RugbyPass Top 100: Picking the 20th to 11th best players in the world
Who is the best player in the world? It’s a question every rugby fan has an answer for, but rarely are any two answers the same.
That’s why RugbyPass has undertaken a comprehensive deep dive into the last 12 months of test rugby to formulate an answer of our own.
In doing so, five members from our editorial team – split between the northern and southern hemispheres – compiled their own lists of the top 100 players on the planet.
From there, the cumulative lists were averaged out to create the RugbyPass Top 100, an overall list of the 100 best players on the planet based primarily on test rugby performances in 2021.
Other factors that, to a lesser extent, contributed to how players were ranked included test rugby performances from previous years, the influence of a player within their team, and how players fared at club and domestic level.
However, in essence, the RugbyPass Top 100 is a celebration of the stars who shone the brightest on rugby’s biggest stage last year.
That celebration continues today by announcing the players ranked 20-11, with the remainder of the list to be released over the course of this week.
20. Samu Kerevi
Age: 28
Test caps: 38
Nation: Australia
Club: Tokyo Sungoliath
Samu Kerevi spent 2020 in the international wilderness after making the transfer from the Reds to the Sungoliath following the 2019 World Cup and effectively removing himself from the Wallabies equation. That changed last year, however, when Rugby Australia tweaked the rules and when Kerevi made his return to the Wallabies midfield, the impact was immediate. Kerevi is the most devastating midfield ball-runner in the game at present and the momentum he was able to generate for his side in the early parts of last season paved the way for much of the Wallabies’ success – including their two wins over the Springboks. It came as no surprise when the Wallabies struggled on their end of year tour, with Kerevi back in Japan.
19. Ronan Kelleher
Age: 23
Test caps: 15
Nation: Ireland
Club: Leinster
Not many 23-year-olds earn selection for the British and Irish Lions but it shows how highly regarded Ronan Kelleher is that he was called up by Warren Gatland for the latter stages of the Lions’ tour to South Africa, even if the Irish hooker never made it onto the park. Kelleher is one of the few players on the RugbyPass Top 100 to have debuted after the 2019 World Cup but it shows just how integral the young hooker has quickly become to his nation that he’s so high on the list following a stellar 2021 season that saw him take over as Ireland’s first-choice rake.
18. Jordie Barrett
Age: 24
Test caps: 36
Nation: New Zealand
Club: Hurricanes
2021 was a coming-of-age season for Jordie Barrett, who had to fight off Damian McKenzie to claim the starting fullback jersey for the All Blacks. While Barrett didn’t necessarily showcase his ball-running abilities on the test arena that he’s become so known for with the Hurricanes, his work under the high ball was up there with the best and he was well and truly tested in that area by South Africa, Ireland and France, but rarely put a foot wrong. For what felt like the first time in a long time, the All Blacks also had a first-rate goalkicker taking the kicking duties when Barrett was on the field – and it was his last-minute strike against the Springboks that handed NZ the victory in their first encounter of the year.
17. Quade Cooper
Age: 33
Test caps: 75
Nation: Australia
Club: Hanazono Kintetsu Liners
The Quade Cooper that returned to play for the Wallabies in 2021 was not the same Quade Cooper that last featured for the team four years earlier, that much was clear even from his first appearance in gold last season. While Cooper still seemingly possessed the subtle touches and X-factor that made him such a threat during his younger years, there was a new maturity and conservatism to the way the 33-year-old played – he picked and chose his moments with more forethought and guided the team around the park expertly. Notably, all five of the test matches that Cooper played in 2021 resulted in victories for Australia and if he can maintain his form from last year, there’s no reason why he can’t feature for the Wallabies at the 2023 World Cup.
16. Duane Vermeulen
Age: 35
Test caps: 59
Nation: South Africa
Club: Ulster
While the Springboks still ultimately managed a series win over the British and Irish Lions last year, it wouldn’t be unfair to suggest that the result could have been somewhat more emphatic had South African talisman Duane Vermeulen not been invalided from the entirety of the series. Vermeulen’s return to the test arena coincided with three straight losses for the Springboks but there was no doubt that the loose forward’s prowess on the kick return and at the base of the scrum added hugely to the world champions’ arsenal on attack. If injury doesn’t preclude Vermeulen from getting a solid run of club matches under his belt before taking the field for South Africa this year, expect the 35-year-old to put his best foot forward and try to guide the Boks towards a more emphatic season as the top-ranked side.
15. Gregory Alldritt
Age: 24
Test caps: 26
Nation: France
Club: La Rochelle
It didn’t take long for Gregory Alldritt to claim a spot in the starting lineup for Les Bleus, with the powerful loose forward debuting in the 2019 Six Nations and taking over as the first-choice number 8 later that season. The 24-year-old has been an automatic selection for France since and after a dogged start to 2021, was rested for his nation’s trip to Australia. Despite the considerable number of talented loosies in France, Alldritt is arguably the pick of the bunch and one of the first names on the teamsheet, forming a world-class 8-9-10 combination alongside Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack.
14. Johnny Sexton
Age: 36
Test caps: 107
Nation: Ireland
Club: Leinster
It wasn’t long ago that many believed Johnny Sexton was on the way out. With a number of young up-and-coming flyhalves performing well in Ireland and Sexton entering his mid-thirties, it seemed that the death knell of a long and illustrious career was ready to ring. 2021 showed, however, that Sexton is far from finished with test rugby – and it shouldn’t surprise anyone if the centurion keeps weaving his magic in the emerald jersey until 2023. While Sexton did miss the Lions tour, that simply gave him plenty of time to recuperate after a strong showing in the Six Nations and the experienced out-half pulled the strings as only a man of his experience could during November.
13. Stuart Hogg
Age: 29
Test caps: 90
Nation: Scotland
Club: Exeter
All things going to plan, Stuart Hogg will reach centurion status in 2022, becoming just the fourth Scottish player to manage such a feat. That’s a notable achievement for a man who appears to only be getting better as he clocks up more and more appearances. In 2021, Hogg started the year strongly, putting out some excellent performances in the Six Nations, but his form stuttered as the season wore on, resulting in him losing his starting spot for both the British and Irish Lions, and Exeter. Hogg reclaimed his best form later in the year, however, and finished the season on a high, captaining his nation to a well-deserved win over the Wallabies and scoring two tries against the Springboks in a loss that was a lot closer than the final 30-15 margin indicated.
12. Finn Russell
Age: 29
Test caps: 68
Nation: Scotland
Club: Racing 92
Like his teammate Stuart Hogg, Finn Russell just seems to get better and better with age. While Russell has always played well in a Scotland jersey, his performance in the third test of the Lions series was perhaps one of the most compelling showcases of his career, given the importance of the match. Russell boasts as much X-factor as any other flyhalf on the planet but perhaps more importantly, he’s now honed his trade to the point where he’s not trying to throw the miracle ball at every play – although he still knows when to pull out all the stops to try and wrestle a game off the opposition.
11. Taniela Tupou
Age: 25
Test caps: 38
Nation: Australia
Club: Reds
It’s not often said that one of the most exciting players to watch in the world is a front-rower, but that’s the kind of impact that Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou has had since he debuted for Australia in 2017. Tupou doesn’t always start for the Wallabies, but that’s seemingly so that Australia can bring out his excellent scrummaging and damaging ball-carrying when the opposition are tiring and Tupou can do the most damage. More than once this year, the 25-year-old has earned a crucial last-minute penalty at the set-piece to carry his nation to victory.
Click here to view players ranked 21-30
Click here to view players ranked 31-40
Click here to view players ranked 41-50
Click here to view players ranked 51-60
Click here to view players ranked 61-70
Click here to view players ranked 71-80
Comments on RugbyPass
I certainly don’t miss drinking beers at 8am in the morning watching rugby games being played in NZ.
1 Go to commentsThis looks like a damage limitation exercise for Wales, keeping back some of their more effective players for the last 20/25 minutes to try and counter England’s fresh legs so the Red Roses don’t rack up a big score.
1 Go to commentsVery unlikely the Bulls will beat Leinster in Dublin. It would be different in Pretoria.
1 Go to commentsI think it is a dangerous path to go down to ban a player for the same period that a player they injured takes to recover. Players would be afraid to tackle anyone. I once tackled my best friend at school in a practice match and sprained his ankle. I paid for it by having to play fly-half instead of full-back for the rest of that season’s fixtures.
5 Go to commentsJust such a genuine good bloke…and probably the best all round player in his generation. Good guys do come first sometimes and he handled the W.Cup loss with great attitude.
2 Go to commentsWord in France is that he’s on the radar of a few Top14 clubs.
2 Go to commentsGet blocking Travis, this guy has styles and he’s gonna make a swift impact…!
1 Go to commentsWhat remorse? She claimed that her dangerous tackle wasn’t worthy of a red! She should be compensating the injured player for loss of earnings at the minimum. Her ban should include the recovery time of the injured player as well as the paltry 3 match ban.
5 Go to commentsArdie is a legend. Finished and klaar. Two things: “Yeah, yeah, I have had a few conversations with Razor just around feedback on my game and what I am doing well, what I need to improve on or work-ons. It’s kind of been minimal, mate, but it’s all that I need over here in terms of how to be better, how to get better and what I am doing well.” I hope he’s downplaying it - and that it’s not that “minimal”. The amount of communication and behind the scenes preparation the Bok coaches put into players - Rassie and co would be all over Ardie and being clear on what is expected of him. This stands out for me as something teams should really be looking at in terms of the boks success from a coaching point of view. And was surprised by the comment - “minimal”. In terms of the “debate” around Ireland and South Africa. Nice one Ardie. Indeed. There’s no debate.
2 Go to commentsThere’s a bit of depth there but realistically Australian players have a long way to go to now catch up. The game is moving on fast and Australia are falling behind. Australian sides still don’t priories the breakdown like they should, it’s a non-negotiable if you want to compete on the international stage. That goes for forwards and backs. The Australian team could have a back row that could make a difference but the problem is they don’t have a tight five that can do the business. Tupou is limited in defence, overweight and unfit and the locks are a long way from international standard. Frost is soft and Salakai-Loto is too small so that means they need a Valentini at 8 who has to do the hard graft so limits the effectiveness of the backrow. Schmidt really needs to get a hard working, tough tight 5 if he wants to get this team firing.
3 Go to commentsSorry Morgan you must have been the “go to for a quote” ex player this week. Its rnd 6 and there is plenty of time to cement a starting 15 and finishing 8 so I have no such concerns.
2 Go to commentsGreat read. I wish you had done this article on the ROAR.
2 Go to commentsThe current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
2 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
3 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
3 Go to comments