KEY POINTS:
In six days, the All Blacks will find out if they have been nominated for the 2007 Laureus world team of the year awards -- for the second year in succession.
The All Blacks confirmed their status as the top rugby team in the world in 2006, winning the Tri-Nations championship for a record seventh time, beat Ireland twice and Argentina in New Zealand, then inflicted a record 41-20 defeat on England at Twickenham in autumn before twice beating France, one a crushing 47-3 victory in Lyon, and then Wales.
The All Blacks also had a clean sweep of the major rugby awards in 2006.
In addition to winning the International Rugby Board team of the year award, Graham Henry was named coach of the year and captain Richie McCaw was selected as player of the year.
McCaw is also a possible contender for nomination for the Laureus world sportsman of the year award.
In the International Rugby Players' Association awards they also won team of the year, McCaw also won player of the year and Jason Eaton was named newcomer of the year.
Voting by the world's media to select the nominees from the qualifying period March 1, 2006 to January 31, 2007 has now closed and the names of the nominees -- six in each category -- will be revealed on February 27.
The eventual winners of the Laureus World Sports Awards, as voted for by the members of the Laureus World Sports Academy, will be announced during a televised Awards Ceremony staged at Palau Sant Jordi, Barcelona, on the evening of April 2.
- NZPA
