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Team of the Series

Monday 01st December 2008

Running away with it: McCaw is streets ahead of the rest

November served up a feast of rugby, and whilst it was not all brilliant there was more than enough top class action to keep the most hungry of fans satisfied until 2009.

Be it South Africa's destruction of England, the All Blacks' march to a second Grand Slam in four years, Wales' final day victory against Australia, or the Pacific Islands maiden Test win, there was plenty of world-class action.

Given the nature of the game there was also a few shockers, but throughout we saw a series of fine individual displays. So without further ado we here at Planet Rugby bring you our 'Team of the Series' for November 2008.

Team of the Series

15. Lee Byrne (Wales)

A simple two-horse race here between Byrne and New Zealand's Mils Muliaina, with the Welshman taking the majority of the votes. Even in defeat, against South Africa and New Zealand, Byrne shone, which gives you an idea of just how good he is at present. Immovable under the high ball he gives Wales the stability to play their free-flowing game, joining the attacks with a perfect sense of timing. There is a while to go yet, but if we were picking the Lions side now Byrne would be an automatic selection.

14. Joe Rokocoko (New Zealand)

Leading up to New Zealand's tour it was not certain if Rokocoko would be fit to travel. However, having proved his fitness in a trial game against an Auckland Barbarians side 'Rocketman' was selected and the rest, as they say, is history. The Rokocoko we saw here was not all about scoring tries, rather he was happy to be the catalyst, allowing others to take the glory. A superb return to form in a position where New Zealand are spoilt for choice.

13. Conrad Smith (New Zealand)

A unanimous selection at thirteen, and given Smith's class it is not difficult to see why. If we had to pick a single moment that summed him up it was at Twickenham on Saturday. In the build-up to New Zealand's opening try, scored by Muliaina, it was Smith's angle and hands that created the space for his team-mates to exploit. A string of powerful, and yet subtly brilliant, displays on tour has confirmed him as one of the world's premier outside centres.

12. Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand)

There was a time when you were never quite sure which Nonu would turn up, the great player or the petulant child who was good at rugby. This tour has, it seems, been the making of him. Gone are the days of a centre who was more concerned with annoying people off the ball and here are the days of a centre focused on destroying them with the ball. If he keeps on this way he will fast become one of the great All Black centres. A mention too for South Africa's Jean de Villiers, who was once again a shining light in the Springbok side.

11. Shane Williams (Wales)

Not much debate here as Williams confirmed why he was named as IRB Player of the Year. A try against Australia was no less than he deserved for three huge efforts against the Tri-Nations sides. It seemed Williams was at the heart of all that was good about Wales, popping up throughout the back line as he looked to utilise his pace and elusive running. Another who must fancy a decent crack at the Lions Test side, as long as he can maintain his form and confidence. A fine series, and a fine year for Williams.

10. Matt Giteau (Australia)

With Dan Carter off his game to some extent, which means he was at everyone elses level, the stage was set for Giteau to take the plaudits. It was hoped he would get some rest, but with Berrick Barnes heading home early doors it was all hands to the pump as far as the little genius was concerned. Every week it was the same, no matter who Australia were playing. Coaches and players alike from the Wallabies' opponents highlighted the importance of stopping Giteau, yet nobody really managed to do so. And when they did stop his creative play he punished sides with his boot. A masterclass in fly-half play.

9. Mike Blair (Scotland)

Now that the dust is settling the general consensus is that Scotland, along with Wales, went a long way in saving face for those teams in the north. And further to that Blair's efforts at the heart of the team were the underlying reason they battled so valiantly, and played some promising rugby on a regular basis. Whilst Danny Care was one of England's two shining lights, the other being Delon Armitage, he still showed signs of naivety - none more so then when he wasted Nick Easter's break against New Zealand. So for now all those scrum-halfs with Lions aspirations know Blair is their benchmark.

8. Andy Powell (Wales)

To play all three Tri-Nations sides, emerge with two dazzling displays and a list of praise longer than Marius Tincu's ban is no mean feat. Add in that it was Powell's first three Tests of his belated international career and you have some idea as to how good the Cardiff Blues man was. This is not to say he is the finished article, but there is plenty there to work with. His quick-feet defy his powerful frame, and even though he has the tendency to throw the odd speculator his vision is surprisingly good for such destructive ball carrier. The only downside, and it's an area Wales (and maybe the Lions) can work on is his penalty count. That aside he was the revelation of November.

7. Richie McCaw (c) (New Zealand)

There is not much else to say about McCaw that has not been said before. However, one thing that became clear, if it was ever any other way, was that even when McCaw is not playing to the best of his ability his leadership skills more than make up for it. Simply put he is the world's best openside.

6. Ryan Jones (Wales)

Usually a number eight Jones shifted to the blindside for November, to accommodate Andy Powell, and, as we have come to expect of the Welsh captain, adjusted with ease. There has been, in the past, times when Jones was over used as a ball carrier, meaning his game could become one dimensional, that was until Powell came into the back row. With Powell happy to cart the ball up endlessly Jones was free to play a roaming game, and to quite some effect too. We saw a subtle side to his game, as a link man and distributor, that saw him at the fore for Wales every week.

5. Ali Williams (New Zealand)

In a nutshell Williams' series is best summed up by his hakas - passionate, full of effort and rather menacing. From the basics of second row play, winning your own line-out, shunting in the scrum and hitting ruck after ruck, to the bonus aspects such as running with ball in hand and creating space for more potent attacks, Williams did it all. There may be an exciting crop of young second rows coming through New Zealand rugby at present, but they will need to go a long way to budge Williams from his perch.

4. Bakkies Botha (South Africa)

Given that Bakkies was only expected to play twenty minutes of South Africa's opening game, due to a delayed return from injury, it is surprising to see him in this team. Actually its not. See Bakkies is a rare bread, a second row straight out of the school of hard knocks, but without the life knocked out of him. To see him hurtle the width of the Twickenham pitch to save a certain Delon Armitage try summed him up perfectly. He may be a big, hard second row, but he has vision and a 'never say die' attitude that epitomises the South African team.

3. Euan Murray Scotland)

The biggest positive of November as far as Scotland were concerned was their scrum. Not only did they hold their own against the world's best, but they rose to the challenge and took the game to their opponents. The highlight of all this was seeing Euan Murray destroy the All Black scrum almost single handedly - poor Jamie Mackintosh simply didn't have an answer. This is the sort of form that will gain Murray further honours in South Africa next year, and should give Scotland's pack the belief they are so often missing.

2. John Smit (South Africa)

We know he was selected as a prop, and a fine job he did at that, but he ended the tour in his best position, and that is where he walks into this side. Be it his leadership skills, the ability to drag that last piece of effort from his team, his set-piece work or the hard yards with ball in hand there is no area of Smit's game that is found wanting. When he doesn't play you realise just how good he is, and South Africa will hope he is around for a few more years yet.

1. Tony Woodcock (New Zealand)

Many felt with Greg Somerville off to Europe to cash-in on his remaining playing days the All Black scrum may suffer. But just as those doubts came up so did Woodcock's reply, which was both simple and effective. Rather than worry about not having his old mate Yoda about Woodcock went about making a mockery of European, and Wallaby, scrums throughout the tour. That he finds the time and energy to offer himself so regularly as a ball carrier is testament to his selfless approach and work-rate.

Replacements: 16 Keven Mealamu (New Zealand), 17 Allan Jacobsen (Scotland), 18 Alun Wyn-Jones (Wales), 19 Sergio Parisse (Italy), 20 Danny Care (England), 21 Dan Carter (New Zealand), 22 Mils Muliaina (New Zealand).

Individual selections:

Adam Kyriacou's XV: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Enrico Januarie, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Danny Stephens' XV: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Mike Blair, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Euan Murray, 2 John Smit, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Dave Morris' XV: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Mike Blair, 8 Rodney So'oialo, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Ryan Jones, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Alun Wyn-Jones, 3 Euan Murray, 2 Keven Mealamu, 1 Allan Jacobsen.

Marcus Leach's XV: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Shane Williams, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Mike Blair, 8 Andy Powell, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Sergio Parisse, 5 Ali Williams, 4 Alun Wyn-Jones, 3 Euan Murray, 2 John Smit, 1 Tony Woodcock.

Ross Hastie's XV: 15 Lee Byrne, 14 Joe Rokocoko, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Tommy Bowe, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Danny Care, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Ryan Jones, 5 S�bastien Chabal, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Carlos Nieto, 2 John Smit, 1 Tony Woodcock.

By Marcus Leach