The best world rugby XV on the planet now
It has been another riveting year of Test match rugby with South Africa solidifying their status as the best team on the planet.
The year started with the Six Nations and a reminder of how difficult it is to win a grand slam. Ireland were undoubtedly the best team in the competition but got pipped at the death by England at Twickenham which denied the eventual champions a clean sweep and triple crown.
The Rugby Championship, won by South Africa, also threw up its fair share of upsets with Argentina claiming a stunning victory over the All Blacks while they also thrashed the Wallabies and beat the Springboks. This autumn was also full of drama as the northern hemisphere clashed horns with its rivals in the south.
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Here is our world XV as the year draws to a close.
15. Will Jordan
The 26-year-old is arguably the deadliest broken field runner in the world game. If Jordan is given space he will cut even the most solid of defences to shreds.
His try-scoring record is quite simply phenomenal with 38 tries in 41 Test matches, with Jordan recently overtaking the legendary Jonah Lomu on the All Blacks' all time try scoring list.
14. Louis Bielle-Biarrey
More at home on the left wing but I had to squeeze the France star into my side. It's hard to believe he is only 21 given he has taken to Test rugby as easily as a duck takes to water.
The Bordeaux wing is lightning fast and gave his opposite number Sevu Reece a torrid time playing a central role in Les Bleus' 30-29 victory over the All Blacks this autumn. Lightning fast with a wicked turn of pace.
13. Jesse Kriel
Rewind the clock a couple of years and Lukhanyo Am was the undisputed best number 13 in the world game but now can't get into South Africa starting XV due to the brilliance of Kriel.
The 30-year-old is a tremendous all-round player and was integral in the Springboks defending the William Webb-Ellis Cup last year.
12. Damian de Allende
The glue who holds the South African back division together, de Allende is undoubtedly the finest inside centre on the planet. An explosive carrier with great footwork and an excellent passing game.
England had no answer to the 33-year-old's brilliance during their defeat to the world champions in the autumn.
11. Cheslin Kolbe
The 31-year-old is one of the game's great entertainers and it would be no stretch to label Kolbe one of the best wingers of the professional era. Kolbe is lighting fast with electric footwork who can open up defences at will.
What differentiates Kolbe from other wingers is his ability to score tries when the stakes are at their highest.
10. Beauden Barrett
Scott Robertson put faith in Damian McKenzie for large parts of the season, but even so Barrett was the man who dug the All Blacks out of many holes this season. If it wasn't for the 33-year-old England would have won at least one Test match in New Zealand last summer.
A class act.
9. Antoine Dupont
No introductions here. There are many experts who are adamant the Toulouse man is the greatest player in the history of the game.
Dupont is a phenomenal player and there are very few things he cannot do. Played a central role in helping Toulouse to a Champions Cup and Top 14 double while he fired his country to victory over the All Blacks this autumn.
And for good measure he turned his hand to sevens, inspiring France to an Olympic gold medal.
8. Ardie Savea
The 31-year-old has been at the top of the world game for a number of years. Savea is an explosive ball carrier who can seem impossible to take down at times, while he is extremely effective at the breakdown.
Savea is also a tremendous leader who has the ability to lift the performances of his teammates.
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
Antoine Dupont is widely regarded to be the best player in the world but du Toit pushes the Frenchman very close. The 32-year-old is one of the finest forwards ever to have represented the Springboks and that is saying something.
Du Toit was the official player of the match in the Rugby World Cup final and played a central role in two World Cup winning campaigns. He is the current World Player of the Year.
6. Pablo Matera
Matera has been a colossus for the Pumas for a number of years and 2024 was no different. The 31-year-old was totemic in Argentina's notable 38-30 victory over the All Blacks in Wellington along with their 67-27 win over Australia, while they also toppled the Springboks.
When Matera plays well Argentina tend to play well. A genuine world class player.
5. Tadhg Beirne
The Irishman will likely be a central figure for the British & Irish Lions on their tour of Australia next summer. Beirne can cover both lock and blindside flaker to world class levels.
The 32-year-old is a dynamic carrier who is as good if not better than many international opensides at the breakdown.
4. Eben Etzebeth
Etzebeth is undoubtedly the best second-row on the planet and would be in the conversation for the greatest of the modern era. The Sharks star brings an unmatched level of physicality and rarely fails to dominate his opposite number.
A double World Cup winner for a reason.
3. Thomas du Toit
The Bath prop has had to play second fiddle to Frans Malherbe for most of his career but his quality is not in question. Du Toit is a phenomenal scrummager who annihilated Wales at the set-piece last month.
Can play both sides of the scrum to a world class level which is a rarity.
2. Malcolm Marx
The 30-year-old is another phenomenal member of the Springboks pack. Marx is unrivalled at the set-piece and as expected is an extremely powerful ball carrier.
He is also very effective at the breakdown and a key player in the Springboks' dominance of world rugby.
1. Ox Nche
New Zealand's Tamaiti Williams is close but Nche edges it. As expected the Sharks star is a destructive scrummager who carries like a bull and is effective at the breakdown.
It's got to the point where you must be close to world XV level to get into the Springboks' starting XV.
