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The SARugby.com World XV 2009
Monday, December 07
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The Barbarians' win over the All Blacks at Twickenham this weekend brings down the curtain on Test rugby for 2009.
The SARugby.com team looked back on an exciting season and picked our World Test XV for 2009. Let's have a look who we thought were the hottest players in '09!
15. Rob Kearney (Ireland)
The big, hard and fast Irish fullback was outstanding during the Six Nations, British & Irish Lions tour and the Autumn internationals where he looked composed and dangerous from the back.
Selected ahead of: Frans Steyn, Maxine Medard and Mils Muliaina.
14. Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
Another Ireland player who did his reputation the world of good in their Grand Slam season and with his play in South Africa for the Lions. Quick, elusive and with the ability to read the game brilliantly he can be a devastating runner at times.
Selected ahead of: Cedric Heymans, JP Pietersen, Cory Jane and Ugo Monye
13. Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)
O'Driscoll's selection at outside centre makes it three in a row for Ireland, but you can't deny that he was the outstanding outside centre this season.
Selected ahead of: Jaque Fourie and Conrad Smith
12. Jamie Roberts (Wales)
Roberts terrorised South African defences on the Lions tour and, despite the latter part of his season being affected by injury, showed the world just what he can do with his powerful running from inside centre.
Selected ahead of: Jean de Villiers and Ma'a Nonu
11. Bryan Habana (South Africa)
The Springbok winger bounced back from a under-par 2008 by his standards with a barnstorming season in 2009. He might not have scored as many tries as he would have liked, but his work chasing kicks, tackling and rucking - as well as on attack - contributed to the great success of the Springboks this season.
Selected ahead of: Sitiveni Sivivatu
10. Morne Steyn (South Africa)
A remarkable debut season for the Bulls pivot sees him narrowly edge out Dan Carter as the best flyhalf of 2009. Steyn's performances - especially with the boot - were crucial in the British and Irish Lions series win and the Boks' successful Tri-Nations campaign. Faltered somewhat in Europe on the end of year tour, but still had a good enough season to see him selected.
Selected ahead of: Dan Carter
9. Fourie du Preez (South Africa)
Du Preez was unlucky to lose out to Richie McCaw for the IRB Player of the Year award with many pundits feeling he was the stand out Test player this season. A complete and accomplished player who hardly put a foot wrong in 2009.
Selected ahead of: Will Genia and Mike Phillips
8. Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
The hard-nosed Ireland number eight just pips Pierre Spies, Sergio Parisse and Kieran Read for the number eight jersey. Heaslip was immense during the Six Nations and carried his form throughout the season.
Selected ahead of: Pierre Spies, Sergio Parisse and Kieran Read
7. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
The surprise selection for the IRB Player of the Year - McCaw was at his consistent best throughout the season. We've selected him on the blindside in our team of the year with no other blindside flank staking a real claim to the crown.
Selected ahead of: Rocky Elsom, Thierry Dusatoir
6. Heinrich Brussow (South Africa)
The South African bulldog had a watershed season in 2009. A constant menace at the breakdown with his ability to turnover ball, Brussow also looked comfortable with ball in hand as he used his pace to support runners and link up play.
Selected ahead of: David Pocock, Lewis Moody
5. Victor Matfield (South Africa)
Matfield ran the Springbok line-out with aplomb in 2009. A banker on his own ball and a thorn in opposing jumpers' sides. Matfield ruled the air again this season and set a secure platform for the Springbok backline.
Selected ahead of: Paul O'Connell
4. James Horwill (Australia)
Some might see Horwill's selection as a bit of a surprise, but anyone who watched how he added beef and grunt to the Wallaby pack will understand why he gets a place in the side. Continues to improve and is now one of the finest second row forwards playing the game.
Selected ahead of: Bakkies Botha
3. Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy)
Destroyed the Springboks on two occasions in November and also monstered the All Black front row. 'Castro' stormed his way into the team with his scrummaging and contributions around the park.
Selected ahead of: John Smit, and Ben Alexander
2. Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa)
The Springbok hooker exposed the lack of a genuine number two in the British and Irish Lions squad and played like an extra loose-forward all season. His lineout throwing was also close to flawless.
Selected ahead of: Andrew Hore (New Zealand), Jerry Flannery (Ireland)
1. Benn Robinson (Australia)
The first time in years that a Wallaby prop is considered the best in the world. Robinson has turned the Australian scrum from a weakness into a strength this year and also puts in a tidy shift around the park.
Selected ahead of: Fabien Barcella, Tendai Mtawarira and Tony Woodcock
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GLAD TO SEE BRUSSOUW IN THE MIX, When at times PDV didn't want to pick him. Bakkies missed out a bit, but thought that Horwill did play a great year of rugby. Just thought that BAKKIES BROUGHT MORE POWER AND GRUNT to the success of the Springboks and Bulls.
Sad to see and admit that you guys were pretty much spot on when I came to the backline... only 2 southern hemisphere ballerinas
Carter - looked pretty good in Europe.
Sure it's biased.
McCaw was the player of the year. He can also jump in the lineout - which is one of the only big differences between the two.
if we had to take on the mars xv today i'd never pick steyn ahead of either carter or giteau, but you have to acknowledge he had an outstanding season. obviously not the perfect finish on the eoyt, but no other flyhalf was as consistently instrumental in his team(s) winning the big matches.
ps - no honourable mention of cédric heymans on the wing? not debating starting with bowe and habana, but heymans was very good every time i saw him.
then at 10 ,morne's a good kicker but thats about it really .giteau and carter run the ball more and have reasonable kicking percentages . personally i would prefer giteau becuase of his endless tricks and the killer sidestep
(you haven't said that you disagree with me i am just taking it that way)
So do you go over the year and over-inflate his kicking game, or look at recency and discard his kicking game and completely understate his value?
This is a 2009 team, this is how the player performed over the year in general. In general, Morne kicked well and gave his team go forward ball and punished opposition mistakes and is the form 10 of the year.
Still would you seriously pick him over Carter when we take on the Martians? If you do, then your blood is truly blue.
@MBAX - funny how BO'D seemed to captain an unbeaten Irish team and a Heineken Cup winning team despite causing disharmony amongst them? He must be brilliant to single handedly win these games for them.
Matfield wasn't as impressive in one game against Ireland, so O'Connell should be in the team.
Does that also mean that BOD shouldn't be in the team because he had a quiet game against the Boks?
Heaslip? Sergio Parisse is the man, was outstanding in every game he played, jut too bad he plays for a team that's not up to his standards.
Steyn over Carter? there's only one thing that Steyn has proven this year and that he can kick (at the start of the year but looked shocking near the end) thats it, no attcking vision (kick the ball in the air and getting you team to chase the ball isn't attacking vision) and useless on D. to be the best you have to be on top of your game throughout the year not just in a few games Carter made an impact in every game he played even if they weren't as many as Steyn.
Apart from that the rest are great picks.
Cater didnt play rugby at all this year except for EOYT. And when he did play against Steyn in the Tri-nations he was pretty much left in second place!
Steyn = top scorer for the BULLS in super 14, tri nations winner, british and irish lions winner...
Carter = End of year star....mmmmm
Look at the year, the tournaments and you'll find that Morne Steyn (I'm not a fan) do deserve this spot. Carter is a better flyhalf, but this year Steyn made more of an impression except for the year end tour...
Let us see who knows anything about rugby...and argue not overall capabilities and how good they are and class acts etc. Seriously guys, on merrit and the year of 2009 since super 14, only one person at flyhalf did a great job. STEYN.
Giteau wasnt even a mastermind in the tri-nations, cater only vs Giteau...Steyn outplayed them all in the nations and in Super 14 where carter did not even play.
THE ONLY Silly SELECTION I FEEL WAS
HORWILL, BOWE, and maybe MCCAW...he also was outplayed in the tri-nations against Brussouw. But after BRussouw i would still choose him!!!!
Both of them deserve the spot!!!!
14. Digby Ione
13. Brian O'Driscol , Jaque Fourie
12.Jamie Roberts
11. Habana
10. Stephen Jones , Morne Steyn
9. Fourie du Preez
8. Heaslip , Piere Spies - Instumental in the Super 14 and Tri-nations.
7. Richie McCaw
6. H Brussouw
5. Victor Matfield
4. Bakkies Botha
3. Martin Cas
2. Bish du Plessis
1. Ben Robinson
Aus = 2
NZ = 1 The reason why they want carter there!!!!!!!! only 1 was good enough
Ire = 4
Italy = 1
Wales = 1
South AFRICA = 6 ( The Reason why they are the Best Team in the world at the moment above IRE )
Once and for all Steyn is not the complete package, his running game is just cr@p, his defence is ok and just ok at times and his decision making leaves a lot to be desired. The only games were he has done well in is when we are always going forward and I am sorry but my idea of a great flyhalf is some one who can handle any situation. But in SA he is the best we have at the moment which is just sad….
You must be one of those people that often got questions wrong in exams cos you didn't read the question properly.
Gee aandag chom.
Did Carter play this year you muppet? It did not say anything about the amount of games they played. So if he did play then he can be considered for this team and every time he did play he was 100 times better than your boyfriend Steyn.
Get over your hard on for Morne and read carefully, And being a bulls supporter I am just surprised you can read.
You can't say except on the end of year tour, Morne was good. It is based on 2009, ALL of 2009. That means the EOYT counts. The EOYT featured 3 tests and Steyn played about 11 this year (absolute rough guess off the top of my head)... That is about a quarter of the game. Compared to Carter who was good in 100% of the games he played.
I agree PiKiwi, Parisse should be there ahead of Heaslip.
SMART , Trying to convince yourself you actually are...i understand your name fully!!! Sad actually. Look at the Games for 2009. Steyn was the man in SUPER 14, TRI-Nations, and british Lions. His only bad spot was EOYT.
I believe Carter is the best half in the world, but this year he hasnt played a lot and next year will surely be his year if he plays like he usually does and play the full year.
MCCAW SHOULD HAVE WON THIS YEARS AWARD FOR IRB PLAYER OF 2009.
FOURIE DU PREEZ or O'driscol shouldve taken that one!!!!!!
Just a thought btw seeing that jonny wilkinson is the worlds highest point scorer imagine how many points he would have if he had not missed 04, 05, 06, 08 and most of 09
Horwill?
Robinson?
Bismarck?
I'm not buying this line up
Point proven!!! Thank you
14 - Cory Jane
13 - Conrad Smith
12 - Mat Gitaue
11 - Sitiveni Sivivatu
10 - Dan Carter
9 - Will Genia
8 - Pierre Spies
7 - Richie McCaw
6 - Jerome Kaino
5 - Paul O'Connell
4 - Brad Thorn
3 - Ben Alexander
2 - Andrew Hore
1 - Tony Wood(edited)
My World XV would beat the XV named i reckon, a few key notes:
* I'd take O'Connell over Matfield both equal at line out time but O'Connell has a much higher work rate.
* 6,7,8 All good jumpers and the best defenders in the game as well as good ball carrying skills
* Gitaue Still the best at 12
* Habana is good but Sivivatu is a more consistent attacking player were-as habana goes missing in some games and surely Jane is was the best winger this year?
Anyways thats my 5 cents
(edited)on man ur kiwi bias is embarrasing . i just dnt think anyone will take you seriosuly once tey see andrew hore at 2 then paul onnel ahead of matfield .i mean (edited)on get real .
i'm always biased towards the SH but u're over the limit
14 - Cory Jane
13 - Conrad Smith
12 - jamie roberts
11 - bryan habana
10 - morne
9 - FDP
8 - Pierre Spies
7 - Richie McCaw
6 - brussow
5 - matfield
4 - bakkies/Brad Thorn
3 - Ben Alexander
2 - bissy du plessis
1 - Tony Wood(edited)
its very simple ,morne booted his way ont the team of 2009 ,both carter and giteau are btter flyhalves but they jsut dont measure to mornes succes this year end of !!
and the man i would choose to captian this team even if he's not in the lineup SMITTY
I think the selection has it merits.
Kearney and Byrne for me were the two best of the year. Muliaina discovered some form on the EOYT but was close to being overtaken by Cory Jane. If it was not for the loyalty shown by Henry, Jane would have been starting.
Agree that Heymans had a great year, but so did Tommy Bowe. I don't think you lose with either player. Given this was Jane's first real shot at wing I thought he was outstanding.
I would have picked Fourie or Smith over BOD. He contributes a lot to the team, but maybe it is because they rely on him so much that it seems often when they really need him he doesn't front up.
No issues with Jamie Roberts although JdV also had a pretty good year. Nonu is improving, but is a much better player (as I am sure we all would be) when he has Carter at 10.
Not much to choose from @ 11. I would have maybe picked Sivi because I think he creates more than Habana, but he is also prone to make more errors. 50/50 call and I wouldn't complain with either.
10. Big call this. Steyn was great in the S14 and in the TN. But was woeful on the EOYT. You have to remember that Carter was injured and didn't play until the ABs v Aus game in Aus - which was after the 2 tests against South Africa. He proved the difference and in just his second game back he almost got us over the line against the Boks. based on consistency throughout the games they played, I would give the nod to Carter, but given Steyn's contribution to the wins v the Lions and in the TN I don't have a huge issue with him getting picked. I can't believe anyone even mentioned Giteau. he should not have been anywhere near the team after Scotland.
Du Preez easily at 9. Genia had his moments but wasn't consistent. But given it is his first year he looked very good. Definitely a player on the rise.
I agree with whoever mentioned the French no8. I thought he played very well this year.
McCaw was a bit off the pace at the start of the TN but given he had been out of action for over a month I thought he got back pretty quick. I would agree that he was outplayed in the first 2 SA games, but maybe not the last. He is still the benchmark in my opinion and consistently performs. But given he and Broussow would be the top 2 and he was outplayed I would have given it to Broussow.
Rocky Elsom at 6 would be a no contest for me.
Matfield would be one lock. I was actually quite impressed from what I saw of Pascal Pape. But I have to admit I didn't see all the games he played.
The front row is interesting. Given that O'Brien admitted the ref got it very wrog in the AB v Italy game I wouldn't have picked Castrogiovanni. Nor do I think Aussie were consistent enough in their front row to have Robinson there. I was impressed with Owen Franks' first year, but I don't really think I know enough about forward play to give any real insight into who the front row should really be.