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'Does Ardie Savea not exist?': Fans react to World Rugby's dream team
World Rugby have announced the Men’s 15s Dream Team of the Year, but the absence of two international superstars has left fans on Twitter shocked and confused.
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World No. 1 Ireland had four players included in the star studded line-up, the most of any nation, with Tadhg Furlong, Tadhg Beirne and Johnny Sexton all named.
Irish flanker Josh van der Flier was also included in the XV, before later being crowned the world’s best male 15s player at the World Rugby Awards in Monaco.
Three players from South Africa were also selected – including the midfield pairing of Damian de Allende and Lukhanyo Am.
New Zealand, England and France had two players named in the Dream Team each – which is somewhat of a surprise considering Les Bleus’ dominance this year.
Winger Marika Koroibete was the only Australian included in the team of the year, while flanker Pablo Matera was the only Argentinian player selected.
While the team certainly looks fantastic on paper, the glaring omissions of two players has stumped fans – including the absence of an All Blacks star.
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All Blacks backrower Ardie Savea has been phenomenal again this year, which is why many rugby fans were shocked to discover that he wasn’t even nominated for the Player of the Year award.
Many rugby fans believed he was the best player in Test rugby this year, but the fact that he didn’t even make the top XV has left a couple of fans asking whether Savea actually exists.
Does Ardie Savea not exist?
— Riley 🇳🇿 (@rileyhamilton_) November 20, 2022
@NZRugby @ardiesavea Best Number 8 this year and he cant even make the World 15!! Oh and congrats to @rubytui on your award #ArdieSalvea
— Russ Young (@Hubbybubble) November 21, 2022
Would love to see the justification of @ardiesavea missing out on everything. He has been an absolute pillar of the All Blacks all year. Dependable and rock solid. Yet another travesty against the best player in the World. #myPOTY
— Matt G (@LordOfTheGingz) November 20, 2022
No Ardie Savea or Jordie Barret? That’s crazy https://t.co/5WRwFreShB
— |Namsen re (@axarob_) November 20, 2022
Would love to see the justification of @ardiesavea missing out on everything. He has been an absolute pillar of the All Blacks all year. Dependable and rock solid. Yet another travesty against the best player in the World. #myPOTY
— Matt G (@LordOfTheGingz) November 20, 2022
For me. Ardie Savea over Pablo Matera in any loose 3.
— 🏉Anna, jackal princess🏉 (@anna66newton) November 20, 2022
6N Grand Slam, perfect year with a 10 wins out of 10 games, yet only 2 players representing France.
I mean, Marx over Marchand, Genge over Baille ?
… And where is Ardie Savea ?!— Louis (@Aldhyr) November 20, 2022
Only country with 4 and all deserved. However, credibility of selection questionable with Ardie Savea not included. IMO he should have been VDFs closest challenger for Player of the year
— Joe Healy (@joehealyfarmer) November 20, 2022
Missing Ardie Savea in my view. Hugely influential in every game he plays.
— Andy Simpson (@AndySim62) November 20, 2022
Serious question can someone explain how or why @ardiesavea isn’t in this team 🤔 🙄 First name on any international team sheet 😬 https://t.co/tU9QsIiPw7
— Tino Junior Poluleuligaga (@JIP2EZY) November 20, 2022
Ardie Savea snubbed,again.This is a joke for real
— Shenge06 (@Sihawubuthelezi) November 20, 2022
Another international superstar who was omitted from the Dream Team, and who many believed should’ve been nominated for the Player of the Year award, was South Africa’s Eben Etzebeth.
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Etzebeth was left out of the XV with Irish lock Tadhg Beirne and All Blacks star Sam Whitelock selected ahead of him.
Yes , would have Eben there ahead of Whitelock & Ardie Savea there ahead of Matera
— Simon Kelly (@kelly_simonx) November 20, 2022
Tadgh beirne over eben etzebeth you’re having a laugh.
— mcrowe (@mC41874041) November 20, 2022
Eben Etzebeth disrespect 🤮🤮🤮 https://t.co/8MIOL5S2TQ
— oBabakho 🇩🇪🇩🇪 (@KhumaloMphe) November 20, 2022
There is still more international rugby to be played this weekend, with South Africa set to take on England in a blockbuster at Twickenham.
In the other Test, traditional rugby rivals Wales and Australia will both run out to Cardiff’s Principality Stadium with a point to prove.
Comments on RugbyPass
It couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
25 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
25 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
77 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
1 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
12 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
44 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to comments