Picking an Alternative Team of the Decade
World Rugby produced their team of the decade this week, and there are inevitably plenty of world class players that did not make the XV. Picking 15 players from ten years of rugby is a devilish job, but a list like this always raises a few eyebrows given the mass of players who did not make the cut.
So this is an alternative team of the decade:
15 Israel Folau
Israel Folau’s name may now be associated with his off-field controversy, but it is hard to argue with what he did on it. The fullback scored 37 tries in 73 Tests and took aerial supremacy to another level.
14 Cheslin Kolbe
If Brian O’Driscoll could make the World Rugby team of the decade having retired in 2014, South Africa’s Cheslin Kolbe can also be an option despite only making his debut in 2018. England’s Jonny May is a close rival for this spot, but the diminutive Springbok is unique in this era.
13 Jonathan Davies
Fiji’s Semi Radradra may have burst onto the scene since his move from league in 2017, but for sheer consistency across the decade, it is hard to look beyond Wales’ Jonathan Davies at outside centre.
12 Owen Farrell
No player scored more points last decade in Test rugby than Owen Farrell, who also led England to the 2019 RWC final. Capable of playing at fly-half and inside centre, he proved to be one of the most dependable kickers of the decade. Pushed by Sonny Bill Williams for this spot.
11 Julian Savea
Although Julian Savea’s All Blacks career was fairly short-lived, and he is out of the Test picture at the moment, he was a marvel of the game between 2012-17. Nicknamed “The Bus”, his freakish power helped him score 46 tries in just 54 Tests, including a record-equalling eight at the 2015 RWC.
10 Beauden Barrett
The 2016 and 2017 World Rugby player of the year Beauden Barrett was kept out of the team of the decade by his All Blacks predecessor Dan Carter.
9 Aaron Smith
After making his debut in 2012, Aaron Smith started 84 of his next 92 caps throughout the decade in an All Blacks side that had one of their greatest eras of dominance. With laser-like precision and speed to his pass, the 32-year-old still holds the No9 shirt for his country.
8 Kieran Read
A dual RWC winner and the All Blacks’ captain in the 2019 showcase, Kieran Read was the paragon of consistency over the last decade and very unlucky not to make the official team.
7 Michael Hooper
Australia’s captain Michael Hooper rarely missed a game last decade after making his debut in 2012, and formed a world class back row with David Pocock.
6 Thierry Dusautoir
Though he may have retired in 2015, the 2011 WR player of the year Thierry Dusautoir produced a man of the match display in the 2011 RWC final, as the tackling machine almost led France to a win. Jerome Kaino and Pieter-Steph du Toit ran the Frenchman close.
5 Alun Wyn Jones
While a contingent of South African locks like Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha and Eben Etzebeth could make this list, the most capped player in rugby history Alun Wyn Jones deserves this berth. Twice nominated for WR player of the year, the 35-year-old was at the heart of Wales’ greatest moments last decade.
4 Maro Itoje
Despite only making his England debut in 2016, Maro Itoje was nominated twice for WR player of the year, played all three Tests against the All Blacks for the British and Irish Lions in 2017 and made a RWC final.
3 Adam Jones
A centurion for Wales, and the British and Irish Lions, Adam Jones may have played his last Test in 2014, but he secured two Six Nations titles, a Lions tour victory and a RWC semi-final in the first half of the decade.
2 Dane Coles
The All Blacks’ Dane Coles revolutionised the role of a hooker last decade, and many others have followed his lead. His mobility is what differentiates him from players from the decade before.
1 Cian Healy
Ever present for Ireland last decade, Cian Healy enjoyed huge success for club and country, and was never far from a world XV each year.
Comments on RugbyPass
Great story. Rugby needs new investment in teams like Brussels another pro league in Europe would be great.
1 Go to commentsAlso, looking at the data from last year, it seemed like by far the two biggest predictors of success were (1) kicking more than your opponents, and (2) having a higher rate of line-out wins than your opponents. I haven’t gone through the stats this year with a fine tooth comb, but the increase in kicks per game and the increase in tries from lineouts would suggest that these two metrics are only getting more important. England’s move away from a kick-heavy game to win against Ireland was seen by some as evidence that running rugby is on the rise. Alternatively it could be taken as evidence that if one team kicks more, and the other team wins more lineouts (as England did) a match is bound to be close to a draw.
2 Go to commentsI have been finding it odd that points per 22 entry has become such a talked about stat, given that your points per entry can be driven down by having more entries. These data would seem to confirm that it isn’t a useful metric, or at any rate is less useful than total entries.
2 Go to commentsI think the last two games England have played is some of their best rugby they have played under Borthwick. There has been a lot more attacking instinct and as a reward have created some well worked tries. Ollie Lawrence is a good foil at 12 as he offers the hard direct lines whilst the rest of the backs can play open. As much as it pains me to say but I do hope England keep playing this way. On a side note my favourite try of the weekend was Lorenzo Pani’s for the nice loop play that put him away and his finish was excellent. Thanks as always Nick.
39 Go to commentsMost exciting player on the planet right now, worth the price of a ticket.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith and Ireland live rent free in Safa’s heads. Their comments only triggers because its true. If the Boks had dismantled a 14 man AB’s, then there would be more respect. But they didnt, in fact quite the opposite, the 14 man NZ were clearly better. And the Bok have always been ordinary between RWC’s, thats why their supporters are now ‘only RWC’s matter’. They know thats BS. Its BS to both AB’s and Bok’s due to their history. But now its all the Safas have. Now we’ll hear excuses when they lose “oh we didnt have all our players available, the ABs/France/Eng/Irel were at full strength”, forgetting for a minute that its because of their own dumb policy. Oh well, makes a change from blaming ‘cheating refs’.
23 Go to commentsNo Nick, they did not, in fact, justify any ‘probables’ label. At no time did they seriously compete for the championship. Ireland led from start to finish and in the end, as a result of glaring referee errors, were never under serious pressure to lose their crown.
39 Go to commentsMoney for him, and his family, has been the sole motivator since he signed for Queensland aged 17. Why else sign for Melbourne. Tupou is poorly advised. If he’d stayed and developed in NZ he would have had a long Test career. If Leinster offer him a few more coins than he’s currently earning, he’s goneburger.
4 Go to commentsFinn. No one would say Ford had played well up until the last game. One standout performance in 5 is hardly in form . It should be a given that a 10 will control play . Not in Fords case be praised for suddenly doing so. Where was he against Scotland ,Italy. The pundits were saying how far away from play he was standing and one even said that the Ireland game was his last chance saloon to perform . Not exactly top form catching anyones eye. If he can play like this game after game then great. Keep him in . But after 90 odd caps we all know he just doesnt keep it going . By all means keep him there but the issue is that Borthwick will persist even when he plays poorly. Which is more often than not. Thats why i am concerned that Smith ,despite fab form , cannot get a game at his preferred spot. Can you imagine Ford at full back .
5 Go to commentsI do not really get why put Ollivon at 6 when he’s a 7, while Cros was the best Frenchman of the tournament, playing at…6. His only game replacing Aldritt at 8 doesn’t change much in terms of his impact. Lamaro was also outstanding in that brilliant Italian side, probably better than Reffell. So putting 2 Welsh players from the wooden spoon holders, and none of the 4th nation (Scotland) is also strange. Is it about showing that in this harsh transition Wales is, there were some standouts…?
6 Go to commentsThe events at this year’s six nations should undermine many of the arguments made against promotion and relegation between the six nations and the REC. If Italy had been allowed to yo-yo between divisions it conceivably could have really hurt their development, but if Italy, Wales, and Scotland are all at risk of relegation, with none of them being relegated more often than once every 3 or 4 years, you’d have to back all of them to muddle on through it, especially when you factor in the likelihood they’ll still be guaranteed world league matches against tier 1 opponents. Another way of looking at italys resurgence would be to say that the development model of adding an extra team to the six nations has worked, and now must be done again. Georgia could join to make it a 7 team round robin, and if and when Georgia demonstrate an ability to consistently win games, Portugal can also be added to make it an 8 team 2 conference competition. Frankly at this point I think it falls to world rugby to demand that the 6N act in the interests of the game. If the 6N won’t commit to expansion then the 6N teams should be handicapped in world cup draws (i.e. world cup seedings would not be based on their ranking points, but on their ranking points minus a 5 point penalty).
6 Go to commentsSteve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
39 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
6 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
2 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
4 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
4 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
6 Go to comments