At this time of the year everyone wants to pick their “Team of the year” , “Team of the decade” and so on. I wont try it because it is anyway just My Team, everyone else will have His or Her own team. What I am going to do is post a few opinions about the South African players that get into most teams. Always nice to hear the praise words. This year we had a quite few outstanding players. The one I miss is Heinrich Brussow, maybe only because Richy McCaw has such enormous status. But Heinrich your time will come.

11 Bryan Habana (2004-)

Given the fact Bryan Gary Habana was named after Manchester United players Bryan Robson and Gary Bailey is some indication his sporting destiny got scrambled, but the Springboks will be forever grateful he chose to chase an oval ball.

Habana is capable, it is said, of running 100 metres in 10.2 seconds, which is fast. So fast he once raced a cheetah in a charity exhibition – he had a 35-yard head start and lost.

He does not need any head start in rugby. Give him an inch and he’s gone, as the All Blacks found out recently when he scored a hat-trick for the Barbarians at Twickenham.

The try he scored to win the 2007 Super 14 final is another indication of Habana’s talents. (DC)

9 Fourie du Preez (South Africa 2004-)

Edges out Gregan because the Australian spent the latter part of the decade in decline before finally hanging up his boots whereas du Preez is still very much at the top of his game. Argentina’s everyman Agustin Pichot also ran him close but in a tight spot, you’d pick du Preez ahead of him.

Du Preez is a rugged halfback who can bust holes in tiring or slipshod defences. He is a quality passer of the ball as well but it is his kicking that makes him stand out from the rest.

Du Preez’ accuracy when kicking from the base of a ruck or scrum is frightening – he could land a hanging box kick on a handkerchief.

With South Africa’s game based on kick-chase, du Preez is the perfect No 9.

He is also a scratch golfer. Don’t you just hate a show-off. (DC)

5 Victor Matfield (South Africa 2001-)

No one player has proved to be the bane of the All Blacks’ lives more than Matfield.

It’s almost wicked, the way he moves from All Black lineout to lineout, internally grinning because he knows he has all the answers.

One look at old Victor and the hooker’s hands start shaking, the locks’ knees start knocking and the lifters suddenly run out of power.

But he is more than an arch destroyer. he is a terrific athlete to boot. He might be creaking slightly now but at his peak he could get around the track with blazing speed and he has exceptional, basketball-like ball skills.(DC)

2 John Smit (South Africa 2000-)

Okay, he might be hanging on to that Springbok jersey by the skin of his teeth at the moment, and he’s clearly behind Bismarck du Plessis as an out-and-out hooker now, but do not let that detract from what has been a massively influential 10 years in the sport.

Smit is a World Cup winner, something no current All Black can claim to be.

He’s also, if you believe the chatter, effectively Springbok player-coach now.(DC)

DC is Dylan Cleaver of the NZ Herald