Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Scoring eight tries in the 2023 season, this flying Fijian went on to earn his first cap for the All Blacks, as they demolished Los Pumas in Mendoza to kick off their Rugby Championship campaign. This will be a year of significant growth for the talented loose forward, with spots now wide open and a chance to impress his former coach, Scott Robertson. Anyone can contribute to The Roar and have their work featured alongside some of Australia’s most prominent sports journalists. Some of the changes he made, like the elevation of Tomás Albornoz, gave the team more control in terms of game management, resulting in major improvements.
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Also guilty for giving the ball away after a 24 phase move when he recklessly chucked an off-load from the ground. Worse perhaps was the custard-soft penalty he gave away when Adams kicked from his own in-goal area to gift England three points. But a distinct lack of quality, as well as enough heft, meant they couldn’t get the better of England’s rush defence. Red runners were smothered by white shirts and when the match coalesced into a struggle of will, the team with more nous won out.
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Quite possibly, the most talented 20-year-old in professional rugby, Sam Prendergast dominated the U20 circuit for the past few seasons. Like Crowley, Cian Frawley is a versatile operator who can play fly-half, center and fullback to a high standard. However, he has looked best when wearing the No. 10 shirt and has been in Andy Farrell’s thinking regarding the fly-half berth. Ordinarily, Ross Byrne would have been the choice here, but the rock-steady Leinster stalwart picked up an unfortunate early-season injury and has yet to return to action.
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She then made the subsequent conversion to stun medal-favorite Australia and give the United States its first-ever rugby medal. The final handful of medal triumphs that pushed the U.S. to the Olympic milestone came across gymnastics, rugby and swimming, with Simone Biles, Bobby Finke and Ilona Maher among the Team USA stars making the podium. Far and away the most experienced option on this list, the 91 times capped George Ford likely would have been in a shootout https://becric.co.in/ with Farrell for the 10 shirt, had the England captain not stepped down. The biggest obstacle he is facing is a lack of consistent game time in the 10 shirt for Leinster, which has both Byrne brothers (Harry and Ross), as well as the next man on this list, Sam Prendergast. Jack Crowley took full control of the backup position at the 2023 Rugby World Cup; the uber-talented Munster star already has shown all of the hallmarks required of a top-quality international.
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- He’s also Scotland’s co-captain for their national squad and is a fly-half.
- Like Ford, Smith is a sharpshooting kicker, both with his tactical and goal kicking, and like Ford, he is a great passer of the ball.
- Some of the best rugby players in the world are in the thick of their 2024 summer international season following a long professional season that just ended.
- So much so, in fact, that he’s the only Englishman in the top ten here, and is the overall leader with 42.
There is plenty for Contepomi to build on with this Los Pumas side. The latest edition of the Six Nations is rapidly approaching with the 2024 championship getting underway in the first weekend of February. From the relentless pursuit of victory to the sublime mastery of skills, these athletes have left an indelible mark on the rugby landscape. In the ever-evolving landscape of rugby excellence, distinguishing the crème de la crème is no small feat. As the echoes of thunderous scrums and dazzling tries reverberate across the globe, RUCK proudly presents its definitive list of the 20 Best Rugby Players in the World.
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After celebrating their tournament-opening win over Wales, the Australians have turned their focus to the host nation. After going 2-1 in group play, the Americans will square off against Morocco in the quarterfinals on Friday. Morocco finished atop its group after beating Argentina and Iraq, while losing to Ukraine. Djordje Mihailovic opened for the scoring against Guinea with a world-class free kick from just outside the box in the 14th minute.
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Les Bleus are likely to win most of their games and Penaud is a shoo-in for top try scorer making him a very strong pick. One of the most exciting talents in the game, Russell is a magician of a fly-half with the skills to unpick any defence. Being named co-captain signals an end to his stormy relationship with head coach Gregor Townsend and he has been revitalised by his move to Bath, who are flourishing as a result of his arrival. A powerhouse winger, van der Merwe’s size and speed make him a lethal attacking threat. His ability to break tackles and finish tries, combined with his strong defensive efforts, adds a dynamic edge to Scotland’s backline.
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Scoring nine tries last year, he’ll be in stiff competition with teammate TJ Perenara for starting caps in both Wellington and the national side. After a strong year in Super Rugby that saw the Crusaders retain their title, Blackadder was called into the All Blacks squad for the World Cup as an injury cover. While he only featured in one Test, Blackadder looms as one of the All Blacks most exciting prospects coming through the ranks, and certainly has already established himself in the Crusaders line up. A shoo-in for the Blues starting XV, he looms as one of their most dangerous attacking weapons and one of the best finishers in the competition.
South Africa should be everyone’s second favourite team
Followers of Reffell since his fledgling days with the U20s and Leicester will say it was ever thus, and won’t be surprised to see him atop the list of turnovers won. Fellow back rower Sam Underhill is making up for lost time in the England jersey and has five turnovers, with Maro Itoje and Gianmarco Lucchesi behind him on four. Most surprising, perhaps, is the presence of Reffell’s former Tigers teammate George Ford among these turnover titans. Respect for team-mates, opponents, match officials and those involved in the game is paramount. The captain behind South Africa’s World Cup success in 2019, Siya Kolisi’s influence and leadership within the Springboks squad was a significant reason behind their series triumph over the British and Irish Lions.
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In addition to Ringrose, Irish supporters will be excited to watch new captain, Peter O’Mahony. Farrell will be hoping that O’Mahony can fill the void left by behemoth Johnny Sexton, who retired after the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Unless you’re a London Irish or Harlequins fan, then Chandler Cunningham-South is a name you might not know. However, he could become a familiar face following the 2024 Six Nations. Somewhat of a throwback in his style of play, Kremer is the enforcer in a gnarly Argentine pack that never takes a backwards step.
- Also guilty for giving the ball away after a 24 phase move when he recklessly chucked an off-load from the ground.
- A link player of the highest order, Am’s eye for a gap and top notch skills to either finish or put a teammate away has revolutionized Springboks Rugby from an attacking standpoint.
- Men’s and Women’s World Rugby Rankings are calculated using a ‘Points Exchange’ system, where sides gain or lose points based on the match result.
- She then made the subsequent conversion to stun medal-favorite Australia and give the United States its first-ever rugby medal.
- He’s earned 129 Super Rugby caps and 85 international caps for a reason.
- Others are preparing to represent their countries at the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris in the rugby sevens tournament.
Welsh fans may also be heartened by the precocious presence of fullback Cameron Winnett, who for many will have come from nowhere and sits third with 37 carries (see below for another impressive Winnett-related feat). Finally you have lost the respect of a lot of the Irish rugby community. That’s neither here nor there because NZ rugby and their fans (if this site is a reflection) don’t value our respect. This is the standard that World Rugby expects all rugby nations including New Zealand to adhere to.
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The lock has won more than 100 caps for his country, and continues to be one of, if not the best lock in the world. He has won the Rugby World Cup twice, and in the 2023 campaign he was key in turning momentum in South Africa’s favour in their quarter-final against hosts France. Handrè Pollard is the definition of a clutch player – always there to depend on in the tough moments. She played in England’s two warm-up wins for the tournament, but Zoe Harrison was preferred for last weekend’s victory over the United States. With Biggar now retired from international rugby, and Gareth Anscombe playing his club rugby in Japan, Costelow is the last remaining fly-half option from Wales’ 2023 Rugby World Cup squad.
- Worse perhaps was the custard-soft penalty he gave away when Adams kicked from his own in-goal area to gift England three points.
- Wales had the upper hand on a few metrics, but their engine doesn’t have the requisite torque to boss around the fringe.
- Working alongside fellow international Craig Casey in the Munster halfbacks is another feather in the cap of the man who looks set to be the first choice for the foreseeable future.
- He can produce a host of “kicks, flicks and tricks to create try-scoring opportunities for himself and his team-mates”.
- The Wallabies are in the doldrums and need a significant boost in quality in their forward pack, particularly in the tight five, as well as finding a flyhalf capable of controlling the game.
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8 – Aaron Wanwright – 7Wales’ best player last week continued his form here. Rangy runs, athletic grabs under high balls, he also offered a target at the line-out. 2 – Elliot Dee – 6On a long list, it was the line-out that was most abject in Wales’ game last week. Dee’s accuracy here meant England wouldn’t get handed free balls at the set-piece. It was a brave call to go to the back of the line within striking distance, but it worked and Wales won a penalty try from the subsequent maul.
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He’s beaten 12 defenders so far, level with Ben Earl (who some pundits have even suggested should be played at centre). Wing Monty Ioane, who appears to be an ever-present across a number of categories, such is his potency in attack, is third with 10. Some of the best rugby players in the world are in the thick of their 2024 summer international season following a long professional season that just ended. Dafydd Jenkins will make history in 2024 by becoming the second youngest player to captain the Wales rugby team. The 21-year-old earned his first cap in 2022, when he came off the bench against Georgia.
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“He’s up for renewal at Christmas and we are in negotiation about extending to the World Cup – there have been positive tones, I might add,” Sanderson said. The Wallaroos flanker will match the record for the most appearances, set by Liz Patu with 33 caps, this weekend in Cape Town. Ashley Marsters will become the equal most-capped Australian women’s Test player this weekend. Singled out as one to watch by Italy great Sergio Parisse, the uncapped Izekor is a colossus of a back row who stands 6’5” tall and weighs well over 17 stones. A force on both sides of the ball, the 23-year-old will be looking to transfer his impressive form for Benetton on to the Test arena. With the U.S. trailing 12-7 in the game’s final seconds, Sedrick broke away from the Australia defense for a game-tying try.
He’s also Scotland’s co-captain for their national squad and is a fly-half. In January, the wealthy French club Racing 92 made him an offer he couldn’t refuse. Russell had been making about $800,000 a year from Saracens, his home club since he was a teenager.
It was a shame that Salesi Rayasi endured such mixed form in 2023, being kept out of the Hurricanes’ side due to injury for much of the year. While he hasn’t yet excelled at an international level, with only seven All Black caps, he is one of Super Rugby’s strongest attacking weapons. Along with Fraser McReight and Jordan Petaia, Tate McDermott is set for a critical season at the Reds. Rassie Erasmus has transformed this Springbok side into one of the greatest teams of all time, and they don’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.
Will Jordan has lit up the rugby stage for years, and added to his list of achievements at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He finished the tournament with eight tries, equalling the record for most tries at a Rugby World Cup. The other two players to have achieved the feat are legends Jonah Lomu and Bryan Habana. The versatile back, who has won the Super Rugby title multiple times with the Crusaders, has at least one more Rugby World Cup cycle in him to add to his points tally.
Showed that last week’s tricks weren’t just a consequence the hopeless situation. An already established member of the All Blacks’ starting 23, Anton Lienert-Brown will be hoping to kick-start a stronger season in Waikato. Walking into their starting side with the likes of Lalomilo Lalomilo and Alex Nankivell departing the team, 2023 felt like like Lienert-Brown was still finding his feet again after an injury-ridden 2022 season.
As a goal-kicker, there are few more reliable than the versatile playmaker who will not only create tries. Aki possesses the rare skill of being able to generate tremendous power from a standing start, even against a defence as robust as South Africa’s. They will have to do so without the “talismanic figure” of Johnny Sexton, who has retired. Jack Crowley looks likely to take over as the new playmaker at No. 10 and experienced Munster flanker Peter O’Mahony is the new captain, reported Sky News. And with the key games against France and England being away from Dublin, back-to-back Grand Slams would be a “real achievement”, said the paper.
Epitomising what it takes to be a hard man at the elite level of the game, no opposition forward was safe from Etzebeth’s wrath as he stamped his authority to remain among game’s the elite locks. A core member of South Africa’s 2019 World Cup-winning side, Lukhanyo Am continued to blossom into one of the game’s most dependable midfielders this year. Rock-solid on defence and supremely adept with ball in hand, Am has become a staple of the Springboks backline and has formed a tired and trusted midfield combination with Damian de Allende. With the World Cup just a year away, Am is set to play a crucial role in South Africa’s chances of retaining the Webb Ellis Cup. From there, the cumulative lists were averaged out to create the RugbyPass Top 100, an overall list of the 100 best players on the planet based primarily on test rugby performances in 2021. In doing so, five members from our editorial team – split between the northern and southern hemispheres – compiled their own lists of the top 100 players on the planet.
- His consistency for club (Toyota Verblitz) and country is second to none, and he raised his game once again for the 2023 final – where he was named Player of the Match.
- Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp was forced to fly Western Force halfback Samantha Wood in for the Cape Town clash on Sunday morning (1am AEST) after reserve halfback Natalie Wright suffered a foot injury.
- Is there a team with more depth in world rugby right now than the Springboks?
- “We went with both [Aitchison and Rowland] because of the cohesion they have got and we have also got the ability to change it up as they are very versatile,” England forwards coach Louis Deacon said.
- I’ve been plucked from the crowd and invited into corporate boxes on several occasions.
- There are not many 31-year-olds who would be referred to as a rising star, but when you are the man who has to fill the shoes of Dupont, it really is the opportunity of a lifetime.
- Aki possess the rare skill of being able to generate tremendous power from a standing start, even against defence as robust as South Africa’s.
- Unfortunately for him, he sustained an injury during Toulouse’s victory over Bath in the Champions Cup.
Eight players started in all five matches with two – Maro Itoje and Ben Earl – playing in all 400 minutes. Nineteen had featured at Rugby World Cup 2023, seven were previously capped players who were recalled after being overlooked for that campaign in France, while there were five new caps. Following his recent move to Lyon, Monty Ioane is also one of this year’s Six Nations players to watch. The same goes for Lorenzo Cannone, another up-and-coming player whose powerful tackles have cemented his place in the Italian squad. In contrast with the other Six Nations teams, Ireland’s squad contains more experienced players and fewer new talents.
- However, he has looked best when wearing the No. 10 shirt and has been in Andy Farrell’s thinking regarding the fly-half berth.
- The 2024 Six Nations brings with it more change than just about any of the previous ten editions of rugby’s oldest international tournament.
- A powerhouse winger, van der Merwe’s size and speed make him a lethal attacking threat.
- Sharing the record with Telea with 12 tries last season, Codie Taylor is a formidable veteran at the head of a dangerous Crusaders pack.
- This is not meant to disparage Farrell’s contribution to English rugby, but his presence no doubt has hampered Ford.
- A ruthless finisher, Reece is still no less of a threat out on the wings for Canterbury, and many backlines will have their work cut out just trying to shut him down.
- The Scarlets’ playmaker “remains a work in progress” but is “highly regarded” by the Wales management, and seen as a player with an “extremely bright future on the international circuit”.
His annual salary of $900,000 establishes him as the fourth highest-paid rugby player. He’s the only other player on the list to earn over $1 million a year for his services. ‘Industrious’ doesn’t begin to sum up the workrate of Azzurri captain Michele Lamaro, but it’s a good start. The back rower has made a breathtaking 55 tackles after three rounds of play – he also tops the dominant tackles list, with six – with Wales’ Tommy Reffell nine behind. Two front rowers have been putting themselves about too, in prop Pierre Schoeman (36) and hooker Gianmarco Lucchesi (34).
This is not meant to disparage Farrell’s contribution to English rugby, but his presence no doubt has hampered Ford. A master tactician with a sublime passing and kicking game, Ford is an old-school game manager in the best sense of the word. With his long-term teammate and friend now unavailable and seemingly on his way to the Top 14, Ford could prove to be both the first-choice fly-half and English captain this year. Despite featuring against Italy and France in the tournament, Williams did not crack the Welsh World Cup squad. Making his senior debut for Leinster last season in the URC, he has begun to get more first-team opportunities this season.
What was most remarkable was how, despite rotating and changing the team almost weekly, their efficiency remained incredibly high. The Springboks have an established way of playing that continues to yield results. Singled out as one to watch by Italy great Sergio Parisse, the uncapped Izekor is a colossus of a back row who stands 6’5 tall and weighs well over 17 stones. A force on both sides of the ball, the 23-year-old will be looking to transfer his impressive form for Benetton onto the Test arena.
