England captain Owen Farrell has been selected at fly-half in French publication Midi Olympique’s team of the Rugby World Cup.
After finishing the World Cup as the highest point scorer, the 119-cap England international is his country’s sole representative in the team, as the world champions South Africa and the All Blacks unsurprisingly dominated the XV with five players each in the squad.
Four South African forwards make the team, while Jesse Kriel is the only back from the Springboks. Prop duo Frans Malherbe and Bomb Squad extraordinaire Ox Nche, World Rugby player of the year nominee Eben Etzebeth and World Cup final player of the match Pieter-Steph du Toit are the four forwards.
Kwagga Smith cameo
Kwagga Smith cameo
Recently crowned World Rugby player of the year Ardie Savea has been selected at No8, and is joined in the pack by All Blacks teammate Scott Barrett at lock. Aaron Smith has made the team as well after playing his final ever game for the All Blacks against the Springboks. After being named World Rugby breakthrough player of the year, Mark Telea is selected on one wing, while fellow All Black Will Jordan is selected on the other after levelling the record for most tries at a single World Cup with eight.
Midi Olympique have selected two players from Fabien Galthie’s France team- hooker Peato Mauvaka and fullback Thomas Ramos. There is, therefore, no place for captain Antoine Dupont despite being a nominee for World Rugby player of the year.
The final nominee for rugby’s greatest individual gong, Ireland’s Bundee Aki, has been selected at inside centre after a barnstorming World Cup. The 100kg centre was probably the form player in the tournament before Ireland were knocked out in the quarter-final stage at the hands of the All Blacks. Another player to exit at the quarter-final stage was Wales captain Jac Morgan, who takes the final place in the XV on the flank.
Midi Olympique’s World XV
15. Thomas Ramos
14. Will Jordan
13. Jesse Kriel
12. Bundee Aki
11. Mark Telea
10. Owen Farrell
9. Aaron Smith
1. Ox Nche
2. Peato Mauvaka
3. Frans Malherbe
4. Eben Etzebeth
5. Scott Barrett
6. Jac Morgan
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit
8. Ardie Savea
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