Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Just four champion Springboks gain selection in prestigious magazine's 2019 World XV... the same number as England

(Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Just four Springboks have made it into the Rugby World magazine World XV for 2019 – the same number of representatives from the England team they convincingly defeated in the November final in Yokohama. 

ADVERTISEMENT

South Africa’s pack gained a reputation throughout the finals in Japan for being rugged and hard, but only one of their forwards – Pieter-Steph du Toit – was deemed good enough for the prestigious magazine’s XV compared to three of the beaten English forwards. 

England, in fact, ended up with five representatives in total as Test rugby outcast Danny Cipriani was chosen as their best out-half of the year.

The Gloucester talisman man lit up the Premiership but was discarded by Eddie Jones when it came to choosing his World Cup finals squad. 

With England accounting for five positions and world champions South Africa taking up another four slots, it meant space was at a premium for anyone else to get a look in on the fantasy XV. 

(Continue reading below…)

Video Spacer

In the end, the magazine found room for duos from Wales and New Zealand along with one pick each from Fiji and Japan. Here is the chosen Rugby World side: 

15 – Liam Williams (Wales)

14 – Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa)

ADVERTISEMENT

13 – Lukhanyo Am (South Africa)

12 – Owen Farrell (England)

11 – Semi Radradra (Fiji)

10 – Danny Cipriani (England)

9 – Faf de Klerk (South Africa)

1 – Joe Moody (New Zealand)

2 – Shota Horie (Japan)

3 – Kyle Sinckler (England)

4 – Maro Itoje (England)

5 – Alun-Wyn Jones (Wales)

ADVERTISEMENT

6 – Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)

7 – Tom Curry (England)

8 – Ardie Savea (New Zealand)

In choosing its picks, the magazine explained: “We decided to focus on individuals and pick the best player in each position rather than ponder a team – as this is a fantasy scenario, we don’t have to worry about how combinations work in a match. 

“We took into account players’ form over the past year for club and country, and looked for skills that set them apart from other contenders.”

WATCH: RugbyPass looks back on some of our favourite moments with the fans at the 2019 World Cup in Japan

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 55 minutes ago
'He wants players to be able to play four positions': Former All Black critiques Robertson's strategy

Sorta “rent a comment” kinda guy really.

Haha yep another great way to say it.


Look I actually agree with the guy, he might have heard something said and seeing as he loves to make a spotlight, and be in it, he decided/mistakenly came up with this headline grabber?


Despite what I already said was the actual idea for the topic he mistook, I think, at this particular moment, there are plenty of situations people should be sticking. I’m OK with the Dmac situation if its just until Stevenson and Etene start sharing the Fullback job. I’m OK with Barrett being left at 15 and Perofeta being given the job to displace Plummer (easy task for him imo) as the first five (with the ABs in mind). But pretty much all the others, like your suggestions, they are far off optimal understanding of their core positions so should be trying to specialize for a couple of years. Think Ioane and Proctor, one or the other, not trying to get both on. Barrett or ALB/Higgins/Lam, Sititi and Sotutu at 8, Finau/Haig/all the 6’s injured or gone etc.


From Razors perspective, of a coach on the limit of what can be achieved, he wants to a balance of core and niche. Having players able to cover situations when your down a man, through card or because he’s lying on the ground, you want your players to be adaptable. Does this mean he’d like them to learn that adaptable by playing other positions fully, like for a whole game in another position, or just as in terms of their skills sets. Because if you apply what I suggested Razor was referring to as “four” positions, wingers can be very useful in other roles like a carrying 12, or a pilferring 7, let alone benefit from a tight relationship and understand of what a 13 is trying to do for them.


This concept applies to pretty much every single position. Take your(my) Lock example, theyre now lifters, they can (size and shape allowing) ruck and maul like the front row, run like a back and offload like a basketballer. Many recent young locks of of this rangy razzle dazle variety.


Personally I really like and think that adding versatility is inevitable with the amount of training and really early highperformance skill/athleticism work they get through. Max Hicks looked interesting as a 2m beanpole playing openside in France, PSDT showing the frame is certainly viable (as apposed to the typical 6 playing lock), opensides really need a running/carry side to their play these days and could easily play in midfield. Halfbacks are starting to play standing up straight rather than low to the ground, how cool would it have been if the Hurricanes had decided to retain Preston by switching Roigard to 10 for this season? Like Leroy Carter they’re already good wingers with the right pace. I do really see the back three players staying were they are for the most part though, unless theyre special players like Dmac.

33 Go to comments
TRENDING
TRENDING 'He wants players to be able to play four positions': Former All Black critiques Robertson's strategy Former All Black critiques All Blacks strategy
Search