Not everyone agrees with these award selections...
Everyone knows that composing player ratings, composite XVs and teams of the year/decade/millennium are a recipe for arguments – and the World Rugby team of the decade for men’s players has proved no different as rugby fans flocked to the web to give their views.
There were some other interesting decisions for the other awards too. Jessy Trémoulière was named the women’s player of the decade but did not make it into the women’s XV of the decade.
In a Covid-hit year, World Rugby decided to forego their usual awards ceremony to celebrate the rugby year, and instead opted to celebrate the last decade. The awards were split between fan-selected winners (choosing their favourite from lists of previous winners through the decade) and an Awards Panel selection for teams of the decade.
And the men’s team caused a bit of a buzz.
Men’s 15s Team of the Decade in association with Mastercard: Ben Smith (NZL); George North (WAL); Brian O’Driscoll (IRL), Ma’a Nonu (NZL), Bryan Habana (RSA); Dan Carter (NZL), Conor Murray (IRE); Tendai Mtawarira (RSA), Bismarck du Plessis (RSA), Owen Franks (NZL), Brodie Retallick (NZL), Sam Whitelock (NZL), David Pocock (AUS), Richie McCaw (NZL), Sergio Parisse (ITA).
Take a look at these reactions…
Sergio Parisse, George North ??
Respect Conor Murray but I'd have Aaron Smith too https://t.co/CrFpaGHJfi— Liam Napier (@liamnapiernz) December 7, 2020
Two Zimbabweans and no Englishman ? https://t.co/3cnjIhXtAr
— Martin Cross (@MartinXRugby) December 8, 2020
Teams like this are always contentious and Sergio Parisse will go down as an all-time great.
But for combination of longevity and peak, I think Kieran Read was the best player of the 2010s, let alone the best No.8. And it’s not even that close. Whitelock the only alternative. https://t.co/Do4YhaeeGz
— Paul Eddison (@pauleddison) December 7, 2020
…where’s Aaron Smith? https://t.co/xH3sKSwD5N
— Ben Coles (@bencoles_) December 7, 2020
Sergio Parisse?
He’d be lucky to be considered the third best no. 8 of the decade.
But it’s good to see him in the team anyway. Pretty solid team otherwise.
— Runningflyhalf (@Runningflyhalf) December 8, 2020
No Aaron Smith? Ridiculous. Clearly the best halfback in the world. World Cup winner. https://t.co/ojre3JVo7c
— Jim Kayes (@JimKayes) December 7, 2020
The women’s team of the decade that the panel selected was dominated by England and New Zealand, with just powerpack French forward Safi N’Diaye able to break into the team from outside those two. Some were left questioning why the fan-selected player of the decade, Trémoulière, couldn’t squeeze in at full-back.
Women’s 15s Team of the Decade in association with Mastercard: Danielle Waterman (ENG); Lydia Thompson (ENG), Emily Scarratt (ENG), Kelly Brazier (NZL), Portia Woodman (NZL); Katy Daley-Mclean (ENG), Kendra Cocksedge (NZL); Rochelle Clark (ENG), Fiao’o Faamausili (NZL), Sophie Hemming (ENG), Eloise Blackwell (NZL), Tamara Taylor (ENG), Linda Itunu (NZL), Maggie Alphonsi (ENG), Safi N’Diaye (FRA).
For any English broadcasters discussing Jessy Tremoulière’s @WorldRugby award win, do me a lemon…
It’s ‘Trem-ooli-yeah’ not ‘Trem-ooli-yay’.
It’s absurd how much it bothers me but there we are. ?
— Nick Heath (@nickheathsport) December 8, 2020
Below are all the awards selected by fans.
Player of the decade: Jessy Trémoulière (Getty Images)
Fan Awards
- Men’s 15s Player of the Decade in association with Tudor – Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
- Women’s 15s Player of the Decade in association with Tudor – Jessy Trémoulière (France)
- Men’s Sevens Player of the Decade in association with HSBC – Jerry Tuwai (Fiji)
- Women’s Sevens Player of the Decade in association with HSBC – Portia Woodman (New Zealand)
This epic try from @irishrugby and @jamieheaslip scooped him the @IntRugbyPlayers Men’s 15s Try of the Decade#WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/SPOzEL68zj
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) December 7, 2020
.@PortiaWoodman won the @IntRugbyPlayers Women’s 15s Try of the Decade with this beauty of a score.#WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/414Pi8Crnc
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) December 8, 2020
- Men’s 15s Try of the Decade in association with International Rugby Players – Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
- Women’s 15s Try of the Decade in association with International Rugby Players – Portia Woodman (New Zealand)
Got a bee in your bonnet about any of these selections? Let us know: email us at rugbyworldletters@futurenet.com or hit us up on social media.
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