All Blacks team of the Decade

[azeli]

Wynne Gray has selected his team of the decade.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10690946

I agree with most of his selections and would change a couple of names.

Wynne Gray's team:

Mils Muliaina, Doug Howlett, Tana Umaga, Ma'a Nonu, Jonah Lomu, Daniel Carter, Justin Marshall, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw (c), Jerry Collins, Brad Thorn, Ali Williams, Carl Hayman, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.

My team of the decade:

Mils Muliaina, Doug Howlett, Tana Umaga, Aaron Mauger, Jonah Lomu, Dan Carter, Piri Weepu, Jerry Collins, Richie McCaw (c), Jerome Kaino, Brad Thorn, Ali Williams, Carl Hayman, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock.

Res: Anton Oliver, Greg Sommerville, Chris Jack, Kieran Read, Byron Kelleher, Nick Evans, Joe Rokocoko

 

[nickdnz]

My team of the decade -

If any player who played this decade was in top form -

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Kevin Mealamu
3. Carl Hayman
4. Chris Jack
5. Ali Williams
6. Jerry Collins
7. Richie McCaw
8. Taine Randell
9. Justin Marshall
10. Daniel Carter
11. Jonah Lomu
12. Tana Umaga (C)
13. Conrad Smith
14. Joe Rokocoko
15. Christian Cullen

16. Anton Olliver
17. Keese Meeuws
18. Brad Thorn
19. Rodney So'oialo
20. Byron Kelleher
21. Andrew Mehrtens
22. Doug Howlett.

If it was players who can really be considered players of the 2000's, then it's a slightly different team.

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Kevin Mealamu
3. Carl Hayman
4. Chris Jack
5. Ali Williams
6. Jerry Collins
7. Richie McCaw (C)
8. Rodney So'oialo
9. Justin Marshall
10. Daniel Carter
11. Joe Rokocoko
12. Tana Umaga
13. Conrad Smith
14. Doug Howlett
15. Mils Muliaina

16. Anton Oliver
17. Keese Meeuws
18. Brad Thorn
19. Kieren Read
20. Byron Kelleher
21. Nick Evans
22. Hosea Gear

 

[Amobokoboko]

Also wanted to post this. Agree with most of the names altho I would include Weepu

 

[nickdnz]

Also wanted to post this. Agree with most of the names altho I would include Weepu

I think Weepu is class, but he hasn't managed to get consistant selection, with him and Cowan often swapping between being incumbant. After the RWC Weepu may be put down as a great half back, but right now Kelleher and especially Marshall, have had pretty amazing careers.

 

[Dizzy]

Judging for top form of the 2000's...

1. Kees Meeuws
2. Kevin Mealamu
3. Carl Hayman
4. Brad Thorn
5. Ali Williams
6. Jerry Collins
7. Richie McCaw
8. Kieran Read
9. Justin Marshall
10. Carlos Spencer
11. Joe Rokocoko
12. Daniel Carter
13. Tana Umaga
14. Hosea Gear
15. Christian Cullen

 

[nickdnz]

Judging for top form of the 2000's...

1. Kees Meeuws
2. Kevin Mealamu
3. Carl Hayman
4. Brad Thorn
5. Ali Williams
6. Jerry Collins
7. Richie McCaw
8. Kieran Read
9. Justin Marshall
10. Carlos Spencer
11. Joe Rokocoko
12. Daniel Carter
13. Tana Umaga
14. Hosea Gear
15. Christian Cullen

Over Carter...

And I love Gear, but Howlett scored a load more tries, Lomu was a monster.

 

[Amobokoboko]

I think Weepu is class, but he hasn't managed to get consistant selection, with him and Cowan often swapping between being incumbant. After the RWC Weepu may be put down as a great half back, but right now Kelleher and especially Marshall, have had pretty amazing careers.

True, but I only started to follow rugby around 2004. So most games I saw, it was or Conan or Weepy plating at 9.

 

[azeli]

Judging for top form of the 2000's...

1. Kees Meeuws
2. Kevin Mealamu
3. Carl Hayman
4. Brad Thorn
5. Ali Williams
6. Jerry Collins
7. Richie McCaw
8. Kieran Read
9. Justin Marshall
10. Carlos Spencer
11. Joe Rokocoko
12. Daniel Carter
13. Tana Umaga
14. Hosea Gear
15. Christian Cullen

Don't want to knock your team selection as it is your own personal selection but Woodcock would have to be the form LH for the 2000s. Otherwise a good team. I think anyone could churn out a host of different possibilities and it would still be a world class outfit.

 

[Amobokoboko]

Idd, you could even add Chris Jack to the list.

 

[cardassian]

My team of the decade, presuming everyone is at their peak

1. Kees Meeuws
2. Kevin Mealamu
3. Carl Hayman
4. Brad Thorn
5. Ali Williams
6. Jerry Collins
7. Richie McCaw
8. Kieran Read
9. Byron Kelleher
10. Carlos Spencer
11. Joe Rokocoko
12. Daniel Carter
13. Tana Umaga
14. Doug Howlett
15. Christian Cullen

16. Andrew Hore
17. Tony Woodcock
18. Chris Jack
19. Rodney So'oialo
20. Piri Weepu
21. Andrew Mehrtens
22. Mils Muliaina

 

[cyRil]

I'd put Mauger in instead of Nonu; and no-one has mentioned Rico Gear have they? Not consistently there over the decade but he was the best finisher in the world in 2005, so should be considered.

 

[Muzzy]

1. Woodcock
2. Mealamu
3. Hayman
4. Jack
5. Williams
6. Collins (i would have put Kaino but the 2010's doesn't count, Kaino has only made his mark during 2010)
7. McCaw
8. So'oialo
9. Kelleher
10 Carter
11 Sivivatu
12 Mauger
13 Umaga
14 Rokocoko
15 Muliaina

 

[Dizzy]

Over Carter...

And I love Gear, but Howlett scored a load more tries, Lomu was a monster.

Providing that everyone was at their peak.. Gear hasn't had the opportunity to score loads of tries with the short amount of test matches he has under his belt unlike Howlett who has played tons more and also had terrific distributing backs to run off. And in my opinion Gear proves more effective than Howlett.
When Rokocoko was in his prime he was very untouchable in terms of putting points on the board which is why he took the 11 jersey over Lomu for me. In my opinion, Lomu's peak was in the 90's and in the 2000's he began to fade.

The reason I chose Spencer wasn't because I think he is a better first five than Carter. It is because I don't think anyone can take the number 12 jersey from Carter. And having him there inside Umaga just makes the All Blacks attacking backs more deadly with Cullen at fullback.
You don't believe me, watch the 05 Lions Tour. Carter and Umaga were close to being the most perfect centre pairings ever. Their form was spectacular.

 

[MunsterMan]

Howlett, Roks and Cullen all have better strike rates than Lomu.

Lomu - 37 tries in 63 tests (0.58)
Rokocoko - 46 tries in 68 tests (0.67)
Cullen - 46 tries in 58 tests (0.793)
Howlett - 49 in 62 tests (0.790)

Cullen and Howlett have phenomenal strike rates! :O

 

[Dizzy]

I'm not talking about you munsterman or hating on you, your post just reminded me of something.
I hate how people revert to certain statistics that outshine other players that don't actually prove how effective as a player they were.

Nothing on Cullen, he's the next best imo after Umaga. And I like Howlett also. But how Cullen was at being elusive and his sidesteps and his speed and his tries lol,... Lomu is the Christian Cullen of bunting...

 

[NZRUGBY]

1.Woodcock
2.Mealamu
3.Hayman
4.Jack
5.Williams
6.Collins
7.McCaw
8.Read
9.Marshall
10.Carter
11.Rokocoko (on form he was insane)
12.Nonu
13.Umanga
14.Howlett
15.Muliaina

Could have put players like Lomu and Cullen in but they didnt play enough in the 2000's to earn a spot

 

[Black Heart]

If in top form:

1. Kees Meuss
2. Kevin Mealamu
3. Carl Hayman
4. Brad Thorn
5. Ali Williams
6. Jerry Collins
7. Richie McCaw (C)
8. Rodney So'oialo
9. Justin Marshall
10. Daniel Carter
11. Joe Rokocoko
12. Aaron Mauger
13. Tana Umaga
14. Doug Howlett
15. Christian Cullen

16. Anton Oliver
17. Tony Woodcock
18. Chris Jack
19. Jerome Kaino
20. Byron Kelleher
21. Andrew Mehrtens
22. Mils Muliaina

 

[William18]

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Kevin Mealamu
3. Carl Hayman
4. Brad Thorn
5. Chris Jack
6. Jerry Collins
7. Richie McCaw (C)
8. Keiran Read
9. Justin Marshall
10. Daniel Carter
11. Joe Rokocoko
12. Aaron Mauger
13. Conrad Smith
14. Doug Howlett
15. Christian Cullen

I probably let personal feelings over take sense in picking Cullen who did little in the last decade compared to Mils.

 

[Amobokoboko]

When looking at those line ups it's a real pity they didn't win more RWC's.