Springboks Bryan Habana looks to get a pass away as the Wallabies Matt Giteau tackles him to the ground during the Australia v South Africa Rugby test at Telstra Stadium, Sydney, Saturday, August 5, 2006. AAP Image/Dean Lewins
The most important consideration in selecting a rugby side, and this is the view of Alan Jones, who was an excellent selector, is to get the shape of the side right.
Rugby is a team game and the good selector tries to mix and match the talents of his players so that the entity of the team is much more powerful than the sum of the individual skills in the side.
Hopefully the players in my dream team will complement each other in the various skills they bring to the side.
Another essential consideration is that each player must be expert in the specific role his position requires him to play. My props, for instance, must be terrific scrummagers, lifters and maulers.
If they can also occasionally make charges like a maddened bull, then so much the better. But the scrumming, lifting and mauling expertise come first.
My template in selection a World Rugby XV of the decade is Rugby World magazine’s XV.
And this brings me to another aspect of selecting, which is the bias that comes from watching and having an interest in a particular competition.
Rugby World is a UK magazine.
Their bias lies with the players they see most often in the European competitions. My bias comes from living in Sydney and writing for the SMH and The Roar, mainly about Super Rugby and the Tri-Nations Tests.
So the Rugby World magazine XV includes 8 northern hemisphere players (the Argentinian Agustin Pichot is regarded as a northern hemisphere player in that most of his top level rugby was played in Europe).
My World XV includes nine southern hemisphere players and six northern hemisphere players.
Of the six northern hemisphere players in my team, three of them were stars of the mighty England pack which dominated and won the RWC in 2003. There is an Italian, an Irishman and a Welshman.
South Africa provides four players in my team; New Zealand three; and Australia two.
These distributions, in my opinion, reflect quite accurately the fortunes of the various national sides over the decade. South Africa and England won the World Cups, and New Zealand were consistently the number one ranked side in the world in this period.
A final consideration for me is that the form of the players must have been outstanding for a couple of seasons.
Now for the envelope and the winning names.
The French call the front row the ‘orchestra stalls’ because this is base from where the rugby music is really made.
World Rugby magazine has selected Carl Hayman, John Smit and Gethin Jenkins. The first two names get my vote, too. But Jason Leonard, who appeared in four World Cups, three Lions tours and is the most-capped prop of all time, replaces Jenkins.
Rugby World magazine’s second row of Martin Johnson and Victor Matfield picks itself, as far as I am concerned.
As does Rugby World magazine’s backrow of Sergio Parisse, Richie McCaw and Richard Hill. This has not been a vintage era for number eights, and Parisse has been the best of an ordinary lot.
Rugby World magazine selects Augustin Pichot and Daniel Carter as its halves. There is an element of the sympathy vote with Pichot. He was a tough, resilient, game and inspirational player.
But his skills came nowhere near those of Fourie du Preez (my player of the decade, ahead of Brian O’Driscoll).
In my view du Preez is one of the all-time great halfs, right up there Gareth Edwards, Chris Laidlaw, Ken Catchpole and Des Conner.
The same compliment can be paid to Daniel Carter, who has no equal in the history of rugby for his all-round attacking and defensive skills. If there was no Carter, then Stephen Larkham, another rugby genius, would have been my first five-eighths.
Rugby World magazine has Matt Giteau at inside centre and Brian O’Driscoll at outside centre. I would move O’Drsicoll into inside centre and bring in Stirling Mortlock at outside centre.
At his prime Mortlock, was a big, powerful dominating presence (as he revealed in the semi-final of the 2003 RWC against New Zealand) in the outside corridors of the field.
Giteau, in my view, is an over-rated player who rarely if ever dominates Tests against strong opponents. Mortlock was feared by the All Blacks and the Springboks as the most dangerous Wallaby on the field when playing against them.
Playing off O’Driscoll, Mortlock would be too tough to stop for even the strongest of defenders.
Rugby World’s magazine back three consists of Mils Muliaina, Jason Robinson and Shane Williams. I retain Shane Williams in my team. Bryan Habana comes in for Robinson, and Chris Latham comes in for Muliaina.
So the Zavos World Rugby XV is: Carl Hayman, John Smit, Jason Leonard. Martin Johnson, Victor Matfield, Richie McCaw, Richard Hill, Sergio Parisse, Fourie du Preez, Daniel Carter, Shane Williams, Brian O’Driscoll, Stirling Mortlock, Bryan Habana, Chris Latham.
My captain is John Smit.
His captaincy of the Springboks in the 2007 RWC and against the British and Irish Lions (where he was smuggled back on to the field, illegally perhaps, to save one of the Tests) was inspirational and thoughtful.
Sir Clive Woodward is my coach.
As World Cups these days defines coaches and players, Woodward and Jake White are the obvious candidates. Take nothing away from White, but the quality of play in the 2007 RWC was well below that, in the finals, of the 2003 RWC.
Woodward, too, produced the greatest England side in over 130 years of Test rugby.
That side won something like 12 consecutive Tests against the best southern hemisphere sides, an achievement that might never be equalled. Woodward introduced tactics like the pass-kick and coaching techniques that are now staple parts of rugby play.
Finally, his 2003 England side was one of the great national teams in the history of rugby.
My World XV is in great hands, with Woodward pulling the coaching strings.
Ai Rui Sheng
Guest
Dame Clivid prepared the worst Bleatingish and Oilyish Loins team in history. Incidently they were beaten by a team coached by the most successful coaching team in the history of rugby union; Lord Ted's Troika.
Moaman
Guest
Spiro-I haven't time right now to scroll through and see if anyone else has addressed your assertion that"Woodward introduced tactics like the pass-kick " which I dispute! I can recall one such pass kick setting up a try for BG Williams v Scotland(Eden Park,1975)that I am pretty sure Woodward had no part in.I would hate to see him get credit for that if my memory serves me correctly.
kovana
Guest
Gavin Henson as the best number 12... EVER.. lol.
WANNA BE AN AB
Guest
Yep yep yep though his persona may come across as Headmasterly, as a Kiwi I do believe Graham Henrys stats speak volumes,, but for some reason I've always admired a totally unknown coach from across the ditch by the name of Rod McQueen..............
Ufa
Guest
O'Kefe ...Just a reminder it's a worlds team of the decade not the Century....majority of your team played in the '80s & '90s
JB
Guest
This is the funniest thing I've read on this website. By a long way.
Jason
Guest
Are you having a lend?
Richie
Guest
I dont agree with your prop. Os du Randt would make Ben Robinson look amateur and Matty Bourke and Cullen were in the decade before this unfortunately. Fourie Du Preez is way superior to Justin Marshall in all aspects of the game and seems to have a magnificent replacement in young hougaard! I think Zavos has a great team, always room for debate though and I question the loose forwards. Schalk Burger must be included. His work rate is phenomenal. I love Dan Carter's rugby but I think Johnny Wilkinson could fill his shoes so either or. I would still go with Dan because it seems effortless with him. The only position I'd battle to pick would be fullback as I believe they have been average this decade unlike the previous decade when you probably had some of the greatest to choose from namely Christian Cullen, Matty Bourke and the rolls royce Andre Joubert!!
Moaman
Guest
WW! I'd like to shake your hand!( I was at that game in Wellington in 2003 and Jonny handled the fickle Caketin's swirling wind with aplomb-it was a callow side and an inept display by the ABs) We fans do have very selective memories!! ps Spiro-you say in your article that Woodward introduced the 'kick-pass'? I seem to recall clearly ...as far back as 1975(NZ v Scotland)BG Williams scoring in the corner from such a kick-pass.was that an anacronism or was Woody coaching NZ that day?
Front rower
Guest
Hi guys My world xv team of all time is this.. 1.Andrew Sheridan (Eng) 2.Anton Oliver(Nz) 3.Os du Randt(SA) 4.Brent Bockbain(wales) 5.Victor Matfield(SA) 6.Jerry Collins(Nz) 7.Richie Mccaw(Nz) 8.Pierre Spies(SA) 9. Fourie Du Preez(SA) 10.Jonny Wilkinson(Eng) 11.Bryan Habana(SA) 12.Gavin Henson(Wales)/Tana Umaga(Nz) 13.Brian O driscoll(Ire) 14Jason Robinson(Eng)/Lote Tiquiri(Aus) 15.John Lewsey(Eng) Reserves: 16.Fabio Ongaro(Italy) 17.CJ van der Linde(SA) 18.Bakkies Botha(SA) 19.Schalk Burger(SA) 20.Piri Weepu(Nz) 21.Dan Carter(Nz) 22.Shane Williams(Wales)
JTM
Guest
It's a team of the decade. Eales would be in my all time team but he only had two great seasons in this decade then retired, as opposed to Matfield performing consistently brilliantly for the past 8 years. I would go Woodcock over Robinson, he's done the hard yards for years and was more dominant than Os at scrum time.
Dean Pantio
Guest
Nice, only six differences in areas where a case can be made for most of them.
Dean Pantio
Guest
As good as Jauzion is, I'm sure he's been capped less than Traille and plays better (imo) at centre, not second five-eighth. In fact, one of the better centre pairings for France I've watched was Traille wearing 12 and Jauzion 13 at Christchurch in 2003.
Sam Taulelei
Guest
It looks like we are very similar in our selections of a team of the decade. This is my post from last year http://www.theroar.com.au/2009/12/17/international-rugby-team-of-the-decade/
Colin N
Guest
Damien Traille? He's a fine player, but Yannick Jauzion has been the main inside-centre for France over the past decade.
Mungehead
Guest
I absolutely concur. IMO that IS the team of the decade.
T Bone Al
Guest
I agree Lionel. Caucau's ability to turn a match gets him in the side. Other players will be selected for different reasons but Caucau gets the nod for game breaking ability. Hey if he doesn't turn up move Robinson or whoever off the bench to start. Mark Ella consistently makes the best ever team lists having played a limited number of tests. When someone is clearly more talented than his peers you pick him. Moreover if you have the best coach in the world then they should be able to manage someone as volatile as Caucau. He was the best player in the super 12 in 2003 (won a title), the best player in French rugby in 05/06 and the most dynamic player at the RWC in 2003. If you have any doubts YouTube "Rupeni Caucau", sit back and enjoy!
Jerry
Guest
Fair enough, but I say an International Team of the Decade should be based on international performances. Caucau was spectacular at times in S12 and Top14, but he's an asterisk at test level.
T Bone Al
Guest
They didn't, they played against him at Super rugby level, I can recall one game where he scored two tries against the Brumbies. In that game Gregan, Roff and co missed him clean. The point is he made world class defenders look second rate at both international and provincial level. He played over 100 games of top tier rugby in the decade so he qualifies for the team.
His Bobness
Guest
I would have a centres combination of Umaga and Mortlock rather than O'Driscoll and Mortlock. Umaga was a terrific defender, a great leader and a talismanic player - particularly in the 2005 Lions tour. Hard to leave him out of a best-of-the-decade team. De Villiers would also be pushing for contention at inside centre. Mils Muiliana has been the most consistent, classiest fullback of the decade. Latham had his moments, but not enough of them in my opinion. And the wings should be Habana and Howlett - Williams is over-rated. I agree with the proposition that there were few standout number 8s this past decade. If I had to pick one it would be Toutai Kefu, but I fear he retired too early in the decade to qualify. The second row is easy - Matfield and Johnson, while my front row would be Hayman, Smit and Woodcock. I never saw enough of Richard Hill to make a judgement, but I thought Jerry Collins was a frightenly good 6 for a little while there, admittedly not long enough probably to put him in a best of the decade team. No arguments over Du Preez at 9 and Carter at 10. Coach should be Henry, surely. He was the most successful coach of the decade. Woodward was a twit. 1. Woodcock 2. Smit 3. Hayman 4. Matfield 5. Johnson 6. Hill 7. McCaw 8. Kefu 9. Du Preez 10. Carter 11. Habana 12. Umaga 13. Mortlock 14. Howlett 15. Muliaiana Reserves: Thompson, Leonard, Jack, Collins, Marshall, Wilkinson, Latham