O’Brien named one of best performers in World Cup

Irish flanker Sean O’Brien has been chosen by the IRB as one of the five best performers at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

O’Brien named one of best performers in World Cup

Irish flanker Sean O’Brien has been chosen by the IRB as one of the five best performers at the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.

With the serious business of the World Cup final done and dusted, the IRB has focused on the matter of rewarding teams and individuals for their contribution to rugby during the World Cup and throughout the year.

French captain Thierry Dusautoir was named IRB player of the year while Graham Henry scooped the award for coach of the year and unsurprisingly the All Blacks were crowned team of the year.

Despite Ireland’s disappointing and relatively early exit from the tournament, the IRB panel of judges were sufficiently impressed with O’Brien’s displays to name him amongst their five best players of the World Cup.

Kiwi stars Israel Dagg and Jerome Kaino also made the list as did the Welsh centre Jamie Roberts with the remaining spot being filled by Namibia’s inspirational captain Jacques Burger.

Still only 24, the IRB stated that the Tullow man showed expertise “beyond his years” on the official IRB website.

“Ireland’s finest moment in the tournament came when they beat Australia in their Pool C encounter, and flanker Sean O'Brien was at the heart of the suffocating defensive effort that restricted the Wallabies to six points.

“The 24-year-old was forced into the openside flanker role from his regular blindside position when David Wallace was ruled out of the tournament with a knee injury, and he stepped up to the task with an expertise beyond his years.

“O’Brien led his team in both tackles and runs against the Wallabies and was rewarded for the consistency of his powerful ball-carrying with a try against Russia.

“To cap off a memorable tournament for the former European Player of the Year, O’Brien was named man of the match in Ireland’s win over Italy that sent them into the quarter-finals.”

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