JOC makes team of the year.... but where was Bam Bam

[BDAVEY]

RugbyHeaven picks the best XV for 2010 with the top challenger and the best from each hemisphere.

15. Mils Muliaina (New Zealand)
Top challenger Kurtley Beale (Aus)
Best from the north: Ben Foden (Eng)

14. James O'Connor (Australia)
Top challenger: Cory Jane (NZ)
Best from the north: Tommy Bowe (Ire)

13. Conrad Smith (New Zealand)
Top challenger: Adam Ashley-Cooper (Aus)
Best from the north: Brian O'Driscoll (Ire)

Advertisement: Story continues below 12. Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand)
Top challenger: Jean de Villiers (RSA)
Best from the north: Jamie Roberts (Wal)

11. Hosea Gear (New Zealand)
Top challenger: Chris Ashton (Eng)

10. Dan Carter (New Zealand)
Top challenger: Quade Cooper (Aus)
Best from the north: Johnny Sexton (Ire)

9. Ben Youngs (England)
Top challenger: Jimmy Cowan (NZ)

8. Kieran Read (New Zealand)
Top challenger: Pierre Spies (RSA)
Best from the north: Imanol Harinord0quy (Fra)

7. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
Top challenger: David Pocock (Aus)
Best from the north: Lewis Moody (Eng)

6. Jerome Kaino (New Zealand)
Top challenger: Rocky Elsom (Aus)
Best from the north: Thierry Dusautoir (Fra)

5. Victor Matfield (South Africa)
Top challenger: Nathan Sharpe (Aus)
Best from the north: Alun Wyn Jones (Wal)

4. Brad Thorn (New Zealand)
Top challenger: Courtney Lawes (Eng)

3. Dan Cole (England)
Top challenger Adam Jones (Wal)
Best from the south: Owen Franks (NZ)

2. Keven Mealamu (New Zealand)
Top challenger: William Servat (Fra)

1. Gethin Jenkins (Wales)
Top challenger Andrew Sheridan Eng
Best from the south: Tony Woodcock (NZ)

[brokendown gunfighter]

top challenger for #7
fair enough;after McCaw was named player of the year,it was going to be difficult to displace him

[KenyaQuin]

Got to agree..McCaw still rated No 1..hard to dispute that and Pocock is not a 6 (and even then, would have been hard to match Kaino's big runs..)

[James]

Consider it disputed. I don't know what McCaw's tackling record has been this year but I find it very hard to believe that it has been better than Pocock's. I am pretty sure in the games between the Wallabies and All Blacks that Pocock outpointed McCaw at the breakdown in terms of turnovers too. I would also put money on Pocock edging him in getting over the advantage line. McCaw simply has better backrow (Kaino and Read have been in better form than Elsom and McCalman) support and generally a more hardworking pack (ie no Chisholm or Mumm) that make him look better. If the All Blacks with McCaw at 7 played the All Blacks with Pocock at 7, I would put my money on the Pocock team.

[GIGS20]

Bugger Pocock (my opinion is, you can't argue with silverware)

How about Elsom getting top challenger for 6?
Sharpe being considered NOT better than Matfield?

How the hell does Drew Mitchell not rate a mention in a list where there wasn't a wing challenger named in one spot?

I would also reckon Conrad Smith beat Adam Ashley-Cooper with the silverware tag.


As for the front row............I'm quite happy with that thankyou

[hertryk]

Injustices here.....
Agree with Gigs20..
How can Matfield be ahead of Sharpie??? I mean come on.....someone is being very blinkered....

Elsom top challenger for No6...WT???

Mitchell not a mention....
Whose trying to kid who.....?????

[Burgs]

...How can Matfield be ahead of Sharpie??? I mean come on.....someone is being very blinkered....

That one may cut both ways

[farva]

1. Steenskamp (Jenkins)
2. Meelamu (Moore)
3. Cole (Castrogiovvani)
4. Lawes (Thorn)
5. Sharpe (Matfield)
6. J. Smith (Kaino)
7. McCaw (Pocock)
8. Harinordaquay (Fernandez Lobbe / Read)

9. Youngs (Weepu / Genia)
10. Carter (Cooper)
11. Mitchell (Gear)
12. De Villiers (Giteau)
13. Smith (Ashley-Cooper)
14. OConnor (Jane)
15. Beale (Muliaina)

Couple of comments:
There is bugger all around at 12 at the moment. De Villiers really gets it for lack of anyone else. Nonu threw way too many loose passes to be considered. Jamie Roberts looked really good one the Lions tour, but failed to deliver this year. I had considered Jauzion too, but havent seen enough Froggy rugby, and he looked average against us (but so did all the frogs).

There is loads of depth around the world at 8. Heaslip and Parisse didnt make my list. McCalman is at best 6th, maybe 7th or 8th.

Aus and NZ dominate the backs! But then they are the best two teams out there at the moment.

The kiwis have someone close to best in the world at every position with the exception of a partner for Thorn at lock (Owen Franks was my 3rd choice at tighthead, Myth 3rd choice at loosehead). We need to find some good props, and then we will match them!

[blueandblack]

Apparently the next Chinese New Year is Year of the Rabbit. This sounds promising.