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World Rugby lets fans vote for player of the decade
By Josh Raisey
With 2020 looming, World Rugby are letting fans from around the world decide who gets crowned their player of the decade.
The first round of match-ups have been revealed on Instagram and fans have the chance to vote for players going through to the next round.
One half of the draw sees Dan Carter and Aaron Smith pitted against one another, Jonathan Sexton against Owen Farrell, Will Genia against Beauden Barrett and Ma’a Nonu versus Bryan Habana.
This past decade saw Carter named the World Rugby player of the year twice, as was Barrett, and Sexton once in 2018.
Alongside that, the legendary All Blacks and Crusaders fly-half, and his inside centre partner Nonu, won the World Cup in 2011 and 2015. Smith and Barrett were also members of the 2015 squad.
(Continue reading below...)
The other half of the draw sees Tendai Mtawarira come up against Richie McCaw, Brodie Retallick battle Sergio Parisse, Alun-Wyn Jones face David Pocock, with Sam Warburton and Kieran Read the remaining two contestants.
McCaw and Read both won two RWCs over the past ten years, with the flanker captaining the All Blacks to both wins. McCaw won one of his three player of the year awards in 2010 (the other two being in 2006 and 2009), with Read scooping the award in 2013 and Retallick in 2014.
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Latest Comments
That is a matter of players style of play. Will Jordan's strength is his running . He has been absolutely deadly for the the Crusaders in that position. Especially in years 2021-23. Foster subsequently then Razor put him on the wing. Scored heaps of tries, but as he showed in one test against Australia this year , he scored a try running from the back, that was amazing. That was after Robertson finally put him at 15 because Beauden was injured. Thankfully there Will remained. Speaking of Beauden and kicking. He kicks too much, waywardly as well. Handing the ball back to the opposition. He is an impact player at best.
Go to commentsYet Ethan Blackadder was one of our best against the World Champion Springbok. When he came back to the Crusaders later in the season , he made a huge difference, ( a long with others like Codie Taylor), we nearly made the Play Off's. Ethan has plenty of rugby left in him. His family , Dad Todd Blackadder must be very [proud of him. Todd Blackadder was a 3 time champion captain of the Crusaders, '98, '99 and 2000.An icon in this area. Also twice captain of Canterbury , '97 and 2001 when we won the NPC and Ranfurly Shield winning captain in 2000.
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