respective international careers. No Australian has won the award previously in its nine-year history.
Pocock, who won the acknowledgement of both his peers and the public when he scooped the John Eales Medal and the Australia’s Choice Player of the Year awards at last month’s Australian awards night in Sydney, has exactly doubled his tally of Test caps this year.
The 22-year-old started 2010 with 15 appearances to his name, just six of which had been starts, but on Saturday night in Paris will play his 30th international – having started in all 15 Tests played by Australia this year.
Beale has similarly enjoyed a stellar rise over the last 12 months. This weekend a year ago, Beale became the 836th Wallaby when he made his debut off the bench against Wales in Cardiff.
The 21-year-old has gone on to figure in all but two of the Tests played by Australia this year.
Saturday night against France will be his ninth consecutive start in the number 15 jersey for the Wallabies, with the run of appearances including his immortal after the final siren penalty goal from halfway against South Africa which handed Australia its first win on the South African high veldt in 47 years from 13 attempts.
Australia’s overall improvement this year has been recognised by the panel with the Qantas Wallabies one of two teams to receive two nominations for the award alongside the All Blacks, who’ve had McCaw and fullback Malili Muliaina nominated.
The other nominees are South African lock Victor Matfield and French No 8 Imanol Harinordoquy .
The winner of the award will be announced by the IRB in Dublin next Wednesday [Thursday morning, Australian time] after the selection panel convenes to sort through the merits of the short-listed nominees.
The Team of the Year and Coach of the Year awards, which are straight selections, will also be announced at this time.
Past Winners of the IRB Player of the Year Award
2001: Keith Wood (Ireland)
2002: Fabien Galthie (France)
2003: Jonny Wilkinson (England)
2004: Schalk Burger (South Africa)
2005: Daniel Carter (New Zealand)
2006: Richard McCaw (New Zealand)
2007: Bryan Habana (South Africa)
2008: Shane Williams (Wales)
2009: Richard McCaw (New Zealand)
