If I'm picking a back row on peak form for just one game I'm going with Dusatoir, Pocock and Read Pocock hasn't done enough in any position individually though to edge out the NZ backrowers who were strictly based to one position
All positions are arguable, but there are 2 choices I personally dont agree with: 1. Dane Cole never over Bismark Du Plessis, and 2. Brodie Retallick never over Eben Etzebeth. The omission of Schalk Burger is also very contentious, at the very least belongs in the second team.
Brodie Retallick was world player of the year in 2014 and been the dominant second rower from 2012 - 2019. Etzebeth is world class in the 2020s but not so good in the 2010s and regularly on the wrong end of an All Blacks loss. Let me know a time he beat the all blacks in the 2010s - I bet it was only 2019 and even then only one test
Same with Burger, good in the 2000s (though not quite McCaw or Smith) and still good in the 2010s but never got the better of McCaw in that decade or even Pocock
Eben was nominated for world player of the year in 2013 and definitely was worldclass in the 10s, they also won the worldcup in 19. Also this is individual not just which team won the most. I agree on Schalk in the 2000s but Duane Vermeulen also should be in the running. @@jonnybaynham1689
Went to play in France fell out of form and never really recovered it. Also shows how good Conrad DC and Nonu were to complement Savea on the wing. He definitely was a formidable winger at his peak
He had the biggest drop in form of any player I’ve ever seen. 2012-2014 he was phenomenal. The wheels started coming off a bit in 2015 (though he was still good)….. in 2016 he was really bad, just couldn’t beat tacklers anymore and didn’t get involved, made mistakes etc. he continued to decline and was never the same. It’s a shame, because he was in track to break all sorts of records and be an all time great. God knows what caused him to decline so badly. Gotta be something mental.
I think his last test for the ABs was in the 3rd test against the Lions coming in for Ioane, when early in the game he dropped a sitter of a pass to score a sure try, summed up how his form went. He was amazing in 2012 especially though.@@Youre
You know there's insane talent during the decade when Hogg only makes the third team
If I'm picking a back row on peak form for just one game I'm going with Dusatoir, Pocock and Read
Pocock hasn't done enough in any position individually though to edge out the NZ backrowers who were strictly based to one position
All positions are arguable, but there are 2 choices I personally dont agree with: 1. Dane Cole never over Bismark Du Plessis, and 2. Brodie Retallick never over Eben Etzebeth. The omission of Schalk Burger is also very contentious, at the very least belongs in the second team.
Let me guess where you’re from 😂
Brodie Retallick was world player of the year in 2014 and been the dominant second rower from 2012 - 2019. Etzebeth is world class in the 2020s but not so good in the 2010s and regularly on the wrong end of an All Blacks loss. Let me know a time he beat the all blacks in the 2010s - I bet it was only 2019 and even then only one test
Same with Burger, good in the 2000s (though not quite McCaw or Smith) and still good in the 2010s but never got the better of McCaw in that decade or even Pocock
Eben was nominated for world player of the year in 2013 and definitely was worldclass in the 10s, they also won the worldcup in 19. Also this is individual not just which team won the most. I agree on Schalk in the 2000s but Duane Vermeulen also should be in the running. @@jonnybaynham1689
Solid depth
Good picks bro. Don’t disagree with any of them.
Good team.
Impossible to take seriously anyone who’d pick Coles over Marx for any team, anywhere, for any reason whatsoever.
Decade XV without ABs players:
1. The Beast 2. Du Plessis 3.Castrogiovanni
4.Etzebeth 5.AWJones
6.Pocock 8.Parrise 7.Warburton
9.Murray 10.Sexton
12.DeVilliers 13.J.Davies
11.Nadolo 15.Folau 14.North
Never understood the reason for Savea disappearing from All Blacks at a relatively young age?
Went to play in France fell out of form and never really recovered it. Also shows how good Conrad DC and Nonu were to complement Savea on the wing. He definitely was a formidable winger at his peak
He had the biggest drop in form of any player I’ve ever seen. 2012-2014 he was phenomenal. The wheels started coming off a bit in 2015 (though he was still good)….. in 2016 he was really bad, just couldn’t beat tacklers anymore and didn’t get involved, made mistakes etc. he continued to decline and was never the same.
It’s a shame, because he was in track to break all sorts of records and be an all time great. God knows what caused him to decline so badly. Gotta be something mental.
I think his last test for the ABs was in the 3rd test against the Lions coming in for Ioane, when early in the game he dropped a sitter of a pass to score a sure try, summed up how his form went. He was amazing in 2012 especially though.@@Youre