Black Ferns rated the best
New Zealand Rugby boss Steve Tew says the Black Ferns have earned their world rugby recognition becoming the first women’s team to be crowned World Rugby Team of the Year.
Chief executive Tew congratulated the Black Ferns on their historic success as well as the individual efforts of star Black Fern Portia Woodman and All Blacks Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane who received awards.
Beauden Barrett was yesterday named World Rugby’s player of the year for the second straight season at the World Rugby Awards in Monaco. The 26-year-old from Taranaki first won the award in 2016, and backed up his stellar campaign with another in 2017.
His success came as New Zealand’s women cleaned up in their awards, with the Black Ferns winning team of the year, Portia Woodman winning women’s player of the year and Michaela Blyde winning women’s sevens player of the year.
Having won the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2017, New Zealand’s Black Ferns edged the likes of England’s men for the team of the year award..
‘‘The Black Ferns have earned their place as the world’s best team - and to be the first women’s team to win team of the year is a fitting tribute to their talent, dedication and hard work. This has been an outstanding year for our women’s rugby teams, and the international recognition that our players and teams have received is totally deserved,’’ Tew said.
‘‘The Black Ferns win of the Women’s World Cup was a truly inspiration effort, and the final against England was one of the most exciting games of rugby I’ve seen.
‘‘I know that their success will lead to the continued growth of the women’s game and I look forward to seeing more women and girls follow in the footsteps of this outstanding Black Ferns team.’’
2017 was a special year for Woodman who ended the tournament as top try scorer with 13 tries, including eight in a match.
‘‘Beauden Barrett is a special player who has achieved the rare feat of winning player of the year for the second year in a row. He has stepped up into a leadership role, captaining the team for the first time, all the while running in six tries and notching up 168 test points over the course of the year.’’
Portia Woodman and Kelly Brazier were on hand to collect the award, with both up for women’s player of the year after their outstanding form at the World Cup.
Dan Carter presented the player of the year award, with Woodman claiming the top gong.
Rieko Ioane has won World Rugby’s breakthrough player of the year award. Tew said Ioane has been a revelation to the All Blacks this year.
‘‘For someone so young he has demonstrated a calm head and huge degree of maturity in his game, which has gone from strength to strength. He’s been a tryscoring machine, dotting down 10 times this year in 11 tests.’’
The 20-year-old All Blacks winger has been a standout in 2017, and is also up for the men’s player of the year gong. He was presented the breakthrough award by fellow Player of the Year nominee and All Blacks team mate Beauden Barrett.
Asked what he would need to do to continue his stunning form in 2018 and beyond, Ioane said he simply needed to ‘‘trust the process’’.
England coach Eddie Jones beat Steve Hansen and Warren Gatland to win the coach of the year award.
When asked about winning the award, Jones said Hansen should have won the trophy. ‘‘I feel a bit embarrassed because we’re not the number one team in the world. Steve Hansen should be up here.’’
Richie Mccaw has won the International Rugby Players Association special merit award.
The award was presented by 2016 winner Jean de Villiers of South Africa. It is given to showcase Mccaw’s continued services to rugby and his charity work since retirement.
The women’s sevens player of the year award was given to New Zealand Women’s Sevens team flyer Michaela Blyde. The Bay of Plenty winger scored 40 tries during the World Series.
She pipped team-mate Ruby Tui for the award.
All Blacks backs Beauden Barrett and Rieko Ioane were up for the top individual honour, the player of the year award. Ioane was also up for the breakthrough player of the year award.
Barrett and Ioane were up against Wallabies fullback Israel Folau and England stars Maro Itoje and Owen Farrell as finalists for the men’s player of the year award. Up for the top women’s award were Black Ferns stars Kelly Brazier and Portia Woodman.