80 Jack Conan (Ireland)
79. Danilo Fischetti (Italy)
78. Ange Capuozzo (Italy)
77. Sam Whitelock (New Zealand)
76. Emiliano Boffelli (Argentina)
75. Darcy Graham (Scotland)
74. Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales)
73. Damian McKenzie (New Zealand)
72. Ellis Genge (England)
They wrote: “England have over-relied on his excellent ball-carrying in recent years – having him return kicks against France in 2022 – and his scrummaging, largely very good, can be first-class. Not forgetting his leadership abilities either, held in high regard by this England group as vice-captain.”
71. Paolo Garbisi (Italy)
70. Bundee Aki (Ireland)
69. Uini Atonio (France)
68. Mateo Carreras (Argentina)
67. Andrew Porter (Ireland)
66. Peter O’Mahony (Ireland)
65. Ethan de Groot (New Zealand)
64 Anthony Jelonch (France)
63. Owen Farrell (England)
They wrote: “Even if you are someone who has never been fully convinced, it is difficult to argue with Farrell’s placing given the season he has just had – arguably his greatest ever on an individual level, showing an array of fly-half skills that fans might not have realised he possessed. Undeniably, his latest ban has put England in a very awkward spot.”
62. Theo McFarland (Samoa)
61. Samisoni Tauke’iaho (New Zealand)
60. Waisea Nayacalevu (Fiji)
59. UJ Seuteni (Samoa)
58. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
57. Kurt-Lee Arendse (South Africa)
56. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
55. Maro Itoje (England)
They wrote: “One of the game’s great competitors. Detractors might proffer that Itoje’s strengths have been figured out and neutralised by opponents, but he merits a place for his consistency here if nothing else. A born winner, his performances never drop below eight out of ten. In the court of public opinion, he is arguably a victim of his own early-career success.”
54. Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)
53. Siya Kolisi (South Africa)
52. Codie Taylor (New Zealand)
51. Lu khanyo Am (South Africa)
50. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)
49. Davit Niniashvili (Georgia)
48. Mack Hansen (Ireland)
47. Taniela Tupou (Australia)
46. Rieko Ioane (New Zealand)
45. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)
44. Marika Koroibete (Australia)
43. Charles Ollivon (France)
42. Cyril Baille (France)
41. Gabin Villière (France)