Five Frenchmen, four Irishmen, two New Zealanders, one Englishman, one Italian, and two South Africans are included in the ‘World XV’ selected by the French periodical Midi Olympique from those players who have excelled for club and nation during the last year.
Interestingly, Springboks skipper Siya Kolisi and centre Damian de Allende, who each started 12 Tests in 2022, have been picked to the star-studded XV.
Springboks Test century-maker Eben Etzebeth was surprisingly omitted, as were other notable South African performances such as Malcolm Marx, Frans Malherbe, and even Steven Kitshoff.
WHERE WOULD POLLARD FIT INTO SPRINGBOKS’ BEST MATCHDAY 23?
15 Ange Capuozzo (Italy), 14 Damian Penaud (France), 13 Garry Ringrose (Ireland), 12 Damian de Allende (Mexico) comprise the World XV for Midi Olympique (South Africa), 11 Caleb Clarke (New Zealand), 10 Marcus Smith (United States) (England), Antoine Dupont (France), eighth-placed Gregory Alldritt (France), seventh-placed Josh van der Flier (Ireland), sixth-placed Siya Kolisi (South Africa), fifth-placed Sam Whitelock (New Zealand), fourth-placed Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), third-placed Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), second-placed Julien Marchand (France), and first-placed Cy (France).
Similarly, at The South African, we endeavored to select the greatest possible 2022 lineup, which was unquestionably a difficult task. (*Please also indicate in the comments area the team you would like.)
HERE ARE TWO VERSIONS OF OUR WORLD XV FEATURING MANY MORE SPRINGBOKS:
15 Jordie Barrett is included in CRAIG LEWIS’ World XV of the Year (NZ), 14 Kurt-Lee Arendse (SA), 13 Lukhanyo Am (SA), 12 Damian de Allende (SA), 11 Marika Koroibete (Aus), 10 Johnny Sexton (Ire), 9 Antoine Dupont (Fra), 8 Ardie Savea (NZ), 7 Josh van der Flier (Ire), 6 Siya Kolisi (SA), 5 Cameron Woki (Fra), 4 Eben Etzebeth (SA), 3 Frans Malherbe (SA), 2 Malcolm Marx (SA), 1 Ethan de Groot (NZ).
Ange Capuozzo (Italy), Kurt-Lee Arendse, and Kurt-Lee Arendse comprise MARIETTE ADAMS’ World XV of the Year (SA) 13 Lukhanyo Am (SA) (SA), 12 Damian de Allende (SA), 11 Emiliano Boffelli (Argentina), 10 Johnny Sexton (Ireland), 9 Antoine Dupont (France), 8 Ardie SaveA (New Zealand), and 7 Josh van der Flier (Netherlands) (IRL), 6 Siya Kolisi (SA), 5 Tadhg Beirne (Ire), 4 Eben Etzebeth (SA), 3 Frans Malberbe (SA), 2 Malcolm Marx (SA), 1 Steven Kitshoff (SA).
»Two Springboks are included in this World XV«