World Rugby have announced the player, team and try of the decade for the men’s and women’s game at an overnight awards ceremony, with a slew of All Blacks earning top honours.
The best XVs were decided by a panel of experts, with David Pocock the only Australian to get the nod in either the men’s or women’s side. The flanker, who played his final Test for the Wallabies at last year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan, was named out of position at blindside flanker, with former rival and New Zealand captain Richie McCaw taking the number seven jersey.
McCaw, who was also crowned men’s 15s player of the decade, was one of seven All Blacks to make the team, alongside Ben Smith, Ma’a Nonu, Dan Carter, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick and Owen Franks.
One Kiwi who surprisingly didn’t make the cut was scrumhalf Aaron Smith, who was overlooked in favour of Irishman Conor Murray for the halfback spot.
Welsh winger George North was named opposite Bryan Habana out wide, while Murray’s countryman Brian O’Driscoll was given the nod at outside centre despite retiring in 2014.
In the forward pack, Italian number eight Sergio Parisse joined Pocock and McCaw at the back of the scrum, while Springboks Tendai Mtawarira and Bismarck du Plessis were named in the front row.
In a demonstration of the wealth of rugby talent to choose from, five of the nominees for player of the decade missed out on a spot in the best XV: Thierry Dusautoir, Kieran Read, Beauden Barrett, Johnny Sexton and Pieter-Steph du Toit. However, while the teams of the decade were named by a World Rugby panel, the player awards were decided by a fan vote.
Jessy Tremouliere was named the women’s 15s player of the decade but couldn’t find her way into the XV, with fellow Frenchwoman Safi N’Diaye the only representative from outside England and New Zealand to make the XV.
Australians Emilee Cherry and Charlotte Caslick missed out on the women’s sevens player of the year award to New Zealand’s Portia Woodman, while Fijian Jerry Tuwai took home the men’s gong.
The real outrage of the awards, however, was Radike Samo not winning try of the decade for his barnstorming effort against the All Blacks in 2011. Ireland’s Jamie Heaslip was given the nod instead for what was admittedly a fairly outstanding team effort.
But seriously. It doesn’t get any better than big Radike’s effort:
World Rugby Awards 2020
Men’s 15s team of the decade
1. Tendai Mtawarira (RSA)
2. Bismarck du Plessis (RSA)
3. Owen Franks (NZL)
4. Brodie Retallick (NZL)
5. Sam Whitelock (NZL)
6. David Pocock (AUS)
7. Richie McCaw (NZL)
8. Sergio Parisse (ITA)
9. Conor Murray (IRE)
10. Dan Carter (NZL)
11. Bryan Habana (RSA)
12. Ma’a Nonu (NZL)
13. Brian O’Driscoll (IRE)
14. George North (WAL)
15. Ben Smith (NZL)
Women’s 15s team of the decade
1. Rochelle Clark (ENG)
2. Fiao’o Faamausili (NZL)
3. Sophie Hemming (ENG)
4. Eloise Blackwell (NZL)
5. Tamara Taylor (ENG)
6. Linda Itunu (NZL)
7. Maggie Alphonsi (ENG)
8. Safi N’Diaye (FRA)
9. Kendra Cocksedge (NZL)
10. Katy Daley-Mclean (ENG)
11. Portia Woodman (NZL)
12. Kelly Brazier (NZL)
13. Emily Scarratt (ENG)
14. Lydia Thompson (ENG)
15. Danielle Waterman (ENG)
Fan-voted awards
Men’s 15s Player of the Decade: Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
Women’s 15s Player of the Decade: Jessy Trémoulière (France)
Men’s Sevens Player of the Decade: Jerry Tuwai (Fiji)
Women’s Sevens Player of the Decade: Portia Woodman (New Zealand)
Men’s 15s Try of the Decade: Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
Women’s 15s Try of the Decade: Portia Woodman (New Zealand)
BennO
Roar Rookie
Haha perfect! I thought it was too specific to be a coincidence :-)
Harry Jones
Expert
Always in Cardiff, at the death of the year for the Boks. My point was they never win in SA.
Tycoch22
Roar Rookie
Last ten matches between Wales and South Africa - Wales 6 wins., South Africa 4 wins. All of the matches were competitive/close, including the SF in the last RWC
Tycoch22
Roar Rookie
"AWJ has not captained the Lions" Yes he has.
Tycoch22
Roar Rookie
Utter rubbish. Pocock was not a world class #6. World class #7 yes. Player of the decade at #7 clearly McCaw. Goerge North!!! I don't think so
elvis
Roar Rookie
Everyone has their favourite number 7, a bit like Doctor Who.
QED
Roar Rookie
Soft hands, Retallick, Smarts, Retallick, Lineout Retallick, Clean out Retallick, Agression Retallick, World Cups Retallick, Speed, not the fastest, but has run in the odd try.
Crash Ball2
Roar Rookie
Look, it is an ambitious argument. Flawed of course. But refreshingly enterprising. Incidentally, I loved Blue Hawaii.
elvis
Roar Rookie
George couldn't even get a decision from the selectors over Phil Waugh. Wilson, World Cup winner..
Crash Ball2
Roar Rookie
Wilson - an outstanding Wallabies flanker: often overlooked and underrated. But, no. George William Smith stands, without peer, as Australia's greatest ever backrower.
elvis
Roar Rookie
Must have had Cheika on the selection panel...
elvis
Roar Rookie
By George Smith did you not mean David Wilson?...
Kane
Roar Guru
A bit of trivia for you, who played more tests during the decade, Pocock or McCaw?
Kane
Roar Guru
Pocock or Dusatoir was "significantly better during which years?
Kane
Roar Guru
On what basis do you have Pocock at 7?
Kane
Roar Guru
Steyn has a 44% (impressive when you look at the ABs dominance in the last decade) win rate against the ABs with ¾ of his wins coming in 2009. In fact the last time he beat the All Blacks was 2009.
Kane
Roar Guru
Heinrich lost his last test against the All Blacks no?
The Neutral View From Sweden
Roar Guru
SW => Eben Etzebeth DP => Jerome Kaino SP => Duane Vermulen CM => Aaron Smith BH => You are right, there are no obvious options (despite BH retiring from the Intl. game 2015 and probably had his best period in the previous decade). GN => Israel Folau BOD => Jonathan Davies
Tooly
Roar Rookie
Apparently Hooper was given the Nonpareil award . Player of the century. The judges were Pulver, McKenzie , Cheika and Rennie.
Bobby
Roar Rookie
Joke re Pocock. Awesome in some games, very average in others. Add in his injury time off and consistency and he shouldn't have been picked. Actually on reflection he is the Australian Token Pick. Dare I say it and I can't believe I'm saying it but Hooper is more deserving !