The best rugby XV in the world right now

The best rugby XV in the world right now

Eben Etzebeth celebrates winning the Rugby World Cup

South Africa, who became just the second team to win it back-to-back, was crowned world champions for a record-breaking fourth time as the Rugby World Cup finally came to an end. This autumn, in France, we have had the privilege of watching a number of exceptional players showcase their skills during a truly memorable World Cup. Because of the current standards of rugby union, choosing a world XV is always subjective, and as things stand, many of the choices are incredibly marginal.

The greatest XV in the world right now, according to rugby correspondent Steve Thomas, is chosen.

15. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)

Beauden Barrett wins this one despite the likes of smooth Ireland star Hugo Keenan and metronomic goal kicker Thomas Ramos being taken into consideration. Since making his Test debut for the All Blacks in 2012, Barrett, a star from New Zealand, has been incredible. He played a crucial role in their World Cup victory in 2015.

Barrett and Richie Mo’unga have developed a strong 10-15 axis over the past year, giving the All Blacks another playmaking option out of the back. Barrett’s running ability and his out-of-hand kicks have also been a real asset. The 32-year-old will be remembered as one of the greatest of all time.

14. Will Jordan (New Zealand)

Among the world’s most lethal offensive players. The 25-year-old is an incredible athlete who can score points with virtually no effort.

In addition to his lightning-fast speed, Jordan is a very talented football player who plays strong defense and aerial play. With eight touchdowns, the All Blacks player concluded the World Cup as the leading try scorer. He played a crucial role in leading his team to the championship game, where they were narrowly defeated by South Africa.

The unsettling aspect is that he could improve even further.

13. Garry Ringrose (Ireland)

One of the world’s smartest players is the Ireland center. Ringrose has played a key role in Leinster and Ireland’s recent four-year period of dominance, during which they won 17 straight Test matches before their heartbreaking World Cup quarterfinal loss to the All Blacks. Other players have garnered more attention.

Ringrose is the cornerstone of the Irish back line, using his deft running style, football acumen, and astute defensive awareness to his team’s advantage. The 28-year-old narrowly beats out Gaël Fickou of France and Lukhanyo Am of South Africa.

12. Jonathan Danty (France)

France suffers greatly when the explosive La Rochelle center is not available. He is a tremendous force. With his explosive carrying, Danty can put his team ahead early on, but he is much more than just a crash-ball center.

The 31-year-old is an excellent football player with amazing footwork, and he plays flawless defense. has been essential to La Rochelle and France during the previous few seasons. Bundee Aki, Jordie Barrett, and Damian de Allende receive honorable mentions.

11. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa)

The French try-scoring machine Damian Penaud and All Blacks star Mark Telea are narrowly beaten by the South African flyer for a spot in this squad. Despite missing a significant portion of the previous four years due to injury, Kolbe proved his worth in France by helping the Springboks win back-to-back World Cups.

In addition to being a fantastic football player who appears everywhere on the field, Kolbe is an incredible finisher who is electric off the mark and throughout the entire field. In defense, the 30-year-old is equally as resilient as an old boot, and for a man his size, his aerial ability is astounding. A contemporary legend.

10. Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand)

Richie Mo’unga is the greatest number ten in the world, even with all the hoopla surrounding Jonathan Sexton and Handre Pollard’s stellar play. The All Blacks had reached their lowest point in just eighteen months, losing their first home Test series to Ireland, getting humiliated in South Africa, and facing humiliation in New Zealand after losing to Argentina.

Ian Foster’s choice to continue playing outside-half with Mo’unga was arguably one of the major turning points in their comeback. The All Blacks star is an incredible player, possessing exceptional peripheral vision, deft skills, world-class kicking, and real asset game management. He’s leaving for Japan next season, and New Zealand is going to miss him terribly.

9. Antoine Dupont (France)

The Toulouse mastermind continues to be the best player in the world despite his recent injury issues. Despite France’s heartbreaking quarterfinal loss to eventual champions South Africa, Dupont performed as though he were a different player.

He has so much time on the ball that it almost seems like he is playing the game in slow motion. He has amazing vision and kicking skills, exquisite passing, and the ability to ignite something out of nothing.

Dupont’s 2023 season didn’t work out, but at 26, time is on his side, and the captain of France should have a dominant four years ahead of him.

8. Grégory Alldritt (France)

For La Rochelle and France over the past few years, the 26-year-old has been nothing short of totemic. It is unlikely that La Rochelle would have won consecutive Champions Cups without Alldritt’s experience in the scrum’s rear.

In addition to being an explosive carrier, the France No 8 is a clever rugby player who performs well under duress. With his unwavering defensive work, impact at the breakdown, distribution abilities, and leadership, he provides France with much more than just a carrying threat.

7. Ardie Savea (New Zealand)

Yes, he usually wears the number eight, but I had to win over Alldritt and Savea to my cause. The 30-year-old, who began his career as an openside, is as good as any number seven in the world when it comes to breakdown performance.

It is highly likely that Dupont and Savea would be chosen equally by most rugby experts when asked to name the best player in the world. With his fierce carrying, skill at the lineout, mastery at the breakdown, and impressive defensive ability, the All Blacks star is unstoppable.

The All Blacks’ vitality and natural leadership come from Savea. Honorable mentions go to Josh van der Flier, the World Player of the Year, Levani Botia, the mountain man from Fiji, and captain Siya Kolisi of South Africa.

6. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)

In South Africa’s thrilling World Cup final victory over New Zealand, the 31-year-old turned in a player-of-the-match performance that was simply astounding. With his incredible physicality, Du Toit put in a remarkable 28 tackles, stopping the All Blacks cold and putting the Springboks ahead.

The former World Player of the Year has an incredible work rate and is capable of anything. He is an excellent lineout forward, a dynamic carrier, and a formidable opponent at the breakdown. Very high caliber.

5. Scott Barrett (New Zealand)

Over the past few years, the All Blacks lock has improved greatly and had a great World Cup. Barrett is an important member of this All Blacks team because he can play in the back row as well.

The 29-year-old’s skill in wide channels and outside-back offloading game draw attention, but his true value to the All Blacks is demonstrated in the tight. Barrett is one of the world’s best lineout forwards and one of the best players when it comes to maul defense. He also completes a lot of defensive work, and his carrying isn’t too bad either. Barely beats out Tadhg Beirne for a spot in this side.

4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)

Among the first names listed on this team sheet. In the last four years, Etzebeth has undoubtedly eclipsed both Bakkies Botha and the legendary Victor Matfield in terms of being the best lock to ever play for South Africa. His influence on video games is immense. He is so much more than just the physical enforcer, even though he does that role extremely well.

Yes, Etzebeth is superior to most at doing all the unseen dirty work, such as running a lineout, carrying the ball explosively, and clearing rucks, but he also has a ton of energy in his game. The 32-year-old is a modern-day legend and one of the best locks to have ever played the position.

3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

All Blacks star Tyrel Lomax and South Africa’s Frans Malherbe are superior scrummagers, but Furlong is a better all-around player. Although the Leinster and Ireland star is a respectable scrummager, his work in the park is truly amazing.

In addition to his many X-factor moments, Furlong performs all the dirty work, such as carrying, clearing out rucks, and lifting in lineouts, even in the closest Test matches. Furlong is a natural as a tight-head prop, and it’s not uncommon to see the Leinsterman charge up field for 40 metres before offloading, much like Sonny Bill Williams.

an elite athlete.

2. Malcolm Marx (South Africa)

Regretfully, during the World Cup pool stages, the South African hooker sustained a serious knee injury that prevented him from playing the remainder of the competition. The 29-year-old would have had an easier time winning the William Webb-Ellis Cup even though the Springboks lifted the trophy without him.

Marx is extraordinary and a force to be reckoned with, much like Savea and Furlong. The strong hooker has excellent scrummaging skills, and he throws accurately into the lineout.

Although he is very dynamic in the park and excels at maneuvering through narrow spaces, his true strength lies in his work at the breakdown. Marx is without a doubt the greatest hooker in the world, more productive in this area than many opensides.

1. Steven Kitshoff (South Africa)

The 31-year-old is a top-tier player who has already contributed significantly to two World Cup-winning teams. One of the world’s best technical scrummagers, Kitshoff left the Stormers to join the Irish province of Ulster.

Along with being a strong carrier and having an absurd work rate in defense, Kitshoff is equally as amazing at the breakdown as his front-row colleague Marx, particularly when it comes to winning turnovers. One of the true unsung heroes of this South African pack, who narrowly beats out Ethan de Groot of New Zealand, Frenchman Cyril Baille, and fellow national Ox Nche for the top spot.

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