New Zealand captain Richie McCaw said he was honoured after picking up the IRB Player of the Year award for a second time.

The International Rugby Board admitted the race for the award had been the "most closely contested" since its inception in 2001.

The nomination of McCaw had also left many observers scratching their heads since the All Blacks skipper had missed large chunks of the season and his side were beaten to the Tri-Nations title by world champions South Africa.

He fought off stiff competition from the likes of Brian O'Driscoll, who led Ireland to a first Grand Slam in 51 years and won the European Cup with Leinster, and Fourie du Preez, the doughty South African scrum-half who won the Super 14 with the Bulls and was instrumental in his country's series defeat of the British and Irish Lions and Tri-Nations triumph.

Despite that, McCaw has rebounded from injury to cement his place as world rugby's top openside flanker, a skillful ball handler who is immensely physical and not afraid of pushing his own body or the interpretation of the breakdown laws to the absolute limit.

"On behalf of the All Blacks players and management, we congratulate Richie on receiving this award," All Blacks coach Graham Henry said.

"He is the leader of our team, shows a huge amount of character and commitment both on and off the field and is truly deserving of this honour.

"Richie was outstanding (against France) and to be named world player of the year is a special achievement."

McCaw, who became the third most capped All Black of all time when he won his 80th cap leading his side to a 39-12 rout of France here on Friday, was awarded his first IRB accolade in 2006.

"It is a huge honour," he said. "I am extremely proud. I am just happy to be part of a team doing well.

"I am happy to do my bit, but it is a great honour. I've said it before, you can't do it without a bunch of mates. It has been a trying year at times, but it is great to be part of a winning team."

"In team sport it's hard to pick one guy out (but) to be singled out is a special honour.

"You can't pick up awards like that without a team that's special.

"I'm proud to be part of that but your mates alongside you that deserve some credit as well."

Jock Hobbs, chairman of the New Zealand Rugby Union, said: "This award is a truly fitting recognition for Richie who this year has again shown himself to be a world-class player.

"He is an inspiration to other players as well as rugby fans in New Zealand and around the world."

The IRB said that McCaw had received the award "despite the end of New Zealand's four-year reign as Tri Nations champions".

"The flanker led by example, producing a series of outstanding individual performances while driving his team to a clean sweep of November test victories."

IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset admitted it had not been easy to sort the nominees, who also included Ireland No 8 Jamie Heaslip, Springbok Francois Steyn, England's Tom Croft and Australia fly-half Matt Giteau.

"There is no doubt that this was a particularly closely-fought year with each of the shortlisted players producing outstanding performances," Lapasset said.

"Richie is an inspirational figure, a fine leader and one of the greats of the Game in recent years, and a deserving recipient of the IRB Player of the Year Award for the second time."

The IRB also named Tri-Nations champions South Africa as Team of the Year and Ireland's Declan Kidney the IRB Coach of the Year at Croke Park following his Six Nations-winning side's 15-10 win over the Springboks.

AFP

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