Who made ABS Team of the Decade?

Adecade of dominance, ended with World Cup woe. The All Blacks were again a force to be reckoned with over the past 10 years – the 2011 and 2015 World Cup triumphs attesting to that – before a 2019 slip in which they lost their hold on the Webb Ellis Cup, as well as the No 1 world ranking for the first time since 2009.

All up, since 2010 there have been 124 players who have worn the black jersey. So just how many of the current crop make it into Stuff’s All Blacks Team of the Decade?

(Selection criteria for past players is based on entire careers, not just the games they played in this decade.)

Tony Woodcock, Neemia Tialata, John Afoa, Ben Franks, Wyatt Crockett, Owen Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Ben Afeaki, Jeff Toomaga-allen, Joe Moody, Nepo Laulala, Ofa Tuungafasi, Kane Hames, Tim Perry, Atu Moli,

Karl Tu’inukuafe, Angus

Ta’avao, Tyrel Lomax.

Tony Woodcock (loosehead) and Owen Franks (tighthead).

They’re the two most-capped props in All Blacks history.

Woodcock (118 tests) will best be remembered for scoring the sole try of the 2011 World Cup final, from a lineout move dubbed the ‘teabag’. Aside from those exploits, his consistently strong set-piece work and admirable skillset around the park gave the All Blacks a banker at loosehead.

Andrew Hore, Keven Mealamu, Corey Flynn, Hika Elliot, Aled de Malmanche, Dane Coles, Nathan Harris, James Parsons, Codie Taylor, Liam Coltman, Asafo Aumua.

Dane Coles.

Had a tough job following in the footsteps of the legend that is Mealamu, but brought a unique style of play which made him the best in the world.

Dependable lineout thrower and physically abrasive around the fringes, Coles coupled it with passing skills and footwork that any decent back would be proud of.

Ali Williams, Brad Thorn, Anthony Boric, Tom Donnelly, Sam Whitelock, Jarrad Hoeata, Brodie Retallick, Luke Romano, Jeremy Thrush, Dominic Bird, Patrick Tuipulotu, James Broadhurst, Scott Barrett, Jackson Hemopo.

Brodie

Retallick and Brad Thorn.

Since bursting onto the international scene in 2012, Retallick has become not just the best lock in the country, and the world, but one of the best players on the globe, fullstop. His core roles are complemented by a huge engine which sees him hammer breakdowns and punish in the tackle, while he also roams in space, with deft hands to boot.

Despite easily being New Zealand’s most-capped lock (117 tests), Whitelock gets edged by Thorn for the other second row spot. The former Brisbane Broncos and Kangaroos rugby league enforcer made a huge impact in his 59 tests in the black jersey between 2003-2011, with his extreme toughness – both physical and mental – giving the All Blacks a real hard edge in the pack.

Richie Mccaw, Daniel Braid, Jerome Kaino, Adam Thomson, Liam Messam, Kieran Read, Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Steven Luatua, Matt Todd, Luke Whitelock, Ardie Savea, Elliot Dixon, Liam Squire, Vaea Fifita, Akira Ioane, Dillon Hunt, Shannon Frizell, Dalton Papalii, Gareth Evans, Luke Jacobson.

Jerome Kaino (blindside), Richie Mccaw (openside, and captain), Kieran Read (No 8).

It’s the trio who started both the 2011 and 2015 World Cup final wins.

Despite a sterling last couple of years, Savea hasn’t done enough at this point to unseat

Kaino, who was an absolute menace at blindside, and particularly imposing come big World Cup games.

Mccaw, the All Blacks’ mostcapped player (148 tests), back-toback World Cup-winning captain, three-time World Rugby player of the year, and who took openside play to new levels, is an automatic selection in the side.

And Read rounds out the pack. It didn’t end the way he hoped this year, but it was a colossal 127-test career by the No 8 who previously shone in the open channels then became a tighter link man, with still the same defensive punch.

Jimmy Cowan, Piri Weepu, Andy Ellis, Alby Mathewson, Aaron Smith, Tawera Kerr-barlow, TJ Perenara, Augustine Pulu, Brad Weber, Mitch Drummond, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi.

Aaron Smith. Who was going to fill the boots of Weepu following his 2011

World Cup exploits?

Well, a young tyro by the name of Smith popped up the following year to start ahead of the cult hero.

Some 92 tests later, the 31-yearold is New Zealand’s mostcapped, and probably best, No 9 in history. His snappy pass has been key in allowing the All Blacks’ backline time and space, while his smart kicking and astute scampering are also invaluable.

Dan Carter, Stephen Donald, Aaron Cruden,

Colin Slade, Tom Taylor, Beauden Barrett, Lima Sopoaga, Richie Mo’unga, Brett Cameron, Josh Ioane.

Dan Carter (and

goalkicker).

Clearly just one man to consider here, particularly as Beauden Barrett can be thrown into the outside backs contingent.

An all-time great and consistently exemplary in all facets – running, kicking, passing, tackling, you name it – Carter goes down as the All Blacks’ highest test points scorer (1598) and is a three-time World Rugby player of the year.

Following World Cup disappointments in 2003, 2007 and 2011 (injury), fittingly finished his career with hugely instrumental displays in 2015.

Ma’a Nonu, Conrad Smith, Isaia Toeava, Richard Kahui, Tamati Ellison, Benson Stanley, Rene Ranger, Sonny Bill Williams, Ryan Crotty, Francis Saili, Malakai Fekitoa, George Moala, Charlie Ngatai, Seta Tamanivalu, Anton Lienert-brown, Ngani Laumape, Jack Goodhue, Matt Proctor, Braydon Ennor.

Ma’a Nonu (second-five) and Conrad Smith (centre).

There’s some exciting talent for years ahead, but there’s no going past the old firm, who racked up a world record 62 tests alongside one another.

Labelled ‘the odd couple’ such were their opposite styles, it was a partnership which served New Zealand so well for around a decade, until they both retired after the 2015 World Cup.

At second-five you had Nonu (103 tests), with all the flair, flamboyance, strength and step, which so often got the All Blacks over the advantage line, then at centre was Smith (94 tests), the legal eagle with a swerving run, sleight of hand and shrewd mind to organise the defence.

Joe Rokocoko, Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Hosea Gear, Cory Jane, Zac Guildford, Ben Smith, Israel Dagg, Julian Savea, Beauden Barrett, Charles Piutau, Frank Halai, Waisake Naholo, Nehe Milner-skudder, Damian Mckenzie, Rieko Ioane, Jordie Barrett, David Havili, Matt Duffie, George Bridge, Sevu Reece.

Julian Savea (left wing), Ben Smith (right wing) and Beauden Barrett (fullback).

Left wing is the most hotly contested of all spots in the list, with Fijian fliers Rokocoko and Sivivatu, and even Ioane, making a good case.

But it’s Savea who claims it. Tied for second with Rokocoko and Christian Cullen on the All Blacks’ all-time test try-scoring list, with 46, Savea’s scores came from fewer matches, and he had a power game which proved a deadly combination with his pace. That 2015 quarterfinal against France will live forever in the memory.

Say what you like about the positions of the other two in this selected trio, but the fact of the matter is, they just have to be there.

Smith was the world’s best fullback for much of his career, and such was his quality – astute game-reading, solidity under the high ball, and tendency to beat the first man – also made a decent fist of the right-wing berth.

Barrett has launched himself from the role of supersub to now being the key to the All Blacks’ attack. After two World Rugby player of the year awards as a first five-eighth, he’s been just as effective at fullback in a twinplaymaking role, with his speed a key reason for already being eighth-equal on the NZ test tryscoring list, with 36.

Beauden Barrett,

Smith, Conrad Smith,

Ma’a Nonu, Julian Savea,

Dan Carter, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie Mccaw

(c), Jerome Kaino, Brad Thorn, Brodie Retallick,

Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Tony Woodcock.

All told, 12 of these players started the 2015 World Cup final, with Barrett injected from the bench, and Woodcock not there only because of injury, leaving Thorn as the only one not to feature at that tournament.

There are just three players in this XV who will wear the black jersey next year – Coles, Aaron Smith and Barrett, with Retallick on a playing sabbatical in Japan.

It illustrates the bulk of class which has departed over the past five years, and, in turn, leaves plenty of spots open for the new wave of talent to make their mark in the next decade.

Ben