England flyhalf Jonny Wilkinson was voted top international rugby player of 2003 by his peers, while New Zealand won the team of the year award despite being ousted in the semifinals of the World Cup.
Wilkinson, who also won the award bestowed by the International Rugby Players Association last year, will play a critical role in England’s bid to beat defending champion Australia in Saturday’s World Cup final in Sydney.
The awards were announced on Tuesday.
Players from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Ireland, Wales and England voted for the awards on a 3-2-1 basis for each international Test from October 1 2002 until September 31. The voting period didn’t include any matches in the World Cup, which started on October 10.
All Blacks winger Joe Rokocoko was named young newcomer of the year, well clear of teammate Jerry Collins, South Africa’s Ashwin Willemse and Australia’s Lote Tuqiri. In the team of the year category, New Zealand earned 316 points to beat England (295), Argentina (95), Ireland (88) and France (73).
Australia upset New Zealand 22-10 and England beat France 24-7 in World Cup semifinals last weekend. — Sapa-AP