Dusautoir named IRB Player of the Year

France skipper Thierry Dusautoir has been named the International Rugby Board's Player of the Year for 2011.

The 29-year-old flanker, who has been in superb form this year, led his side to the final at the World Cup and was named man of the match as France narrowly lost 8-7 to New Zealand at Eden Park.

"It's great for me. I would like to thank everyone," said Dusautoir at the IRB awards dinner.

Dusautoir was the only player from the nothern hemisphere in contention, with New Zealand's Jerome Kaino, Piri Weepu and Ma'a Nonu and Australia's David Pocock and Will Genia the other players on the shortlist.

Dusautoir succeeds All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw to the title. The New Zealand flanker, who lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy on Sunday, is the only player to have won it three times - in 2006, 2009 and 2010.

Keith Wood, Fabien Galthié, Jonny Wilkinson, Schalk Burger, Dan Carter, Bryan Habana and Shane Williams have also received the honour since it began in 2001.

New Zealand's Graham Henry was named Coach of the Year for the fifth time, while the All Blacks, were named Team of the Year, also for the fifth time.

England's George Ford was named IRB junior player of the year.

The winners were selected by an independent panel of judges, chaired by World Cup winner John Eales and made up of former internationals with more than 500 caps between them.