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Revealing The Roar's Test rugby team of the decade for the 2010s

25th November, 2019
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Richie McCaw and David Pocock went head-to-head in our team of the decade discussion. (AP Photo/Rick Rycroft)
25th November, 2019
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Team of the year? Pfft, there’s no fun in that. Team of the decade? Now we’re talking.

With the 2010s drawing to a close, it’s time to dig into who should make the Test rugby XV of the decade – and that’s exactly what we did on the latest episode of Game of Codes, with more than a little help from Geoff Parkes.

The format was simple: Geoff and editor Daniel Jefrey had ten minutes to pick our side: five minutes for the forwards, five for the backs. When there was a disagreement – and there were a few – they each had to convince the other, else host Matthew Petherick would choose for us.

Listen to how the selection meeting played out in the player below!

The team we ended up with was unsurprisingly dominated by All Blacks, with nine Kiwis making their way into the side, while their were two players each from South Africa and Wales, and one apiece from Ireland and France. Alas, not a single Wallaby made the cut – although there were a couple who were firmly in the discussion before being eventually overlooked.

The Roar’s Test rugby XV of the decade
1. Tendai Mtawarira (RSA)*
2. Dane Coles (NZ)*
3. Tadgh Furlong (IRE)*
4. Brodie Retallick (NZ)*
5. Alun Wyn Jones (WAL)
6. Thierry Dusautoir (FRA)*
7. Richie McCaw (NZ)
8. Kieran Read (NZ)*
9. Aaron Smith (NZ)
10. Dan Carter (NZ)
11. Bryan Habana (RSA)
12. Ma’a Nonu (NZ)*
13. Conrad Smith (NZ)*
14. George North (WAL)
15. Beauden Barrett (NZ)

*Denotes consensus pick

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Because there’s every chance there’ll be just a little bit of disagreement with the XV we ended up with on the show, we want you to vote for your team of the decade in the form below, and we’ll compare the two sides later on.

You can listen to the entire episode at the Game of Codes homepage, and be sure head to subscribe and review on iHeartRadio, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts or wherever else you get your podcasts.

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