With the decade coming to a close, it's time to look back and select the best players from the past 10 years. 

The All Blacks were their typically dominant selves throughout the decade, winning a pair of World Cups, seven Rugby Championships, and posting a 118-13-4 record in test matches.

The Springboks had their ups and their downs, but punctuated the decade with a 2019 World Cup title, pulling even with the All Blacks for the most of all time with three. 

Wales, England, and Ireland each won the Six Nations three times, while the British Lions experienced a series victory over the Wallabies in 2013, and a drawn series with New Zealand in 2017. 

Here are our picks for the best players from this past decade:

1. Tendai Mtawarira - South Africa

Logged 117 caps in arguably the best front row on the planet, and capped off his 12-year stint in the Springbok jersey with a World Cup victory.

2. Dane Coles - New Zealand

The feet of a winger with the ball skills of a center, Coles has brought a whole new perspective to the hooker position. He was immense for the All Blacks en route to winning the 2015 World Cup.

3. Owen Franks - New Zealand

Started in and won two World Cup finals, and is one of just nine Kiwis to ever reach 100 caps for the mighty All Blacks.

4. Brodie Retallick - New Zealand

A former world player of the year, and perhaps the most skilled lock on the planet, Retallick has been one of the first names on the All Blacks and Chiefs team sheets for years. At 6'8 and 267 pounds, the big man also delivers massive hits and is a menace at lineout time. A well-deserved 2015 World Cup winner and two-time Super Rugby champion.  

5. Alun Wyn Jones - Wales

If there's anyone who's been at the heart of the Welsh revival as much as head coach Warren Gatland, it's Alun Wyn Jones. The inspirational leader has been a rock for both Wales (134 caps) and the British Lions (9 caps) since he joined the international landscape.  

6. Jerome Kaino - New Zealand 

Kaino was an integral part of both the 2011 and 2015 All Blacks World Cup-winning teams as a dominant defensive presence. Since moving overseas to play for Toulouse in the Top14, Kaino has been a huge reason for the French side's ascent back to the top of European rugby. 

7. Richie McCaw - New Zealand

Nothing more need be said about McCaw. He is one of the all-time legends of sports, earning 148 All Blacks caps, captaining the side in 110 of them. His two World Cup victories this decade cement his place as one of the GOATs.

8. Kieran Read - New Zealand

Another two-time World Cup winner and most recently the captain of the All Blacks, Read is part of a select few Kiwis with more than 100 caps, his 128 appearances in the black shirt ranking him third all time. He also has won four Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders. 

9. Aaron Smith - New Zealand

Technician, general, livewire. Whatever you want to call him, Aaron Smith has been the embodiment of a near-perfect scrumhalf over the past decade. He was in sublime form winning the Rugby World Cup in 2015, but his engineering of the Highlanders' upset of the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby final that same year that was perhaps his most impressive achievement. 

10. Dan Carter - New Zealand

Like McCaw, there's not much else to say about Carter. The All Black great may have had his most electric years in the 00's, but his performance throughout the All Blacks' 2015 World Cup title year was nothing short of legendary. He is and always will be in the conversation for best player of all time. 

11. Julian Savea - New Zealand

At the peak of his powers, there quite possibly hasn't been a force like Julian Savea not named Jonah Lomu. His 46 tries in 54 test matches from 2012 to 2017 is the second best try-scoring rate of all time, and his hat trick in the 2015 World Cup quarterfinals against France will never be forgotten.

12. Ma'a Nonu - New Zealand

Yet another All Black centurion to make the list, Nonu was a centerpiece in both the 2011 and 2015 World Cup wins for the All Blacks. He's one of the greats to ever play in the midfield, combining the rare blend of elite power, speed, skills, and brains. 

13. Jonathan Davies - Wales

Davies, like Alun Wyn Jones, has been one of the Welsh players that's carried the squad during Warren Gatland's tenure. He's an incredibly saavy player who can unlock defenses with his speed, strength, power, and passing ability. He was also the British Lions player of the tour in 2017 and helped the Scarlets lift the Guinness PRO14 title in 2016-17. 

14. Israel Folau - Australia

Although primarily a fullback, Folau had been so incredible to watch this decade that it's hard to leave him off the list. There's never been a player of his size with the same type of athleticism and fluidity he has. 

Disregarding the things he's said off the field, it is sad to see Folau leave the code. He was definitely one of the two or three most exciting players to watch in the past decade - a genuine threat with every touch of the ball.

15. Ben Smith - New Zealand

In the past decade, there's simply been no player more consistent than Bender. The Kiwi fullback never puts a foot wrong forward, but he sure wrong-foots a lot of defenders. He also has the work rate of a world class flanker, the mental aptitude of a world class halfback, and the defense of a world class center. He was a massive ingredient in the All Blacks 2015 World Cup success, and is one of the greats to ever do it. 

16. Kevin Mealamu - New Zealand

The All Black with the second-most caps of all time (132), and a two-time World Cup winner (2011 & 2015.)

17. Tony Woodcock - New Zealand 

A 118-cap, two-time World Cup winner for the All Blacks, Woodcock will always be remembered for his game-winning try in the All Blacks' 8-7 win in the 2011 World Cup final against France.

18. Tadhg Furlong - Ireland

Still just 27 years old, Furlong is set for a long and illustrious career with Ireland, Leinster, and the British Lions. The remarkably skilled and athletic prop has already won everything at the club level, a Six Nations grand slam, and started all three games on the Lions' drawn tour to New Zealand. 

19. Sam Whitelock - New Zealand

Whitelock was a big part of both the All Blacks' World Cup titles this decade, and has been the captain for the Crusaders during their current Super Rugby three-peat. He and Retallick have formed the World's best second row pairing for the better part of this decade. 

20. David Pocock - Australia

The game's best operator at the breakdown, Pocock has been at times arguably the most dangerous player in the world. In the past decade he has single handedly destroyed entire gameplans just through his work in and around the tackle.

21. Faf de Klerk - South Africa

Considering he only just started playing for the Springboks in 2016, it would be easy to look past Faf de Klerk for lack of tenure. But when it comes down to it, his heart, soul, and passion combined with his skills, game management, and unbelievable defense is one of the main reasons the Boks won the sport's biggest prize in 2019. 

22. Beauden Barrett - New Zealand

The two-time world player of the year has been the best player on the planet since former All Black first-receiver Dan Carter left New Zealand. Though Beaudy excels at both positions, many will always wonder what might have been if coach Hanson played him at his preferred spot of flyhalf instead of fullback in the 2019 World Cup. 

23. Adam Ashley-Cooper - Australia

Perhaps a bit of a surprise addition to the 23 of the decade, it's hard to ignore Adam Ashley-Cooper's combination of longevity and versatility over the years. AAC has played in four World Cups, starting at center, wing, and fullback, and has scored 38 career test tries in 119 appearances for the Wallabies. His 12 World Cup tries rank him 5th all time.