Writers' World XV: Northern Vs. Southern Hemisphere

International rugby will now take the backseat to domestic and European competition until the 2015 Six Nations kicks off in February, but we have one last offering of trans-hemisphere competition for you in 2014.

With teams of the autumn popping up all over the place, the social media debates have continued unabated, even though the last match of the autumn finished three days ago. As a result, Talking Rugby Union has decided to pit one of their northern hemisphere writers against one of his antipodean counterparts, and ask you which XV you think is on the money.

In the blue corner, representing the northern hemisphere, we have Alex Shaw, whilst in the red corner, Scott Donaldson flies the flag for the southern hemisphere. With no further ado, here are the XVs.

Alex Shaw’s XV

15. Scott Spedding (France)
14. Teddy Thomas (France)
13. Conrad Smith (New Zealand)
12. Matt Toomua (Australia)
11. Julian Savea (New Zealand)
10. Dan Biggar (Wales)
9. Aaron Smith (New Zealand)
8. Adam Ashe (Scotland)
7. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Ireland)
5. Paul O’Connell (Ireland)
4. Jonny Gray (Scotland)
3. David Wilson (England)
2. Ross Ford (Scotland)
1. Joe Marler (England)
 
Scott Donaldson’s XV

15. Willie le Roux (South Africa)
14. Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
13. Tevita Kuridrani (Australia)
12. Jean de Villiers (South Africa)
11. Julian Savea (New Zealand)
10.  Jonathan Sexton (Ireland)
9. Aaron Smith (New Zealand)
8. Kieran Read (New Zealand)
7. Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
6. Peter O’Mahony (Ireland)
5. Paul O’Connell (Ireland)
4. Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)
3. David Wilson (England)
2. Agustín Creevy (Argentina)
1. Tendai Mtawawira (South Africa)

Whilst Scott’s XV features 10 southern hemisphere players, Alex’s pack is almost a clean sweep by the northern hemisphere, with the iconic Richie McCaw the only southern hemisphere player to make the cut. Across both XVs, David Wilson, Paul O’Connell, Peter O’Mahony, McCaw, Aaron Smith and Julian Savea were all unanimous picks, but that’s where the similarities end in our two rather contrasting XVs.

There’s no doubt that New Zealand and Ireland were the two most impressive teams this autumn and on that fact alone, Scott’s XV seems to have the edge, with nine players hailing from those two countries, as opposed to just six in Alex’s XV.

The likes of Courtney Lawes, Sam Warburton, Duane Vermeulen, Greig Laidlaw and Rob Kearney can all feel aggrieved at their lack of representation in either team, but what do you think? Which of our writers has hit the nail on the head and which just seems like he has been hit on the head? Let us know what you think on social media at @TalkRugbyUnion.