At the end of the year, with South Africa and Toulouse dominating, it is the right time to select a global composite lineup and play fantasy rugby.
This is always a divisive process, as fans of certain countries and clubs are angry that their favorite club was not selected.
But the point is that the best individuals do not always belong to the best teams. Take a look at how Sergio Parisse has been welcomed and honored throughout his career as he carries a struggling Italian team on his shoulders.
In 2024, several Springboks missed the cut for the top teams in this column. That’s because Rassie Erasmus has engaged in a (tricky) squad rotation to build depth in all areas.
Now let’s be clear. The absence of a single England player is not unfair considering Steve Borthwick’s national side have lost seven of the 12 Tests they have played.
While many judges chose to include large representations from the top teams, this column went for a more multinational mix. This is based on personal preference and is inevitably distorted by direct evidence (watching the game in person). We make no apologies for these subjective factors. Here we go…
It was another dominant year for South Africa, who took the top spot among other international teams.
French side Toulouse won the Champions Cup after a thrilling final against Leinster in May.
England endured a disappointing 2024, losing seven of the 12 Test matches played that year.
My World XV 2024 (Test and Club form)
15. David Niniashvili (Lyon/Georgia):
multidimensional talent; Illuminating European club rugby and strengthening the threat to Georgia’s establishment with his pace, footwork, finishing, kicking and warrior spirit. Damian Willemse’s case has been weakened by Bok’s rotation and injuries, Hugo Keenan has missed various Ireland games and Tom Wright’s surge at the Wallabies has come too late.
Davit Niniashvili shines a spotlight on European club rugby and strengthens Georgia’s threat to the establishment.
14. Will Jordan (Crusaders/New Zealand)
He’s moved from number 15 to the wing in this lineup, but he needs to play. When he gets healthy, he tries to score. Every time he puts on an all-black shirt, he continues to fly into space and find the line. British newcomer Immanuel Feyi-Waboso is on his way to being a breakout star, as is Cheslin Kolbe.
13. Tomaso Menoncello (Benetton/Italy)
He brought line-breaking qualities and influence to the Azzurri midfield and deservedly won the Six Nations Player of the Championship award. South Africa has Jesse Kriel and Lukhanyo Am, who have taken turns causing havoc. Gael Fickou was, as usual, the leading conductor in France, while Paul Costes shone in Toulouse.
Tommaso Menoncello deservedly won the Six Nations Player of the Championship award.
12. Joshua Tuisova (Racing 92/Fiji):
This is a competitive position and others have made a more notable impact in major tests, including the Springboks’ Damian de Allende, Jordie Barrett and Bundee Aki. But ‘The Bus’ is a unique and bizarre weapon of mass destruction that helped Fiji surprise Wales in Cardiff and wreak havoc in the top 14.
11. Duhan van der Merwe (Edinburgh/Scotland):
The huge South African import surpassed Stuart Hogg’s domestic try-scoring record and cemented his place in Scottish rugby folklore with a recent hat-trick against England. Like Kolbe, Kurt-Lee Arendse would be unlucky to miss out, as would Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who was prolific for Bordeaux and France.
The South African giant’s import surpassed Stuart Hogg’s national goalscoring record.
10. Finn Russell (Bath/Scotland):
Few contenders have made a compelling case at flyhalf. Erasmus shuffled between Manie Libbok and Handre Pollard, Marcus Smith put in a brilliant performance, Jack Crowley was usurped from the Ireland team by Sam Prendergast and Damian McKenzie was put on trial and discarded by the All Blacks. Russell ignited Bath’s title charge and helped Scotland to a landmark win.
9. Antoine Dupont (Toulouse/France):
This is a formal choice. Don’t even think about arguing. The Gallic Idols are on a completely different planet. After doubling Toulouse, he helped his country win Olympic gold in the sevens. Nonsense. Grant Williams was electricity for South Africa and Jamison Gibson-Park was again a dynamo for Ireland. But they are not Dupont.
Antoine Dupont is on a completely different planet after delivering a double win for Toulouse and helping his country win Olympic gold in the sevens.
1. Ox Nche (Shark/South Africa):
A powerful prop with the virtue of eating cake and a physique perfect for scratching, he is undoubtedly the lord and master of his place. But due credit must go to Angus Bell, who played an all-court role in Australia’s resurgence, and Andrew Porter, the backbone of Ireland’s success.
2. Dan Sheehan (Leinster/Ireland):
He was injured in the autumn but has already done enough with his fierce, scoring heroics for his county and the Test team. He was a standout star in Ireland’s recent Six Nations triumph, which saw them beat Bok pair Bongi Mbonambi and Malcolm Marx and Leicester’s Puma idol Julian Montoya.
3. Thomas du Toit (Bath/South Africa):
The West Country recruit has taken the Premiership by storm with his try-scoring and set-piece impact from either side of the front row. His reckless effort during South Africa’s victory over Wales was astonishing and ruthless. Tyrel Lomax has pushed Du Toit into the cornerstone of the All Blacks pack.
Thomas du Toit dominated the Premier League with his try-scoring and set-piece impact.
4. Eben Etzebeth (Sharks/South Africa):
It’s the best by miles. The South African pack representative was at his peak in 2024, playing the role of imperious enforcer as the Sharks won the Challenge Cup and the Boks won the Rugby Championship. Joe McCarthy has emerged as a strong asset for Ireland but has some way to go to compete with Etzebeth.
5. Tadhg Beirne (Munster/Ireland):
He was picked at lock here but also operated on the blind side. He was a cornerstone of Ireland’s championship success and carried out the task a few months later when they won the Test in South Africa. He continued to serve as a breakdown specialist, tremendous athlete and aerial asset.
6. Wallace Siti (Chiefs/New Zealand):
It is being widely praised as a new sensation in sports. The son of the former Samoa captain burst onto the scene in Super Rugby over the summer, exploding as a new All Black back-row star. He is blessed with amazing skills, explosive speed and unbelievable confidence at such a young age. It was truly a great discovery.
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (Toyota Verblitz/South Africa):
Erasmus’ leading hitman has won the World Rugby Player of the Year award for the second time, reflecting his enormous contribution to a dominant year for the world champions. But it was a close call at openside and exiled England flanker Jack Willis was a contender for his performance at Toulouse.
Pieter-Steph du Toit has won the World Rugby Player of the Year award for the second time.
8. Juan Martin González (Saracenes/Argentina):
Saracens’ first-choice pack is loaded with Test talent, but the South American signing has still been able to stand out on a consistent basis. Making an impact in the domestic game, he helped Argentina win the Rugby Championship over New Zealand, Australia and South Africa. Caelan Doris and Ben Earl were close behind.
Best game of 2024
Bordeaux 41 Harlequin 42:
This was a tumultuous, gladiatorial struggle in last season’s Champions Cup quarter-finals. A full house of over 30,000 on a hot spring day in France and Bordeaux made it a huge hit with its power and speed, but Quins pulled off a huge upset.
Will Porter scored two of the visitors’ six tries but the main heroes were in the front row as Fin Baxter and Will Collier led the demolition of the scrum against a pack of monsters, accelerating Baxter’s emergence into the England squad.
On a spa day in France, more than 30,000 spectators gathered to witness a thrilling Champions Cup quarter-final between Bordeaux and Harlequin.
England 37 Australia 42:
That this was considered a seismic shock at Twickenham was a sign of how far the Wallabies had fallen. It was a fascinating match that signaled the emergence of cross-code talent that could grace the union for years to come.
Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii posed a lethal threat to Australia’s daring defensive line on debut and shocked England so powerfully on the restart that a last-minute Max Jorgensen try gave the visitors victory. The result signaled a revival for the Wallabies and reignited interest in next summer’s Lions tour Down Under.
What was deemed a seismic shock at Twickenham was a sign of just how far the Wallabies had fallen.
A glorious and illogical premiership.
The Premier League often does crazy things, but the latest round of matches really encapsulates the gloriously illogical nature of the league. English rugby’s elite division was keen to emphasize on its business card that there was plenty of fierce competition, but that went out the window over the weekend. Sale set the tone with a stunning 38-0 away win over Bristol at Ashton Gate on Friday night.
The Bears were rampant in putting Leicester to the sword in their previous games, so going unbeaten in a Premiership game for the first time since 2016 was a surprising development. Bath then routed Saracens 68-10 and Northampton won 61-0 against Newcastle. Bristol and Gloucester have been mainstay teams in the league recently and both lost. The Saints look like champions again, but are still sitting at 8 out of 10. No club other than Bath has been able to establish and maintain consistency. It’s becoming a hot topic all over the place, and it’s really good news. Think twice about betting on it…
Sale Sharks’ 38-0 demolition of the Bears capped an unusual weekend in the Premier League.
Steward resigns after England’s relegation
It is fair to say that Freddie Steward did not stand by and let England relegate. The Flying Tigers added a layer to their play with their fullbacks. There was a big fuss a few weeks ago about the fact he hit 300 meters away in Bordeaux, but his form has been dominant for most of this season.
On Saturday he scored again as Leicester drew against Queen’s and continued to threaten on the counter-attack from deep.
Freddie Steward has added layers to his game since losing his place in Steve Borthwick’s England team.
Now that referees have been ordered to crack down on escort runners, the steward’s authority under high balls is more valuable than ever and he is using this change to his advantage.
England will be without George Furbank for their next game against Ireland in Dublin on February 1 and Steve Borthwick is believed to be considering reassigning Marcus Smith to wear the number 15 shirt.
This option has worked in the past and provided England with an additional playmaker. But the Irishman will rain hell on Smith at full-back and that seems like an unnecessary risk when Steward has international pedigree and is on a roll.
Certainly, he must establish himself as a professional last line of defense. That difficult fixture requires round pegs for round holes.
