While the Chiefs walked away with the ultimate title, after a powerful display against the Sharks in Hamilton, there are still plenty more gongs to hand out.
Read on below to find out who was selected in the following categories:
Team of the Year, Coaches of the Year, Players of the Year, Rookies of the Year, Breath of Fresh Air Award, Individual Try of the Year, Team Try of the year, Match of the Year
THE WINNERS:
Team of the Year: Chiefs
Coaches of the Year: Mark Hammett/ Jake White
Mark Hammett's Hurricanes had lost a raft of international experience during the off-season, following well publicised disputes the year before; Ma'a Nonu, Piri Weepu, Hosea Gear, Andrew Hore and Aaron Cruden had all departed for new pastures. A new generation took their place though and quickly stamped their mark on the competition. Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, Brad Shields and TJ Perenara to name a few, gave a glimpse of the Hurricanes' future promise. Captained by the irrepressible Conrad Smith, the Canes may be ones to watch out for in 2013.
The Brumbies in contrast were more work-man like in performance proving how sometimes 'the whole can be greater than the sum of the parts'. Jake White can take some solace from the fact that his arrival in Canberra has had a hugely positive impact on a previously flagging franchise. With the signing of Wallabies' captain David Pocock for next season too, Jake White may be building something pretty special in Australian Capital Territory. A return to the glory days for the Brumbies?
Players of the Year: Will Genia (Reds), Aaron Cruden (Chiefs), Eben Etzebeth (Stormers)
Much has been said about Cruden on this blog. He confirmed his status as NZ's most impressive player in 2012, with an influential display against the Sharks in the Super 15 final. Searing breaks, offloads and tries have become the norm when watching the Palmerston North born flyhalf. Surely he must now be challenging DC for the All Blacks 10 jersey?
Etzebeth caused quite a stir for the Stormers during the early rounds of the Super 15 with some monstrous performances in the second row, and his game went from strength to strength thereafter. His massive 'see you later' on Bismark Du Plessis' was one of the sights of the season during the semi-final between the Stormers and the Sharks. Unfortunately his grunt alone wasn't enough to secure his side a place in the final.
Rookies of the Year: Michael Hooper (Brumbies), Beauden Barrett ('Canes), Marcell Coetzee (Sharks)
Michael Hooper, Beauden Barrett & Marcell Coetzee eventually got the nod though for their consistent excellency thoughout 2012. Barrett provided x-factor for the Hurricanes at fly-half, earning many new fans along the way - his Hurricanes even ended the competition as top try scorers by quite a distance under his stewardship. Hooper and Coetzee meanwhile were real dogs of war for the Brumbies and Sharks, stacking up huge numbers of tackles, carries and turnovers. By the June International window, Coetzee had even cemented his position as an incumbent Springbok backrower.
Breath of Fresh Air Award: Johan Goosen
As a side note, Goosen quite comfortably won our poll asking 'which young player had impressed the most in 2012' too, raking in 21% of the votes. He must have left quite the impression on you too, given he only played half a season!
Individual Try of the Year: Will Genia vs Chiefs
Sometimes words just can't suffice. Take a look at the little man in action and you'll be wishing that the Queenslander played for your team. Pure class from the Wallabies' scrum half.
Team Try of the Year: Johan Goosen vs Crusaders
A fantastic end to end try by the Cheetahs in week 5 got the Dumptackle seal of approval, as the ball was passed through nine pairs of hands before Johan Goosen dotted down in the corner leaving the Crusaders shellshocked. If anything summed up the free-flowing rugby espoused by Cheetah's coach Naka Drotske, this was it. Freestate rugby at it's best...
Match of the year: Hurricanes vs Chiefs (Round 18)
The Cheetahs mother of all comebacks against the Hurricanes in round 6 came a close second, but for overall quality, in a game which held so much importance for both sides, the Canes last gasp victory over the Chiefs really was Super Rugby at it's best. Both teams should be complemented for their attacking enterprise in 2012 and their round robins efforts culminated in a try feast in round 18 in Wellington. Enjoy the match in it's entireity below!
Wow, thought most of this post was pretty good but your coach of the year selection is idiotic. Hammett? Really? All he has done has taken the Canes to a Cooper's bad years position. The Canes didn't 'lose' a raft of players, Hammett either kicked them out or chased them away. The Canes were no better this year than under the previous 'culture', they won many games through the exploits of their backs.
ReplyDeleteThe coach of the year was Rennie. He did exactly what Hammett was supposed to do at the Canes. He came in, changed the culture, discarded players that didn't fit his style, had a happy team and 'won' the competition. Hammett is a rank amateur in comparison.
Your selection of Hammett as coach of the year puts you in the same boat as the Canes board who thought parachuting in Hammett was a better bet than Rennie.
The Canes might be ones to watch out for next year, Rennie's Chiefs were the ones to watch out for this year.
First of all, I don't think the tone of your comment is needed Paratene. This is a rugby blog not a football blog, so can you please show a little more respect?
DeleteAs for coach of the year,I totally agree that Dave Rennie did a fabulous job with the Chiefs. However I think he also had great support from Wayne Smith and Tom Coventry, which is why in the end I selected Hammett and White ahead of him.
It's just personal opinion. He did completely rework the squad. of that backline, Perenara, Barrett, Bateman, Savea and Taylor were all relative newbies, while the pack was pretty green too oustide of Victor Vito.