Giteau makes team of the decade

Australia's Matt Giteau is the sole Wallabies player named in Rugby World magazine's team of the decade.

The whole article is here. And here.

Interesting that this is a UK publication, which may have influenced the team a wee bit....

Mils Muliaina – New Zealand
Jason Robinson – England
Brian O’Driscoll – Ireland
Matt Giteau – Australia
Shane Williams – Wales
Dan Carter – New Zealand
Agustin Pichot – Argentina
Gethin Jenkins – Wales
John Smit – South Africa
Carl Hayman – New Zealand
Martin Johnson (c) – England
Victor Matfield – South Africa
Richard Hill – England
Richie McCaw – New Zealand
Sergio Parisse – Italy

Subs: Rodrigo Roncero, Mario Ledesma, Sylvian Marconnet, Juan-Martín Fernández Lobbe, Fourie Du Preez, Jonny Wilkinson, Yannick Jauzion, Juan Martín Hernández.

IMHO Latham shits all over Muliaina..
Robinson was good but he wasnt that good and ive never been a big fan of Smit.. hes an inspirational captain but i can not think of any match where his phyisical presence was the clear edge over the other team.

Thought Habana would have made it over those two wingers easily!!

good point Habana has to be the most exciting player since Lomu... but as indicated in the first post this is a UK publication so..

Quote:

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Originally Posted by zimeric

good point Habana has to be the most exciting player since Lomu... but as indicated in the first post this is a UK publication so..

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...it's a joke...

every country would come up with their own unique "team of the decade''

If it was Australia, im sure we would have players like Larkham and Latham there, maybe even Gregan. If it was from NZ im sure we would see a different backline completely. And if it came from South Africa im sure it would be 100% bok players ;)

The Spiro Zavos (c/o The Roar) World Rugby XV is:
1. Carl Hayman,
2. John Smit ©,
3. Jason Leonard,
4. Martin Johnson,
5. Victor Matfield,
6. Richie McCaw,
7. Richard Hill,
8. Sergio Parisse,
9. Fourie du Preez,
10. Daniel Carter,
11. Shane Williams,
12. Brian O’Driscoll,
13. Stirling Mortlock,
14. Bryan Habana,
15. Chris Latham.

Mine would be:

1. Hayman
2. Smith
3. Oliver
4. Johnson
5. Mattfield
6. Soiolo
7. McCaw
8. Smith
9. Pitchot
10. Larkham
11. Williams
12. Giteau
13. O'Driscall
14. Habana
15. Latham

Quote:

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Originally Posted by jazza93

10. Larkham

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Agreed. He may not have been quite as a complete all rounder as Daniel Carter but for those of us who love to see rugby as a running and passing game there was something magical about Stephen Larkham. I have high hopes that one day Berry Barnes will be the new Larkham but now that he's at the Tahs meh!

Cannot understand how John Eales fails to get a mention, if only on the bench.

he retired in 2001.
he didnt really play enough of the past decade to warrant a mention. - not saying he wasnt an exeprional player dont get me wrong.
if we could drag up a "team of the decade" for the 90's he would be in there. and i would hazard a guess that he would be captain.

Eales was 90's player, although his efforts in 2000 and 2001 were remarkable, 2 RWC's have also passed since then and 2 more British Lion tours, whilst Eales performances were admirable in that 18months, there were players who did warrant it more based on the busier playing schedule.