http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTW_SpXiYus
There won’t be many complaints with the selection of Kieran Read as the IRB Player of the Year and this sublime pass against Argentina was one of his finest moments of 2013.
Read saw off the challenge of Wales and Lions full-back Leigh Halfpenny, South African lock Eben Etzebeth, the ever excellent Italy number eight Sergio Parisse and his All Black team-mate Ben Smith to be named as the IRB Player of the Year for 2013, with All-Black coach Steve Hansen picking up the Coach of the Year award for the second season in succession.
Players from New Zealand have won the award six out of a possible 13 times since 2001, when Keith Wood won the inaugural award, although it still rankles around these parts that Richie McCaw won the award ahead of Brian O’Driscoll when Ireland won the Grand Slam in 2009.
Read was one of the major players for the All-Blacks as they claimed 14 victories from 14 tests in 2013 and amongst his many fine contributions, it would be hard to top the sublime offload for an Aaron Smith try against Argentina in the Rugby Championship, which you can see in the video above.
Class.
Video via YouTube/onRugbyDump
