Sitiveni Sivivatu: Late call-up
Some shone, many didn't. It was not a month of entertaining rugby and the debate over law changes rages on unchecked.
But there were a few players who rose out of the mire and truly delivered for their team when it mattered and we've gathered together an XV of likely lads who wore their national colours well this month...
15 Mils Muliaina - Found his form against England after a mid-season dip and was terrific against France. Beat off some stiff competition to this jersey on the final weekend.
14 Vincent Clerc - After a brief dip in form following his knee injury, 'le petit Vincent' is on fire once again. You can marvel at his finishing and skills, but always remember this is one of the smallest players in world rugby, with reserves of strength that bely his fragile-looking frame.
13 Brian O'Driscoll - Nobody compares. Not in this position. What his body is held together with is said to be a guarded industry secret but it goes on the line week in, week out. Capping his 100th cap with a clinical last-minute try to save his country once again was a fitting image for one of the greatest ever.
12 Yannick Jauzion - Another of the older school showing signs of a new lease of life under a new coach, Jauzion was thought to have lost the pace, poise and panache which he used to burst onto the scene a few years ago, but none of it. He's as good as ever. Quade Cooper was a close second.
11 Sitiveni Sivivatu - Was on form throughout the series, but his performance in that finale against France was a devastating display of running and ball skills which meant he just pips Shane Williams to the post.
10 Matt Giteau - Shocker against Scotland he may have had, but he was a real livewire in Australia's other games. You can forgive such a talent one occasional shocker... Jonathan Sexton was just behind him in the running.
9 Will Genia - Undoubtedly the find of the series, Genia has burst onto the scene and solved Australia's scrum-half conundrum for some time to come. Remarkably like George Gregan in many many ways.
8 Jamie Heaslip - Heaslip is Ireland's archetypal rampaging loose forward, but you watch a couple of his breaking runs against South Africa; his skill set, particularly his ability to drift and straighten a line, is much akin to a back-line player.
7 David Pocock - Another of Australia's end-of-season finds, it appears George Smith's monopoly on the number seven jersey is over. Pocock started the series raw, but was stealing ball like a seasoned pro by the end.
6 Rocky Elsom - Has led Australia through the thin of it in Ireland and Scotland, but was excellent against England and his delight at the long-overdue success in Wales was richly deserved.
5 Paul O'Connell - Eclipsed Victor Matfield. That says pretty much everything you need to know.
4 Sebastian Chabal - France wanted to build any success they enjoyed on a powerhouse pack, of which the bullocking Chabal was a beating heart.
3 Martin Castrogiovanni - On and on Italy's hirsute tighthead goes, obliterating all before him. He had a tough time against South Africa, but neither New Zealand's opponent nor Samoa's could cope.
2 William Servat - Inspirational in the loose and pinpoint with his line-out throwing, Servat was a driving force in a powerful French front row.
1 Fabien Barcella - A new kid on the block as far as international scrumming is concerned. Still a little inconsistent, but Neemia Tialata for one will not forget what Barcella can be capable of.
Comments
Trinats says...
McCaw, player of the year ???? Can't even make it into this side.
Maybe he won it because to the Kiwi successful Trinations ???? maybe Paddy OBrian is on the selection panel ??? no that can't b it either, still lost, explanation please Tana?
Posted 09:45 04th December 2009
_TimTam91_ says...
Da hell???
Carters da real 5/8
richie maccaw da 7
hmmmm??yea das all
Posted 23:18 03rd December 2009
Bobs2 says...
That was a good laugh. Are you posting the real team soon? Anyone who selects Giteau must be smoking something. Sure he may have been excellent in the other games, but his performance against Scotland was so terrible that he should be automatically ruled out. And then you select Sexton as the next choice. wtf?
So nice of you to select two kiwis from an unbeaten team that didn't even concede a try.
Posted 23:00 02nd December 2009
unbias_honest says...
Bod is highly overated while figuring in a strong Ireland side, "doesn't like it up him"
Imagine Conrad Smith in the very same Ireland side "if you will"
Gitz over Carter ? Never !! Giteau will always be "The understudy" Sexton carrying the kit and always will, maybe running on some water from time to time.
McCaw at a canter along with GSmith "Pocock not far behind"
Lobbe ? my god is this supposed to be a list. Have I missed something ? Could anyone overlook Heaslip ? shouldn't think so !!
Not one mention of Gethin Jenkins, in a misfiring Welsh side but hitting like south sea islanders and covering better than most flankers plus doing the job at scrum time, even being part of a poor forward outfit.
Mils just pipping Carney, Jane and Sivivatu
O'connel and Thorn, thou no other locks show up theres not much standing out.
Games a changing, come on IRB, LETS GET BACK TO RUGBY, not this woeful tosh you are governing.
Posted 19:31 02nd December 2009
claudio says...
Dan Carter MUST take the No. 10 jersey, and Fernandez Lobbe MUST not be out of the team
Posted 13:11 02nd December 2009
KiwiRooster says...
@happydays, I agree Cory Jane is outstanding, but the player he had in front, Maxime Medard is not a wing by trade (although he has played there at times for Toulouse), he is a pure fullback (like Muliaina) and he is out of form currently with both club and country. He was much better at fullback during the June test but overall against the All Blacks, the French backs never clicked. There was something wrong that N'Tamack their coach needs to sort out. When Yannick Jauzion burst through 3 or 4 tackles, normally it would have ended up as a try. This time (a trend we develop during that game), there was no one to be seen in support, not even Clerc or Medard who are two of Jauzion's partners in club. I could not tell what went wrong, but our backs just never played right together. And Traille is not a fullback, he is a centre. Last year, we were poor upfront, Didier Retiere is fixing that up, and I cannot wait to see Luc Ducalcon at prop who I think is worth every penny like Fabien Barcella. Now, we have not progressed at all with the backs, so I expect a few new additions (Fall, Porical, maybe Andreu) for the back three that should put the others in a more competitive environment. A bit like Rokocoko who has now to face the competition of Cory Jane. Lievremont and N'Tamack also need to fix the centres and decide which number 10 once and for all. Once they have done that, they have to be clear about their intentions. You cannot tell players "let's play French flair" and select a player like Traille at fullback. Don't get me wrong I like Traille but at centre. It is time our staff pick the specialists at every position when they can. Under Laporte, we have had a worrying tendency for picking the polyvalent players who can play at 2 or 3 different positions but realistically they are only good in one. We are still under construction, but we are on schedule for 2011.
Posted 03:57 02nd December 2009
BradS says...
Obviously the French didn't turn up to play against the Allblacks, but their performance against the world and tri nations champions was certainly good enough to justify the inclusion of Barcella and Chabal. The likes of Burger, Rossouw and Matfield found it tough going against Les Bleus. Scotland's Phil Godman also deserves a mention after his performance in the Wallabies match.
Posted 07:33 01st December 2009
Irishref says...
No mention of Sergio P. An outstanding athlete and fantastic leader, with excellent footballing skills. Dan C & Richie McCaw definately first names on the sheet. Didn't see all the games, but can't look beyond Bakkies Botha, would love to see him and O Connell play together. Awesome. The Aussies have phenominal players in Pocock & Genia and Brussow is just too good to leave out. Rob Kearney gets the 15 and BoD in 13 everytime, beside Jamie Roberts as a pairing they would be exceptional and a match for a Nonu/Conrad Smith partnership?
I'd have Habana ahead of Sivi... but just about. Clerc minding the other wing?
Castro"g" in the front with John Smit and A N Other? English descimated by injury and with the Scots building a dangerous outfit for the 6 nations there's no one outstanding in a position to trouble any of the above. Mr. A Rolland with the whislte or J Kaplan.
Posted 18:29 30th November 2009
luti5884_1032 says...
blue lion the all blacks are no where near peaking, they stuttered thru their june tests, tri-nations & the november tests too barring that hammering of the french(wow), so saving ur AB bashing for another time & mos def not 2011. au revoir!!!
Posted 10:41 30th November 2009
BWJC says...
England had a very poor November, but there's no question Lewis Moody should be in this list. Relentless commitment and unfailing courage, Mad Dog played his heart out.
Kiwi's - blah blah blah. RWC not far away now, feeling nervous yet? Peaked to early...again? Blue shirts haunting your dreams?!
Posted 10:28 30th November 2009
kuzurebi says...
well C. Smith was outstanding for sure. i think the problem of #13 all blacks had after umaga has been settled
and of course mckow is the best rugby player in the world today
Posted 10:26 30th November 2009
islandrugby says...
This is purely a joke..a big shame to the people who picked this team..after ABs destroyed the france front row and picked up a try in a scrum? Y do we hv to put all 3 of them in the autumn team? I thot the Aust front row was the most improved n should be the front row of the series evendou they were agnst weak front row opponents...G-Smith is surely above BOD by a mile at this time..even D-Ioane and SA no 13 were better and consistent than him..
Carter was always the best 5/8 around..Gooper was also better than his fellow teammate Gitz..as for McCaw, he is the IRB player and was far better than Poccok or anyone..Donnolley was a class above Chabal and I thot Read was the best last scrumman of the series..
Posted 06:52 30th November 2009
youngbizz says...
what a load of crap
Posted 04:15 30th November 2009
hugh100 says...
Lets base it on tries scored 5N v TriN, I¿m an Aussie but Carter and McCaw would be the first picked in any team, Pocock is the future but Macaw and George Smith are still the most outstanding opensides, what about the Aussie front row not only ball handling but destroying all before. Looks like the same bunch who picked last year¿s player of the share it around, don¿t give it to the best.
Posted 04:11 30th November 2009
7ton says...
bluelion
As you're so clever at seeing into the future and the fact that NZ and France are in the same pool group means that if France are going to knock out NZ then it most certainly would be in the final. So now we know who the finalist are there is no point in anyone else turning up.
Funny though the last time the WC was held in NZ it was a France NZ final and we all know who won then
Posted 01:59 30th November 2009
jmanngod says...
here is the actual team:
Rob Kearney (Ireland);
Cory Jane (New Zealand),
Conrad Smith (New Zealand),
Ma¿a Nonu (New Zealand),
Sitiveni Sivivatu (New Zealand);
Dan Carter (New Zealand),
Will Genia (Australia);
Fabien Barcella (France),
Andrew Hore (New Zealand),
Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy),
Victor Matfield (South Africa),
Paul O¿Connell (Ireland),
Rocky Elsom (Australia),
Richie McCaw (New Zealand),
Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (Argentina).
Replacements: William Servat (France),
Benn Robinson (Australia),
Donncha O¿Callaghan (Ireland),
Keiron Read (New Zealand),
Chris Cusiter (Scotland), J
onathan Sexton (Ireland),
Mils Muliaina (New Zealand).
Posted 01:39 30th November 2009
eastwoodboy says...
The Times has probably a more balanced team for the Autumn series.....
Rob Kearney (Ireland); Cory Jane (New Zealand), Conrad Smith (New Zealand), Ma¿a Nonu (New Zealand), Sitiveni Sivivatu (New Zealand); Dan Carter (New Zealand), Will Genia (Australia); Fabien Barcella (France), Andrew Hore (New Zealand), Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy), Victor Matfield (South Africa), Paul O¿Connell (Ireland), Rocky Elsom (Australia), Richie McCaw (New Zealand), Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (Argentina). Replacements: William Servat (France), Benn Robinson (Australia), Donncha O¿Callaghan (Ireland), Keiron Read (New Zealand), Chris Cusiter (Scotland), Jonathan Sexton (Ireland), Mils Muliaina (New Zealand).
Posted 00:54 30th November 2009
happydays says...
I'm sorry but PR has lost alot of cred with the selection of this team. I bet that muppet Stephen Jones had something to do with this. Cory Jane was outstanding on the wing against Wales and France. He made the French winger who was marking him look like an average club player. The poor guy will see Jane's handprint on his face whenever he looks in the mirror. Conrad Smith never has a bad game and was my man of the match against France. BOD was ok during November but his performances look better because he plays for an average international team. Jimmy Cowan was by far the best No 9 in November. Oh my god Chabel is so average it's a joke. He went missing and only lasted 45 mins against the AB's, enough said. Brad Thorn played just about every minute of every game in November and was outstanding. Strong on defence and with ball in hand and won all of his ball in the lineout. McCaw and Carter should be automatic selections in this team because without doubt they were 2 of the standout players in November. Carter did not have a bad game unlike Giteau who had a shocker against Scotland and proved he really is over rated.
Posted 23:46 29th November 2009
numpty says...
I watched about 50% of the matches this month. Someone suggested a team that could beat the above team. Here goes:
15. Rob Kearney (the perfect tonic to SA's kick chase: is to Ugo as 9" is to 1.5") Mils was outstanding.
14. Sean Lamont (posed in a gay porn mag. Nuff said)
13. Jacques Fourie then Cornfed Smith. Did BOD play any games this autumn? He did F all in the two games I saw.
12. Not Adi Jacobs. Couldn't care less who plays here. No one stood out. Nonu, Roberts, someone from the Manu Samoa or Fiji.... Whoever it is will be better than a cockerel.
11. Bryan Habana. Didn't get a sniff of the ball against the Paddies, but was class vs Italy. Sivi was better though... by miles. Not Simon Danielli - stank up MField.
10. Dan C. Wilko past his SBD, Moron Stain couldn't kick, Sextans..... who? kicked some pens.... well done.... it's the big boys now.
9. Christopher "Columbus" Cusiter. Knocked out by AA-Cooper's fat backside, then stopped a try. The boy Fourie du Preez isn't half bad either... but since Scotland won more of their matches ;)
8. Tuilagi or Lobbe. Both monumental. I'll take Lobbe.
7. Lewis Moody. Positive discrimination for the rubbish rugby nations. Also, he was v.v. good. Sorry about Capt McCaw, he's on the bench.
6. Heinrich Brussouw. The gift that keeps on giving. Bench - Alasdair Strokosch (black belt in karate. Does the crane better than dan-ya-san).
5. Big Bad Brad. Dunno if these two locks would work, since I don't think Brad Thorn ever learned to speak. Nails though.
4. Nathan Hines. Since all the classy Aussies were in the PR draft, I'll take this grunter. Shame Bakkies was crap this tour (and injured).
Don't know F all about front rowers, but I thought that John Smit could play 2 & 3 in the worst team... along with most of the Boks and Ugo ;)
I'll go for combinations where the Irish front row pip the ABs.
Posted 23:45 29th November 2009
bigb69 says...
I only just joined up in the last week or so and started reading all the article instead of just the match reports. The more I read of planet rugby the more their correspondence are complete idiots. And this team selection just confirms it.
Posted 23:10 29th November 2009