15. Mils Muliaina NZ. Mentions, Latham, Robinson, Montgomery
14. Doug Howlett NZ. Mentions, Paulse
13. Brian O’Driscoll IRE. Mentions, Umaga, Mortlock, Fourie, Greenwood
12. Yannick Jauzion FRA. Mentions, de Villiers, Mauger
11. Bryan Habana RSA. Mentions S Williams, Tuqiri, Rococoko
10. Dan Carter NZ. Mentions Wilkinson, Larkham, Giteau, Michalak, Hernandez
9. Fourie du Preez RSA. Mentions Gregan, Stringer, Dawson, Marshall, Kelleher
8. Lawrence Dallaglio ENG. Mentions Parisse, So’oialo, Harinordoquy, Taylor
7. Richie McCaw NZ. Mentions Smith, Burger, Waugh, Magne, M Williams
6. Juan Smith RSA. Mentions Collins, Elsom, Hill
5. Victor Matfield RSA. Mentions O’Connell,Williams, Vickerman
4. Martin Johnson ENG. Mentions Pelous, Botha, Jack, Sharpe
3. Carl Hayman NZ. Mentions Vickery, Peter deVilliers, Jones, Castrogiovanni, Sommerville
2. John Smit RSA. Mentions Mealamu, Thompson, Ibanez
1. Tony Woodcok NZ. Mentions Marconnet, Roncero, Sheridan, Jenkins, du Randt

NZ 6
RSA 5
ENG 2
IRE 1
FRA 1

All in all a pretty close reflection to the Roar crew’s choices

There was no round-table discussion amongst the judges. The way it works is that each of the judges is responsible for every Test match that takes place in their jurisdiction. After every Test in Ireland this year, Wallace texted the names of the best three players on the pitch, regardless of nationality. Each nomination is worth a point, and at the end of November, someone in the IRB added up all the points. The same thing happened in every other test team jurisdiction with a judge representative. It’s understood that McCaw pipped O’Driscoll by a solitary point.

“It’s not as though the nine of us sat around and considered the politics of it all,” says Wallace. “In fact, the system was devised to take politics out of it. But it’s a flawed system, obviously, and I’ve made my views known to the IRB. For what it’s worth, I would have chosen Brian, followed by Fourie du Preez.”

Here’s one thing for you to consider. I love the first 5/second 5 model over the flyhalf and 2 centres model. So how about a 10/12 of Larkham and Carter? They could really set a backline alight. De Villiers is a tremendous player, but I don’t think he’s in the same league as Carter and Larkham. And I would have Pichot feeding them the ball, his service behind that pack would be impeccable.

I would have Eales and Matfield. I loved Johnson’s leadership, but it’s not required in this team! And you can have Eales as your backup kicker if you don’t have Matty Burker…

I would have picked JC over Burger. Collins would be the last guy I would to come across on a rugby field. But I think the French are perhaps under-represented here. Magne or Harinordiquy, perhaps?

I completely agree, Rusty. It’s not as if Du Randt was a notorious technical infringer like Van der Linde or Baxter. I saw him have an awful time against Julian White, but I also noted that Hayman never got the better of Du Randt. We all know that styles make scrums and to criticise Du Randt’s scrummaging is a tad melodramatic. One only has to consider the 2007 WC SF versus Argentina: Roncero threw Van der Linde around like a rag doll whereas Du Randt and Scelzo just appeared to be leaning on each other. Du Randt didn’t move an inch backwards. It’s highly debatable whether SA would have won the WC without him.

I had to include Lima, he and keith wood were the two players that I got the most joy watching play rugby.(besides Latho).

A very underrated pair of number 8s, are, in my opinion, Anthony Foley and Martin Corry. Problematically, the decade has offered countless good players, many of which I can’t recall.

While all this was being said about Latham he raced up the try-scoring records list. 40 tries from 78 Tests suggests he’s doing something right, especially for a guy who supposedly just “kicked up and unders back to the opposition”. I will admit though, despite that good tally of tries, only two of them are against New Zealand, whom he played 14 times. I can accept it when people say he didn’t play his best against New Zealand.

Then again, I think all Wallaby supporters would kill to have a fullback like Latham playing for the Wallabies right now. Ashley-Cooper has had a really good year, but he can’t compare to Latham’s kicking game. How many games have Australia lost because of poor kicking? I’d go as far to say Australia would have won a few of their last seven games against New Zealand if they had Chris Latham.

I think Latham’s the best choice for fullback in this list.

You talk about Tana having a bit of Mortlock and O’Driscoll in him, yet Tana’s distribution skills were never as good as Mortlock’s or O’Driscoll’s. Tana, to his credit, changed his skill set when he lost a bit of pace and was moved to centre. But that’s another thing Tana didn’t have, O’Driscoll’s pace. Tana couldn’t dream of scoring some of the individual tries O’Driscoll did in the early 2000s.

Tana’s hands could be horrendous ala v South Africa in 2003 where the Saffies scored two tries as a direct result of his mistakes. Tana’s greatest attribute as a centre was his defence. Later on his captaincy was pretty vital to New Zealand becomming they force they were to become.

In terms of pure centre play O’Driscoll has it over Tana. Speed, vision, balance, ball skills, runs great angles etc. Even this year when O’Driscoll didn’t show a lot of these qualities with Ireland, he was Mr Johnny on the spot in all the games. He was the best player of the 6N, and he did it through leadership and stepping-up.

4. Ignacius Fernando Lobbe
3. Trevor Woodman
2. Keith Wood

Only if they were in a head to head competition. But they played in different midfield positions in their career although interestingly both started their careers on the wing before moving in closer. Tana has played a few games at 12 when Conrad Smith emerged on the scene but in any world or best team selection he would always be a contender for the centre position and nowhere else. If you read Katzilla’s comments above he makes a compelling case for Tana’s inclusion.

I’m assuming you’re referring to John Smit as the best hooker?

As said earlier Os was fine till his second stint where he really started to run out of gas after thinking he could charge around the park like he did in his younger days.

OJ – nice team but you have to be kidding abut Mils?
Wouldn’t be in my 4th Grade world 15.

Rusty, it was regular for OS used to back peddal against the better tight heads… he was poo come scrum time. But yes, I would still have him in my team because of his work around the park. I have never seen a Prop make so many try saving tackles in broken play.

Also agree that Smith is the best hooker of the decade. I think the current crop of Bismark, Moore etc are slightly better players but no one had as much affect on a teams performance as he.

Also, there is no way anyone in the right mind would have de Villers over Tana…is there?

Nice one Pots.

Obviously I’d recommend the following selection:

http://img371.imageshack.us/img371/9977/poths4hl1.jpg