BY Teddy Parker
As this decade draws to a close we look back on some players who have made the biggest impact during ‘the 10’s’.
We have put together a starting XV of players who we feel deserve to be recognised for what they’ve achieved over the last ten years.
1 Loosehead prop: Tendai Mtawarira
Mtawarira has been a regular in the Springbok test side.
A dominant presence in the scrum who would regularly show off his explosive power in the loose – this led to fans naming him ‘The Beast’.
The Natal Sharks prop earned 117 caps for his country and in 2019 won the Rugby World Cup after a dominant scrummaging display in the final in Japan.
2. Hooker: Dane Coles
Coles is one of the best running hookers in world rugby and was integral to New Zealand’s dominance in this decade.
With deceptive pace and a fantastic handling skill-set – Coles became a fan favourite for audiences around the world.
He was one of the standout performers for the All Blacks during their World Cup triumph in 2015.
3. Tighthead prop: Owen Franks
Franks has been the pillar of the New Zealand scrum since he made his test debut in 2009.
The 122kg tighthead was one of the first names in the All Black test side that won the 2011 and 2015 World Cup.
He has made 108 appearances for New Zealand and now plays in the Gallagher Premiership for Northhampton Saints.
4. Second Row: Alun Wyn Jones
The 6’5 lock has played a pivotal role in the revival of Welsh rugby under Warren Gatland’s stewardship.
Wyn Jones’s leadership and experience helped his side to three 6 Nations victories including two Grand Slams during ‘the 10’s’.
He also starred for the British and Irish Lions in successful tours to Australia and New Zealand.
5. Second Row: Brodie Retallick
Retallick won IRB player of the year in 2014 after an outstanding twelve tests for the All Blacks.
Him and Sam Whitelock have been THE second-row pairing in world rugby in the last decade with Retallick starring in New Zealand’s Webb Ellis Cup triumph in 2015.
The 6’7 lock has already amassed 77 caps for his country at the age of just 28.
6. Blindside Flanker: Sam Warburton
This British and Irish Lions captain made his name on the international scene during the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
The 23-year-old was a standout player for Wales in the tournament as he led his side to the semi-finals before controversially being sent off for a tip tackle against France.
Since then Warburton has led Wales to a Grand Slam win in 2013 before skippering the British and Irish Lions to victory in Australia.
He represented Wales 74 times before being forced into early retirement through injury.
7. Openside Flanker: Richie McCaw
Arguably the greatest player ever to pull on the black jersey.
McCaw was an expert in the tackle and breakdown area and captained New Zealand to two World Cup victories during ‘the 10’s’.
In the 2011 World Cup final he hid an injury, a suspected broken foot, to lead his side to their first Webb Ellis Cup since 1987.
The All Black skipper was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2019 after winning 148 test caps for his country.
8. Number Eight: David Pocock
The Australian flanker broke onto the international scene in 2008 and soon made a name for himself as the worlds most dangerous breakdown operator.
Pocock made 78 appearances for the Wallabies in a stellar career in which he reached two World Cup semi-finals and a quarter-final most recently in Japan.
The Brumbies back-row has been one of the stars of southern hemisphere rugby over the last decade and still makes this list despite being hampered by injury in recent years.
9. Scrum-half: Will Genia
Australia’s Will Genia, center, passes during the international rugby match between Australia and Ireland in Melbourne, Australia, Saturday, June 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Andy Brownbill)
Over the last ten years, Genia has made the Australian number 9 shirt his own.
Between 2010-2015, Genia was one of the worlds leading scrum-halves and was hugely influential in their run to the 2011 world cup semi-final.
Since then he has featured in a further two World Cups where his side reached the knockout stages.
Genia became the ninth Australian to win 100 caps and called time on his international career following the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
10. Fly-half: Dan Carter
LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 31: Dan Carter of the New Zealand All Blacks celebrates victory at the final whistle during the 2015 Rugby World Cup Final match between New Zealand and Australia at Twickenham Stadium on October 31, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Richard Heathcote – World Rugby/World Rugby via Getty Images)
Many believe that Dan Carter is the greatest fly-half of all time if not the greatest player to have ever played the game.
He was pivotal in New Zealand’s World Cup win in 2015 with a man of the match performance in the final against Australia.
Carter missed out on the latter stages of the 2011 Webb Ellis Cup due to injury but still was integral to the All Black’s success over that period.
After picking up 112 caps for New Zealand, Carter hung up his international boots before going on to enjoy European success with French side Racing 92.
11. Wing: Julian Savea
Julian Savea holds one of the best try ratio’s ever in test rugby with 46 tries in 54 appearances for the All Blacks.
Savea started on the left-wing in the All Blacks 34-17 World Cup final win over the Wallabies and finished the tournament as the tournaments top try scorer with eight scores.
At his best many fans likened him to New Zealand legend Jonah Lomu for his blistering pace and tremendous power out wide.
12. Inside centre: Johnny Sexton
For much of this decade, Irish fly-half Johnny Sexton has been considered the best fly-half in the northern hemisphere.
With a brilliant skillset in all areas of the game – Sexton could turn a game on its head.
The skillful playmaker enjoyed huge success with Ireland and the British and Irish Lions – with a Grand Slam in 2018 and a Lions tour victory in 2013.
At club level Sexton has also excelled, during ‘the 10’s’ he won the European Cup three time’s with Leinster
The Dublin born fly-half was named the IRB player of the year in 2018.
13. Outside centre: Ma’a Nonu
Another New Zealand star who dominated test rugby during this decade.
Nonu’s power and pace in the centres was devastating to opposition defences.
His midfield partnership with Conrad Smith was arguably the best of all time and it was integral to New Zealand’s two World Cup wins.
The Wellington born powerhouse scored one of the great World Cup final tries in 2015 as he took an offload from Sonny Bill Williams on the halfway line before sidestepping his way to the whitewash.
Nonu won 103 caps for the All Blacks before joining French side Toulon in 2015.
14: Wing: Beauden Barrett
This two-time IRB player of the year has been the beating heart of New Zealand’s success in the second half of this decade.
After scoring the World Cup-clinching try in the 2015 final in England, Barrett went on to become the main man in New Zealand’s starting XV.
With phenomenal speed, world-class handling and a clever kicking game – Barrett has been the worlds most dangerous back in recent years.
Barrett has already won 83 caps for the All Blacks at just the age of 28.
15: Full-back: Stuart Hogg
Despite Scotlands lack of success during ‘the 10’s’ Stuart Hogg has shone for his country at full-back.
The Exeter Chiefs flyer was awarded Six Nations Player of the Championship in 2016 and 2017 after stand out performances for the Scots.
Hogg’s eye for space and exceptional running game has made him a fan favourite around the world with 19 tries for his country.
Hogg has been unlucky to miss out on test match selection for the British and Irish Lions due to injury – but at the age of just 27, he will look to change that in 2021 in the Lions tour of South Africa.
