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2007-10-22 19:34:03
The United States’ Takudzwa Ngwenya out paced Springbok Bryan Habana, Wallaby Drew Mitchell, Shane Williams' of Wales and a host of others to earn the Try of the Year Award.
The try was a brilliant solo try by any standard, but it was made truly world class by the context. The try came at the hands of a rank amateur who, despite the odds, absolutely shook out of his boots the best winger in world rugby and then beat him in a foot race. It was remarkable.
After taking the pass on the wing, Zee exploited the space left between himself and opposite wing Brian Habana to make a quick stutter step that seemed to nail Habana down where he stood. After that the US wing simply turned the corner on the South African wing and made a foot race out of it to the try line.
Normally Habana would make an absolute fool of any one trying to out speed him, but it was not to be. After a desperate try at an ankle tap from Habana, Zee was left centering the ball in the try zone. The US winger had just out shook and out sped the supposedly shakiest and speediest wing in the game. The result was a true David and Goliath story worthy of the greatest try of the tournament.
Habana did not go away empty handed from the awards platform as he was left on the attempted tackle. The Springbok winger was named the International Rugby Board's player of the year while Champions South Africa was named team of the year, and Jake White took the honors as top coach.
The winners were selected by an independent panel of judges that was made up of former internationals, with every Test from the start of the RBS Six Nations to the World Cup final taken into account.