Rugby Union - Team of the Decade

[Hound55]

I know not all will care about this but I saw this in an article the other day. I know I might be a little biased towards my own countrymen, but...

FOUR Argentinians and only ONE Aussie?

Are you kidding me?

I mean, I'm normally the first guy to remind people that the Argies are ridiculously underrated by most, but FOUR frickin' reps to Australia's ONE?!?

This comes courtesy of England's Rugby World magazine... so I suppose its not TOO surprising that George Smith gets stiffed for Richard Hill...

The full "Team of The Decade".

Front Row.
1. Gethin Jenkins (WAL) 2. John Smit (RSA) 3. Carl Hayman (NZL)

Locks
4. Victor Matfield (RSA) 5. Martin Johnson (ENG capt)

Back Row
6. Richard Hill (ENG) 7. Richie McCaw (NZL)
8. Sergio Parisse (ITA)

Halves
9. Agustin Pichot (ARG)
10. Dan Carter (NZL)

Centres
12. Matt Giteau (AUS) 13. Brian O'Driscoll (IRL)

Outside Backs
11. Shane Williams (WAL) 14. Jason Robinson (ENG)
15. Mils Muliaina (NZL)

Reserves.
16. Rodrigo Roncero (ARG)
17. Mario Ledesma (ARG)
18. Sylvain Marconnet (FRA)
19. Juan-Martin Fernandez Lobbe (ARG)
20. Fourie Du Preez (RSA)
21. Jonny Wilkinson (ENG)
22. Yannick Jauzion (FRA)
23. Juan Martin Hernandez (ARG)


More than a few there that I don't agree with... Although no one would mind having that for a regular club team...

 

[Hound55]

To me just a few changes makes that team a hell of a lot better...

* Hill out for George Smith.
* Bryan Habana in for Jason Robinson who becomes the Utility Outside Back on the reserves (which suits because he was a better fullback than a wing)
* Chris Latham in for Muliaina... you know... since he was clearly the best fullback this decade...
* Pichot out for Michelak or Peel. Either/or. With Fourie Du Preez getting the starting nod at scrum half.
* Surely there's a place for Jerry Collins in there too...
* I like Ledesma, but Keith Wood played til 2003... so he gets bumped.

That's just off the top of my head...

Ryan Jones may even feel a little robbed they went with Fernandez Lobbe...

 

[Hound55]

So just to compare, that would have my team as:

Gethin Jenkins
John Smit
Carl Hayman
Victor Matfield
Martin Johnson
George Smith
Richie McCaw
Sergio Parisse
Fourie Du Preez
Dan Carter
Shane Williams
Matt Giteau
Brian O'Driscoll
Bryan Habana
Chris Latham

Rodrigo Roncero
Keith Wood
Sylvain Marconnet
Juan-Martin Fernandez Lobbe
Dwayne Peel
Jonny Wilkinson
Yannick Jauzion
Jason Robinson

Could probably make a few more slight adjustments but already I think that team's streets better than the previous...

 

[Kaleb]

lol that team is such a joke.

 

[Hound55]

In hindsight chuck Tana Umaga in for Jauzion...

 

[CeeJay]

Don't knock Tana. This is footy royalty we're talking about here. The guy is a machine & has been really consistent in my opinion over the long term.

 

[Hound55]

Don't knock Tana. This is footy royalty we're talking about here. The guy is a machine & has been really consistent in my opinion over the long term.

I'm not knocking him. I'm saying I shouldn't have overlooked him for Jauzion...

To the point that its a rather glaring omission.

 

[CeeJay]

I'm not knocking him. I'm saying I shouldn't have overlooked him for Jauzion...

To the point that its a rather glaring omission.

 

[Fallen Angel]

What were the criteria's mate?