World Rugby Dream Team for 2022 is mad, Etzebeth and Savea snubbed
Rugby NewsMonday, 21 November 2022 at 08:00
Ireland flanker Josh van der Flier was named men's Player of the Year and included in the World Rugby Dream Team for 2022.
On a night to remember in the iconic Salle des Étoiles, a ceremony under the High Patronage of H.S.H. Princess Charlene of Monaco saw the greats of the game past and present and the rugby family celebrate the outstanding achievers of the year.
van der Flier said: "I've been incredibly fortunate to have great teammates and coaches that have really pushed me on, as well as my wife and my family supported me a huge amount. I'm lucky to have some very experienced, top quality players and especially in my position both in Ireland and in Leinster, so I've always felt I've needed to be playing at my best the whole time or I wouldn't be playing, so that's certainly driven me on."
New Zealand fly-half Ruahei Demant won the women's Player of the Year award after helping the hosts beat England in the World Cup final earlier this month.
Van der Flier played an influential role as Ireland won an away series in New Zealand for the first time and moved to the top of the world rankings.
He was also named in World Rugby's controversial 2022 Dream Team, see full XV below, which saw in-form forwards Eben Etzebeth and Ardie Savea missing out.
Nine of the winners were selected by the star-studded World Rugby Awards panels, while the rugby family had the opportunity to cast their votes for the International Rugby Players Men’s and Women’s Try of the Year categories on World Rugby social platforms.
International Rugby Players Men’s Try of the Year – Rodrigo Fernandez (Chile, v USA on 9 July)
With 50 minutes on the clock in the first leg of the Americas 2 qualifier in Santiago, Chile fly-half Rodrigo Fernandez fielded a box kick just outside his own 22 and side-stepped the onrushing USA defender. Defying the treacherous conditions underfoot caused by the heavy rain, Fernandez wasn’t done there and slalomed his way past five more players to score a sublime 75-metre solo try.
International Rugby Players Women’s Try of the Year – Abby Dow (England, v Canada on 5 November)
England turned the ball over metres from their own line early in the second half of their Rugby World Cup 2021 semi-final with Canada in Auckland, working the ball quickly out wide to Claudia MacDonald. She set off from behind her own try-line, stepping her way through the defence before finding fellow winger Abby Dow in support who then raced 65 metres to score.
World Rugby Dream Team for 2022
#BACK-THREE
- 15. Freddie Steward (England)
- 14. Will Jordan (New Zealand)
- 11. Marika Koroibete (Australia)
Freddie Steward of England is tackled by Ardie Savea of New Zealand during the Autumn International Series match between England and New Zealand at Twickenham, London on 19 November 2022 (Photo: Micah Crook/PPAUK)
#CENTRES
- 13. Lukhanyo Am (South Africa)
- 12. Damian de Allende (South Africa)
#HALFBACKS
- 10. Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
- 9. Antoine Dupont (France)
Antoine Dupont of France calls for the mark during the Six Nations Championship match between England and France at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on March 13 2021. - PHOTO: Micah Crook/PPAUK
#FRONT-ROW
- 1. Ellis Genge (England)
- 2. Malcolm Marx (South Africa)
- 3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
Ellis Genge of England Rugby is tackled by Will Rowlands of Wales during the Six Nations Championship match between England and Wales at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on February 26th 2021. - PHOTO: Phil Mingo/PPAUK
#SECOND-ROW
- 4. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
- 5. Sam Whitelock (New Zealand)
#BACK-ROW
- 6. Pablo Matera (Argentina)
- 7. Josh Van der Flier (Ireland)
- 8. Gregory Alldritt (France)
Josh van der Flier of Ireland during the Summer International match between England and Ireland at Twickenham Stadium, Twickenham, London on the 24th August 2019. Photo: Phil Mingo/PPAUK.
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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