Dusautoir named IRB Player of the Year

France captain Thierry Dusautoir has been named International Rugby Board player of the year at a ceremony in Auckland.

The award will come as some consolation to the 29-year-old flanker following his team's 8-7 defeat to New Zealand in yesterday's World Cup final at Eden Park.

Dusautoir succeeds All Blacks skipper Richie McCaw, who has won the accolade for the past two years, and becomes the first Frenchman to receive the award since Fabien Galthie in 2002.

New world champions New Zealand were not forgotten at Vector Arena, though, taking away the best team title and best coach gong for Graham Henry.