The Best Player Every Year From 2001 to 2023

This video shows some clips of the player who won the player of the year award from 2001 all the way up to 2023. Excluding 2021 as there wasn't a winner for that year.
Chapters:
0:00 Keith Wood
0:51 Fabien Galthie
2:40 Schalk Burger
1:39 Jonny Wilkinson
3:22 Dan Carter
4:15 Richie McCaw
4:48 Bryan Habana
5:42 Shane Williams
6:39 Richie McCaw
7:44 Richie McCaw
8:38 Thierry Dusautoir
9:08 Dan Carter
9:50 Kieran Read
10:37 Brodie Retallick
11:17 Dan Carter
12:00 Beauden Barrett
12:29 Beauden Barrett
13:09 Johnny Sexton
13:45 Pieter-Steph du Toit
14:20 Antoine Dupont
15:03 Josh van der Flier
Contact Details:
Email: [e-mail]
Instagram: @rugby_manual - rugby_manual
Disclaimer:
I must state that in NO way, shape or form am I intending to infringe on the rights of the copyright holder. Content used is strictly for research/reviewing purposes and to help educate. All under the Fair Use law. If you are the owner of the footage please contact me using the above information and I will be happy to delete the video.
"Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favour of fair use."

[@maskedkitsune9774]

What a brilliant player Dan carter was.

[@isaacegan171]

It is absolutely criminal for Brian O’Driscoll not to be in this

[@mrspudatohead7782]

The video would have been too short, he'd be there for the first 13 years

[@JohnFrancisPorter]

100% ... what a joke. needs to be revised.

[@JacoJohan46664]

@@JohnFrancisPorter He's going off the IRB's player of the year pick.. not really for him to revise.

[@ViableSolutions]

Totally agree.

[@dannypryce9668]

2009 definitely

[@oportbis]

How can you not put Dupont's try against Ireland in six nations 2021 and his save 2m from the line in six nations 2022??? Those were insane

[@epsilonbeta4877]

Because the highlights refer to the years they got the prize. The save against Ireland was in 2023

[@oportbis]

@@epsilonbeta4877 Oh yeah makes a lot of sense 🤦‍♀

[@PierreMunro86]

2009 should have been Fourie du Preez. Super rugby, B+l lions, Tri Nations and Currie Cup winner, he was the mastermind in all of it and he had a helluva year

[@glen1482]

Doesn't matter, MCCaw got the vote for being the player to get away with the most decisions. Stole the award like he stole the ball. Fourie was untouchable that year and WAY more influental than McCaw

[@SMacCuUladh]

Brian O'Driscoll won a Heikeien Cup and a Grand Slam that year.

[@Chris-zd7gw]

Agree. Never seen a 9 as influential as Du Preez was that year.

[@jonathandavis8599]

​@@SMacCuUladh my brother won all the trophies and prizes at kindgarten, maybe he should also be on here if you are going to put NH players here.

[@davidkirby8836]

​@@jonathandavis8599The other team is allowed to have good players as well. South africa, new zealand and australia have won eight out of nine World cups from 1987 to 2019 and that speaks to their depth. Great players can be from anywhere. O driscoll was incredibly special. Maybe southern hemisphere standards really are slipping with this we know everything about it attitude. I don't think Ireland or France will win the world cup in 2023 as a team that has already won a competition always has a better chance to win it than a first time winner. Ireland has three world player of the year winners none of whom was as good as o driscoll.

[@Plbbbb]

I remember Wilkinson era, what a nightmare playing against England at that time

[@michaelrowell7798]

He controlled a game better than just about any player in modern history. The guy was a genius, 2 to 3 steps ahead of just about anyone else.

[@mcgrudo]

longbow rugby. once in a lifetime talent

[@graduatestev]

Dan Carter was better

[@andremaube5069]

Galthie is the least popular IRB champion, but he was one of the most intelligent players I've ever seen on a rugby pitch. It's easy to see why he's a great coach when you look back at his playing career. Too bad O'Driscoll never won that title. I don't think there's a year where he clearly deserves it, but for his consistency he should have won at least once

[@darren1989]

2009 . The man couldn't have did anymore . He won everything and was unbelievable in each tournament

[@Savantjazzcollective]

@@darren1989 He was good, but he won everything except for the matches that really mattered.

[@darren1989]

@@Savantjazzcollective what game didn't he lose that really mattered ?

[@mamdohreda]

@@Savantjazzcollectiveu❤he😮

[@rorythomas444]

BOD the best to never win it?

[@jonathandavis8599]

The most average to almost win it.

[@PastyIrishBoy]

@@jonathandavis8599 Jesus, you're bitter. Taking the time to reply to multiple comments disparaging him is so sad lol.

[@roblox-genius96themuscleki12]

There are a few, I feel like Jonah lomu would have something to say about that so would tana umaga , Israel folau , Christian Cullen , Shane Williams and I am sure there are more . Not trying to take anything away from him as I think he was great aswell but the greatest to never win 1 is arguable .

[@achumangelanga6299]

Fourie Du Preez

[@othronos]

Out of them all, i‘m most impressed by Dan Carter

[@Thomas-im2tk]

Same

[@Ryoshiz7T]

He's the goat

[@billymack333]

Ben Smith served the Blacks well. Deserves a mention for a career of consistent excellence.

[@TheRuddboyy]

My favourite All Black. Agree from 🇰🇪

[@colmcronin7306]

If picking an all time list and someeone says maybe Brian O'Driscoll and they say who? There not a real rugby fan. There's been like 10 Superstars of the game in modern times n hes one. Like Dan Carter and JW - Cant be the highest try scorer in 6 nations history and not get GOAT. First NH player to register in the SH id reckon after tearing Aus open in 01. Love the video highlights btw. Serious players galore n at least the mean potato made the list! (From a salty Irishman)

[@brendopethewoat947]

Imagine thinking for even a moment that 2009 was anyone other than Fourie Du Preez. McCaw was injured for half that season anyway, no idea how anyone picked him that year.

[@bakkiesbothatheenforcer1638]

World rugby wanted to teach SA rugby a lesson because they protested Bakkies Botha's ban. Fourie was out and out the best player in 2009.

[@CRAiCED.]

Where is Brian O' Driscoll? One of the all time greatest players

[@jonathandavis8599]

According to the Irish. Pretty average outside of the NH.

[@padee9469]

@@jonathandavis8599 how can he be a great in the best hemisphere and average in the worst one?

[@AliG-yu2bn]

Because when brian was playing the SH was far ahead of the NH.@@padee9469

[@Garethjames696]

This isn’t fan-made, it’s the voted players of each year

[@chucktee8088]

​@padee9469 best hemisphere 😂😂😂. Only produced 1 world cup champ. That one??? 6 nations is weak compared to rugby championship. This world cup is proving it again 😂😂😂. North is second class 😂😂😂😂

[@noelchoi9888]

Ireland should have achieved more in 2003. Prime BOD and ROG with KW2 fully fit.

[@dcs4880]

How do you get this footage?

[@kspr13]

Juan Martín Hernández was the best player of 2007. Habana was a Tryman yes, but JMH did everything on that world cup. Even scoring drops whit his left foot against Ireland

[@deonmeyer9127]

He was good until they met South Africa in the world cup then he had a nightmare.

[@grilloderiver]

​@@deonmeyer9127 You can't blame a man for an entire team.

[@SNOK1986]

Mccaw what a legend but we all know he would be blown up for most of the turnovers in these highlights. Amazing how the game has changed.

[@tatoriety]

new zealand absolutely dominating the award wow

[@freduchefreduche8350]

I loved Mc Caw when he kneed Morgan Parra during the last match in 2011. That was so fair play. Morgan Parra was severily injured on the face.

[@freduchefreduche8350]

@@jamesmarshall7513 the best thing in ryugby is the fact that it's a sport where cheating is bigger than in football. lol

[@lucienlimacher738]

Great video, what is the name of the song at the tail end of the video.

[@atro17]

It's Trauma - Worakls

[@DH-gg6jx]

I think due to him retiring at 30/31 you forget just how good Keith Wood was. Fitzpatrick is always credited with being the best hooker of all time, but Wood was a level up. He had a skill-set that was just incomparable for hookers at the time.

[@edgeware15]

Excellent skills alright and a decent kicking game. Fell short on line out throwing which would count against him in a GOAT discussion

[@DH-gg6jx]

@@edgeware15 would it have been worse than Fitzpatrick's? I get what you mean compared to now - but for the time was it that bad?

[@jeroennickman]

Hooker that moved like a crash centre. So dangerous

[@edgeware15]

@DH-gg6jx Keith Wood had everything but that - I mean no disrespect. At that time? I don't know... The game had been pro for around 5 years when he got player of the year and the top players were becoming so clinical in what their position demanded of them (but not the more rounded skillsets of today). Close one, but due to everything else that he bought, including inspiration, he could get away with it (probably) at that time and comfortably belong in the GOAT conversation. Not the GOAT in my opinion but I loved watching the Raging Potato. Edit: I grew up on a diet of Super and Tri-Nations rugby and that Keith Wood came up as the only NH hooked that came to mind as a great from the NH in first ten years of pro rugby, you might be onto something... That's not an insult to NH hookers of the time, but rather how good he truly was.

[@jonathandavis8599]

Bill McClaren bringing back Rugby 2001 pc vibes.

[@user-nn2xj9mh4w]

I think as in football , they only pick from successful teams which NEVER really tells a true story

[@LeafySaladSoup]

are you trying to down play dan carter

[@romainviry3185]

15 years later, Mc Caw is still offside in most rucks he s been in 😅

[@SuperEdge67]

It’s a shame you don’t know the rules.

[@romainviry3185]

@@SuperEdge67 it s a shame you can t opened yourself to a bit of objectivity

[@MikeyC92]

This year is probably down to the world cup result but at the moment loving the work of Doris and Etzebeth.

[@lm_b5080]

if SA wins the WC i think after losing Marx, it is gonna be Etzebeth who walks away with it. he's been a colossus

[@graduatestev]

@@lm_b5080 Etzebeth has been amazing all year but I don't think he's played as well as he usually does at this world cup

[@Youre]

IDK how the fuck Ardie Savea hasn't won it any year since 2019. Has consistently been the best player on the planet.

[@gusgusgusgusgus7047]

I do think mc caw was a outstanding player but man... those criminal rucks make me think he was the son of every referees

[@Lechedeesnuts]

ikr 😂

[@swisscloud4309]

I think the rules were different back then, he’s probably the reason why they changed the rules at the breakdown to allow more attacking rugby

[@suziederkins3310]

Well the northern hemisphere teams banned rucking, if they allowed good clean rucking we wouldn't need to change the ruck laws every 5 years

[@axeltie2298]

He was the best at not getting caught!

[@michaelrowell7798]

The best legal and illegal scrounger at the breakdown in history for sure. He got away with a lot, but was just a terrific all round player and leader of men.

[@major6541]

patiently waiting for ardie savea to get this award 😅

[@spottersworld3135]

Your patience has been awarded

[@major6541]

@@spottersworld3135 finally 🫡

[@NameSurname88844]

Can someone please help me with a name for the tune playing in the background, it's epic!

[@atro17]

Last one is Trauma - Worakls

[@camborocks]

I think BOD should have won at least one award, however the pre requisites to win an award is to wear 10 or 7 for the all blacks haha

[@cortinatim1]

Or to be the best player in the world. Something he never was.

[@Charlie-uz8vb]

Seethe

[@paulwalsh598]

@@cortinatim1 He was the best in the world for at least 8 of the close to 15 years he played, end of story.

[@MacHoodio]

@@paulwalsh598he definitely wasn’t, just remember him getting burned by Conrad Smith..

[@paulwalsh598]

@@MacHoodio I remember over a period of 15 years O'Driscol burning every international center on the planet.

[@jstone5239]

Amazing to see how the laws have changed, particularly around the breakdown

[@Jules_C]

Who will be the next one ?

[@ihavegymnastics]

Drop goals are things of beauty!

[@andychisholm]

McCaw in that ruck at 7:05 🙈

[@Mornepin]

9:52 Was wondering how someone could push Etzebeth like this but they were actually 3 lol

[@jaytok7]

McCaw 🐐🐐

[@sabelomashego9133]

Richie McCaw is a legend! Not just in New Zealand but for the game as a whole. But he was nowhere near the best player in the game in 2009. A forgotten Heinrich Brussow outshone him when the Boks beat the All Blacks not once. Not twice. But three times on the trot. There was also a forgotten Fourie du Preez. Who was instrumental for the Boks too.

[@stefanzzz6778]

Jesus NZ has a lot of “the best players”. Totally stacked team.

[@joannatauranga2840]

Yep where's BOD

[@Ben-rq5re]

No honourable mention for Ntamack’s hair?

[@stefandevilliers602]

Fourie du Preez should've been 2009's player of the year

[@pkune5158]

No O'Driscoll 😂😂 ok

[@user-yp1jg7nu3w]

Not accurate videos, the chase from Keith woods kick from before 2000 not 2001. Recognise players who retired in 2000 in that clip

[@IrisFost]

I would honestly say 2019 was Cheslin Kolbe and not PTSD

[@GhostplayFillin]

2017 to 19 was koble's prime

[@likhayam]

2009 it was Forie Du Preez

[@corz7263]

Dan Carter = Backs G.O.A.T Richie McCaw = Fowards G.O.A.T

[@tonnix86]

Brian o driscol and fourie du preez have to be on this list. Cant take it seriously without them.

[@stoneysrugga2760]

BOD, Fourie du Preez and Israel Folau are really unlucky to not be here

[@Soenglish44]

Best 2023 player for south af is ben o'queef

[@horse5407]

This guy LOVES Richie McCaw.

[@jmmcswagger9091]

Mccaw got away with so much.

[@tim40gabby25]

The Dupont tackle will be in 2073 highlights..

[@eloikurzenne7320]

7:00 This is prime Richie McCaw : How can he be on this side of the ruck ?

[@andrewlawson573]

Different rules back then you silly jealous goose face

[@Ryoshiz7T]

Cause the rules were different

[@princeveegeta8700]

Dan Carter the legend.

[@IrishPride7]

Video was good until I realised Brian O` Driscoll wasn't in it....

[@thewetwombat7726]

Carter the goat

[@geoffjones4285]

Wheres Barry John, Gareth Edwards, Phil Bennett

[@ruatoomey9107]

Probably because this is for the years 2001 - 2023

[@anguilini7425]

2007 --> JUAN MARTÍN HERNÁNDEZ.

[@user-sj4mk8fz7i]

Ричи и Дэн величайшие игроки в регби.

[@navarrofuentes]

Where are Brian O` Driscoll and Juani Hernandez ?

[@phirus02]

7:05 this is an obvious infringment there

[@abcde8337]

just like the rest of his "highlights" this player make me sick always cheating, but never penalized

[@kyehall6819]

There where many in the video.

[@kylejones8891]

​@@abcde8337that's a skill in its own right. All the elite players push the boundaries of the rules but never get caught. Its not cheating if you don't get penalised.

[@cortinatim1]

Learn the rules mate. Only 1 French player so no ruck 😂

[@Charlie-uz8vb]

@@abcde8337 lmao thats how rucks were officated back in 2009. There have been changes since you casual

[@poerava]

2019 should have been Ardie Savea 2009 should have been Fourie Du Preez

[@petervincent9261]

Nek minit: Artie Savea!

[@TrezenEN]

3:37 No.8 illegally taking out Shane Williams to allow Carter to score that try. Shocking :'D

[@Ijbvfknnn]

Lol

[@mpgnz73]

Apparently its been referred to the TMO - 18 years after the fact. Lets see what they come back with.

[@thomasmay6551]

The pure dominance of the all blacks in rugby is ridiculous

[@Gener1KGaming]

Dan Carter wins his first POTY in 2005, then his 3rd 10 years later. Literally the GOAT number 10.

[@joedennehy386]

Wood was a wonderful 2001 choice. Wilkinsons 60 ish winning percentage pales against most of the All blacks percentage of McCaws over 90 %, and Carter, and , and, and.....

[@HorseyPorsey]

Would have thought cheslin colbe would be on the list. Many great players at any one point so guess it doesn't really matter!

[@stubones]

Imagine being tackled by Schalk Burger and Os Du Rant at the same time.... No thanks...

[@zacariahanderson]

Bit early for 2023 wc not done yet

[@juanignacioperezcrespo3976]

Argentina dont play rugby?

[@jeannot8814]

Mc Caw was born offside...

[@stephenkeyes5966]

Vdf😂 ffs he wouldnt lace david Wallaces booths

[@bruh-ok5ks]

Brian??

[@lilpippen9727]

cheslin Kolbe??????

[@mcgrudo]

All the comments are like where's Brian O'Driscoll? He's running past you after a slick dummy

[@HemiJB91]

Wheres bakkis ? He would headbut anyone here into retirement

[@TheRuddboyy]

Notable absence: Ben Smith

[@babas_babas]

mccaw even on a tribute is still to be penalized on most of the actions we saw here. Offside, not releasing... ;)

[@falkkiwiben]

People don't understand, that's what made him the GOAT. Knowing exacly what the referee wants to see is the most important skill in rugby

[@babas_babas]

@@falkkiwiben "the most important skill", I'm sad for you. Maccaw was a great player and I guess it's not because he read the referee better than anyone else... And I also think that if he wasn't a all black he would have been penalised more often.

[@kylejones8891]

​@@babas_babasit's an extremely good skill to have, especially for a forward. I almost died with embarrassment at your all black comment... Grow up

[@cortinatim1]

Don’t cry 😢

[@sisyphusvasilias3943]

Williams, Wood and Sexton???? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@laythelmrabti3095]

Lukahnyo am

[@noelasplejames3301]

List of your favourite all blacks

[@Chris-cb4ig]

New Zealand's over ...

[@bh2861]

eurokooks

[@padraiglocke8844]

BRIAN O DRISCOLL HAD TO BE O. HERE THIS IS A JOKE

[@da3v1ls93]

Terrible list. Where's Matt Giteau, George Gregan or Michael Hooper?

[@novak7970]

GOAT is easily McCaw. Year after year no other player won more titles or tests. His stats are the best in the world

[@achumangelanga6299]

Biggest snub here is Fourie Du Preez especially 09, 2010 with Bulls and Boks being dominant. The number of Northern Hemisphere winners just shows how political this award is, no ways they have been better than southern hemisphere players

[@achumangelanga6299]

Laughable Sexton has a POY but Du Preez doesn’t

[@stefanhoffmann1607]

What the hell is bronco time??????

[@stevenmaguire5772]

No Brian O’Driscoll is laughable

[@robhughes645]

😅🤣😂 this must be a joke right?

[@Chris-zd7gw]

😂 You do know that this list is each IRB World Player of the Year, right? Dumb f-- k.

[@ryandougall]

Laughable that shane williams is on this list and BOD isnt

[@GarethJamesAyres]

It was a non world cup year. And Wales won the grand slam. So a Welsh player being picked isn't at all surprising. Shocked BOD never won it though

[@mpumelelobeyers957]

2001 - Stephen Lackham 🇭🇲 2002 - Joost vd westhuizen 🇿🇦 2003 - Martin Johnson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 2004 - Johnny Wilkinson 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 2005 - Daniel Carter 🇳🇿 2006 - Johnny Wilkinson 🇭🇲 2007 - Percy Montgomery 🇿🇦 2008 - Daniel Carter 🇳🇿 2009 - Bryan Habana 🇿🇦 2010 - Fourie Du Preez 🇿🇦 2011 - Quade Cooper 🇭🇲 2012 - Sonny Bill Williams 🇳🇿 2013 - Will Genia 🇭🇲 2014 - Dean Ashton 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 2015 - Daniel Carter 🇳🇿 2016 - Kieran Read 🇳🇿 2017 - Aaron Smith 🇳🇿 2018 - Boden Barrett 🇳🇿 2019 - Makazole Mampimpi 🇿🇦 2020 - Covid19 🤡😜

[@zschokks5583]

You get my like for not honoring MC Caw the cheat.

[@Charlie-uz8vb]

Worst list I have ever read

[@chrisboshoff4611]

you must be a soccer fan!!!!

[@abcde8337]

no they're just the official players of the year published by World Rugby

[@kylejones8891]

You must be gay

[@roblox-genius96themuscleki12]

This list seems incredibly biased towards northern hemisphere players so far not saying none of them were good but that Irish hooker wasn't the best player in 2001 I feel like larkham or tana umaga should've got that . And Shane Williams was never the best winger in the world let alone the best player in the world . He was the best Welsh player but at that time they weren't exactly setting the bar very high . And even the southern hemisphere players your getting wrong Kieran read wasn't even the best player on the all blacks in 2013 let alone best player in the world . Bryan habana was definitely at the time the best winger in the world but best player na .

[@jstone5239]

Are you joking 😂

[@roblox-genius96themuscleki12]

@@jstone5239 about what? I mean all of that , and it's all true where did I lie?

[@GarethJamesAyres]

​@@roblox-genius96themuscleki12so winning the grand slam isn't setting the bar high 😂

[@Ryoshiz7T]

It's the Irb player of the year you muppet

[@NOCHAA]

Shane was on fire that year. You must by joking

[@ozonelayer211]

7:00 three illegal plays by Richie McCaw! Hell of a player but got away with murder

[@JohnFrancisPorter]

THEY RENAMED GOD to B.O.D. for a reason. The repetition of the same two NZ players is boring. Keith Wood was a transcendent player, but even he would laugh at himself being picked over Brian.

[@cortinatim1]

McCaw and Carter are two of the greatest players in history. There’s a reason NZ had a win % over 90 in their time. 🙄

[@Ryoshiz7T]

Quarter finals?

[@major6541]

not nz’s fault they were the best

[@Max-js2db]

2013 should be halfpenny

[@SexC2202]

Wouldnt be surprised if Mckaw compiled this video himself

[@thewhitedoncheadle8345]

irish crying AGAIN because no bod 😂