An international rugby team of the decade
Roar Guru By Sam Taulelei, 17 Dec 2009 The Crowd is a Roar Guru
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Australia's Berrick Barnes tackles Brian O'Driscoll of Ireland during their rugby union test match in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, June 14, 2008. AP Photo/Andrew Brownbill
Hoy’s recent post about the Wallaby team of the decade sparked a debate in my mind about an equivalent All Black team of the decade. However in my mind there wasn’t a great deal of debate or difficulty in selecting the majority of the team that played from 2003 – 2007.
I changed focus instead to an international team of the decade, which offered wider scope, endless debate and more personal bias, depending upon what part of the world you lived in or came from.
Whenever these exercises have been conducted, there have been some players selected out of position in an effort to squeeze a favourite into the team somewhere.
I’ve resisted the temptation to do this and all players are selected in their specific positions or jerseys that they have played in throughout their career.
I’ve also tried to achieve balance within the team by selecting it with a view to playing an expansive, attacking game as a real coach would, instead of just picking the best players in their position.
As expected, there are a plethora of world-class contenders to select for each position, more so than others. This is my international team of the decade.
15. Chris Latham
14. Doug Howlett
13. Brian O’Driscoll
12. Jean de Villiers
11. Rupeni Caucaunibuca
10. Daniel Carter
9. Fourie du Preez
8. Lawrence Dallaglio
7. Richie McCaw
6. Schalk Burger
5. Victor Matfield
4. Martin Johnson (captain)
3. Carl Hayman
2. Raphael Ibanez
1. Os du Randt
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December 17th 2009 @ 10:43am
Rusty said | December 17th 2009 @ 10:43am | Report comment
Hmm my thoughts on this – although I am big fan of Burger and he has been incredible through a large chunk of last decade, the problem is up until recently he has played on the open side. So therefore I would plumb for his unheralded partner Juan Smith to take up the blind side.
December 17th 2009 @ 10:54am
Jameswm said | December 17th 2009 @ 10:54am | Report comment
Roff in a world team of the decade?
Sometimes I just shake my head and move on…
December 17th 2009 @ 7:41pm
Dublin Dave said | December 17th 2009 @ 7:41pm | Report comment
I used to wonder if you were the same old Jameswm.
No doubt any more.
December 17th 2009 @ 11:09am
katzilla said | December 17th 2009 @ 11:09am | Report comment
Roff and Robinson on my wings.
Jerry Collins at 6.
I would make a strong argument for Tana at either 12 or 13. At his best he was devastating in the mid field (just as much so as BOD) and was a pioneer of the outside back as ball scavenger model.
December 17th 2009 @ 11:48am
Temba said | December 17th 2009 @ 11:48am | Report comment
Great team Sam, after watching the Baa’baas match and seeing Du Preez combine with a talented 10 I realised how much South Africa needs a proper fly half. SA have had this problem for a long time and it’s a big reason for our “boring” game plan.
It’s a mouth watering combination with Du Preez and Carter, I never thought about it but can you imagine?
The backline is impressive and most of the blokes in your team a very decent blokes of the field too. Lots of experience in there but the only place ill make a change is at 11. If you want a running back line why not opt for the best finisher in the world… Habana (maybe I am being buys’) Brian is so explosive with ball in hand.
Du Preez takes it from a solid scrum crisp pass to Carter (receives the ball with more time then ever in his life) pulls two defenders, loop pass skipping JDV to O’Driscoll who straightens the line and pops it to JDV on his outside. JDV drill through two players and off loads to Habana… placing it softly under the post. Howlett scaring the opponent with his hair style.
What would the bench look like?
December 17th 2009 @ 11:49am
Temba said | December 17th 2009 @ 11:49am | Report comment
Im with you Katz, leave Burger out put in the buldozing Collins
December 17th 2009 @ 11:52am
Sport 24-7 said | December 17th 2009 @ 11:52am | Report comment
Good side and some good comments. I can’t argue with much. I would nominate Richard Hill at 6 as a very underrated (not in England) and importnat member of the most dominant pack this decade. I’d be happy with Tana but only as a 13. Leave BOD there just. I’d probably put Jauzion in front of De Villiers but if you wanted consistency, leave Jean there.
December 17th 2009 @ 11:52am
Sam Taulelei said | December 17th 2009 @ 11:52am | Report comment
Rusty I know what you’re saying and I suppose I was being cheeky in selecting Burger as a no.6 because that was his jersey’s number although he played in an openside role for SA.
Katzilla, looking forward to hearing your argument, I must admit I agonised between BOD, Mortlock and Tana for the centre spot.
December 17th 2009 @ 12:49pm
Campbell Watts said | December 17th 2009 @ 12:49pm | Report comment
Great stuff Sam!
Like the selections you’ve made based on your criteria. My only change would be Collins for Burger.
Just giving some thought to watching that team play together – OMG!! What a side!
Grunt in the 2 man-mountain props!
A tough-as-teak engine room of Johnson, Matfield and Dallaglio
The scavenger supreme in McCaw
Combination of Carter, DeV and O’D – holy s#*t!!!
back 3 to cut any defence to shreds!
An unbeatable side one would almost say!!!
December 17th 2009 @ 12:54pm
Hoy said | December 17th 2009 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
I thought of doing this topic as well, but gave up doing it myself. It is a lot easier when someone else starts, and you can go from there.
Brave topic Sam. Good one.
If it is OK, I will use your team as a template and I agree with most, however I think the following changes could be arguable:
15. Chris Latham – Most exciting fullback this decade I think. Not most dependable, most exciting.
14. Doug Howlett – Tough call with lots of wingers getting around this decade. Toss up for me over Tune, but this bloke is a great finisher, and not too bad at creating as well.
13. Tana Umaga – More influencial as a leader than O’Driscoll, and runs lines just as well. More powerful as well.
12. Jean de Villiers – A better 12 doesn’t stand out for me, except maybe Giteau when he plays there. De Villiers is the muscle car, speeding in space, and Giteau is the like the little rice burner zipping through holes. I always like an assertive centre more.
11. Rupeni Caucaunibuca – I love watching the tries this bloke scored. To me, he is better than Habana as this bloke takes his man on and wins with either pace or power, and for a backup he has both together.
10. Stephen Larkham – So many good 5/8s this decade from many countries. It really is a toss up, but I picked Larkham as I just love this bloke and how he played the game for the Wallabies. Carter can sit on my bench.
9. Fourie du Preez – No argument here. Influential with his play for the Boks, and has been nominated a few times for IRB player of the year I believe.
8. Lawrence Dallaglio – Again, no argument here. I do wonder, though, how England would have fared with his as captain instead of Johnson? Would they have won in 03?
7. Richie McCaw – Best openside ever. I suppose I can squeeze him in there.
6. Jerry Collins – This bloke was brutal. Anyone who can knock Colin Charvis out with a normal tackle is in my team of the decade.
5. John Eales – As good as Matfield in the lineout. Can kick, can carry, is nicknamed Nobody. That is good enough for me.
4. Martin Johnson – He can provide my grunt in the second row. And he wasn’t a half bad player either.
3. Carl Hayman – He was the cornerstone of the All Blacks scrum and is fairly noticable absentee now he has moved on.
2. Raphael Ibanez – I guess we can slot one Frenchy in.
1. Benn Robinson – He is new, but I can’t go past this bloke for sheer impact on the Wallaby scrum. I keep harping on about it, but I feel he could have been man of the match in about 3 or 4 games this year. Not bad for a young prop, and I am selecting for the future. ha.
December 17th 2009 @ 1:01pm
Ben C said | December 17th 2009 @ 1:01pm | Report comment
Sam
I like the look of your side. Most of it I agree with, although there are some tight arguments around fitting Habana in or whether to go with Johnson or Eales to partner Matfield.
I agree with many that Burger sticks out like a sore thumb. A very good player, but I am not sure he is one of the all-time greats. For a dynamo at number six I flirted with Thierry Dusautoir but would ultimately pick Serge Betsen.