Following the semi’s this weekend and given the nominations for awards around the corner, I wondered if a new category should not be included?
Guys like JJ Harmse might be perplexed by some of the nominations for the up and coming SA Rugby Awards but I believe the categories do not actually serve some of the most telling contributions by certain individuals.
For starters, player of the year means less to me than player’s player of the year nominations as the true judge of your ability should not come from administrators or journalists, but your direct peers.
In fact, did we ever see a tighthead prop receive the player of the year award?
When speaking to rugby players you find that most believe man of the match awards and player of the year awards are not always a true reflection of the contributions of certain individuals.
I have almost no doubt Fourie du Preez will receive the player of the year award. And although there is no doubting his ability and the fact that he is the best scrumhalf in the world right now, I wonder if the award of South Africa’s ‘best player’ is really down to his influence on the teams he represented, or more to the fact that he has no equal when judged against other players in the same position – almost like there is so much daylight between him and the next guy he just has to be the best player on the planet.
Perhaps he deserves it based on those ground, I am certainly not going to dispute it, but there is another player who in my view had the biggest impact and biggest influence in just about every single game he played this year.
It is also difficult to debate whether the Bulls and the Boks would not have achieved they success if Fourie was not present. There is a strong case for that but all the arguments would have been subjective, as we will never know.
What became clear to me however on Saturday is the immense influence one man had both for the Bulls and the Boks this year.
Do you think there is more truth in the statement that: “Without Fourie we might still have achieved success at the Bulls and Boks, but without X we would not have”?
I suppose it depends on who X is?
Well the more I think about it and the more I look back, the more I start to believe that a massive influence on both the Bulls and Boks’ success in 2009 was none other than one Mr. Morné Steyn.
On Saturday one guy remarked that next time we see Steyn, we should check for a pulse because they believe this guy has no nerves or any emotion no matter what the situation. He is simply calculated and deadly.
Another story I heard in the post-match presser was one where Morné missed a conversion in one of the tests this year where the game was already won comfortably. After the match the guy was apparently incensed at the fact that he could have missed that kick…
The difference on Saturday between WP and the Blue Bulls was Morné Steyn. Perhaps as much as the difference between the Boks and B&I Lions in Pretoria was the same guy, and the difference between the All Blacks and Aussies and the Boks was again, none other than Mr. Steyn.
Oh and let’s not forget the Bulls Super 14 campaign now either…
Morné might not be a Dan Carter, whereas Fourie du Preez can be mentioned in the same class as a scrumhalf as Carter is to flyhalf, but does that make Fourie more influential than what Morné was in 2009?
I don’t think so.
Perhaps the only way around this is to create a category of most influential player of the year?
But for my money, the guy that was the difference between his team winning and losing, was Morné Steyn, which makes him SA most valuable player for 2009 in my books.
@Puma – Puma, I am in two minds at the moment. If he has a full time commitment it would be great. He is a serious person which I like. Overall, I think it is great.
60@bdb –
see #34
@Ed_the_Lion – 61
I am in two minds about it too. Just because he is backline coach for the Boks and will be very busy doing two jobs. He also lives in Umhlanga and the travel will be another thing for him. Going back and forward from Joburg and Umhlanga.
Still just have this feeling he is going to get the Lions right back up there where they should be. They my 2nd team so also hoping it turns out great for them next year.
@Ashley – 62
LOL. Ash you speak in Chinese now? hehe. Think it is Chinese not sure..LOL.
62@Ashley – mooi, jy is ‘n goeie verloorder ! 😉
@bdb – Hello BDLeeu. Baie geluk met jou span. Ek is neutraal vir die finaal.
@Puma – He has a rugby brain. That is for sure. I am just very happy it is not Frans Ludeke. 🙂
Mirrag gomtorre em leeus!!!
@Ed_the_Lion – 67
He was good for the Sharks when he came in to coach. Hope he does it for the Lions too.
Don’t think Ludeke will be leaving the Bulls while they are winning so much with him.
@Ed_the_Lion –
Nee man! Skree bietjie Bulle!!
@K9-MonsterLeeu – 68
Afternoon to you K9
Hoop die Cheetahs wen lekker die naweek.
@Supa Die Bloubul – Hello Supa genius. hehehe. Nee man. Ek sal ‘n coin flip vir die finaal.
Middag K9 Koning Meester Leeu.
40@Die Valk – Ek gaan nie meer Voldy toe nie, stel eenvoudig nie belang nie.
Wat ek wel weet is dat armsalige siele daar, wat nie hier blog nie, hulle uiterste bes probeer om hierdie webwerf te diskrediteer… maar eintlik net daarin slaag om mense bewus te maak van ons webwerf.
Bloggers hier is vry mense en ek voel ek kan NET VOORSKRYF WAT HIER BEHOORT TE GEBEUR. Ek kan nie ‘n persoon AANSê wat hy elders mag doen en wat hy nie mag doen nie. Ek is niemand hier se Pa nie, behalwe my seun BonzaiGBS s’n natuurlik.
Ek het al verskeie kere hier gemaan dat die ouens moet ophou om HIER oor die goed op Voldy te praat, wat hulle kwansuis daar aanvang ensovoorts.
Ons is op ons eie hier en om die eerlike waarheid te sê het ons niks vandaar nodig nie!
Daar’s enkele mense daar wat ek graag hier sal wil sien, maar ek sal self nooit daar gaan werf of krap nie. Hulle sal wel op hul eie oorkom soos tyd verloop.
Dit gaan voorspoedig hier, die gees is goed, die site hol…
Kom ek stel dit nou sommer onomwonde… nie ek of Pietman of Ed of die mense waaraan ek naby beweeg maak moles daar nie…. ek weet ook nie wie nicks steel daar nie. Ek bevorder nie moles daar of sweep dit op nie, netso verwag ek dat die fokkers wat my persoonlik daar anderkant beledig hulle in die vervolg daarvan sal weerhou, hulle is besig met gevaarlike speletjies daar en soek vir kak wat liewer kon gebly het!
Die fiet dat Voldy se lot steeds vol kinderkak, stryery en politiek daar is, moet hulle maar op hulleself blameer!
Dis juis as gevolg van die kinderagtelike snert daar dat ons weg is en hier ‘n sukses maak!
Daar het jy dit.
@Supa Die Bloubul – 70
Okay I said if for the Cheetahs and now will say it for the Bulls but only once….hehehe. Then I am neutral for the final.
BULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
73@Ed_the_Lion –
Daai coin gaan reg val…so skree solank Bulle!!!
@grootblousmile –
Stem, Voldy se dinges. Laat hulle op hulle eie aangaan. Dink die mense vat blogging regtig te ernstig op.
76@Puma –
Nice one Puma!!!! My respect for you has just trippled!
72@K9-MonsterLeeu – Ctahs kan gerus hierdie naweek wen, solank die BB net die naweek daarna wen. Deal ?
79@Supa Die Bloubul – supa, net ‘n kwessie van tyd dat al hierdie closet Bulls ondersteuners uit die kaste klim. 🙂
Ek het gehoor ou K9 sing glo lekker saam op Loftus, is dit waar ?
@Supa Die Bloubul – 79
Thanks. Trippled…Have to say it again then only one more time then that is it. Neutral after that.
BULLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. Okay have to give Cheetahs another one too then.
VRYSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT.
Now need a smiley……BIG SMILEY FACE……hehehe.
Okay everyone out of here now.
Enjoy your evening. Catch up tomorrow.
81@bdb –
Ja, hy het uit volle bors gesing. Maar nou blameer hy drank, groepsdruk en dinge. Maar ek weet hy het dit geniet.
76,
Traitor…
gbs,
Dankie vir die antwoord, dit is ‘n jammerte.
Geniet regtig die site, good luck (tot ‘n mate) vir die finaal.
82@Puma –
Bwahaha Puma. Just when you reached the the maximum respect from me, you threw half of it away with that ‘Vrystaat’ comment…lol
@bdb – Hy sing “Staan ek vanaand so alleen”. Los K9 uit asseblief. Hy is my leer meester en rugby kenner. As jy wil persoonlik raak doen dit met my. hehehehe
83@Puma –
Cheers Puma!
Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuullllllllllllllllllllllllllllsssssssssssssssssssssss!
@Puma – Cheers Puma.
ed,
Ja, laat hom maar weet, maar ek wil nie hom slegse of iets nie. Was nie my bedoeling nie. Ek weet net nie of hy bewus is van wat hy doen nie. ‘n Jammerte
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