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Four England internationals voted in Top 14 team of the season so far

Bayonne's English centre Manu Tuilagi is tackled during the French Top14 rugby union match between Aviron Bayonnais (Bayonne) and Stade Rochelais (La Rochelle) at the Anoeta stadium in San Sebastian, on October 12, 2024. (Photo by Gaizka IROZ / AFP)

With just over half the Top 14 regular season already played, fans have voted for their team of the season so far, with four England internationals making the cut.

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In their first seasons playing in France, both Vannes’ Mako Vunipola, 33, and Bayonne’s Manu Tuilagi, 33, have been selected.

Now in the twilight of their careers, their moves to the Top 14 brought an end to their England careers after a decade of service, though the former Saracens prop had already announced his international retirement prior to the 2024 Guinness Six Nations. Tuilagi has made the team despite missing the start of the season with a broken hand.

The two other England stars to make the squad, Toulon captain David Ribbans, 29, and Toulouse’s Jack Willis, 28, would probably make Steve Borthwick’s England squad if they were eligible.

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Willis is joined by four of his Toulouse club-mates in the team, all of which are in the pack. The XV is dominated by league-leaders Bordeaux-Begles, with four players in the backline, and reigning champions Toulouse.

The response on social media suggests another England star, Montpellier No. 8 Billy Vunipola, was unlucky not to be selected, which would have meant a third of the team would have been made up of former England internationals.

The squad is largely comprised of Frenchman, understandably, though Fiji centre and Tuilagi’s midfield partner Sireli Maqala has also been picked.

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Top 14 team of the season so far
15. Romain Buros (Bordeaux-Begles)

14. Damian Penaud (Bordeaux-Begles)
13. Manu Tuilagi (Bayonne)
12. Sireli Maqala (Bayonne)
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Begles)
10. Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Begles)
9. Baptiste Couilloud (Lyon)
1. Mako Vunipola (Vannes)
2. Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse)
3. Regis Montagne (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
4. Joshua Brennan (Toulouse)
5. David Ribbans (Toulon)
6. Francois Cros (Toulouse)
7. Jack Willis (Toulouse)
8. Alexandre Roumat (Toulouse)

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Comments

1 Comment
J
JD 19 days ago

Tuilagi and Maqala play together in the centres for Bayonne at 12 and 13 respectively. Why has the team of the season swapped them around?

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Tom 2 hours ago
How the England firm of 'Smith & Smith' toppled France

France played badly, England were much improved. If we can back it up then I'll get excited... But as you say France "should" have won. Although England were the better side in the second half and it's been a long time since England's second half performance was better than the opposition.


There were a few performances to make me optimistic:


Tom Curry - looks back to his best, between him and Underhill we have two exceptional flankers


Ben Earl - also looks to be getting back into some form, carried well


Tom Willis - gave more balance to the back row, finally we've found a proper test level number 8


Ollie Chessum - always been a skilled backrower and great lineout option but he looked much more physical and got really stuck in


Fin Smith - first half display was a struggle due to lack of experience as Borthwick has given him no opportunities, but he was so composed in the second half and made so many good calls with a balanced range of kicking passing and taking it to the line.


Henry Slade - he's struggled in a team playing a reductive gameplan but demonstrated that he's a classy operator in a team prepared to move the ball


All in all I really hope England gain some confidence and back themselves in the next match with ball in hand. I'm so sick of seeing the sort of wasteful grubber kicks that Lawrence put in which England have used far too much and with a total combined net meterage gain in the last few years of minus 1 million meters.

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