Nadolo joins world’s best
Full report on Page 38.
FORMER Flying Fijians wing Nemani Nadolo has been included in the Rugby World magazine’s team of the decade.
The blockbusting Nadroga man, who was with the Crusaders from 2014-16, played 29 Tests for Fiji and at one Rugby World Cup in 2015 made the cut with eight All Blacks as the cream of the crop from 2010-2019.
Nadolo was the surprise inclusion alongside a host of All Blacks in rugby’s team of the decade chosen by the esteemed
Rugby World magazine.
Kiwis have dominated plenty of teams of the decade because of New Zealand’s winning record and their two World Cup wins in 2011 and 2015.
South Africa’s World Cup victory in Japan meant they matched New Zealand’s record of three global rugby titles.
There were two Springboks in Rugby World’s team with 2007 World Cup winner Bryan Habana on the left wing and Tendai Mtawarira, whose last Test was their
World Cup final success over England last month, was chosen at prop.
Australia, who finished a tumultuous decade with the departure of divisive coach Michael Cheika and the Israel Folau saga, had two players joining McCaw in the back row with Michael Hooper at blindside flanker and David Pocock at No 8.
Wales had two representatives in centre Jonathan Davies and lock Alun Wyn Jones and there were no players from England,
Ireland and Scotland.
Rugby World’s team of the decade:
Ben Smith (New Zealand), Nemani Nadolo (Fiji), Jonathan Davies (Wales), Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand), Bryan Habana (South Africa), Dan Carter (New Zealand), Aaron Smith (New Zealand); David Pocock (Australia), Richie McCaw (New Zealand), Michael Hooper (Australia), Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), Brodie Retallick (New Zealand), Owen Franks (New Zealand), Keven Mealamu (New Zealand), Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa).