With World Rugby having announced its star-studded Dream Team of the Year, we decided to make a list of our own featuring some players unlucky to have missed out, and some who should have bloody well been there in the first place.
The Pack
Julian “don’t be a p#@s” Montoya has been exceptional all year for club and country. The Los Pumas captain is as tough as they come, and the flawless Afrikaans he picked up from his South African Leicester Tigers teammates didn’t hurt his chances here.
He’s partnered in the front row by Bok duo Retshegofaditswe Nche and Racing-bound Trevor Nyakane.
Nche has come on in leaps and bounds this year, while Nyakane’s ability at both loosehead and tighthead has been crucial to the Springboks in 2021 — particularly during the British & Irish Lions series.
Bongi Mbonambi’s supreme scrummaging performances and dynamic ball carrying earn him an honourable mention at hooker, while Taniela Tupou and Frans Malherbe could easily have filled in at No 3.
B&I Lions skipper Alun Wyn Jones is selected to partner Northampton Saint Courtney Lawes in the second row. Jones the Great miraculously overcame a shoulder injury to feature in the epic Test series in July, while Lawes’ monster performance in the first Test was a big reason the tourists went 1-0 up to begin with.
Tomás Lavanini gets a shout out for becoming the first man in the history of Test rugby to be sent off three times. Vamos!
Bok duo Kwagga Smith and Jasper Wiese both claim loose forward berths after proving just how effective they are at Test level, while classy Munsterman Tadhg Beirne has been a powerhouse across all levels of the game and slots in at blindside.
Honourable mentions must be made to Franco Mostert, and Harlequin and newly-capped England No 8 Alex Dombrandt. Eddie has come to his senses at last.
The Backs
At halfback, Aaron Smith rekindled some of his finest form for his beloved Highlanders during Super Rugby (sorry Faf), while namesake Marcus was simply electric for Quins on their way to claiming just a second-ever Premiership title.
Shout outs to Morné Steyn and Quade Cooper for making international comebacks look so easy. Also to Finn Russell for existing.
In the midfield, the world’s best No 12, Damian de Allende, is an obvious selection — his exclusion by World Rugby is simply inexplicable. He is partnered by Wallaby Len Ikitau, who did a marvellous job marshalling the Springbok offence during the Rugby Championship and looks right at home in the international arena.
Robbie Henshaw was sublime at the beginning of the year and during the Lions’ series too.
Rugby Championship top try-scorer Andrew Kellaway gets a crack at the back after his insane breakout year in Wallaby Gold. He’s accompanied on the left by All Blacks-slayer James Lowe and the excellent Frenchman Damian Penaud on the right.
The criminally underrated Willie le Roux, as well as Hugo Keenan, are unlucky to miss out.
The XV
- Ox Nche (Springboks)
- Julián Montoya (Argentina)
- Trevor Nyakane (Springboks)
- Courtney Lawes (England and B&I Lions)
- Alun Wyn Jones (Wales and B&I Lions)
- Tadhg Beirne (Ireland and B&I Lions)
- Kwagga Smith (Springboks)
- Jasper Wiese (Springboks
- Aaron Smith (All Blacks)
- Marcus Smith (England and B&I Lions)
- James Lowe (Ireland)
- Damian de Allende (Springboks)
- Len Ikitau (Australia)
- Damian Penaud (France)
- Andrew Kellaway (Australia)
