Davies in good company as he’s the only Welsh star to make the cut for rugby’s 2018 dream XV
WHAT a year of Test rugby it has been, with an even better one in store for 2019.
But which stars have shone brightest for club and country over the last 12 months?
Rugby World magazine canvassed a panel of writers from 12 different countries to come up with their Team of the Year for 2018.
Just one player, Ireland prop Tadgh Furlong, was chosen in everybody’s line-up.
Only one Welshman makes the cut. The side is made up of five New Zealanders, four Irish stars. two from England and one representative apiece from South Africa, Australia, Fiji and Wales.
This is the Rugby World best XV and brief reasons put forward by the magazine for the selections...
15: BEAUDEN BARRETT (New Zealand)
Barrett didn’t start a Test at full-back in 2018 – but he did finish a few there and as the vote for fly-half was tight he gets in at 15.
In the first 10 Tests of 2018 Barrett scored 115 points, 35 of them from tries. Four came in a mesmerising performance against the Wallabies. ‘Rugby poetry in motion’, say Rugby World.
14: BEN SMITH (New Zealand)
Was almost a unanimous choice on the right wing after bouncing back superbly from concussion worries. No other selection really got close.
13: JONATHAN DAVIES (Wales)
The one Welshman to make the cut, even though he didn’t figure in the Six Nations. The magazine say that is ‘a testament to his class.’ Ryan Crotty, Elliot Daly and Mathieu Bastareaud had support, but Davies got the nod.
12: OWEN FARRELL (England)
England’s five losses on the trot must have ‘done his head in’, say Rugby World. But Farrell is a class act who pulls the strings for England and Saracens and has consistently performed well.
11: RIEKO IOANE (New Zealand)
Secured 10 of the 12 votes from the expert panel, with the 21-year-old speedster scoring a bagful of tries. The magazine used a speed graphic earlier in the year comparing the times of Ioane, Usain Bolt, a greyhound and a cheetah.
‘He was fourth of that lot. Slacker,’ they say.
10: JOHNNY SEXTON (Ireland)
Nip and tuck between him and Barrett for the fly-half jersey, but Sexton’s performance in Ireland’s autumn win over New Zealand won him the nod.
‘One of the great fly-halves of this, or any other generation,’ they write.
9: CONOR MURRAY (Ireland)
Beat off challenges from Aaron Smith and Faf de Klerk following his inspirational Six Nations showings.
Rugby World writes: ‘In November, Midi Olympique held a ceremony in Paris to announce the World Player of the Year. Murray won it. Enough said.’
1: MAKO VUIPOLA (England)
South Africa’s Steven Kitshoff was the main challenger, but Vunipola shone as man of the match in Saracens’ Premiership semi-final with Wasps, then the final versus Exeter.
The magazine say his ‘power and
mobility separates him from others - like an extra back-row.’
2: MALCOLM MARX (South Africa)
Anyone who pips Dane Coles has to be good. Enough said.
3: TADGH FURLONG (Ireland)
The one unanimous selection in the side. Enough said there, too.
4: BRODIE RETALLICK (New Zealand)
Combine a colossus in the lineout with pace and brilliant hands and you have the New Zealand man monster, who scored arguably try of the year against Australia by dummying his man to finish off a dazzling move.
5: LEONE NAKARAWA (Fiji)
Welsh fans will press the claims of skipper Alun Wyn Jones, but the Racing 92 lock is officially European Player of the Year. Scotland’s Josh Strauss says: “Naks is the only guy in the world who can stand upright with his arm in the air, get hit by three people and not really move.’
6: PETER O’MAHONY (Ireland)
‘His passion for Munster and Ireland is limitless and he sets the standard time after time’ – Rugby World.
8: KIERAN READ (New Zealand)
Wales’ Taulupe Faletau and England’s Billy Vunipola earned mentions, but Read netted nine of the 12 nominations. With the November win over England he joined an elite group of players who have won 100 games at Test level with Richie McCaw, Keven Mealamu and Tony Woodcock.
7: DAVID POCOCK (Australia)
‘Even with Australia losing so many games, he remains a breakdown genius and a player of massive influence and stature’ - the magazine’s verdict.