15 for 10: Ospreys - an all decade XV
15 for 10: The “Galacticos” era for the Ospreys was arguably over a year into this decade, as huge names like Lee Byrne, Jerry Collins, Gavin Henson, and Mike Phillips departed the club after the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Since then, the region hasn’t had the same level of success although fans have still seen some of the best players in world rugby ply their stuff at the Liberty stadium.
RugbyPass has put together a team of the decade – a reminder of just how star-studded the side has been in the noughties. Here’s the 15 for 10: Ospreys.
15. Dan Evans
According to the stats, Evans ran more metres (10,221) and carried more often (1,632) than any other player in the Pro12 and Pro14 during the last decade. Wales might not have wanted the Ospreys full-back but the fans love him for his reliability and work-ethic.
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14. Tommy Bowe
Returned to Ulster in 2012 but not before setting club and league records for Ospreys in his time there. The British and Irish Lion gets picked for his 37 try contribution to Ospreys most successful era.
13. Ashley Beck
Sadly more known to most for the injuries that have disrupted his career but Ospreys fans will have felt the loss of that potential more keenly, having seen his classy running and passing game most often in his eleven-year stint at the region.
12. James Hook
One of the modern era’s most well-known utility players – inevitably – gets selected in one of his less common positions. It’s a mark of his talent and commitment that he would probably play brilliantly here in this side.
11. Shane Williams
Another who left the Ospreys in 2012, having been a fixture in the side since 2003, but it feels impossible to leave him out, especially given the manner of his departure: a last minute try and conversion in his final game at the Liberty followed by two tries to seal the Pro12 title for his club in his last game in Ospreys colours. An icon.
10. Dan Biggar
Impossible to argue with Biggar’s selection here. Won them their most recent title with his nerveless kicking in 2012 and, at times since then, it felt like he was keeping Ospreys in whole seasons, never mind games. A warrior who made 210 appearances and 2,116 points before finally leaving.
9. Rhys Webb
The fans at the Liberty have seen some classy scrum halves grace their turf over the years and Webb is up with the best of them. Despite a trio of classy options at nine, fans are understandably excited to see him return for the start of the next decade.
1. Duncan Jones
Paul James and Nicky Smith have been loyal servants and deserve a shout-out but it’s almost impossible to overlook the loosehead half of the “Hair Bear” duo. Along with Gethin Jenkins, he helped redefine the skillset of the number one jersey.
2. Richard Hibbard
You’d be forgiven for thinking the Ospreys’ front row had their own barber – their hair was as iconic as their play. Hibbard kept up both demands the way he kept up the scrum: with aplomb. Would make a case for inclusion in a Wales team of the decade (although Ken Owens might nick it).
3. Adam Jones
Another player who didn’t last until the mid-way point of the decade but can’t be overlooked. The “Bomb” was an anchor on the field and a cult hero off it, straddling two decades of play for Ospreys.
4. Ian Gough
Ian Evans could feel hard done by here but it’s difficult to overlook Gough’s partnership with Jones in the boiler room. An area where Ospreys have been fairly strong even in their decline, until recent years.
5. Alun-Wyn Jones (c)
Surely the first name on every team sheet he is eligible for, whether it be Ospreys, Wales, the Lions, or a team of the decade. An unbelievable player and leader and, despite his sometimes prickly demeanour with journalists, has proved to various wide-eyed fans what a lovely bloke he is too.
6. Jerry Collins
Another player simply too iconic to be ignored, despite only playing between 2009-11. His presence at the time represented everything that was good about Ospreys at the start of the decade.
7. Justin Tipuric
In a team of the decade, some players get picked because their one or two seasons can’t be overlooked, whereas some are long-term servants. Some, like Alun-Wyn Jones, Dan Biggar, and Tipuric, are picked for both reasons. Tipuric has been an astonishing servant and his all-court game is admired by fans well beyond the Liberty.
8. Ryan Jones
Handed over the captaincy at the start of this decade and left the side in 2014 but his consistency of performance and trophies demand selection in a team like this. Incredibly influential.
Comments on RugbyPass
Anna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
8 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 Go to commentsBar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
11 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
61 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
8 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
61 Go to comments