[imagesource: Brett Phibbs]

Last night, during the World Rugby Awards Special Edition, the sport’s governing body named its men’s player of the decade.

No prizes for guessing that Richie McCaw took home that prize, playing 68 test matches during the qualifying period, and losing just five of those.

He also captained the All Blacks to consecutive World Cup titles, so that decision was pretty much locked in well before the announcement was made.

McCaw was up against fellow All Blacks Dan Carter, Kieran Read, Brodie Retallick, and Beauden Barrett, France’s Thierry Dusautoir, Ireland’s Johnny Sexton, and our own Pieter-Steph du Toit.

Here’s the video tribute that accompanied the announcement of Richie’s win:

Despite being nominated for men’s player of the decade, the man who absolutely terrified the English in last year’s World Cup final didn’t make the men’s team of the decade, but three South Africans did.

Tendai Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, and Bryan Habana made the cut, with the full men’s team of the decade below via the Guardian:

Tendai Mtawarira (RSA), Bismarck du Plessis (RSA), Owen Franks (NZL), Brodie Retallick (NZL), Sam Whitelock (NZL), David Pocock (AUS), Richie McCaw (NZL), Sergio Parisse (ITA), Conor Murray (IRE), Dan Carter (NZL), Bryan Habana (RSA), Ma’a Nonu (NZL), Brian O’Driscoll (IRE), George North (WAL), Ben Smith (NZL)

The women’s team of the decade as follows:

Rochelle Clark (ENG), Fiao’o Faamausili (NZL), Sophie Hemming (ENG), Eloise Blackwell (NZL), Tamara Taylor (ENG), Linda Itunu (NZL), Maggie Alphonsi (ENG), Safi N’Diaye (FRA), Kendra Cocksedge (NZL), Katy Daley-Mclean (ENG), Portia Woodman (NZL), Kelly Brazier (NZL), Emily Scarratt (ENG), Lydia Thompson (ENG), Danielle Waterman (ENG)

France fullback Jessy Tremouliere was named women’s player of the decade.

Try of the decade went to Jamie Heaslip for his 80-metre try for Ireland against Italy in the 2016 Six Nations:

This epic try from @irishrugby and @jamieheaslip scooped him the @IntRugbyPlayers Men’s 15s Try of the Decade#WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/SPOzEL68zj

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) December 7, 2020

Nice, but Cheslin and Makazole would like a word.

There was also a special shoutout to Siya Kolisi and the Springboks for their #StrongerTogether R32-12 fundraising campaign, which brought in more than R1 million for hunger alleviation:

“We wanted to tackle some of the challenges I faced as a young kid”@Springboks captain @SiyaKolisi_Bear tackled the coronavirus pandemic head on, starting a foundation in South Africa to help local communities. #WorldRugbyAwards pic.twitter.com/BYzD18Aef9

— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) December 7, 2020

On and off the field, a class above.

To finish, here are the final world rankings for 2020:

Day 402 of 1 449 of being world champs.

Happy Tuesday.

[source:guardian]