Flanker Rocky Elsom is the sole Australian named by English website Planet Rugby in its international rugby team of the year.

The 25-year-old, currently unavailable for the Wallabies while on a one-year deal with Irish club Leinster, was given the nod by the website due to his "no-nonsense" approach.

"The effort the ARU went to in order to keep him on Australian soil gives you an idea of the regard he is held in, all over the world," the Planet Rugby article said.

"(Wallabies coach) Robbie Deans will be hoping he returns home sooner rather than later."

The website's team of the year itself was dominated by All Blacks, with seven players from the Tri-Nations champions named.

New Zealanders Mils Muliaina, Conrad Smith, Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Ali Williams, Greg Somerville and Tony Woodcock were all included in the team which also contains three South Africans and one each from Scotland, Wales, Italy and Fiji.

Planet Rugby 2008 team of the year: Mils Muliaina (NZ), Napolioni Nalaga (Fij), Conrad Smith (NZ), Jean de Villiers (RSA), Shane Williams (Wales), Dan Carter (NZ), Mike Blair (Scotland), Sergio Parisse (Ita), Richie McCaw (NZ), Rocky Elsom (Aus), Ali Williams (NZ), Bakkies Botha (RSA), Dan Somerville (NZ), John Smit (RSA), Tony Woodcock (NZ).

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