Doris is in eighth place with France scrum-half Antoine Dupont taking top spot on the back of great success for both France and his club team, Toulouse. Dupont also recently helped his nation win gold in the rugby Sevens at this year’s Paris Olympic Games.
In second place is Cheslin Kolbe, who played a crucial role in the Springboks’ 2023 Rugby World Cup win, with his compatriots, Pieter-Steph du Toit (3) and Eben Etzebeth (4) with New Zealand star, Ardie Savea, making up the top five.
Doris, the versatile back rower, is the highest-placed Irish star in the list. The two-time Six Nations winner has been in excellent form for both Leinster and his country. Jamison Gibson-Park is the only other Irish player making the top ten, in ninth place.
In total, 14 Ireland stars have made the list and outside the top ten, the Irish rankings include Tadgh Beirne (18), Andrew Porter (24), Joe McCarthy (26), Bundee Aki (28), Dan Sheehan (32), Josh van der Flier (35), James Lowe (38), Hugo Keenan (54), Garry Ringrose (71), Tadhg Furlong (80), Mack Hansen (97), Robbie Henshaw (100).
South Africa has the highest share of players (18), followed by New Zealand (17). France have 11 players represented. Elsewhere, other nations represented include England (8), Argentina (7), Australia (7), Scotland (7), Italy (4), Fiji (4), Wales (3) and Georgia (1).
Speaking about the Irish contingent making the list, former Ireland international and Sunday Independent columnist Bernard Jackman believes the rankings of his compatriots is fair, but some players could be a little higher.
“There’s no big omission from an Irish point of view; but despite the fact Tadhg Furlong’s [80] been injured, I still think he is the number one tighthead in the world. You look at what he can do in a set piece, but also what he can do in terms of his carry, his ball playing ability and obviously his defensive work,” he said.
“Other players like Joe McCarthy are up and coming, but he still has to step it up; his body of work is really positive but maybe just not of the depth that you need to be in a top ten. The position for Mack Hansen is right [97], although, to be fair to him, he has had a good year and has had more big impacts on the game.
“I see James Lowe’s at 38, for me he is worth more than that because of his all-round game, but particularly his left-foot kicking game and how influential that is for Ireland and Leinster. He’s probably Ireland’s most efficient, effective and prominent ball carrier and off-loader as well. He makes good things happen whether or not he has the ball, so yeah, definitely for me he should be higher up.
“Dan Sheehan who’s there at number 32. He’s obviously injured at the moment, but I think he’s going to be the Lions’ starting hooker this summer; for me he has the capacity to be amongst the best in the world – definitely in the top 10 in a year’s time. Hopefully Ireland will get him back for the Six Nations.”
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