SECONF-ROW:
- 4. Maro Itoje (England) – #4: “He has the intelligence and athleticism to spoil any form of ball your team might have – be it in the lineout, the breakdown or open phase play.”
- 5. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa) – #19: “Boasts the physical edge and abrasiveness you expect from a South African second row, while he’s a real lineout technician at 6ft 8ins tall.”
BACK-ROW:
- 6. Siya Kolisi (South Africa) – #5: “Look up the meaning of the word ‘inspiration’ in a dictionary and there’s a reasonable chance you’ll encounter a picture of this guy.”
- 7. Pieter Steph du Toit (South Africa) – #6: “His destructive counter-rucking is key to the Springboks’ game plan and his ability isn’t in question.”
- 8. Taulupe Faletau (Wales) – #38: “Not always been used well, but when he was, Faletau showed he’s World XV quality on his day.”
Check out the full list of the top 50 players in the world here.