15 for 10: Toulon - an all-decade XV
Very few teams, if any, have had a story quite like Toulon’s over the past decade. When 2010 began, the French side were only midway through their second season in the Top 14 and were beaten in the Challenge Cup final, losing to Cardiff Blues.
However, there were clear signs that the big-spending club, backed by comic book publisher Mourad Boudjellal (who recently announced he will move on next summer), were aiming for the top.
Some were sceptical that Toulon were largely building a team of retiring players that were past it. However, three years later they were winning their first of an unprecedented three consecutive European Cups, adding a Top 14 title in 2014 as well.
Ever since their glory days during the first half of the decade, Toulon have dropped off the pace somewhat. Since their 2015 triumph in Europe, they have failed to get past the quarter-finals and did not even make it out of their pool last year.
In the Top 14, they were runners-up in 2016 and 2017, but finished ninth last season, their lowest finish in the league this decade.
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They have still not relented in signing some of the biggest players in the world and are sure to bounce back from their slump in recent years. But in what has been a hugely successful decade, there are plenty of players vying to make an all-decade team.
15 – Delon Armitage
Many will argue that British and Irish Lion Leigh Halfpenny has been a better player over the past decade, but few would argue that he was better for Toulon than Armitage. The former England international was a rock at the back during his four years and starred with so many quality performers around him.
14 – Drew Mitchell
Pushed all the way by Josua Tuisova to make this position, Mitchell was another member of the contingent that joined in 2013. The former Australia international was a brilliant acquisition and his solo try in the 2015 Champions Cup final epitomised not only what a brilliant player he was throughout his career, but at Toulon as well.
Le end of an erahttps://t.co/crNdvIydn0
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 2, 2019
13 – Mathieu Bastareaud
The former Stade Francais centre was vindicated for his lucrative move down south in 2011 when he won his first Heineken Cup in 2013, being named man of the match in the final. He moved on this past summer after eight great years.
12 – Matt Giteau
Although dual RWC winner Ma’a Nonu played in recent years for the club, no inside centre had a greater impact than Wallaby centurion Giteau during his six years. Wilkinson’s playmaking partner in the middle of the field, the Australian even took over at fly-half once the Englishman retired. Such was his form for Toulon that the Wallabies even introduced the Giteau Law to ensure he could play at the 2015 RWC.
11 – Bryan Habana
Although Julian Savea, one of the great wingers of world rugby over the past decade, is currently at the club, he has failed to make the impact Habana made after joining in 2013. He was another player brought in to achieve the double in 2014 – and it paid off.
It will soon be all over at Toulon for Mourad Boudjellal who has been busy reflecting on his title-winning ownership of the French clubhttps://t.co/XxsEcUwlbd
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) December 10, 2019
10 – Jonny Wilkinson
When England’s legendary fly-half moved to Toulon in 2009, no one truly knew how long he would last after a career defined by injuries as much as the success he achieved. However, the 2003 RWC winner had five glorious years, captaining the team to the Top 14 and two European Cups. He was named European player of the year in 2013 and capped his wonderful career with a typical Wilkinson-esque performance in the 2014 Top 14 final, kicking 15 of 18 points, including a trademark drop goal.
9 – Sébastien Tillous-Borde
With the star-studded teams that Toulon have fielded over the past decade, Tillous-Borde’s name is not one that immediately jumps out, but the former France international was at the heart of all of his club’s success over the past decade in the nine shirt. Alongside Fernández Lobbe, the scrum-half remained part of the coaching team after retirement.
1 – Xavier Chiocci
While England’s Andrew Sheridan was helpful in building Toulon’s initial success, Chiocci was his successor who helped his side grow in strength. The loosehead made his debut in 2011 as a 21-year-old having come through Toulon’s academy, which goes against the reputation that his side have garnered that they simply bought their success.
2 – Guilhem Guirado
Having only joined in 2014 from Perpignan and having since moved to Montpellier, Guirado did not enjoy all of the success that some of his team-mates did, albeit he did win the Champions Cup in 2015. However, the France captain’s form for club and country has been exemplary over the past five years.
3 – Carl Hayman
The giant former All Black arrived at the Stade Mayol in 2010 and was at the forefront of all the success achieved there over the next five years. What’s more, Hayman took over from Jonny Wilkinson as captain once the Englishman retired in 2014, leading them to European glory in 2015 before retiring himself.
4 – Ali Williams
In a position that has seen the ever-reliable Mamuka Gorgodze play, South Africans Danie Rossouw and even the recent signing of Eben Etzebeth, the 2011 World Cup winner’s two-year stint between 2013-2015 helped bring the Top 14 title and two European Cups. Williams was even named the man of the match in the 2015 final.
?Le @RCTofficiel affrontera l'@ASMOfficiel le Dimanche 22 Décembre à 21h au Stade Mayol !
?Présence du Père Nöel, distribution de cadeaux et le traditionnel feu d'artifice d'après-match !?
??Places en vente dans les RCT Store et sur la billetterie??https://t.co/1PV1LB2cVe pic.twitter.com/gxVp61Tb9C
— RCT – RC Toulon (@RCTofficiel) December 7, 2019
5 – Bakkies Botha
Only one player may have made a greater impact in the second row than Williams, and that is 2007 RWC winner Botha. The South African joined in 2011 and was at the epicentre of all the success on the Côte d’Azur. He was part of the exodus of players in 2015, which helps explain Toulon’s decline.
6 – Juan Smith
With a policy of recruiting great players that could be past their prime, there is always the danger that they will not perform and that certainly has happened over the years. But Smith is yet another example of a player that did not see his move to the Mediterranean coast simply as an opportunity to boost his coffers before retirement.
7 – Steffon Armitage
One of the greatest success stories over the past decade, he arrived in 2011 from London Irish as a player on the fringes of the England team with only five caps. A devastating ball-carrier and immovable over the ball, the loose forward won everything there is to win during his five years and was also named the European player of the year in 2014. Facundo Isa has proven to be sensational in recent years but is yet to reach the heights that Armitage did.
8 – Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe
Fernández Lobbe complemented Armitage in the back row alongside Chris Masoe during Toulon’s halcyon days. Whether No8 or a flanker, the Argentine was always a classy operator at the back of the scrum.
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Comments on RugbyPass
Thanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to comments