Your favourites in 2010: Franks, McCaw, Servat and Matfield
The people have spoken! We gave you the chance to pick your best XV of the year and our mailbox quite literally overflowed with hundreds of teams.
We collated your selections and then allowed you to vote in positions where the initial nominations were too close to call. Some of the closest losers got a place on the bench.
Unsurprisingly, the All Blacks dominate the line-up. That you chose eleven New Zealanders is a sign of how impressive they were this year.
There is just one player from the northern hemisphere in the starting XV, but hooker William Servat thoroughly deserves his spot.
Like all coaches, you had to make some pretty tough choices and perhaps most significant is who didn't make the side: A certain David Pocock had a brilliant year, but there's only one openside berth in the team and Richie McCaw won most pundits' vote.
Pocock even misses out on a place on the bench, losing out to fellow IRB Player of the Year nominee Imanol Harinordoquy, who not only got more votes overall but can play in two positions in the loose trio.
There were a couple of hotly contested positions, notably outside centre, left wing, scrum-half, tighthead and loosehead.
We don't necessarily agree with all the results, but democracy has had it's day and this is YOUR team.
Planet Rugby Readers' Team of 2010:
15 Mils Muliaina
There were only two candidates in this position, and gentlemen, Mils had a significant lead on Kurtley Beale in your votes. We agree that the young Aussie had a great year and he gets a place on the bench.
14 James O'Connor
Your votes were unanimous here. Chris Ashton and Tommy Bowe got quite a few too, but O'Connor's extra contribution with the boot no doubt gave him the edge.
13 Conrad Smith
There was nothing separating Smith and Adam Ashley-Cooper when your nominations came in, but when we put them head-to-head, Smith was a clear winner. It seems harsh on the Aussie, but it's tough to argue with the impact of the Hurricanes' midfield duo...
12 Ma'a Nonu
Another clear choice from you. Perhaps the real story here is the guy who came in second - Sonny Bill Williams. The All Blacks' cup runneth over! Yannick Jauzion was next up and we feel he should have gotten a lot more votes.
11 Hosea Gear
Another tiebreaker was needed here between Gear and Drew Mitchell, who might feel a little hard done by considering he was the top try-scorer in the Super 14. But Gear's sensational November seems to have been enough to sway your opinion.
10 Dan Carter
The clearest vote of them all. Quade Cooper was the only other player to get any votes worth counting thanks to his great Super 14, but it's at international level where true greatness shines. They don't call it 'Test' rugby for nothing and Carter showed why he is considered by many to be the best 10 ....ever.
9 Will Genia
Most of you picked either Genia or Ben Youngs while Morgan Parra was the only other scrum-half to get more than a handful of nominations. Thanks to an outstanding season with the Reds, Genia edged out the English number nine in the tiebreaker.
8 Kieran Read
Again it was a two-horse race which Read won fairly comfortably with just over 50 per cent of the votes. Imanol Harinordoquy managed one third. It's an all-Kiwi back row, a sign perhaps that the new law interpretations suit the All Blacks down to a tee.
7 Richie McCaw
Over 70 per cent of you picked the IRB Player of the Year in the openside berth. Most of the rest went with David Pocock, who many felt had the better of the All Blacks captain when they faced each other in the Super 14 and Tri-Nations. But can you argue with New Zealand's record this year under their undisputed leader? (Yes, we expect the comments section to catch fire...Please avoid insults and stick to rugby!)
6 Jerome Kaino
Plenty of names were thrown into the hat for the blindside spot. Although Kaino was a clear winner, he was the choice of only 37 per cent of readers. Juan Smith got 20 per cent with the rest shared by Rocky Elsom, Stephen Ferris and Tom Croft.
5 Victor Matfield
No arguments here, Matfield didn't have his best Tri-Nations but he led the Bulls to the Super 14 crown and was a stand-out (literally!) in the November Tests. Over 80 per cent of you chose him as your number five.
4 Brad Thorn
We were surprised by how easy Thorn won the 'enforcer' position. One of the Planet Rugby journos summed it up perfectly though: "He's simply a warrior." Young England talent Courtney Lawes was your second choice, but that could change in years to come.
3 Owen Franks
The nominations process left one half of the Franks brothers and Adam Jones separated by a single vote! In the head-to-head tiebreaker Franks scraped into the starting line up by just six per cent.
2 William Servat
There were a few names in contention for the number two jersey but William Servat was the outstanding hooker of the year. Bismarck du Plessis missed a lot of the season due to injury but was so good in November that he impressed you enough to get a place on the bench.
1 Tony Woodcock
Loosehead was by far the most contested position. There was nothing to choose between Woodcock, Thomas Domingo, Gurthrö Steenkamp and Tendai Mtawarira. We don't agree with you on this one at all. Look out for our Team of Year next week!
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Adam Jones, 18 Courtney Lawes, 19 Imanol Harinordoquy, 20 Ben Youngs, 21 Quade Cooper, 22 Kurtley Beale, 23 Thomas Domingo
Comments
bok120592 says...
@stellenbosched did it ever occur to you that the AB's just had a better 2010 and won easily compared to the boks 2009? lets not forget that the boks scraped in against the lions, and then came up against an australian side still finding itself and a weakened AB's. i am sad to say that all the AB's chosen deserve their spot (apart from Hosea) while last year the boks were not that fantastic, hence only 6 chosen. all this extreme bias talk is a bit unfounded no?
Posted 22:56 26th December 2010
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
KiwiLad says...
Stellenboshed, The NZ school system is rated regularly in the top ten in the world, at the moment in the top 5.
At any stage during your frequent rants on here do you involve facts?
A Kiwi going to Aus is more likely to be teaching them to read
And as a Kiwi prime minister once said..
Every Kiwi that leaves to live in Australia raises the avge IQ of both countrys
Merry Xmas
Posted 09:35 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...
Thanks Apuula for putting the final nail in the coffin of Stellenboched's conspiracy theories.
Although I agree with you 100 percent that different styles all contribute to the smorgasbord that is international Rugby, but if your selecting players for a world 15 the casual observer would tend towards the flair option - players of which the AB's have in abundance.
Posted 08:34 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
StunTheMullet says...
The only reason the NZ scrum is getting stick is that the NH referees decided to penalise just NZ for scrums collapses etc in their matches in the AIs where the opposition for some reason were allowed resets when front rows went up, collapsed etc.
Notably the All Blacks scrum would always stay up on it's own ball and then there would be collapses when they put the pressure on on opposition ball.
Maybe this was the opposition taking a leaf out of the Shackledraggers handbook in order to milk the penalty.
Richard Loe pointed out the obvious as to why this was occuring (watch the replays) on the Reunion TV show. Essentially the All Blacks pack and engage low (shoulders above hips) while opposition scrums were coming in higher angling down so already on the way to collapse when the scrum engages.
Posted 19:43 22nd 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
Carpelone says...
Do not understand why Franks and Woodcock were picked. Is just because they are All Blacks? In this team, I only agree with Muliaina, Gear, Nonu, Carter, Kaino, McCaw. The other nine positions are highly questionable.
Posted 12:12 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
ericmarseille says...
This is fair game, except for Tony Woodcock ; I'd choose Thomas Domingo in the blink of an eye.
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
startledwombat says...
I'm looking forward to the planetrugby list next week. I hope there's explanation of the whys and wherefores of the choices - that's why I like this site, and why I like listening to the coaches and professional pundits. They see things that I don't even know to look for.
I agree with the comments about the NZ scrum as a whole - some work to do there. Brad Thorn's ability as a leader, as a link player, and on defense, and that he'd play even if confined to a wheelchair, meant in this case I was little less surprised by this popularity poll's result than were your scribes. (And I've only seen Courtney Lawes play for twelve minutes - not much to go on).
Posted 11:10 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
aweblax says...
Question: "Why would readers dispute Richie's selection"?
Pocock is a great player, but he is not as yet at Richie's level, besides I'm yet to see Pocock play on the wing and set tries up there..
Actually the teams not too bad, but I am yet another Kiwi that didn't choose either Franks or Woodcock. I did however choose the rest of the ABs in the team bar Nonu, I felt our loose trio this year was absolutely brilliant and Dan was the best of the first fives on the international scene..
Posted 10:31 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
boksknowfkall says...
james oconnor???. puh leeaasse. talented little chap yes but,.. joe rox, habana, jane, bowe, better propositions all. oconnor looked better than he was cos of the talented teammates inside him. pretty good team, too many abs mostly cos injuries to a lot of good players, dip in form from others. still, even if we get 5 or 6 on the best of list next year, good enuff for a wc. ... unless the other 9 or 10 come from oz or sa.
Posted 01:42 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
rugbyNZ says...
Gear destroyed England and Ireland for the NZ maori. He deserved an all black spot earlier then the November test.
Posted 22:28 21st 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