2024 TSF Team of the Year
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It’s back and it’s bad!
No, seriously it is bad.
It’s the annual thesilverfern.com Team of the Year!
Apologies for the delay in setting this up: almost immediately post the EOYTs the family Boo took some early Christmas leave to poke around the South Island – yes, had a great time, thanks for asking – returning just in time for the pre-Christmas rush. But now, as the weather has packed up (and when it packs up here it packs up) and there is no cricket on I have time to organise.
For those unfamiliar with the process the rules for the 2024 TSF TOTY as they currently stand are:
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The Organising Committee is the sole judge of fact and law
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The Committee consists of @booboo
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The process is in two phases:
a. Nomination
b. Voting -
Players are nominated and subsequently voted for by position.
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Nominee must have played at least one Test Match in calendar year 2024
Explanatory notes:
a. Cast your minds back to the Six Nations, and June Internationals as well as Super and whatever comps they play in Europe
b. Form in SVNS is admissible – but should be given limited weighting but this is really about Tests
c. Coaches who exclusively coached SVNS are not admissible (this is for Test Matches)
d. Nominations of coaches of Women’s teams will be accepted with appropriate justification. -
Nominees must be backed with some sort of decent reasoning
Explanatory note:
a. a simple nomination because you regard your opinion as self-evident means you’re a dickhead and your nomination will be ignored unless the conditions of rule 6 are complied with -
Form in all levels of rugby is admissible as justification, but please refer rules 5 and 6
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Stupid nominations and suggestions will be mocked pitilessly
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All other rules made up as we go
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Any rule queries will referred to the Organising Committee
a. In the event of any dispute please refer rules 1 and 2. -
Use of the same weak Dad Jokes that have been used for decades is mandatory and must be laughed at.
Nomination and voting threads will be in the Fernies sub-forum: https://www.forum.thesilverfern.com/category/69/fernies
Timing:
Nominations will run for a couple of weeks, allowing TSFers to return from holiday to work and normality, and fit around the Organising Committee’s work commitments.Voting will run for a week or two after that.
Close dates and times at complete discretion of the Organising Committee, but we’ll wrap up in time for kick off in the Six Nations.
Please proceed to the positional threads to nominate and vote as required.
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B booboo pinned this topic on
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Here we go
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Hi Team
A reminder to get your nominations in.
Will look to set up polls on the weekend.
Haven't checked if we have sufficient nominations (i.e., a non-zero number) so please throw in your 2c asap.
Ta
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All - polls are going up as I type. In recent years I've tabulated the pros and cons in the OP so it's all presented easy for peeps to review, assess and vote.
This year am not going to bother as just can't make the time.
Read the threads you lazy bastards ...
... or just go with your gut feels - which is all this is really anyway
Wil run these polls through to next weekend - when I might have time to collate results and provide an update.
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Polls are up.
A couple are essentially unanimous ... but ...
- Where "A N Other" is nominated that just reduces the winning margin.
Similarly, where an individual player has been nominated for multiple positions said player will only win one of those positions if:
- he wins the most votes for a position
- If said player gets most votes for both positions he shall win the only position for which he has the greater proportion of votes, and become ineligible for the other;
- if said player gets the most votes for both positions with the same proportion of votes he shall be ineligible for Open Side Flanker because I said so.
Refer Laws 1, 2, 10 but particularly 9.
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BTW Polls are in the opening post of each thread. You may need to scroll back to there to vote.
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The prestigious TheSilverFern.Com Team of the Year for 2024 has been finalised, the 15th incarnation of the TSF TOTY since it’s inauguration in 2004.
A year following a World Cup often brings in a raft of new faces as the greats depart opening up the stage for the emerging greats. And, as teams rebuild and jockey for the new dominance, the countries represented gains variety with even a "Scotsman” making the team, the very first Scottish representative to feature in the TOTY.
Unsurprisingly the inventive, though not always in a good way, Johan Erasmus takes the reins for the first time. With 50% of the vote, pipping Joe Schmidt’s 40%, Rassie inherits a team with five of his countrymen, four All Blacks, three Frenchmen, one Aussie, and one Pom, but surprisingly no Irish, along with the solitary aforementioned Sweatie debutant.
Ten players make the team for the first time. Prime amongst those is Pieter-Steph du Toit (massive surprise to me he wasn’t in 2023) with 74% of the vote at openside flanker. Whilst primarily being a blindside he is controversially selected at 7 (I know he wears 7 but he’s usually a 6 … it’s all Afrikaans to me) due to eligibility criteria, given he only won 73% of the vote in the other position.
This opens the door for Wallace Sititi, the All Blacks’ new wunderkind, to slot in on the blindside.
The impressive, all action eight, Rob Valetini, with 67%, comfortably wins the final loose-forward position over Caelen Doris on 25%.
Mowing to the back, Tomas Ramos returns at fullback having been previously selected in World Cup year.
Somewhat surprisingly (even though I voted for him) Caleb Clarke’s power, pace and 58% was enough to keep Louis Bielle-Biarrey on the sidelines in a two horse race for the 2024 Karl Marx Golden Hammer and Sickle.
The back three is completed by Cheslin Kolbe, another whose previous absence surprises, but whose previous absences are compensated for by the unanimous support for his selection for the newly minted David Seymour Right Winger Award.
Charged with feeding the ball to the dynamic back three the midfield is comprised of, first ever Scottish TOTY representative, Sione McTuipulotu (with 50%) and Jesse Kriel (92%) only missing out on 100% because some lazy git didn’t their nomination in on time and voted for AN Other (we know who you are and that you live in the Antipodes).
Marcus Smith (91%) overwhelmingly gets the nod to run the cutter, but was another who missed the full 100% because some random Saffer also forgot to nominate whoever AN Other stood in for.
No Aaron Smith in 2024 left the door open for the darling of the European rugby media Antoin du Pont (46%) over Jameson Gibson-Park (38%). He did win the Olympics I suppose.
Meanwhile, back up front, where the real rugby players are, the great, and yes he’s well and truly deserving of that epithet, Eben Etzebeth with 55% (which is essentially 110% if everybody voted twice as they should have … but somehow the maths doesn’t work …) makes his fourth consecutive appearance in the TOTY. The big South African is joined by Tupou Vaa’i (41% = 82%) in the year he found his feet at Test Match level.
French poachee (although the Frogs will argue that Noumea is part of France) Peato Mauvaka (55%) returns for his second successive TOTY cap, beating out RSA’s Malcolm Marx 45% who surprisingly has never made the team (probably a victim of the Organising Committee’s laziness through the late 20-teens when the comp was not run).
Tyrell Lomax (50%) repeats his 2023 selection, with the team and front row rounded out by Retshegofadits, lets just call him Ox, Nche (75%).
As the M6N continues to swing into gear, and Super Rugby kicks off, keep an eye on the players that are staking a claim to TSF TOTY greatness in 2025.
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2005
1 Woodcock Tony NZL 80%
2 Mealamu Keven NZL 58%3 Hayman Carl NZL 97%
4 Williams Ali NZL 63%
5 Matfield Victor RSA 77%
6 Collins Jerry NZL 56%
7 McCaw Richie NZL 88%
8 So'oialo Rodney NZL 38%
9 Ellisalde Jean-Baptiste FRA 39%
10 Carter Dan NZL 93%
12 Umaga Tana NZL 77%13 Jauzion Yannick FRA 62%
11 Habana Brian RSA 45%
14 Rokocoko Joe NZL 58%
15 Latham Chris AUS 43%NZL 10 RSA 2 AUS 1 ARG 0 FRA 2 IRE 0 ENG 0
2006
1 Woodcock Tony NZL 70%
2 Mealamu Keven NZL 71%3 Hayman Carl NZL 91%
4 Matfield Victor RSA 58%
5 O’Connell Paul IRE 44%
6 Collins Jerry NZL 70%
7 McCaw Richie NZL 74%
8 So'oialo Rodney NZL 47%
9 Kelleher Byron NZL 32%
10 Carter Daniel NZL 93%
12 McAlister Luke NZL 30%13 O’Driscoll Brian IRE 62%
11 Sivivatu Sitiveni NZL 64%
14 Rokocoko Josevata NZL 68%
15 Latham Chris AUS 49%NZL 11 RSA 1 AUS 1 ARG 0 FRA 0 IRE 2 ENG 0
2007
1 Sheridan Andrew ENG 40%
2 Smit John RSA 65%3 Hayman Carl NZL 67%
4 Matfield Victor RSA 86%
5 Williams Ali NZL 62%
6 Collins Jerry NZL 68%
7 McCaw Richie NZL 46%
8 Longo Gonzalo ARG 40%
9 du Preez Fourie RSA 60%
10 Hernandez Juan Martin ARG 62%
12 Contepomi Philippe ARG 58%13 Mortlock Stirling AUS 75%
11 Habana Brian RSA 87%
14 Howlett Doug NZL 78%
15 Montgomery Percy RSA 42%
Coach White Jake RSA 39%NZL 5 RSA 5 AUS 1 ARG 3 FRA 0 IRE 0 ENG 1
2008
1 Woodcock Tony NZL 80%
2 Moore Stephen AUS 33%
2 Hore Andrew NZL 33%
3 Somerville Greg NZL 57%4 Williams Ali NZL 50%
5 Thorn Brad NZL 80%
6 Kaino Jerome NZL 64%
7 McCaw Richard NZL 90%
8 So'oialo Rodney NZL 74%
9 Weepu Piri NZL 28%
10 Carter Daniel NZL 100%
12 Mortlock Stirling AUS 38%
12 de Villiers Jean RSA 38%
12 Nonu Ma’a NZL 38%
13 Smith Conrad NZL 66%
11 Sivivatu Sitiveni NZL 52%
14 Williams Shane WAL 52%
15 Muliaina Mils NZL 83%NZL 14 RSA 1 AUS 2 ARG 0 FRA 0 IRE 0 ENG 0
2009
1 WOODCOCK Tony NZL 43%
2 DuPLESSIS Bismark RSA 71%3 CASTROGIOVANNI Martin ITA 53%
4 BOTHA Bakkies RSA 50%
5 MATFIELD Victor RSA 78%
6 DUSAUTOIR Thierry FRA 27%
7 McCAW Richie NZL 71%
8 SPIES Pierre RSA 37%
9 DuPREEZ Fourie RSA 81%
10 CARTER Dan NZL 80%
12 ROBERTS Jamie WAL 64%13 SMITH Conrad NZL 74%
11 SIVIVATU Sitiveni NZL 66%
14 JANE Cory NZL 64%
15 KEARNEY Rob IRE 58%NZL 6 RSA 5 AUS 0 ARG 0 FRA 1 IRE 1 ENG 0 ITA 1 WAL 1
2010
1 JENKINS Gethin WAL 58%
2 MEALAMU Keven NZL 56%3 CASTROGIOVANNI Martin ITA 36%
4 MATFIELD Victor RSA 58%
5 THORN Brad NZL 60%
6 KAINO Jerome NZL 86%
7 McCaw Richard NZL 81%
8 READ Kieran NZL 91%
9 YOUNGS Ben ENG 33%
10 CARTER Daniel NZL 95%
12 NONU Ma’a NZL 85%13 SMITH Conrad NZL 53%
11 MITCHELL Drew AUS 52%
14 JANE Corey NZL 74%
15 MULIAINA Malili NZL 52.5%NZL 10 RSA 1 AUS 1 ARG 0 FRA 0 IRE 0 ENG 1 ITA 1 WAL 1
2011
1 WOODCOCK Tony NZL 66%
2 MEALAMU Keven NZL 64%3 FRANKS Owen NZL 88%
4 THORN Brad NZL 73%
5 MATFIELD Victor RSA 41%
6 KAINO Jerome NZL 100%
7 McCAW Richard NZL 61%
8 READ Kieran NZL 43%
9 GENIA Will AUS 30%
10 CARTER Dan NZL 82%
12 NONU Ma'a NZL 94%13 SMITH Conrad NZL 89%
11 IOANE Digby AUS 86%
14 O'CONNOR James AUS 49%
15 BEALE Kurtley AUS 60%
coach HENRY Graeme NZL 91%NZL 10 66 RSA 1 16 AUS 4 10 ARG 0 3 FRA 0 3 IRE 0 3 ENG 0 2 ITA 0 2 WAL 0 2
2012
1 TAUMALOLO Sona TGA 45%
2 HORE Andrew NZL 88%3 JONES Adam WAL 45%
4 SHARPE Nathan AUS 62%
5 WHITELOCK Samuel NZL 58%
6 LOBBE Juan Fernandez ARG 35%
7 McCAW Richard NZL 97%
8 READ Kieran NZL 76%
9 FOTUALI'I Kahn SAM 84%
10 CARTER Dan NZL 83%
12 WILLIAMS Sonny Bill NZL 69%13 SMITH Conrad NZL 84%
11 SAVEA Julian NZL 80%
14 JANE Corey NZL 93%
15 DAGG Israel NZL 67%
coach HANSEN Steve NZL 58%NZL 10 76 RSA 0 16 AUS 1 11 ARG 1 4 FRA 0 3 IRE 0 3 ENG 0 2 ITA 0 2 WAL 1 3 SAM 1 1 TGA 1 1
2013
1 CORBISERO Alex ENG 52%
2 Du PLESSIS Bismark RSA 81%3 JONES Adam WAL 59%
4 RETALLICK Brodie NZL 79%
5 WHITELOCK Samuel NZL 71%
6 MESSAM Liam NZL 60%
7 HOOPER Michael AUS 40%
8 READ Kieran NZL 100%
9 SMITH Aaron NZL 72%
10 CRUDEN Aaron NZL 65%
12 FOFANA Wesley FRA 57%13 SMITH Conrad NZL 96%
11 SAVEA Julian NZL 63%
14 SMITH Benjamin NZL 92%
15 HALFPENNY Leigh WAL 62%
coach HANSEN Steve NZL 90%NZL 9 85 RSA 1 17 AUS 1 12 ARG 0 4 FRA 1 4 IRE 0 3 ENG 1 3 ITA 0 2 WAL 2 5 SAM 0 1 TGA 0 1
2015
1 AYERZA Marcos ARG 62%
2 COLES Dane NZL 65%3 HERRERA Ramiro ARG 40%
KEPU Sekope AUS 40%
4 RETTALLICK Brodie NZL 90%
5 WHITELOCK Samuel NZL 86%
6 FARDY Scott AUS 39%
7 McCAW Richard NZL 100%
8 POCOCK David AUS 38%
9 SMITH Aaron NZL 100%
10 CARTER Daniel NZL 95%
12 NONU Ma'a NZL 100%13 SMITH Conrad NZL 56%
11 IMHOFF Juan ARG 45%
14 MILNER-SKUDDER Nehe NZL 73%
15 SMITH Ben NZL 74%
coach HANSEN Steve NZL 74%NZL 10 95 RSA 0 17 AUS 3 15 ARG 3 7 FRA 0 4 IRE 0 3 ENG 0 3 ITA 0 2 WAL 0 5 SAM 0 1 TGA 0 1
2016
1 McGRATH Jack IRE 67%
2 COLES Dane NZL 90%3 FRANKS Owen NZL 61%
4 RETALLICK Brodie NZL 72%
5 WHITELOCK Samuel NZL 88%
6 KAINO Jerome NZL 58%
7 CANE Sam NZL 30%
8 ISA Facundo ARG 60%
9 SMITH Aaron NZL 42%
10 BARRETT Beauden NZL 100% (unopposed)
12 HENSHAW Robbie IRE 40%13 LIENERT-BROWN Anton NZL 42%
11 ZEBO Simon IRE 47%
14 DAGG Israel NZL 79%
15 SMITH Ben NZL 100% (unopposed)
coach JONES Eddie ENG 58%NZL 11 106 RSA 0 17 AUS 0 15 ARG 1 8 FRA 0 4 IRE 3 6 ENG 0 3 ITA 0 2 WAL 0 5 SAM 0 1 TGA 0 1
2021
1 KISTHOFF Steven RSA 56%
2 TAUKEI'AHO Samisoni NZL 48%3 FURLONG Tahdg IRE 68%
4 ITOJE Maro ENG 10%
5 ETZEBETH Eben RSA 41%
6 KOLISI Siya RSA 58%
7 HOOPER Michael AUS 76%
8 VERMEULEN Duane RSA 54%
9 DUPONT Antoine FRA 70%
10 NTAMACK Romaine FRA 45%
12 KEREVI Samu AUS 78%13 AM Lukanyo RSA 50%
11 IOANE Rieko NZL 60%
14 JORDAN Will NZL 93%
15 BARRET Jordan NZL 67%
coach GALTHJIE Fabien FRA 33%
MIDDLETON
Simon ENGW 33%NZL 4 110 RSA 5 22 AUS 2 17 ARG 0 8 FRA 2 6 IRE 1 7 ENG 1 4 ITA 0 2 WAL 0 5 SAM 0 1 TGA 0 1 SCO 0 2021
1 KISTHOFF Steven RSA 56%
2 TAUKEI'AHO Samisoni NZL 48%3 FURLONG Tahdg IRE 68%
4 ITOJE Maro ENG 10%
5 ETZEBETH Eben RSA 41%
6 KOLISI Siya RSA 58%
7 HOOPER Michael AUS 76%
8 VERMEULEN Duane RSA 54%
9 DUPONT Antoine FRA 70%
10 NTAMACK Romaine FRA 45%
12 KEREVI Samu AUS 78%13 AM Lukanyo RSA 50%
11 IOANE Rieko NZL 60%
14 JORDAN Will NZL 93%
15 BARRET Jordan NZL 67%
coach GALTHJIE Fabien FRA 33%
MIDDLETON Simon ENGW 33%NZL 4 110 RSA 5 22 AUS 2 17 ARG 0 8 FRA 2 6 IRE 1 7 ENG 1 4 ITA 0 2 WAL 0 5 SAM 0 1 TGA 0 1
2022
1 BAILLE Cyril FRA 53%
2 TAUKEI'AHO Samisoni NZL 79%3 FURLONG Tadhg IRE 67%
4 BEIRNE Tadgh IRE 47%
5 ETZEBETH Eben RSA 88%
6 LAWES Courtney ENG 50%
7 van der FLIER Josh IRE 67%
8 SAVEA Ardie NZL 86%
9 DUPONT Antoine FRA 100%
10 SEXTON Jonathon IRE 45%
12 De ALLENDE Damien RSA 42%13 IOANE Rieko NZL 48%
11 KOROIBETE Marika AUS 78%
14 PENAUD Damien FRA 64%
15 CAPUZZO Ange ITA 78%
coach SMITH Wayne NZL(W) 46%NZL 3 113 RSA 2 24 AUS 1 18 ARG 0 8 FRA 3 9 IRE 4 11 ENG 1 5 ITA 1 3 WAL 0 5 SAM 0 1 TGA 0 1
2023
1 BAILLE Cyril FRA 53%
2 MAUVAKA Peato FRA 53%3 LOMAX Tyrel NZL 84%
4 BARRET Scott NZL 76%
4 ETZEBETH Eben RSA 100%
6 LAWES Courtney ENG 47%
7 van der FLIER Josh IRE 33%
8 SAVEA Ardie NZL 100%
9 SMITH Aaron NZL 56%
10 POLLARD Handre RSA 31%
12 AKI Bundee IRE 72%13 FICKOU Gael FRA 53%
11 TELEA Mark NZL 79%
14 PENAUD Damien FRA 56%
15 RAMOS Tomas FRA 82%
Coach FARRELL Andrew IRE 57%Country 2023 Total NZL 5 118 RSA 2 26 AUS 0 18 ARG 0 8 FRA 5 14 IRE 2 13 ENG 1 6 ITA 0 3 WAL 0 5 SAM 0 1 TGA 0 1
2024
1 NCHE Retshegofaditswe RSA 75%
2 MAUVAKA Peato FRA 55%3 LOMAX Tyrell NZL 50%
4 ETZEBETH Eben RSA 110%
5 VAA'I Toupou NZL 82%
6 SITITI Wallace NZL 27%
7 du TOIT Pieter-Steph RSA 73%
8 VALETINI Robert AUS 67%
9 du PONT Antoin FRA 46%
10 SMITH Marcus ENG 91%
12 TUIPULOTU Sione SCO 50%13 KRIEL Jesse RSA 92%
11 CLARKE Caleb NZL 68%
14 KOLBE Cheslin RSA 100%
15 RAMOS Tmoas FRA 75%
Coach ERASMUS Johan RSA 50%Country 2023 Total NZL 4 122 RSA 5 31 AUS 1 19 ARG 0 8 FRA 3 17 IRE 0 13 ENG 1 7 ITA 0 3 WAL 0 5 SAM 0 1 TGA 0 1 SCO 1 1 2006
1 Woodcock Tony NZL 70%
2 Mealamu Keven NZL 71%3 Hayman Carl NZL 91%
4 Matfield Victor RSA 58%
5 O’Connell Paul IRE 44%
6 Collins Jerry NZL 70%
7 McCaw Richie NZL 74%
8 So'oialo Rodney NZL 47%
9 Kelleher Byron NZL 32%
10 Carter Daniel NZL 93%
12 McAlister Luke NZL 30%13 O’Driscoll Brian IRE 62%
11 Sivivatu Sitiveni NZL 64%
14 Rokocoko Josevata NZL 68%
15 Latham Chris AUS 49%NZL 11 RSA 1 AUS 1 ARG 0 FRA 0 IRE 2 ENG 0
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Sterling work 👏👏👏
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@Duluth said in 2024 TSF Team of the Year:
Great effort as usual
Do you have the 2025 team table like the previous years? The 1-15 with e percentages etc. Then I'll update the front page and the wiki page
I do. Will have to get on to it this evening.
Thought I'd done it because I had to redo 2006. Might have overwritten it.
Interesting that the image out of excel just automatically appeared. I just c&ped the selected cells.