12 clash with the Highlanders in Sydney, his 50th appearance for the Waratahs. Elsom also received the Matt Burke Cup for the Waratahs in 2007 along with the Herald Award for the best performing Super 14 player of 2007 and the NSW Medal for outstanding contribution to NSW rugby. He was also named the most valuable flanker in Australia. In his world cup debut against Japan, he scored a hat-trick of tries and set a world record for the fastest hat-trick by a forward in World Cup history (18.33 minutes). In late 2007 Elsom played Number Eight in the Barbarians VS. match, where he scored an unforgettable try early in the second half which helped the Barbarians push past the World Champions South Africa. In 2008 Elsom was awarded the 'Wallaby of the Year' after playing in all but one match of the Wallaby's Tri-nations tests and scoring a crucial try to defeat the All Blacks in Sydney. That year, Elsom signed a one-year deal with Irish provincial side Leinster to join them in September 2008. Leinster Elsom moved to Leinster Rugby in 2008, with a view to competing in the 2008/09 Heineken Cup. He was instrumental in Leinster winning their first title, awarded man of the match in two of the three playoff games, including the final, where he was credited with inspiring the pack to a 19–16 victory over the Leicester Tigers. In 2009 Elsom was awarded 'Leinster Rugby Player of the Year', winning an unprecedented 70% of the popular vote. He was also voted 'European Player of the Year 2008/09', after Leinster won the Heineken Cup with three Man of the Match performances from Leinster's six wins. In the Magners League, Elsom picked up 11 Man of the Match awards from his last 13 outings and was judged the 'Magners League Player of the Year 2008/9', as well as being included in both Celtic and European 'Dream Teams' along with fellow Leinster player Brian O'Driscoll. So popular did Elsom become during his time with Leinster, that the fans developed a 'Rocky' chant, taken from the Rocky films, which they rolled out every time the Australian flanker appeared in Leinster colours. Elsom was a massive physical presence in the pack, consistently breaking top level tackles. In May 2009, Elsom was named in the Barbarians squad to play England and Australia along with Leinster colleagues Gordon D'Arcy and Chris