Rugby World XV Team of 2012 - Do You Agree?
It is almost the end of 2012 and I thought that I would name a World Rugby Team of 2012 to encourage debate. This World Rugby Team XV of 2012 is based on who had the best year, but does not necessarily require players to have played every game during the season, but it does require them to have been in great form when they were playing.
Here is my World Rugby Team of 2012.
15. Israel Dagg (New Zealand)
Dagg was the most dangerous counterattacking fullback in the world in 2012.
14. Bryan Habana (South Africa)
Habana has rediscovered some old form and scored some amazing tries this season.
13. Conrad Smith (New Zealand)
Smith is the glue in the All Blacks backline. He has the ability to read the game so well and feed his outsides well. His only blemish was a misread against England, but apart from that this guy had a great year including being named the New Zealand Super Rugby Player of the Year.
12. Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand)
SBW didn't play the entire season, but was sensational for the Chiefs and the All Blacks. He plays well outside Carter or Cruden and inside Smith.
11. Julian Savea (New Zealand)
Savea had a great first year in the All Blacks and has all the halmarks of the next Jonah Lomu. He has scored 12 tries in 9 tests.
10. Dan Carter (New Zealand)
Carter was the IRB Player of 2012, despite having only an average season by his high standards. There aren't many quality Number 10s around though, but it shows you how easy Carter makes things look.
9. Will Genia (Australia)
Genia for me is still the best halfback in the world, despite having an injury plagued season. He was named the Australian Super Rugby 2012 Player of the Tournament. His leadership and reading of the game is awesome. Ruan Pienaar, Kahn Fotuali'i and Aaron Smith all put forward cases for inclusion in this team.
8. Kieran Read (New Zealand)
Read is the best allround Number Eight in the world at the moment. He complements the All Blacks loose forward trio nicely and makes my team ahead of quality players like Picamoles, Spies, Parisse and Fernandez-Lobbe.
7. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
Many of us thought McCaw was toast following the Rugby World Cup 2011, but he showed that he still has life in his body. He has developed ball carrying ability to complement his tackling and ability at the breakdown.
6. Dan Lydiate (Wales)
Lydiate was a star for Wales during the Six Nations and was named Player of the Tournament.
5. Nathan Sharpe (Australia)
The evergreen Nathan Sharpe answered an SOS by coach Robbie Deans and responded with great form for the Wallabies and Force. His leadership skills are complemented by his his ball carrying and aerial skills.
4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)
Etzebeth is the new Bakkies Botha and has had a breakthrough year. He gets the nod ahead of Sam Whitelock and Richie Gray.
3. Dan Cole (England)
Cole has been brilliant in scrums and even showed the world his strength at the breakdown in England's famous win over the All Blacks.
2. Adriaan Strauss (South Africa)
With the injury to Bismarck Du Plessis, Strauss got his chance for the Springboks and made every post a winner. He was also dynamic for the Cheetahs. He gets the nod ahead of Rory Best and Du Plessis.
1. Cian Healy (Ireland)
Healy has just got the nod following a strong year ahead of the enigmatic Sona Taumalolo.
My World Rugby Team XV of 2012 contains
7 New Zealand All Blacks 3 South Africa Springboks 2 Australia Wallabies 1 England 1 Wales 1 Ireland.
Do you agree with my World Rugby Team XV of 2012? The toughest positions are either where there are too many options, or no real options. The toughest choices were at halfback, blindside flanker, a lock and the front row. Who do you think should be in the World Rugby Team XV of 2012?
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