TOKYO: A day after winning the Rugby World Cup, South Africa won the trifecta of team, coach and men’s player of the year at the sport’s annual awards on Sunday.

England center Emily Scarratt, back playing 15s after two years of sevens, was the women’s player of the year.

Flanker Pieter-Steph du Toit received the men’s award after starting and starring in nine of the Springboks’ 11 tests this year, including the Rugby World Cup final win against England in Yokohama.

Du Toit became the first South African to win the award since 2007, when Bryan Habana earned it in the same year the Springboks last won the World Cup.

Rassie Erasmus was named top coach after leading his team of the year South Africa to a record-tying third World Cup crown after a pool defeat to the All Blacks, and a first Rugby Championship in 10 years.

When he took over in March 2018, South Africa were ranked seventh in the world but they have returned to their traditional forwards-based game with extraordinary results.

Earlier fly-half Romain Ntamack, one of the bright spots in France’s run to the quarter-finals, was named breakthrough player of the year.

Fiji’s Jerry Tuwai was men’s sevens player of the year, while Ruby Tui of New Zealand won the women’s award for the Olympic format.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2019