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Ireland dominate World Rugby Awards
By Sam Warlow
Johnny Sexton, Joe Schmidt and the Irish national side received three of the top prizes at the World Rugby Awards in Monaco.
Named Player of the Year, Coach of the Year and Team of the Year respectively, the ceremony capped an incredible year for the men in green, which saw them lose just one match all season.
To win his award, 33-year-old Sexton beat out New Zealanders Rieko Ioane and Beauden Barrett - the latter in the running for his third consecutive award - and South Africans Faf de Klerk and Malcolm Marx.
Sexton was an instrumental part of Ireland's success in 2018, steering them to victory over Barrett and the All Blacks last weekend. His year was also highlighted by titles with Leinster in both the Pro14 and Champions Cup.
During the ceremony, Sexton was left speechless thanks to a throat infection so Ireland captain Rory Best had to deliver a speech on his behalf.
"Johnny's got too big time to speak for himself, so I'm up here to speak for him," Best joked. The hooker then read a few notes Sexton had made.
"Thank you to my teammates and coaches. If a Number 10 wins an award like this it is due to the team around him and his coaches making his job easier," he read.
"We have some of the best coaches in the world and are led superbly."
Sexton also gave a nod to the other nominees.
Sexton is just the second Irishman to win the award after hooker Keith Wood secured the top gong in 2001.
Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt edged All Blacks coach Steve Hansen and Springboks coach Rassie Erasmus to scoop the Coach of the Year award for the first time in his five-year tenure.
Ireland were also named Team of the Year after rising to number two in the World Rankings, secured a Six Nations Grand Slam - their first since 2009 - and beat the All Blacks in Ireland for the first time. Their only loss was an 18-9 defeat at the hands of Australia during their June tour.
France fullback Jessy Tremouliere was named Womens Player of the Year. She scored five tries in France's Grand Slam-winning Six Nations campaign, and was one of four French players nominated for the award alongside Black Ferns captain Fiao'o Fa'amausili.
Other major awards included Breakthrough Player of the Year, where South African winger Aphiwe Dyantyi edged inspirational All Blacks prop Karl Tu'inukuafe.
New Zealand's Michaela Blyde and the United States' Perry Baker won their respective Sevens Player of the Year awards, both for the second year in a row.
Brodie Retallick's now-famous dummy and score against Australia was awarded Try of the Year.
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Latest Comments
No he's just limited in what he can do. Like Scott Robertson. And Eddie Jones.
Sometimes it doesn't work out so you have to go looking for another national coach who supports his country and believes in what he is doing. Like NZ replacing Ian Foster. And South Africa bringing Erasmus back in to over see Neinbar.
This is the real world. Not the fantasy oh you don't need passion for your country for international rugby. Ask a kiwi, or a south african or a frenchman.
Go to commentsDont complain too much or start jumping to conclusions.
Here in NZ commentators have been blabbing that our bottom pathway competition the NPC (provincial teams only like Taranaki, Wellington etc)is not fit for purpose ie supplying players to Super rugby level then they started blabbing that our Super Rugby comp (combined provincial unions making up, Crusaders, Hurricanes, etc) wasn't good enough without the South African teams and for the style SA and the northern powers play at test level.
Here is what I reckon, Our comps are good enough for how WE want to play rugby not how Ireland, SA, England etc play. Our comps are high tempo, more rucks, mauls, running plays, kicks in play, returns, in a game than most YES alot of repetition but that builds attacking skillsets and mindsets. I don't want to see world teams all play the same they all have their own identity and style as do England (we were scared with all this kind of talk when they came here) World powerhouse for a reason, losses this year have been by the tiniest of margins and could have gone either way in alot of games. Built around forward power and blitz defence they have got a great attack Wingers are chosen for their Xfactor now not can they chase up and unders all day. Stick to your guns its not far off
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