Lee Coan wrote this article.
After Certificate-gate, we went all out.
It has been discussed, 2011 was a massive year for rugby. I worked out that I attended 11 Super Rugby matches and 19 Test matches in 9 different venues. I only mention that to illustrate how much rugby there actually was last year (and brag a little). It is important to quantify the amount of rugby in the calendar though as the player who you chose as Player of the Year for 2011 played almost as many minutes as I watched.
So let’s dive straight in and countdown to the winner.
Game 1: Australia v Samoa
Kurtley Beale – 3pts, Digby Ioane – 2pts, Will Genia – 1pt
Game 2: Australia v South Africa
Will Genia – 3pts, James Horwill – 2pts, Digby Ioane – 1pt
Game 3: New Zealand v Australia
James Horwill – 3pts, Digby Ioane – 2pts, Will Genia – 1pt
Game 4: South Africa v Australia
James Horwill – 3pts, Stephen Moore – 2pts, Rocky Elsom – 1pt
Game 5: Australia v New Zealand
Will Genia – 3pts, Radike Samo – 2pts, Dan Vickerman – 1pt
At the conclusion of the Tri-Nations Australia had become the Tri-nations champions for ever. At this point James Horwill had not only taken over the Captaincy but also streaked into the lead, tying with Will Genia on 8 points and Digby Ioane was closing on 5 points. Interestingly, last year’s POTY David Pocock hadn’t even earned a point. How would the World Cup change things?
Game 6: Australia v Italy
David Pocock – 3pts, Digby Ioane – 2pts, Radike Samo – 1pt
Game 7: Australia v Ireland
Kurtley Beale – 3pts, Will Genia – 2pts, James O’Connor – 1pt
Game 8: Australia v USA
Adam Ashley-Cooper – 3pts, Berrick Barnes – 2pts, Nathan Sharpe – 1pt
Game 9: Australia v Russia
David Pocock – 3pts, Berrick Barnes – 2pts, Luke Burgess – 1pt
Game 10: Australia v South Africa
David Pocock – 3pts, James O’Connor – 2pts, James Horwill – 1pt
Game 11: Australia v New Zealand
David Pocock – 3pts, James O’Connor – 2pts, Digby Ioane – 1pt
Game 12: Australia v Wales
Berrick Barnes – 3pts, James Slipper – 2pts, James O’Connor – 1pt
End of the Rugby World Cup David Pocock had made a great run to lead the voting on 12 points. Will Genia was keeping in touch with 10 points and James Horwill was only a Man of the Match performance away on 9 points. All up, it was down to our European tour match against Wales to decide the winner. And some people said that match was a waste of time!
Game 13 Wales v Australia
Berrick Barnes – 3pts, Will Genia – 2pts, Adam Ashley-Cooper – 1pt
The conclusion of the season meant not only a well-deserved break, but also we knew who our winner was. Or did we?
Count-back
A trophy AND bubble wrap…
For the First time in the history of the G&GR Player of the Year award two players were tied for points at the end of the year. A count back was needed as David Pocock and Will Genia had both finished on 12 points. As we […]
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