The countdown continues: Who is most influential?
Who are the most influential rugby players in the world? We assembled a panel of nine – who each provided their top 50 and then awarded 50 points to each No 1, 49 to each No 2, and so on, and tallied up the results.
Today, players 11-20.
20. Billy Vunipola
England, No 8, six votes, 188 points
Vunipola is one of the game’s most destructive No 8s and England alway look a better side when he plays. Injuries have blighted the 28-year-old’s career but his availability throughout England’s run to the 2019 World Cup final made a huge difference. Alongside elder brother Mako, the pair, when fit, have been mainstays for England and have won multiple domestic and European prizes with Saracens. Vunipola, born in Sydney but of Tongan descent, has played 61 tests since his England debut in 2013 but still hasn’t featured for the Lions.
19. Romain Ntamack
France, first five-eighth, seven votes, 189 points
The son of former French wing Emile Ntamack, the 21-year-old is one of the most exciting young talents running around on the international stage. After bursting onto the scene with the France Under-20s in 2017, Ntamack made his Top 14 debut with Toulouse later that year, and also played for the French Barbarians who beat the Ma¯ori All Blacks, before guiding his country to a maiden world U20 title in 2018. He then debuted for the top side in the 2019 Six Nations and his calm head, along with vision, flair and desire to attack the line, saw him make the No 10 jersey his own, and following the World Cup he was also named the 2019 World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year.
18. Sam Whitelock
New Zealand, lock, nine votes, 213 points
Whitelock has an engine which just won’t quit. The 32-year-old plays 80 minutes every week and is instrumental to the All Blacks’ and Crusaders’ tight five. Whitelock (156 games) will surpass Kieran Read as the second most capped Crusader this year and appears to be rejuvenated. That can only be good news for All Blacks management, who would dearly like to see the workhorse at the 2023 World Cup.
17. Kendra Cocksedge
New Zealand, halfback, nine votes, 216 points
Cocksedge is the world’s best halfback in the women’s game and has won two World Cups with the Black Ferns in 2010 and 2017, as well as multiple individual accolades. In
2018, she became the first woman to win NZ Rugby’s top prize, the Kelvin R Tremain Memorial player of the year, and was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in
2021. For Canterbury and New Zealand, the 32-year-old has consistently inspired her teams to success and switched to play sevens in her career, too. With 53 tests she is approaching Black Ferns great Fiao’o Faamausili’s test appearance record (57) and could win a third World Cup in 2022.
16. Faf de Klerk
South Africa, halfback, seven votes, 220 points
Small in stature (1.71m and 80kg), but massive in impact, the World Cup-winning No 9 is the perfect halfback for the ferocious, physical Springboks. The 29-year-old Sale Sharks star plays with such a driving, relentless ferocity that it almost defies belief. A fabulous defender and wonderful running halfback, the little man with the big heart is a central figure in whatever team he plays in and played a pivotal role in the Springboks’ charge to their third World Cup triumph.
15. Owen Farrell
England, first five-eighth, nine votes, 258 points
Farrell, the England captain, is poised to become a test centurion (on 97 with England and the Lions) before his 30th birthday in September. The 29-year-old is a divisive figure in the test arena, but he is a winner, a commanding playmaker with one of the most reliable boots in the game, and featured on two Lions tours in 2013 and 2017. He was excellent during England’s run to the World Cup final in 2019 and his ability to switch seamlessly from first to second fiveeighth has been invaluable in tests and for his club Saracens.
14. Cheslin Kolbe South Africa, wing, six votes,
262 points
There is a fixation in the modern game with power wings. But Kolbe, the pocket-rocket from the Springboks and Toulouse, is the exception to the rule. At just 1.71m and 80kg, there is nothing physically intimidating about this 27-year-old, but he just might be the most dangerous speed merchant in international rugby. Kolbe is quick, elusive and incredible on his feet, with a dazzling step that has left many a defender in his wake. An excitement machine, worth the price of admission on his own.
13. Portia Woodman New Zealand, wing, seven votes, 262 points
Few players have dominated the game like Woodman. The 29-yearold was an unstoppable force until rupturing her Achilles in October,
2018. She was winning global accolades regularly, individually and with the champion New Zealand women’s 15s and sevens teams in 2017 and 2018, but her Achilles injury and a hamstring tear sidelined her for nearly two years. But Woodman is back and the former World Rugby player of the year is chasing her first Olympic sevens gold medal in Tokyo in July and another World Cup triumph with the Black Ferns (15s) on home soil in 2022.
12. Ardie Savea
New Zealand, loose forward, nine votes, 279 points
Savea is the third-highest ranked All Blacks forward. Savea, who many believe is better suited to playing openside flanker, started at No 8 in all five tests he played last year, taking over at the back of the scrum following Kieran Read’s retirement. Savea remains one of the hardest players to drag down in the game due to his speed, power and relentless leg drive.
11. Richie Mo’unga
New Zealand, first five-eighth, eight votes, 282 points
Mo’unga led the Crusaders to a fourth straight Super Rugby title last year and earned the Super Rugby player of the year award. He boasts a remarkable 53-3 record with the Crusaders since 2017. If that doesn’t spell out his importance to the red and blacks, nothing will. The 22-cap All Black was Ian Foster’s first-choice pivot in a dual-playmaker system with fullback Beauden Barrett last year.