Another week and
another opportunity for our specialist analysis crew to set the Rugby World to
right. This week, we examine what a combined rugby team of England, South
Africa and New Zealand would be.
The current World
Rugby rankings have England at 2nd, New Zealand 3rd, and South Africa at the
top of the pile. But given current form and evergreen pedigree, what players
would be selected in a rugby team if it could only consist of players from this
country.
This is the current
world rankings for men in the world.
This team looks at the
very best options that a team would have with the combined players from all
three of the teams.
Disclaimer from our
Rugby Onslaught investigation unit. There is no bias in this pick. They spent
18 months creating an algorithmic machine to work out the best players
possible.
If this list annoys
you then you enjoy extra salt on your chips.
1.
1.
Loosehead
Prop – Kyle Sinckler
Arguably the best prop
in the world when he is on form. Shows just how good he is when he dominates
despite the fact that he is only playing at 20% of his true potential at
Bristol Bears.
He has struggled with
his form this season, but with no real options with Tendai Mtawarira out of
contention for the men in green.
If Sinckler had played
in the world cup final he very well could have helped them to the title.
2. Dane Coles Hooker
One of the most
tightly contested positions on this pick. He had tough competition from Malcomn
Marx and Jamie George but the class always shines through for the 34-year-old.
3. Frans Malherbe
He may not be as
mobile at the likes of an Ellis Genge, but he certainly has what it takes to
dominate at scrum time, we saw time and time again how dominant this
29-year-old can be at the breakdown.
4. Maro Itoje
Yet another tough
pick, however it is clear to see that Maro Itoje had to be on this list, he is
the best second row in the world after all. His abrasive performances in the
World Cup make him that good.
He is probably the
first name on the teamsheet for the Lions this summer and he would walk into
any of the three teams in this list.
5. Eben Etzebeth
Many will be saying,
“wHeRE is BrODIE Retalick?!”. The answer is this, we don’t know. He has been
completely missing since the World Cup quarter-finals. Eben Etzebeth on the
other hand has been quietly dominating the rugby sphere since he won his first
World Cup title.
A combination of him
and Eben Etzebeth is truly unstoppable in world rugby.
6. Pieter Steph du
Toit
Another instant pick
in this selection, the World Rugby Player of the year in 2019 and deservedly so
after an incredible year. Rumours have linked the South African to Montpellier
recently, but reports now support the fact that he will be staying in his home
country.
7. Sam Underhill
Has to be on this list
purely for his defensive prowess. We salivate at the possibility of Underhill
and PSDT on both flanks, it would be a ridiculous side full of power and brawn.
This combined rugby team has some serious attacking power, but Underhill gives
it a wall of defence too.
8. Duane Vermeulen
Despite his age, the
Springbok World Cup winner is still the best out of these three nations in this
pick. The 34-year-old dominated Billy Vunipola the last time they clashed and
Kieran Read is now retired so it is the easy pick here.
9. Aaron Smith
Faf de Klerk pushed
him hard in this selection, but nobody can deny that Aaron Smith has been
pivotal to everything that has been good about All Blacks rugby for the past 5
years. His attitude when New Zealand lost to the Pumas recently just shows how
professional he really is.
10. Richie Mo’unga
Some of the things
this man has done for club and country this year has been outstanding. His
natural speed, couple with his precision with boot and passing puts him rightly
at 10 in this team. Handre Pollard would push him hard for this spot if he was
not injured.
11. Caleb Clarke
Emerged on the scene
in a massive way in the Tri-Nations at the end of the year. Many were comparing
him to Jonah Lomu after one game against Australia in the Bledisloe Cup, it was
that good!
Jonny May pushed him
hard for this pick but we think Clarke just pips him given the stuff he has has
been doing for the Blues in Super Rugby Aotearoa as well. Well deserved in this
combined rugby team.
12. Owen Farrell
If anybody is salty about this pick, it is purely because you dislike Owen Farrell, and not to do with his rugby ability. The Saracens man has been pivotal in everything England has done well this year.
He has captained the
team to a Six Nations title and a Autumn Nations Cup, not bad for a year of
very little rugby.
13. Henry Slade
Criminally underrated
in rugby terms, similar to his partner in the centres has won the double for
both club and country in 2020. He literally won every tournament he played in.
His creativity on the
ball has set up countless tries and we can’t see any real competitors near him
from South Africa or New Zealand.
14. Cheslin Kolbe
Probably the best
player in the world, he made it to the top of our best players list this year
and you can see why, he has been nothing short of mesmeric for Toulouse in
2020, embarrassing Jacob Stockdale on multiple occasions.
He will need to be at
his very best to dominate the Lions in 2021, if the tour goes ahead.
15. Beauden Barrett
Now known as the money
man in world rugby, Japan’s latest superstar Beauden Barrett has been a
constant threat on the pitch.
He completes a
combined rugby team that no side could come near them.
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