Our World XV 2018 revealed with TWO England players selected
Top 10s/ListsTuesday, 13 November 2018 at 15:42
We’ve picked our 2018 world XV below. But who do you think deserves a place in the XV? Let us know your preferred player in each position in this poll…
Fullback: Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
A devastating counter-attacking threat and world-class operator.
Winger: Israel Folau (Australia)
The shining light in an underperforming Aussie side. Folau is imperious in the air, glides across the turf and has great off-loading skills. Rugby poetry in motion.
Centre: Jonathan Davies (Wales)
The Welshman cemented his world-class status by playing a crucial role in the Lions' series draw with world champions New Zealand. Although perfectly at home as a brick wall ball-carrier, his main strength is his guile; subtle offloads, putting others into space and an exquisite grubber kick.
Centre: Owen Farrell (England)
There is an argument that Kurtley Beale should be in here for his creativity. Farrell can’t get close to the Australian in that respect, but he is a winner who tends to find a way and offers tactical awareness, a sound kicking game and a steely mental attitude. Stuff like that is worth a lot to a team.
Winger: Rieko Ioane (New Zealand)
The All Blacks winger is the top scorer in test rugby in 2018, crossing for 11 tries in his eight starts to take his career tally to an impressive 22 tries in 21 tests. Blessed with quick feet and power, Ioane’s quick acceleration means he doesn’t need much space to go around – or through – defenders.
Fly-half: Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
The 27-year-old could become the first player to win the prestigious World Player of the year three years in a row after another impressive season in the All Blacks No.10 jersey. Barrett has scored seven tries in his eight tests in 2018, six of them in the Bledisloe Cup series against Australia, including a record four amid a 30-point haul at Eden Park. The attack-minded fly-half, who is equally at home at full-back, has continued to torment defences with his instinctive play this year, helping New Zealand win the series with France and defend the Rugby Championship title.
Scrum-half: Conor Murray (Ireland)
There was a time in 2016 when at least one respected judge rated Aaron Smith the top rugby player on the planet. But nothing stays the same in rugby. Since then, Conor Murray has gone ahead of him for scrum-half play. The Irishman is the best box-kicker in the world, has a sharp tactical mind and is tough enough to withstand attention from the most abrasive back row.
Prop: Mako Vunipola (England)
The New Zealand-born Saracens loosehead formed a fearsome front-row partnership for the British & Irish Lions in the summer with Irishman Tadhg Furlong. His dynamic ball-carrying skills have often seen him relegated to a bench spot, with the thinking that his agility and weight would be best against fatigued legs. However, after a scrummaging improvement he has now cemented his place as first choice for both England and the Lions, with few others in the world on his level.
Hooker: Malcolm Marx (South Africa)
Dane Coles has been absent because of injury but his deputy Codie Taylor has stepped up to the plate with a series of strong displays.
But the stand-out hooker in world rugby over the past 10 months has been Malcolm Marx.
After South Africa's game with New Zealand last October, one Kiwi writer’s player ratings saw him hand the Springbok a perfect 10.
Prop: Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
After Ireland’s second-Test win over over South Africa, Rob Kearney suggested Tadhg Furlong was changing the role of tight-head prop. “There was one clean-out on David Pocock that was the greatest I’ve ever seen,” said Kearney.
Furlong is a big scrummager but it doesn’t end there for him — far from it. He has a huge appetite for loose play and was superb for Ireland and Leinster in season just finished.
2017 British & Irish Lions Tour To New Zealand, Training QBE Stadium Auckland 22/6/2017British and Irish Lions Peter O'Mahony and Tadgh Furlong Jamie George and Mako Vunipola during the trainingMandatory Credit ©INPHO/Billy Stickland[/caption]
Lock: Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)
Widely regarded as the world’s best lock, Brodie Retallick needs no introduction. While possessing the requisite athleticism and grunt of a modern lock forward, his breakdown flexibility and ball-handling precision mark him apart from his peers. He does not posses the flamboyant offloading ability of his second-row partner in this team, but his vision and passing ability – skills which are severely underrated for a modern lock – mean that he is virtually the first name on all World XV teamsheets.
WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - SEPTEMBER 13: Brodie Retallick of the All Blacks carries the ball in a maul during The Rugby Championship match between the New Zealand All Blacks and the South Africa Springboks at Westpac Stadium on September 13, 2014 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)[/caption]
Lock: Leone Nakarawa (FijI)
Described by Sir Clive Woodward as “the best player in the world in 2017”, the Fijian magician is regarded as one of the greatest offloaders in the game, regardless of position. Currently plying his trade with Racing 92 on the outskirts of Paris, Nakarawa is known to bamboozle defences with his offloads and audacious athleticism. Step aside Inspecter Gadget, there’s a new man in town.
Flanker: David Pocock (Australia)
He has returned to rugby after a protracted sabbatical and it’s as if he hasn’t been away.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 24: David Pocock of Australia smiles during the Australia Captain's Run ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup Semi Final against Argentina at The Lensbury Hotel on October 24, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)[/caption]
Flanker: Michael Hooper (Australia)
It takes a special player to lead a nation at 22, as Hooper did when first being handed the Wallaby captaincy against France in 2014. The flanker has now done the job 36 times whilst racking up 89 caps in less than five years – proof of his consistency and durability.
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Michael Hooper and Rob Simmons of Australia celebrate after winning the 2015 Rugby World Cup Semi Final match between Argentina and Australia at Twickenham Stadium on October 25, 2015 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)[/caption]
Number 8: Kieran Read (New Zealand)
Picture the All Blacks without Read as captain. Hard, isn’t it? Ever since he first cantered onto the international scene, the sight of the No 8 marauding down the touchline or linking play with a silken little offload has been a mainstay.
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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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