Today’s Advent Calendar treat is The Rugby Blog’s 2009 World XV, which has been a few weeks in the making, and there have been some very difficult decisions to be made.
Mils Muliaina and Bryan Habana continue to impress, and still seem to be the best players in their positions in the world. Habana’s hat-trick for the Barbarians capped a fine season in which he won the Super 14 and Currie Cup with the Bulls, a Lions series and the Tri-Nations, so is thoroughly deserving of his place on one wing.
The other wing position is up for debate, but Cedric Heymans gets the nod in our team. France have had a terrific year, beating the All Blacks twice, and Heyman’s try in their victory in July cemented his position.
Tommy Bowe and Sitiveni Sivivatu both deserve a mention, and there may be other candidates that you can build a case for.
In the centres, we have selected Jamie Roberts and Brian O’Driscoll after their performances for the Lions suggested that this might be the greatest centre partnership ever. Yanick Jauzion came close, but it’s difficult to split up this pair.
At fly-half, Dan Carter missed out very narrowly, and he might feel a little aggrieved after some outstanding performances later in the year – particularly against France last week. I don’t necessarily think Morne Steyn is the best fly-half in the world, but his contributions this year have been so important – and having someone who can kick goals from almost anywhere on the park is fairly handy.
Fourie du Preez is selected at scrum-half, and given that many rugby fans think he should have been the IRB Player of the Year, it’s difficult to argue with his selection.
The front row caused a few selection headaches, and The Beast is in at loosehead after his destructive efforts in the Lions series. Zimbabwean or not, he has been a crucial part of South Africa’s success and deserves his place.
Adam Jones lines up on the other side of the scrum, with Frenchman William Servat at hooker. Some might argue that John Smit should be in both of these positions in a World XV, but whilst you would love to have him in your side as a leader of men, he isn’t necessarily the best player. Gethin Jenkins is also unfortunate to miss out after impressing for Wales, but this isn’t a bad front row.
Simon Shaw is the only Englishman in the side and lines up alongside Victor Matfield in the second row. Both have put in gargantuan performances and played key roles in the Lions series for their respective teams.
And finally, the back row. Thierry Dusautoir has led his French team by example, he has been instrumental in their aggressive performances this year, and in my view is streets ahead of Player of the Year-nominee Tom Croft.
At openside flanker, there is a raft of talent to choose from. Richie McCaw needs very little introduction, and David Pocock would have been a shoo-in if he had played more games this season – he’s already pencilled in for next year’s team, and seems to be one of the finest players around. Heinrich Brussow wears the seven shirt though after some of the most eye-catching efforts for South Africa.
Jamie Heaslip takes the final place in the side, and having won the Six Nations Grand Slam, the Heineken Cup, started all three Lions Tests and was a standout player in all of those games, he is the ideal man to have at the base of the scrum.
So here is the full lineup – let me know what you think.
15. Mils Muliaina
14. Cedric Heymans
13. Brian O’Driscoll
12. Jamie Roberts
11. Bryan Habana
10. Morne Steyn
9. Fourie du Preez
8. Jamie Heaslip
7. Heinrich Brussow
6. Thierry Dusautoir
5. Victor Matfield
4. Simon Shaw
3. Adam Jones
2. William Servat
1. Tendai Mtawarira
No mention of Paul O’Connell? He captained the Lions and led by example. In the November tests he was on great form, winning any number of turnovers, not to mention destroying the South African lineout (and Matfield in particular). Munster have been off-colour lately but POC has been consistently intense and dominant on the field.
Glad to see Simon shaw in there, and Jamie Heaslip too – both of them have had stellar years.
Not sure about The Beast though. Bar one mis-match against Vickery he hasn’t shone. But then again, I’m not sure who’d take his place on the squad either.
You are right, POC deserves a mention and could easily slot in ahead of Shawsy. He’s had a great year, and a particular highlight for me is him learning Afrikaans so that he could decipher the Boks’ lineout calls!
Only change would be POC in for Shaw – Tough on Shaw I know but POC has had a great year and is the outstanding NH lock around
POC learning Afrikaans? never knew that – what a legend.
I’d have to put Gethin Jenkins in there – he’s a phenomenal player. Does his bit in the set pieces and acts like a 4th back rower in the loose. The amount of (often try-saving) tackles he makes by tracking back is incredible.
Also, no matter how good a year Morne Steyn has had I don’t think you can put him ahead of Carter, or Giteau for that matter, both of whom have a very high percentage conversion-ratio…and with Carter taking on anything in the oppo half that ain’t bad.
would have gone with bowe over Heymans, and Hernandez over Steyn.
Otherwise, no complaints.
You have to have Kearney in at full back, and Bowe on the wing – especially after what they’ve both acheived for Ireland and the Lions!
Jenkins would be my first pick for ANY team. He ran down Habana in one test and covered across from a scrummage to stop the All Blacks right winger last month. The “beast” couldn’t live with him in the tight and hasn’t got his hands or mobility.
O’Connell is a great player but was a big disappointment on the Lions tour and only kept his place in the tests because he was skipper.
POC sucks ok just face it matfield is so much better he got owned in the lions series. And that person who said carter and giteau have better percentage ratios than steyn must be an idiot
Um, not much impression made by many All Blacks then?
OK, Sivivatu vs Habana is a 50/50 call, but Corey Jane would certainly make it on the right wing for me, and Keiren Reid was also something of a find for them….McCaw and Carter are still obviously the best in their respective positions in the world.
Moreover, France beat them just once, not twice as you have said. They lost the overall series 2-1, and won the first when neither McCaw or Carter were present.
totally disagree with that team how come there are 2 irish players and 1 all black it doesn’t really make sense especially when ireland can’t beat the all blacks i also think odriscoll is overrated and the same can be said of morne steyn he is just a kicker and thats it he doesn’t do anything else but kick the ball he barely takes on the line and he barely does anything of any significance during the game all he does is play behind a south african forward pack that dominates opposition anyways here is my team
1 beast
2bismark du plessis
3carl hayman
4botha
5matfield
6thierry dusatoir
7brussow
8mccaw
9du preez
10carter
11habana
12jamie roberts
13conrad smith
14heymans
15muliaina
16servat
17jones
18issac ross
19burger
20jimmy cowan
21giteau
22cory jane