The 2010 keo.co.za awards
7 Dec 2010
JON CARDINELLI and RYAN VREDE rate the real winners and losers of the 2010 season.
THE HEROES
Springbok Rookie of the Year – Francois Hougaard featured on the Boks’ 2009 end-of-year tour, but his first real opportunity arrived on the home leg of the 2010 Tri-Nations. Unfortunately, he wasn’t allowed to build on some impressive showings with more starting opportunities on the Grand Slam tour with Ruan Pienaar preferred at No 9. One player who did make the most of every opportunity, however limited, was Willem Alberts. The Sharks flanker followed up a fantastic Currie Cup with some rousing cameos against Wales, Scotland and England, and was awarded his first start against the Barbarians. Expect Alberts to be a regular in the Bok match 22 next season.
One for the Future Award – Another player who didn’t receive as many opportunities as he should have was Pat Lambie. Coach Peter de Villiers has clearly shown his hand ahead of the World Cup, with Morne Steyn the premier option at flyhalf. Lambie’s time may be post-2011, and judging by his offerings in the 2010 Super 14 and Currie Cup competitions, it promises to be an exciting time indeed.
Most Consistent Domestic Player – Uncompromisingly aggressive and underrated as a running No 8, Duane Vermeulen personified the hard edge of the revitalised Stormers in 2010. That he didn’t make the Boks’ touring squad was an absolute travesty.
Mighty Mouse Award – Australasians James O’Connor and Israel Dagg compensate for their lack of size with an ability to dazzle, and Gio Aplon falls into the same category. These three players, along with several other pint-sized dynamos, have brought the flair back to rugby.
Best Try of the Year – The most unforgettable moment of 2010 didn’t occur on the Test stage, but on that of the trendsetting Super 14. The Stormers had been criticised for their conservative style in the earlier rounds, but embraced a more open style in their fixtures against the Blues and Chiefs. The latter game witnessed the best try of the year, the ball travelling through 11 pairs of hands from the Stormers’ 22 to the Chiefs’ end-zone. Bryan Habana was the man to finish, but it was an inspirational example of team-work.
Biggest Hit of the Year – Alberts’ brutal tackle on Schalk Burger in the Currie Cup final is a close contender, but for sheer, game-defining ferocity, the best hit of 2010 goes to Danie Rossouw for his tackle on Lionel Nallet in the 42-17 win over France. Referee Bryce Lawrence stopped the game to check with his touch judge regarding the legality of Rossouw’s tackle, while Nallet was swarmed by French medical personnel. It was a hit that set the tone for the Boks’ physical dominance.
Coach of the Year – Within South Africa, there are some outstanding coaches. John Plumtree guided the Sharks to their second domestic title in three years, and Frans Ludeke helped the Bulls to their second consecutive Super 14 trophy. But internationally, there was only one coach in 2010. Graham Henry will be disappointed with the loss to Australia in Hong Kong, a defeat that halted the All Blacks’ march towards the world record for the most consecutive Test wins. On the other hand, the All Blacks went undefeated in the Tri-Nations and cruised to yet another Grand Slam.
Test Team of the Year – These achievements confirmed the All Blacks as the trendsetters of world rugby, and the team to beat in 2011. Some may suggest that they’ve peaked, but the All Blacks have struck an intimidating balance between running, kicking and mustering the physicality needed to quell traditional powerhouses like South Africa and England.
Test Player of the Year – While Schalk Burger should have won the SA Player of the Year award for his consistent performances in a struggling Bok team, he wasn’t even the second-best Test flanker in 2010. None of those nominated for the IRB’s Player of the Year award, not even David Pocock, came close to the eventual winner, Richie McCaw. In a year where a fetcher’s prominence was supposedly limited, McCaw retained his game-swinging penchant for dominating the breakdowns. As long as he’s fit, the All Blacks’ threat is enhanced.
Living Up to the Hype Award – If there were sub-categories for this award, it could be said that Pierre Spies, after four years, has finally lived up to the hype as an impressive physical specimen. The Bok No 8 delivered his most physical performances on the recent tour, and will be asked to carry this form through to the Super Rugby tournament. It will be interesting to see how Sonny Bill Williams fares in this competition, having dominated the home unions during New Zealand’s Grand Slam tour. His strength and ability to offload in the tackle gives the All Blacks something extra, and Williams certainly lived up to the pre-tour hype. He will, however, be up against better defensive teams in Super Rugby, so a greater test of his ability awaits.
Special mention to All Blacks’ flyhalf Dan Carter for breaking Jonny Wilkinson’s all-time point scoring record. Carter may move to France after the 2011 World Cup, which means he has at least another season to add to his impressive Test tally of 1 188 points.
THE VILLAINS
The Foot in Mouth Award – Who else but Peter de Villiers? He began the madness by intimating that referees were favouring New Zealand in the Tri-Nations because it was in the interest of the World Cup to have a successful host team. That earned him the tag of ‘clown’ by rugby pundit Brendan Cannon, who was later forced to apologise. He then spoke on behalf of the Springboks (they hadn’t even discussed the issue) when he told the world that they supported alleged cop killer Bees Roux. De Villiers also instructed conditioning coach Neels Liebel to tell the media that John Smit and Ricky Januarie (among others) were in optimum condition. Two weeks later he said Smit didn’t know what it was like to feel good anymore. De Villiers ended a surreal year by declaring himself pleased with results in 2010. ‘It has been a brilliant year, one of the best in my life,’ he said, referring to a season where they relinquished the Tri-Nations title (winning just one Test) and losing to Scotland to end their Grand Slam dreams. ‘The scoreboard wasn’t good for us but that was the only thing.’
The Sultans of Spin Accolade – The English media for talking their team up from world chumps to world champs after an impressive performance against Australia. The broadsheets were filled with former players and coaches talking about them as serious contenders in New Zealand next year. They were then physically smashed by the Boks and normal service resumed, with the press inventing new words and phrases to describe the incompetence of their team.
The Biggest Fall from Grace - Earl Rose was a midweek Springbok in 2009, now he can’t get a Super 14 contract with the Cheetahs and looks destined for club rugby if he doesn’t move to a First Division union. Peter de Villiers likened his talent to that of Ruan Pienaar’s, but the likelihood of a European giant snapping up Rose, like Ulster did with Pienaar, is remote. He just isn’t good enough despite what De Villiers would like us to believe.
This is a job for Debra Patta… In 2009 referee Jonathan Kaplan was widely acknowledged as the world’s best official. A year later, he couldn’t get a high-profile game. It baffles how a referee can regress so quickly. Nobody at Sanzar or the IRB will provide answers and Kaplan refuses to discuss the issue. Something’s not right here.
The Hollywood Award – Springbok Sevens and Bulls player Deon Helberg for faking his own death in a plot so intriguing Hollywood soap-opera scriptwriters were in awe. Helberg got his assassins, who were allegedly hired by the 47-year-old Manda Reyneke (mother of his ex-girlfriend) to kill him but disclosed the plan to Helberg and police, to MMS a pic of his dead body to her. The Hawks swooped on the 47-year-old following her alleged approval of the pic, but she was later released on R5000 bail (R5000!) and ordered to attend a mental institution. Allegedly Reyneke sent approximately 2000 SMSs to the Nigerian hit men – some of those threatening to kill them if they didn’t complete the job. One such SMS, sent to one of the men at 17:10 on November 11, reads: ‘Be scared, be very afraid you have done me in and wrong with lies. You have never shot anybody the other night. That was revealed by the candle of truth.’ Another reads: ‘The shaman [a messenger between the human world and the spirit world] says I must wash my car with the blood; of a chicken… CHARLATAN – you charged very much silver for no service.’ Helberg told the media that he had never been intimately involved with Reyneke but suspected that she was reacting to him breaking up with her model daughter. The 21-year-old is in hiding for fear of the second assassination attempt. You just can’t make this stuff up.
Dirtiest Attempt at a Moustache – There were some classics in Movember, but Jean de Villiers’s doesn’t rank among them. The blond face fur made him look like a character from My Name is Earl. Best you stick to the clean-shaven upper lip, Jean.
Burgeoning Bromance – Anyone who follows Quade Cooper, James O’Connor and Kurtley Beale on Twitter will be familiar with their banter, often when they are in the same room. The trio spends most of their free time together when in camp with the Wallabies and are back on the social network shortly after full-time congratulating or commiserating with each other. It would be cute if they were seven-year-olds. Now it’s just disturbing.
* Click here to read Ryan Vrede’s thoughts on Luke Watson’s decision to move from Bath to the Kings.
815 Comments
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8 Dec 2010, 10:31 am
@stormersboy : Or even “Kidnap and Ransom” insurance…
8 Dec 2010, 10:31 am
@coherence : like Xhosaboy, Flying the flag high and demonstrating without doubt the World leading expertise of SA based “ecos” experts in post hoc farking fallacy… A=B B=C therefore A must equal C…. Damn fine Post hoc excellence! Noddy badge for Nobel standard “argument from final consequence”….
8 Dec 2010, 10:38 am
@Transformation :
I’m telling you my brother from an african mother, there are many parallels between the two countries…
as our Msanzi crooks get more sophisticated they will follow their latin cousins…
8 Dec 2010, 10:40 am
@stormersboy :
Kidnap and Grandson insurance?
keep it in the family
8 Dec 2010, 11:14 am
@gunther : Go away!!!!
8 Dec 2010, 11:19 am
@XhosaKid :
ultra highnet worth individual….
I thought that would grate your balls
junior gravy trainer
8 Dec 2010, 12:06 pm
@gunther : I wish I was inside the train chief, maybe if I was an UHNW individual, I wouldnt have this stupid conscience that keeps bugging me, surely a few 100m’s dull down the senses
8 Dec 2010, 12:10 pm
@XhosaKid :
I’ll speak to Maevis to see what she can do.
Maybe we will cut you in on our tender to sell parachutes to the military.
8 Dec 2010, 12:25 pm
@coherence : You most certainly did have agitators and extremists in those 2 buddy!
Besides the IRA guys that WP mentioned in #553 ( @WESTERN PROVINCE – SOUTH AFRICA’S BENCHMARK SINCE 1883), there was also the Northern Irish Unionists like Ian Paisley, and undoubtedly the same antoagonists as the other European countries faced – Fascists, Marxists, Anarchists and so on.
In Germany’s case, Communism was the new vogue and there was huge pressure from the Soviet Union, there was the Baader-Meinhoff gang and so on.
I do agree with you that there was probably a difference in the education level for the majority of population, but I dont buy that as an excuse either.
You do not need to go to school to know that it is WRONG to rape (and especially old women and small children!), that it is WRONG to kill – primitive societies with no “education” still know this. I would even go as far as to say that in primitive societies crimes like that would not happen.
While Xhosa’s post @XhosaKid is very valid and can explain the generations of degradation and dehumanisation that non-white populations had to go through in SA. It can also explain crime such as shoplifting, stealing a car radio, stealing washing, even unarmed housebreaking (motive to feed and clothe family) I dont believe it can be used to excuse or explain some of the horrendous crime South Africa faces.
@XhosaKid : Hey! Xhosa, I would like to think my post #550 attempted to deal with it and try and understand it, but offer another view on it.
I certainly do not think you are being racist in your posts man – your posts are often very good and insightful. Just because a few guys call you racist doesnt mean ALL the Muppits do.
Have you replied to my #550 post? I cant see a reply…?
8 Dec 2010, 14:11 pm
@THEBokFan : And on this subject – a good article from a victim of abuse and perpetrator himself www(dot)women24(dot)com/Wellness/BodyAndSpirit/My-violent-past-20101207
(dot) = .
Confirms some of my points and confirms some of Xhosa’s too
8 Dec 2010, 14:44 pm
@THEBokFan : Just read it, its on point!!!, just wish many South Africans would open up their minds to what we have to do to make this country work.
8 Dec 2010, 18:29 pm
@wallabie. : 764 – Howzit Walla,
Yes, Oz has been the best in crici for many years, since about 1994 around about from then.
Look I enjoy the Aussies a lot, they great people irrespective of what people think here, have had plenty good laughs with some of the Aussies over there and here. But I don’t enjoy losing to Oz in any sport…lol. So when Oz lost and the Oz guys here on business yesterday taking it so bad, I just had to smile. Cause Oz has beaten us plenty in crici. So kinda know the feeling buddy.
I also don’t doubt they will be back. Oz have plenty talent can’t see them staying down for long. For now it is our turn, India and SA. Really looking forward to our summer cricket coming up.
8 Dec 2010, 22:02 pm
Saw Hoskins arbing around The Pavilion in Durban today. He looked like he was loitering, in his baggy t-shirt and casual pants. Very suspicious.
9 Dec 2010, 07:41 am
Merry Xmas to one and all.Be safe.
9 Dec 2010, 13:30 pm
@XhosaKid : Thanks for the comment mfuwethu, and I totally agree – Saffas need to open their minds to other points of view. This does mean ALL Saffas from AWB, to Malema, to the 4×4 driving Sandton Mommy who doesnt think she is racist because she gives her maid her old clothes, to the Taxi driver who pushes into the traffic queue, to the coloured guy who supports the All Blacks, to the businessman who wonders why “the blacks burnt down their own schools” in the 80s. EVERYONE!
I agree it will go a loooong way to sorting out this country and getting it to reach its potential.
If you go into politics, let me know – you got my vote.
Peace out and Merry Christmas
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