All Blacks to fore in teams of decade
All Blacks totally dominate teams selected by former England rugby internationals on a BBC panel choosing the best XV of the decade.
Former England winger Ugo Monye, halfback Danny Care and BBC rugby correspondent Chris Jones picked their best side of 2010-19 between them while there was also one made up of votes from rugby fans in the UK.
The team chosen by Monye, Care and Jones featured seven All Blacks with Owen Farrell, England’s only player in either team, chosen ahead of All Blacks great Ma’a Nonu at second five-eighth.
The All Blacks in both teams were Beauden Barrett at fullback, Julian Savea on the left wing, Dan Carter at first five-eighth, Kieran Read at No 8, Richie Mccaw in the flankers, and Dane Coles at hooker.
Earlier this week, Carter was named World Rugby’s player of the decade, beating fellow All Blacks great Mccaw for the honour, and Kiwis dominating teams of the decade follows successive World Cup wins in 2011 and 2015.
The Springboks finished the decade as world champions, though, with the All Blacks surrendering the Webb Ellis Cup after losing 19-7 to England in the semifinals this year.
Wales were the second best contributors with four players in either team, and winger George North, centre Jonathan Davies and lock Alun Wyn Jones featured in both.
The panel’s team opted for Australia’s Will Genia instead of
Aaron Smith at halfback, with former Wales captain Sam Warburton alongside Mccaw in the flankers, Wyn Jones and South African lock Eben Etzebeth in the second row, and Springboks prop Tendai Mtawarira in the front row with former All Blacks tighthead Owen Franks and Coles at hooker.
The fans’ team on the BBC had nine All Blacks with Nonu at second-five and Brodie Retallick at lock, with Australia’s David Pocock at blindside flanker, and Welsh prop Adam Jones at tighthead.
Mtawarira was included in both teams after finishing his career with a World Cup win.
Israel Folau is still in the best Wallabies XV of the decade – a fact that sums up Australian rugby’s miserable past 10 years.
Folau was famously sacked by Rugby Australia before embarking on a lengthy legal process that saw him walk away with confidential settlement.
But a look back at the past decade shows how the game has been in decline across the ditch for years, with silverware scarce at both Super Rugby and test level.
Before disappearing in a blaze of controversy, Folau was easily the most devastating attacker the Wallabies had. Kurtley Beale had his moments at the back.
Fielding a settled Wallabies midfield was rare. Kuridrani was strong and reliable while Beale on his day could be a match-winner but he was shunted around the backline.
Solid and racked up points at a decent rate but only really shone at the 2015 World Cup. Quade Cooper’s flashes of brilliance were too fleeting.
The game’s premier No 9 early in his career before tailing off by the end but always one of the team’s most important players. Nick Phipps was an admirable backup.
On sheer ability, champion ball scrounger Pocock and the workaholic Hooper are both there, despite criticism their combination created an under-sized pack. The industrious Fardy blended with them best in 2015.
Simmons was a model of consistency across the decade. Horwill was promoted to captain, edging him ahead of some worthy candidates.
Kepu was the most capped Wallaby during the 10 years, playing 107 of the 136 tests. Sio was a brutal performer in recent seasons, seeing off James Slipper and Benn Robinson.
Like so many of the 2015 Rugby World Cup finalists, finds a place in this selection. A tough-as-nails skipper, complemented by Tatafu Polota-nau off the bench.