SUPER 15... OUR PICK OF THE PLAYERS WHO SHONE IN 2017
THE curtain has coming down on a sizzling year of rugby but what would the make-up of a World XV look like?
There’s been plenty to savour with the Warren Gatland-coached and Sam Warburton-captained Lions drawing their Test series with New Zealand being the highlight of the year.
England equalled the All Blacks’ Tier One winning streak of 18 and retained the Six Nations title but Ireland halted the march of Eddie Jones’ men and hammered South Africa during the autumn.
Scotland were the big improvers with Gregor Townsend’s up-and-comers doing the double over Australia and playing some scintillating attacking rugby.
Wales were fifth in the Six Nations – their worst finish since Gatland was appointed head honcho 10 years ago – but did beat Ireland in the European title-race and South Africa earlier this month. Their problem all year was crossing the whitewash with an abysmal try count.
France continue to be a shambles, Italy still struggle while Argentina were whitewashed in the Rugby Championship.
When it came to picking a World XV, we selected on form and consistency...
15 Israel Folau (Australia)
Stuart Hogg sizzled for Scotland with his attacking verve and former Cardiff Blues star Joaquin Tuculet has been a stand-out figure for Argentina but, with injury having put New Zealand’s Ben Smith out of the running, the full-back jersey must be handed to Folau.
He is such a dangerous runner and crossed for an Australian record 12 tries in a calendar year, bagging those in just 10 outings with three of them coming against the All Blacks.
14 Anthony Watson (England)
For sheer consistency, creativity and versatility, Watson has to be in the team because he was so hot in attack for the Lions against the All Blacks and has retained his form.
The 23-year-old is able to stand up defenders with a stop and go, his acceleration beating them and is solid in defence. Argentina’s Emiliano Boffelli, who is just 22, ran him close.
13 Jonathan Davies (Wales)
Lions player of the series, the Scarlets star, as he did in 2013, seems to produce his best when the pulls on the red jersey of the cream of British and Irish rugby.
The outside-centre hit top form during the business end of the PRO12 campaign as the Scarlets ran their way to the title and was named Welsh Sports Personality of the Year.
12 Owen Farrell (England)
European player of the year after guiding England to the Six Nations and Saracens to the Champions Cup. Farrell didn’t hit the heights many had anticipated for the Lions in New Zealand, but he held his nerve when it mattered in front of goal.
And he had a better year than Sonny Bill Williams, who cost the All Blacks by being sent off against the Lions, and was pretty quiet during their visit to Europe last month. 11 Rieko Ioane (New Zealand) Along with Folau, he had a real claim to be world player of the year with 11 tries in as many starts for the All Blacks after being fast-tracked.
Just 20, he is one of rugby’s most prodigious talents, possessing speed, skill, power and awareness. Nobody else came near him for the left-wing berth in our team and he was named World Rugby’s breakthrough player of 2017.
10 Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
Was the headline act heading into the clashes with the Lions and, despite a mixed series and autumn tour of Europe, he was named World Rugby player of the year.
I’d argue Ioane and Folau both had stronger claims but, one thing you can’t dispute, is that Barrett is the most dangerous running outsidehalf in the world and a delight to watch when on song.
9 Conor Murray (Ireland)
This was a tough call with New Zealand’s Aaron Smith and a rejuvenated Will Genia challenging hard but the all-round excellence of Lions Ireland and Munster king-pin Murray swings it his way.
He was superb for the Lions and has the most accurate kicking game out of hand of any scrum-half, his tactical control standing out.
1 Maka Vunipola (England)
Wales’ loss – he was brought up in the Pontypool area – has proved to be England’s gain with the loose-head prop being mobile and a terrific ballplayer.
Although his scrummaging was tested at times, he started for the Lions in the drawn Test series with World Cup holders New Zealand. 2 Malcolm Marx (South Africa) Twelve months ago there wouldn’t have been an argument with Dane Coles the leading hooker in the world but the Kiwi has spent much of the year on the sidelines with concussion and other injuries.
And Marx has worked for the common good in a Springbok team which had shown signs of improvement in the Rugby Championship, rounding his season with a magnificent effort against Wales.
3 Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
The prop isn’t only the best tighthead in the world but has to be one of finest players on the planet in any position with his physicality, technical skills, mobility and work-rate.
Furlong has been a rock for Leinster, Ireland and the Lions this year, being ultra-consistent and relentless in the intensity of his play.
4 Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)
There’s plenty of top locks, including our own Alun Wyn Jones, but former World Rugby player of the year Retallick shades the competition with his all-round contribution.
New Zealand didn’t look as polished with him missing from their engine room during last month’s international, which says it all really.
5 Maro Itoje (England)
Although England boss Eddie Jones picked him at blindside flanker during the Six Nations he packed down at lock in the scrums.
Lions coach Warren Gatland erred by leaving him out of the opening Test against the All Blacks, as Itoje proved during the remainder of a riveting series with his nonstop displays.
6 Sam Warburton (Wales)
Ireland’s CJ Stander and Scotland’s John Barclay both had their moments at blindside flanker but Warburton had one of his best years, albeit it out of position.
He formed a tremendous back-row tag team with Justin Tipuric in the Six Nations and led from the front for the Lions versus New Zealand in the second and third rubbers.
7 Sean O’Brien (Ireland)
Kiwi Sam Cane, Argentina’s Pablo Matera, Australia’s Michael Hooper, South Africa’s Siya Kolisi and Tipuric are quality operators at openside.
But the handful that is O’Brien – he later criticised the Lions coaching regime – was Gatland’s man of the series and continued his rich vein of form during the autumn campaign. 8 Kieran Read (New Zealand) The All Blacks skipper defied a six-week injury absence to produce a monumental display in the opening Test against the Lions and edged his No. 8 battle with Taulupe Faletau.
Faletau and England’s Billy Vunipola also had injuries during the year while the powers of Italy’s veteran catalyst Sergio Parisse seem to be on the wane.