KEY POINTS:
Many disgruntled fans bayed for his blood after the All Blacks' World Cup quarterfinal loss in Cardiff last year, but the rugby establishment's opinion of Graham Henry is something altogether different.
The All Blacks coach has today been named International Rugby Board (IRB) coach of the year at an awards ceremony in London.
The All Blacks were named team of the year, Bay of Plenty flanker Luke Braid snared the junior player of the year award, and New Zealand Sevens captain DJ Forbes was selected as sevens player of the year.
Only the naming of Welsh winger Shane Williams as player of the year prevented a New Zealand clean sweep.
For the All Blacks and Henry, the awards cap a tremendous year that saw the team bounce back from a disappointing rugby World Cup to win the Tri Nations in 2008.
To date, New Zealand have a record 12 wins from 14 test matches with the possibility of a successful grand slam tour of the northern hemisphere on the cards if they beat England at Twickenham next Saturday.
"It's been very satisfying," said Henry reflecting on the year and his award. "There have been 15 or so players who left us after the Rugby World Cup to play in this part of the world so it's great to have a team that's relatively young and inexperienced come through and do the business."
Braid took out the new junior player of the year category from a hugely competitive field, facing stiff competition from teammate Chris Smith and England's Joe Simpson for the prestigious age grade accolade.
Forbes was a key player in New Zealand's dominance of the eight-round grand prix style sevens series, leading by example and scoring 130 points as his side claimed the title for the eighth time in nine seasons.
Williams, who scored six tries during the 2008 Six Nations to break the Wales all-time try scoring record, is the first Welshman to pick up the most prestigious individual award on the rugby calendar.
He fought strong challenges from New Zealand first five-eighth and 2005 player of the year Dan Carter, Welsh teammate Ryan Jones, Scotland halfback Mike Blair and Italy captain Sergio Parisse.
- NZPA
