Tyler_durden says...

Kiwi lad - and then all our good work in getting those Aussies half way literate is undone by the huge influx of South Africans. The Aussies are one thing but we're not miracle workers!

Posted 12:06 25th December 2010

curates_egg says...

I never even saw the poll, so I am not sure how representative this is of planetrugby's readership. That said, it is hard to argue with most of the decisions. It is definitely a bit Kiwi-heavy.

Am more than a little surprised that Heaslip didn't even come a close second in the no.8 slot. He had a better season than Harry Nonky (even though I am a huge fan of Harry). I am not sure that Reid was really the best 8 in the world this year.

Looking forward to 2011 - even if I didn't get tickets for any games I applied for in the RWC.

Posted 16:56 24th December 2010

tyler_durden says...

Stellenboshed - it's a democratic vote! and as the editor has pointed out below its not, primarily, Kiwi's voting. So where's the "extreme bias" coming from?

Perhaps the popularity of the AB's is as much their style of play as their success - the boks won big last year but it sure wasn't pretty.

Posted 10:27 23rd December 2010

Myopicflanker says...

My opinion may easily discounted as a North American, complicated by the fact my wife is French (a deal breaker for some) and my mates are equally divided between South Africans and Brits, with an influential fly-half Scot (in other words, a rugby lineage sure to offend someone).

Disclaimer aside, much of my watching is limited to Six- and Tri-Nations plus keeping up with Stade Toulousain. While I spend a good deal of my time defending one-time household-names like Eales to youngsters who don't know about him and championing George Smith (who, despite his accolades, remains underestimated in these parts), I am consistently amazed at the apparent Southern bias in the comments section and in voting. I acknowledge my own bias towards Top 14 rugby, as the old-style free-flowing French rugby is what first wooed me to the sport. That Jauzion, Medard, Nallet, Parra, Domingo, and Harinordoquy are mentioned is fine (Servat seems incontournable to me, an extraordinary hooker). To take nothing away from Read, the most offense would be downgrading H. to the bench. It may be debatable as to who is 'better' in the absolute sense, even if my vote is still for H., with or without his mask. That said, as to who is the Man of the Match more for their side - no contest and the deciding factor, to my mind. In the collective defense, however, Lievrement's constant meddling with the lineup undermines the perception of H.'s overall impact, this I grant.

Enjoy the banter and remarks, nonetheless. Cheers.

Posted 14:35 22nd December 2010

mlbp says...

@ryantherugbyfan

Kaino played all year and Juan Smith did not play most of the Tri Nations, we can only judge him because of what he did in a limited number of matches. Kaino was outstanding all year, the best 6 in the world for me this year. Maybe Juan Smith is a better all-round blind-side flanker, and a natural leader, but he did not show it this year. We should remember we are voting for the team of 2010.

NZ blind-side flankers are not the flashy type, they just do all the dirty work and gain the hard yards, hit the rucks fiercely and tackle like madmen. Smith's game is more "spectacular" while doing the same stuff (at least he has done so far) but this year we did not see much of him in the international arena.

Posted 12:04 22nd December 2010

mlbp says...

@dilster

I voted for Jane in the 14 jersey... Much better than O'Connor all year. Maybe he did not kick at goal as the youngster did, or he did not get much time on the wing all year (just with the AB's) and that is why the audience did not consider him for the right-wing spot.

Posted 11:57 22nd December 2010

StunTheMullet says...

Bench is a bit suspect on impact...Could do with Ben Franks, Keven Mealamu, Sam Whitelock, Victor Vito, Piri Weepu, SBW and Israel Dagg riding the pines.

Posted 10:32 22nd December 2010

dylster says...

I agree with most of that too. maybe lucky to have abs mentioned in the front row.

i think mitchell should have taken the 11 spot, simply cos Gear didnt have as much game time. i think if he had he could rightfully claim 11. And 14...O'Connor is awesome but has everyone forgotten about Jane?! He is the most underated player around...so talented.

@ boysinblue - get a grip mate, another conspiracy no doubt, loser

Posted 09:04 22nd December 2010

Mick says...

I think Parra, Harinordoquy, and Jauzion would all be worth a place on their outstanding six nations form, though in fairness Read and Nonu were top class too and wouldn't argue with them.

Posted 00:35 22nd December 2010

mlbp says...

Both props look a bit suspect to me. I think most of the best props in the world are in France, England and South Africa. I personally voted for Domingo and Mas. I would have voted for Mtawarira had he played in the Tri Nations and at the level he showed in November, and Steenkamp was rampaging all year, but Domingo played all year against stronger opposition. Ben Franks is a gem that needs to be polished, and Woodcock was a master of the game in the past but in November he was not in the right shape and that should have counted more against him, in my opinion. I see him on the wane somehow. The NZ scrum was a bit poor for its standards during the end of year tour.

I voted for Brad Thorn with Lionel Nallet a close second. On second thoughts I should have changed my vote and gone for Nallet, who had a fantastic Six Nations. Courtney Lawes will be on that list in the future, but this year it was far too early, and he only played a few of the total test matches by England.

I voted for McCaw more because of his leadership skills than for his actual game. Pocock may have outshone him in some areas of the game, but when linking and supporting McCaw was better.

Hosea Gear only really shone in November in the international arena (test matches really count more than S14 or club matches) and missed all the action in the Tri Nations. I chose Drew Mitchell for that place in the team. He was fantastic all year round. Gear's best weapon is power, Mitchell is a better all-round winger.

I voted for 11 out of the 15 players selected. I am from a northern hemisphere country where rugby is a marginal sport, so you cannot suspect I am a Kiwi. I have watched all the test matches this year of the six nations, June tours, Tri Nations and November tests, some Heineken Cup matches and a few of the S14 games and tried to be as fair as possible without any strong affiliations.

Posted 20:55 21st December 2010