Teams of the Decade - Premiership

RugbyPass are, with the Noughties Tweenies close to an end, running a series of "Teams of the Decade". So far they have done four GP sides (and one Super Rugby). I shall update their teams as accounced on here, but in the meantime try naming your own teams best side of the decade. You can choose any rules you want - whether it is longevity vs temporary brilliance or, well anything.

Bath Rugby

https://www.rugbypass.com/search/15%20for%2010

Abendanon
Banahan
Joseph
Eastmond
Rokoduguni
Ford
Claasens
Mercer
Louw
Garvey
Attwood
Hooper
Wilson
Mears
Catt

Bristol Bears

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/15-for-10-bristol-bears-an-all-decade-team

Piutau
Lemi
Tovey
Hurrell
Morahan
Jarvis
Tipuna
Eadie
Lam
Luatua
Vui
Joyce
Cortes
Thacker
Traynor

Exeter Chiefs

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/15-for-10-exeter-chiefs-an-all-decade-team

Dollman
Nowell
Slade
Whitten
Woodburn
Steenson
Chudley
Waldrom
Armand
Ewers
Parling
Mumm
Francis/Williams
Yeandle
Moon

Gloucester Rugby

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/15-for-10-gloucester-rugby-an-all-decade-xv

Morgan
Sharples
Twelvetrees
Atkinson
Simpson-Daniel
Cipriani
Heinz
Morgan
Hazel
Polledri
Savage
Slater
Afoa
Hibbard
Wood

Falcons:
1 Rob Vickers
2 Scott Lawson
3 Jon Welsh
4 Calum Green
5 Sean Robinson
6 Mark Wilson / Will Welch
7 Nili Latu
8 Ally Hogg

9 Sone Takulua
10 Jimmy Gopperth - (says something about our 10's this decade, he left in 2013!)
11 Sinoti Sinoti
12 Juan Pablo Socino
13 Chris Harris
14 Vereniki Goneva
15 Alex Tait

My Leicester XV for the decade:

Matthew Tait, Niki Goneva, Manu Tuilagi, Antony Allen, Alessana Tuilagi, George Ford, Ben Youngs, Jordan Crane, Julian Salvi, Tom Croft, Geoff Parling, Ed Slater, Dan Cole, Tom Youngs, Marcos Ayerza

Honourable mentions for Scott Hamilton, Telusa Veainu, Jonny May, Adam Thompstone, Tom Varndell, Toby Flood, Freddie Burns, Thomas Waldrom, Steve Mafi, Graham Kitchener, Mulipola, Castro, Ellis Genge. We did not see them at their best or for long enough but further mentions Matt Toomua, Pablo Matera & Brad Thorn

Go on, I'll have a pop at a Wasps XV, then:

Piutau, Wade, Daly, Gopperth, Varndell, Cipriani, Simpson, Hughes, Young, Haskell, Gaskell, Launchbury, McIntyre, Smashley Johnson, Cooper-Woolley

Piutau or Beale at 15? Or Rob Miller who has provided back-up for a string of high profile galactico full-backs... Cips at stand-off ahead of Goode? No doubt there are a bunch of other suggestions and chaps I've missed out!

Didn't the Noughties Decade end almost ten years ago now, Tiger?

Anyway as I continue to ponder that one to make sure I'm right.... didn't Geordan Murphy play on for the first three years of the decade we is in now?  Not even an honourable mention for the old soldier 'legend'
I guess that's what happens when you don't got the longevity of Phil Vickery.

GeordieFalcon wrote:Falcons:
10 Jimmy Gopperth - (says something about our 10's this decade, he left in 2013!)

Would Gopperth be the only player to feature in two club's "side of the decade"??

SecretFly wrote:
Anyway as I continue to ponder that one to make sure I'm right.... didn't Geordan Murphy play on for the first three years of the decade we is in now?  Not even an honourable mention for the old soldier 'legend'
I guess that's what happens when you don't got the longevity of Phil Vickery.

True about Geordie. It is just that I have him so firmly as a noughties man I forgot his career extended into this decade.

Rinsure wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Falcons:
10 Jimmy Gopperth - (says something about our 10's this decade, he left in 2013!)

Would Gopperth be the only player to feature in two club's "side of the decade"??

RugbyPass had Ford in the Bath side, while I would have him in Tigers team.

LondonTiger wrote:Bath Rugby

https://www.rugbypass.com/search/15%20for%2010

Abendanon
Banahan
Joseph
Eastmond
Rokoduguni
Ford
Claasens
Mercer
Louw
Garvey
Attwood
Hooper
Wilson
Mears
Catt

If that team was to play our current squad it would still win even with some of the player being long retired.

LondonTiger wrote:

Rinsure wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Falcons:
10 Jimmy Gopperth - (says something about our 10's this decade, he left in 2013!)

Would Gopperth be the only player to feature in two club's "side of the decade"??

RugbyPass had Ford in the Bath side, while I would have him in Tigers team.

Good point. Also, RugbyPass have Piutau in for Bristol, and I've had him for Wasps too. So... bit more common than I thought.

As you were.

And Goneva...in the Falcons and Tigers teams...

Cipriani for Wasps and Glaws too.

Move along... nothing to see here.

Does anyone feature in three??

LondonTiger wrote:

Rinsure wrote:

GeordieFalcon wrote:Falcons:
10 Jimmy Gopperth - (says something about our 10's this decade, he left in 2013!)

Would Gopperth be the only player to feature in two club's "side of the decade"??

RugbyPass had Ford in the Bath side, while I would have him in Tigers team.

Close call between Flood and Ford surely. We won some decent silverware with Floody. Ford has kept the club in the top flight though.

Tait had a good couple of seasons (that break Vs Toulon) but also some pretty bad seasons, particularly towards the end. His try saver at WR put a shine on what was a pretty poor end to his time at Tigers. I'd personally have Geordie every day of the week he always oozed class and that little step as he used to catch the ball that left the kick chase suddenly grabbing thin air was awesome.

Even thinking about it now, not sure Geordie played too many matches this decade.

What swung it for me between Ford and Flood was that Ford put in some excellent performances before leaving the first time - Semi Final v Sarries in 2012, and final v Saints in 2013 spring to mind.


Edit

Looking at stats seems Geordie was first choice in 2010/11 and much of 2011/12 - so played more than I remember.

Looking forward to London Welsh...

1.Ayerza
2.Youngs
3.Cole
4.Slater
5.Parling
6.Croft
7.Salvi
8.Mafi

9.Youngs
10.Ford

11.Goneva
12.Allen
13.Tuilagi
14.Veainu
15.Tait

Several Tigers such as Murphy, Newby and Alesana Tuilagi who did play in the last decade but not their best performances, hence they miss out.

Steve Mafi is shoehorned in a bit at 8 as he hardly played there for Tigers. I had to get him in though. He was brilliant to watch when breaking through in his early twenties. He was a fair bit lighter and a lot quicker back then as well.

Mulipola and Castro miss out due to depth alone. Both were brilliant for Tigers at their best.

Harlequins

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/15-for-10-harlequins-an-all-decade-xv

Brown
Monye
Marchant
Turner-Hall
Williams
Evans
Care
Easter
Clifford
Robshaw
Horwill
Robson
Sinckler
Gray
Marler

Leicester Tigers

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/15-for-10-leicester-tigers-an-all-decade-xv

Murphy
Goneva
Tuilagi, Manu
Allen
Tuilagi, Alessana
Flood
Youngs
Crane
Salvi
Croft
Parling
Slater
Cole
Youngs
Ayerza

Not part of the premiership selections, but oh boy:

Toulon

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/15-for-10-toulon-an-all-decade-xv

Armitage, Delon
Mitchell
Bastareaud
Giteau
Habana
Wilkinson
Tillous-Borde
Fernandez Lobbe
Armitage, Steffon
Juan Smith
Botha
Williams
Hayman
Guirado
Chiocci

Chris Masoe deserves to be in that side in my opinion. Juan Smith and Fernandez Lobbe are international greats but Masoe was fantastic for Toulon.

It was a remarkable side at their peak. A really interesting example of building a culture around a few key players. Wilkinson and Hayman set high standards, the rest followed.

London Irish

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/15-for-10-london-irish-an-all-decade-xv

Armitage
Ojo
Joseph
Mapasua
Tagicakibau
Myler (????)
Hodgson
Treviranus
Cowan
Danaher
Kennedy
Casey
Aulika
Paice
Corbisiero

LondonTiger wrote:Harlequins

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/15-for-10-harlequins-an-all-decade-xv

Brown
Monye
Marchant
Turner-Hall
Williams
Evans
Care
Easter
Clifford
Robshaw
Horwill
Robson
Sinckler
Gray
Marler

Marchant while excellent, has only just broken into the side in the last few seasons.
George Lowe would be up there for me.
Same for Olie Kohn instead of Horwell.
Tani Fuga instead of Gray (not sure if that's this decade)!

I agree about George Lowe. Their reasoning:

Potentially recent bias is at play here, with George Lowe and Matt Hopper both having served the club with distinction over a longer period, but Marchant’s ability to unlock defences is perhaps in a league of its own in comparison. Quins fans will watch his upcoming loan to the Blues in Super Rugby with interest, as the young outside centre has already shown what a difference he can be for the club.

Fuga was last decade, Kohn straddling the decades.

Mapusua, best Prem 12 ever.

LondonTiger wrote:London Irish

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/15-for-10-london-irish-an-all-decade-xv

Armitage
Ojo
Joseph
Mapasua
Tagicakibau
Myler (????)
Hodgson
Treviranus
Cowan
Danaher
Kennedy
Casey
Aulika
Paice
Corbisiero

Old biscuit knees Corbisiero and his 3 games a season Nick

He had one great season but after he left us for Saints he barely played. Shame as he was quality.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Old biscuit knees Corbisiero and his 3 games a season Nick

606 Team of the Decade?

Gibbo (he was still around in the early days of it?)
Cyril
Mikey
Aucklandlaurie
No7&1/2
Guns
Lord D
Taylorman
Bambam
DOD
Pal Joey
Tigertattie
The Oracle
Rodders
PhilBB

Could go on a bit more but only 15 can play the game innit!  It's tough being a coach on 606.  So many colourful characters to choose from.... and I didn't even include any from the Off Topic section, coz we're still trying to domesticate most of them.... and failing every time.

Oops wrong thread! Meant to be in bsandos 606 team of the decade thread. If a mod wants to move it I'd be much obliged.

Newcastle Falcons

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/15-for-10-newcastle-falcons-an-all-decade-xv

Alex Tait
Goneva
Harris
Socino
Sinoti
Gopperth
Takalua
Hogg
Welch
Wilson
Barrow
Swinson
Brookes
McGuigan
Vickers


Pretty sure GF and Sarge will argue against some of those calls, especially in the pack.

Northampton Saints

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/15-for-10-northampton-saints-an-all-decade-xv

Foden
Ashton
George Pisi
Burrell
North
Myler
Dickson
Myler
Dickson
Manoa
Harrison
Wood
Day
Lawes
Mujati
Hartley
Tonga’uiha

Hope that means I'm a lock as I ain't got the gas for the wing.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Hope that means I'm a lock as I ain't got the gas for the wing.

And I thought SF hd selected a team of 15 hookers


Merry christmas

SecretFly wrote:606 Team of the Decade?

Gibbo (he was still around in the early days of it?)
Cyril
Mikey
Aucklandlaurie
No7&1/2
Guns
Lord D
Taylorman
Bambam
DOD
Pal Joey
Tigertattie
The Oracle
Rodders
PhilBB

Could go on a bit more but only 15 can play the game innit!  It's tough being a coach on 606.  So many colourful characters to choose from.... and I didn't even include any from the Off Topic section, coz we're still trying to domesticate most of them.... and failing every time.

Surprised to see myself in that list! What did I do?!

I’d see Dowlais as a chippy 9, tbh. Phil BB is definitely not a 15 either. If that’s 15-1 then it’s actually spot on for the two I’ve highlighted.

The Oracle wrote:

Surprised to see myself in that list!  What did I do?!

Rest assured Oracle, it's a good list not a bad list. A list of notable contributors over the years who have caught my attention and have in some way helped give this ste a heartbeat. Yep, a few of them will be considered wums by certain folks here, but that's only incidental. Even in realtime many stand out personalities tend to have a Marmite edge - love 'em or hate 'em

So all good - a good list

SecretFly wrote:

The Oracle wrote:

Surprised to see myself in that list!  What did I do?!

Rest assured Oracle, it's a good list not a bad list.  A list of notable contributors over the years who have caught my attention and have in some way helped give this ste a heartbeat.  Yep, a few of them will be considered wums by certain folks here, but that's only incidental.  Even in realtime many stand out personalities tend to have a Marmite edge - love 'em or hate 'em

So all good - a good list

Merry Christmas, Fly!

LondonTiger wrote:Newcastle Falcons

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/15-for-10-newcastle-falcons-an-all-decade-xv

Alex Tait
Goneva
Harris
Socino
Sinoti
Gopperth
Takalua
Hogg / Latu - Big Call...both collosal for us in different styles.
Welch
Wilson
BarrowGreen
SwinsonRobinson
Brookes Jon Welsh
McGuigan Lawson
Vickers


Pretty sure GF and Sarge will argue against some of those calls, especially in the pack.

Fixed that LT

Sale Sharks

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/15-for-10-sale-sharks-an-all-decade-xv

Haley
Solomona
James
Tuitupou
Cueto
Cipriani
de Klerk
Beaumont
Seymour
Curry
Evans
Gaskell
Thomas
Taylor
Sheridan

Saracens

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/15-for-10-saracens-an-all-decade-xv

Goode
Ashton
Bosch
Barritt
Strettle
Farrell
Wigglesworth
Billy V
Burger (J)
Brown
Kruis
Itoje
Figallo
Brits
Mako

Wasps

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/15-for-10-wasps-an-all-decade-xv

Le Roux
Wade
Daly
Gopperth
Varndell
Cipriani
Simpson
Hughes
Young
Johnson
Gaskell
Launchbury
Cittadini
Webber
Mullan

Worcester

https://www.rugbypass.com/news/15-for-10-worcester-warriors-an-all-decade-xv

Pennell
Heem
Grove
Mills
Adams
Weir
Hougaard
van Velze
Kvesic
Williams
O'Callaghan
Gillies
Schonert
Creevy
Rapava-Ruskin

And finally the Team of the Decade across all teams based purely on the number of appearances in that specific shirt (this means for replacements it only covers matches they were a replacement)

https://www.premiershiprugby.com/news/gallagher-premiership-rugby-team-of-the-decade

1 Marler (125)
2 Webber (135)
3 Cole (112)
4 Hooper (97)
5 Day (119)
6 Gibson (89)
7 Salvi (116)
8 Waldrom (119)
9 Care (140)
10 Myler (143)
11 Wyles (81)
12 Barritt (157)
13 Joseph (101)
14 Sharples (141)
15 Goode (159)

16 George (68)
17 Waller (84)
18 du Plessis (66)
19 Mathews (46)
20 Mark Easter (46)
21 Wigglesworth (72)
22 Steenson (46)
23 Matt Smith/ Darren Allinson (33)

Saints Best of the last 10 from my perspective, not all Saints fans will agree

1 Soane Tonga'uiha
2 Dylan Hartley
3 Brian Mujati
4. Courtney Lawes
5. Samu Manoa
6. Tom Wood
7. Phil Dowson
8. Louis Picamoles
9. Cobus Reinach
10. Dan Biggar (Close with Stephen Myler)
11. George North ( Never at his best for Saints, but a hell of a player)
12. Luther Burrell
13. Rob Horne (not there long due to injury, but again a hell of a player)
14. Chris Ashton
15. Ben Foden

16. Mike Haywood
17 Alex Corbisiero
18. Really Struggling, Corbisiero's twin brother?
19. Victor Matfield
20. Teimana Harrison (versatility)
21. Lee Dickson
22. Stephen Myler
23. Tagele Naiyaravoro

I have probably missed out on a few, but I am still suffering from post Christmas blues, first day back at work.

You are going for a players at their peak team WPI, while RugbyPass were looking at their XV across the decade. Hence Christian Day gets in, moving Manoa to number 8, Dickson ahead of Reinach and George Pisi. TBH Pisi was not only at the club a long time, but at his best was imo much better than Horne.