... i was shocked to hear Richie McCaw got IRB player of the year ...
[broken link removed]
I'm astounded and for once I agree with a lot of what Gerry Thornley said in his article yesterday (link above). The judges must have watched 60 hours of Richies's Greatest Hits on video to reach their decision. Although Magner's League and Heiniken Cup matches are excluded from the assessment process, their decision-making is still puzzling.
I'm just thankful none of the Boks got it. The current Boks panel must rate as the most ill-mannered, sneaky, violent and cowardly bunch ever to disgrace a rugby jersey, anywhere. After all their scumbag skullduggery, they had the temerity to cite an Irish player for violence; naturally the citing commissioner dismissed their claims out of hand.
Brussow, Burger, Peterson, Styn, Bekker & Co hang your heads in shame - you have betrayed the spirit of one of the greatest team games in the world. If you never don a rugby jersey again, I won't be sorry.
I wonder what penalties will the IRB dish out due to the Boks playing an illegal player last Saturday? See here -
Given that they judge his scrummaging by a different set of standards to that of others, it is not surprising that thus far the IRB have turned a blind eye to the 17 / 18 SA caps this Zimbabwean citizen has been illegally awarded. Even the SA Sports Ministry acknowledges that The Beast's SA citizenship has not been progressed.
Drico, you are the player of my lifetime. Maybe not getting this questionable IRB award is in fact a backhanded compliment.