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Springboks, All Blacks dominate Rugby World magazine's World Cup XV
By Liam Heagney
Rugby World magazine have named a Rugby World Cup team of the tournament dominated by last month’s finalists South Africa and New Zealand, along with host nation France. These three countries account for 12 of the available positions, with Ireland, Wales and Tonga filling the remaining three spots.
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The Springboks had just a single player – Eben Etzebeth – included in the World Rugby dream team for the 2023 calendar year, but Rugby World magazine confined its choices to performances at the World Cup in France and it resulted in the inclusion of five South Africans.
Four picks were in the pack – loosehead Ox Nche, second rows Etzebeth and Franco Mostert and World Cup final player of the match Pieter-Steph du Toit. Winger Cheslin Kolbe was their sole back to gain recognition.
The runner-up All Blacks dominated the backline with three picks – out-half Richie Mo’unga, centre Jordie Barrett and winger Will Jordan – with Ardie Savea, the World Rugby player of the year for 2023, named upfront at No8.
France had three players picked, hooker Peato Mauvaka, scrum-half Antoine Dupont and full-back Thomas Ramos. Irish centre Bundee Aki, Welsh openside Jac Morgan and Tongan tighthead Ben Tameifuna completed the line-up.
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Test-level newcomer Morgan was named the team of the tournament’s captain with Portugal’s Patrice Lagisquet named as coach.
Regarding its half-back selection of Mo’unga and Dupont, Rugby World explained: “Richie Mo’unga’s triple threat boosts any side and his form over the entire tournament edges out Handre Pollard, who didn’t miss a kick for the Boks.
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“Antoine Dupont’s ability to bounce back from a fractured cheekbone and still hit the heights that others simply cannot completes the half-back pairing.”
Switching to the front row, Rugby World added: “At loosehead is bomb squad extraordinaire Ox Nche. It’s no exaggeration to say that South Africa would not have won without his scrum supremacy against France and England.”
Rugby World Team of the Tournament:
15. Thomas Ramos (France); 14. Will Jordan (New Zealand), 13. Bundee Aki (Ireland), 12. Jordie Barrett (New Zealand), 11. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa); 10. Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand), 9. Antoine Dupont (France); 1. Ox Nche (South Africa), 2. Peato Mauvaka (France), 3. Ben Tameifuna, 4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), 5. Franco Mostert (South Africa), 6. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa), 7. Jac Morgan (Wales, captain), 8. Ardie Savea (New Zealand). Coach: Patrice Lagisquet (Portugal).
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The writer here ignores the fact that, following on from not taking the penalty kick, the All Blacks did manage to score a try a few minutes later. Not directly from the penalty awarded, but it is speculation to say that had they opted to take the koi they would have won. Even if they kicked it, which was no guarantee, they would still be trailing and would have had to start again at half-way.
Go to commentsI would be surprised if Sales Opoku Fordjour and Northampton’s Tommy Freeman are not in the team, Anthony Watson is also one that could go on the wing. One thing I must say is that the front 3 will get destroyed against a team like South Africa.
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