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Pieter-Steph du Toit pips Ardie Savea for title of world's best flanker

By Online Editors
(Photo by Mike Hewitt / Getty Images)

Springboks behemoth and reigning World Rugby player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit has been crowned the world’s best flanker after defeating All Blacks star Ardie Savea in a fan-voted poll on social media.

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The towering 27-year-old raked won by the slightest of margins after raking in 52 percent of the fan vote on RugbyPass‘ Facebook and Instagram accounts as part of the Straight 8 Fan Vote campaign to determine the best player on the planet in each position.

Du Toit and Savea were the last players standing in the third and final round of voting after having dispatched some significant names in the quarter-final and semi-final stages of the knockout bracket.

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After securing a landslide 82 percent victory over French loose forward Charles Ollivon, du Toit fought off the challenge of promising young Englishman Tom Curry by accruing nearly 57 percent of the vote.

On the flip side of the draw, Savea dominated proceedings against Welsh veteran Justin Tipuric as he fell in favour of 76.5 percent of the public.

He followed up with another comfortable victory against Springboks captain Siya Kolisi after accumulating 61 percent of the vote, but his explosive ball-running and exceptional work rate wasn’t enough to tip up du Toit in the final.

The Stormers utility forward, who can also cover lock as well as blindside flanker, became the third South African to claim World Rugby’s player of the year award in 2019, following in the footsteps of Schalk Burger and Bryan Habana.

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His acknowledgement as the world’s best player came after he played an integral role in the Springboks’ World Cup-winning campaign in Japan last year, where his prowess at the lineout and physicality on both sides of the ball proved vital.

Although he missed out on top spot in the fan vote, Savea – who was nominated for last year’s player of the year award – can take solace in that he will join du Toit in the RugbyPass Straight 8 Fan Vote World XV by virtue of being one of the final two flankers.

The Hurricanes loose forward and du Toit will join second rowers Maro Itoje and Eben Etzebeth in the side after Itoje defeated Etzebeth in the final round of the first instalment of the Straight 8 Fan Vote campaign vote for locks earlier this week.

The Straight 8 Fan Vote will begin its third instalment early next week.

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Trevor 1 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

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Bull Shark 5 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

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