Ha guidato gli Springboks in un anno che li ha visti trionfare 10 volte in 12 incontri, ha ricevuto il premio anche per la Supersport Try of the Year ed è solo il sesto giocatore sudafricano ad essere premiato più volte come giocatore dell’anno – davanti a tutti c’è un certo Naas Botha, premiato quattro volte; insomma non ci sono molti dubbi che Jean De Villiers si meriti il riconoscimento di SA player of the year.
Nella stessa occasione è stato premiato, per la seconda volta consecutiva, Eben Etzebeth come il miglior giovane sudafricano dell’anno.
Questo il riassunto dei premi consegnati nella serata:
SARU Rugby Player of the Year
Winner: Jean de Villiers
Finalists: Bismarck du Plessis, Eben Etzebeth, Willie le Roux, Duane Vermeulen
Absa Young Player of the Year
Winner: Eben Etzebeth
Finalists: Pieter-Steph du Toit, Cheslin Kolbe, Siya Kolisi, Jan Serfontein
SARPA Players’ Player of the Year: Willie le Roux (Springboks, Toyota Cheetahs, GWK Griquas)
Springbok Sevens Player of the Year
Winner: Cornal Hendricks
Finalists: Frankie Horne, Seabelo Senatla
SA Under-20 Player of the Year
Winner: Cheslin Kolbe
Finalists: Jacques du Plessis, Seabelo Senatla
Absa Team of the Year
Winner: Steval Pumas
Finalists: The Sharks (Absa Currie Cup), Springboks
Absa Coach of the Year
Winner: Jimmy Stonehouse (Steval Pumas, SA President’s XV)
Finalists: Heyneke Meyer (Springboks), Brendan Venter (The Sharks)
Vodacom Super Rugby Player of the Year
Winner: Adriaan Strauss (Toyota Cheetahs)
Finalists: Willie le Roux (Toyota Cheetahs), Duane Vermeulen (DHL Stormers)
Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year
Winner: Scarra Ntubeni (DHL Western Province)
Finalists: Cheslin Kolbe (DHL Western Province), Fred Zeilinga (The Sharks)
Absa Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year
Winner: Rosko Specman (Steval Pumas)
Finalists: Alshaun Bock (SWD Eagles), Tiger Mangweni (EP Kings)
Vodacom Cup Player of the Year
Winner: Fred Zeilinga (Sharks XV)
Finalists: Marnitz Boshoff (Golden Lions), Rosko Specman (Steval Pumas)
Supersport Try of the Year
Winner: Jean de Villiers (Springboks v Wales in Cardiff)
Finalists: Zane Kirchner (Springboks v Australia, Cape Town), Bryan Habana (Springboks v New Zealand, Johannesburg), JP Pietersen (Springboks v Scotland, Edinburgh), Jano Vermaak (Vodacom Bulls v Southern Kings, Port Elizabeth), Lwazi Mvovo (The Sharks v Highlanders, Dunedin), Pat Lambie (The Sharks v Vodacom Bulls, Pretoria), Riaan Smit (Toyota Free State Cheetahs v Vodacom Blue Bulls, Pretoria), Rocco Jansen (GWK Griquas v Golden Lions, Johannesburg), Gio Aplon (DHL Western Province v The Sharks, Cape Town).
Marriott Referee Award: Jonathan Kaplan
Women’s Achiever of the Year: Zenay Jordaan (Eastern Province)
Cell C Community Cup Player of the Tournament: Giovano Fourie (GAP Management Despatch)
Coca-Cola Craven Week Player of the Tournament: Grant Hermanus (Western Province)
