World Cup fever is starting to grip the Rugby world, which of course means endless debate about the top players in world rugby. I thought I'd spare you the task of going through players one-by-one until you find a team to take on the world. A lot of thought, discussion and even more thought went into this list, and naturally, you won't agree with it. Let us know your thoughts using the comments box below and tell me just how wrong I am. But until then, here is my Dream Team 15.
Front Row
1 Soane Tonga'uiah
Northampton Saints were one of the driving forces in the Aviva Premiership at the end of last season, narrowly missing out on a place in the final at Twickenham. They reached the finals of the Heineken Cup, and put in a thrilling first half against a dogged looking Leinster. The biggest shock of all was the way the Northampton front row dominated the Leinster pack, and one third of it was down to this guy. At one point last season, Soane Tonga'uiah was the leading try scorer in the Premiership, and for a prop that is some achievement. With 90 points in 152 appearances, its' hard to ignore a player like this. His ability to carry a ball and cut lines at speed, coupled with his immense strength as a front row make Soane the one of the leading props in world rugby.
2 Schalk Brits
Every now and then a player comes along and changes the way we watch and play rugby. Schalk Brits is one of them. A stand out player for Saracens this year, Brits is dramatically changing the way hookers are thought of. He runs lines with the speed and skill of a centre. He tackles like a flanker. And at every breakdown, every counter ruck and every turnover, you can bet he is a part of it. He is definitely one to watch over the coming months, and will be a real asset to the Springboks in the World Cup.
3 Brian Mujati
For many of the same reasons as Tonga'uiah, this partnership in the front row is a formidable one for any team. Mujati's ability on and off the ball made him stand out for the Saints this season, and not many can argue against the efficiency of this front row coupling.
Second Row
4 Victor Matfield
One of the most prolific players for the Springboks, he has captained the current world champions and has over 100 caps to his name. Matfield is a true rugby legend and one of the most experienced locks in the world. He'll certainly be looking to help the Boks retain the Webb Ellis Cup in New Zealand.
5 Tom Palmer
Heineken Cup Winner, Premiership Winner, and now a regular sight in an England shirt. Tom Palmer has been on the scene for 10 years, and has recently earned his place in Martin Johnson's first 15. His skills around the breakdown are fantastic, and his ability to command and organise the pack in lineouts is staggering. He shows the worth of having a runner in the second row, with his speed and strength making him an excellent ball carrier. Keep watching, because Tom Palmer is quickly approaching legend status.
Back Row
6 Tom Croft
One of England's finest players, and arguably the best blindside in the world, Tom Croft is right up here on my list. He's as quick as a winger, and has handling skills as good as most backs, and is a natural leader. His ability to secure ball in the lineout is almost second to none, and give him an inch of space in the opposition 22 and you'll be hard pushed to stop a try from being scored. A must watch for any rugby fan in the World Cup.
7 David Pocock
A relative newcomer to the international scene with only 18 caps to his name, Pocock has rapidly established himself as a world-class openside. Opposition players target his skills at the breakdown; such is the efficiency of his defending ability. The Wallabies will be stronger for having him on their side.
8 Sergio Parisse
Rugby Union is a team sport, which makes it hard for individual players to stand out as match winners and team makers. If one person comes close, it's Sergio Parisse. He is one of the most inspirational and motivational players in rugby history, and continuously shines as the arguably the best Number Eight the world has ever seen. At the international level he stands out in a team that, despite major improvement over the last 5 years is still overshadowed by the talent of bigger teams. Parisse carries Italy to levels they would otherwise not be able to reach. And the reaction he gave after their shock, but very well deserved win over France in this year's Six Nations was enough to prove to anybody how passionate about his country, and about Rugby. He is one of my favourite players of all time, and one of the best in the world.
Half-Backs
9 Ben Youngs
10 Toby Flood
I'm putting these two together because they have to be seen as a partnership. Before you start shouting 'there are better players' just hear me out. I know there are more talented players than Youngs and Flood (although that statement in itself may receive some criticism). What you have to look at is the way these guys play off each other. Ben Youngs has the outstanding ability to direct the forwards in a way that makes the opposition tremble under pressure. His natural talent of drawing defenders and creating gaps before releasing the ball at exactly the right time is second to none, and then you've got Flood to run the gaps with his impressive pace, or open up the centres in a training ground move. Add that to his ability to kick the ball wherever he commands it to go, and you have yourself a world-class half-back partnership. These guys are going to be brilliant to watch in the World Cup, and will surely add to England's already impressive attack.
Backs
11 Maxime Medard
Perhaps the wild card of this selection, Medard has done nothing but impressed us in the international arena. Despite France's obvious lack of direction from a less than capable Lièvremont, they have obvious and natural talent in the back three. Medard is a capable full-back, but his speed, flair and tenacity make him a thorn in the side of any defending team. Give him the ball an inch of space and before you know it you're huddled under your own posts wondering what just hit you. A phenomenal, and perhaps slightly underrated player, Medard is up there with the best of them.
12 Sonny Bill Williams
The only player to ever have a secondary professional sports career (boxing), Sonny Bill is recognised the world over as an incredible athlete. Speed, an excellent boot and the strength to provide crash ball make him a real contender for the 12 shirt. His offloads are incredible, and the hits him puts in when being tackled are feared the world over. He has also represented New Zealand in Rugby League as well as Rugby Union, and with his boxing on top it simply cannot be said that he is not an incredible athlete.
13 Brian O'Driscoll
I'm sure you expected to see 'BOD' on this list. What is not to say about him? Since storming onto the international scene in 1999, he has gone on to continuously better himself and impresses him. His ability to tackle like a flanker (he's often spotted clearing out a ruck) and handling skills that would not be out of place in a 10 shirt make him an asset for any team. Teammates just know that if they throw the ball he'll be there to pick it up and before they know it he's under the posts for 5 points. His passion for rugby and his Irish pride are simply amazing, and the way he puts his body on the line in every game earns him the title of the best outside centre, if not best player in the world.
14 Chris Ashton
Another choice that is guaranteed to spark debate, Chris Ashton has indeed made it onto my top 15. A former league player from Wigan, Ashton has a fiery temperament and is continuously looking to prove the critics wrong. After quite a brief foray into world rugby, he has shown in the Six Nations he is a force to be reckoned with. The natural talent he finds in running support lines and simply being in the right place at the right time make him the ideal person to have to score tries. The love of English fans and the dread of the other nations, Ashton is definitely one to watch.
15 Ben Foden
This was a tricky one. With Kurtley Beale snapping at his heels for this list, Foden made it in for his relationship with Ashton. They work off each other and club and international level, and the close partnership pays off. Foden's attack from anywhere on the pitch is impressive, and the way he is always in support for any of his teammates is impressive. He squeezes through gaps that others might not attempt, and if he's tackled you can bet on a cheeky offload to Ashton to secure the try. I can only see him going from strength to strength in the World Cup.
So there we have it. My Dream 15. I'm almost certain you won't agree with a few of the choices, and feel free to tell me why using the comments box at the bottom. It's a debate that will rage forever, and that's why I decided to share my thoughts with the rest of you. Whatever you think, with the amount of talent in world rugby at the moment, one thing is for certain. The World Cup is going to be Epic.
