Lock: Eben Etzebeth (South Africa) – “A giant of a man who can seemingly take on opposition packs singlehanded. “
Lock: Leone Nakarawa (Fiji) – “Outstanding lock, his lineout skills will prove invaluable.”
Flanker: Maro Itoje (England) – “Slight dip after the Lions tour in 2017 but the Saracens lock is back to his best now. Energy and abrasiveness he brings to the pack is key.”
Flanker: Michael Leitch (Japan) – “High quality openside flanker.”
Number 8: David Pocock (Australia) – “An extraordinary physical presence at the breakdown with the ability to pull off four or five turnovers per game, especially when working in tandem with Hooper.”