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. Other criteria include the relative strength of each team, the margin of victory, and an allowance for home advantage. McReight looked very good against the ABs but I think that’s the first time I’ve seen him excel against top opposition. A decent side to be sure, but you shouldn’t be blaming them for getting your ar$e handed to you the next week. Sexton’s actions to Peyper was misconduct, and for the exact same reason Ioane’s actions to Irish supporters are citable as misconduct.
Colombia set to climb World Rugby Women’s Rankings after record win.
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 following players have received the Gallagher Premiership Player of the Month award during the 2024–25 season, as selected by a panel of media commentators, in addition to monthly public polls. With game time now under the belt, ALB will be perfectly primed for a strong year as Waikato look to go one better, and will plenty on the line to play for with positions in the All Blacks starting XV open. The fastest player ever to reach 40 tries in Super Rugby, Sevu Reece, in partnership with former Crusader Leicester Fainga’anuku, was a major reason behind their team’s insane ability to score tries. 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. Sharing the record with Telea with 12 tries last season, Codie Taylor is a formidable veteran at the head of a dangerous Crusaders pack.
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Aki has won two Six Nations titles with Ireland and the Pro12 with club Connacht. Our round-up of the finest rugby union players in the world right now. Prop Hannah Botterman, one of 10 changes to the starting line-up, wins her 50th cap in the front row. Bath flanker Sam Underhill, who has started every match for England this calendar year, has also been declared fully fit for the West Country derby against Bristol following ankle surgery. Last year, Smith held advanced talks with Racing 92 about a move to the Top 14, where he retains suitors but would render him ineligible for international selection.
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A good friend of newest NFL recruit Louis Rees-Zammit, Varney has been a consistent player in Italy’s squad since 2020. There has been a lot of change in the Italy camp heading into this tournament and so Michele Lamaro will want to be the consistent, guiding force as they look to try and finally avoid the wooden spoon. With Louis Rees-Zammit making the shock decision to leave rugby and pursue a career in the NFL, there is no better time for Rio Dyer to cement himself as Wales’ fast man. With Owen Farrell opting to take a break from international duty and then signing for French side Racing 92, the time came for England to turn to someone new as their full-time captain. The current line-up is missing many of the team’s biggest names, with Leigh Halfpenny, Dan Biggar, Alun Wyn Jones and Justin Tipuric retiring in the last 12 months. Not to mention Louis Rees-Zammit, who has departed the squad for a career in the NFL.
South Africa should be everyone’s second favourite team
Clearly you don’t have the ability to feel shame, but dude know I feel sad for you. It’s a question every rugby fan has an answer for, but rarely are any two answers the same. Edinburgh have confirmed they expect to be without full-back Emiliano Boffelli for a large chunk of the season as the Argentine star prepares for further surgery on a longstanding back problem. Updates from the world of sport on TV, including news, views and how to watch it all live.
- “We were happy with parts of our game but know there’s room for improvement in other areas and South Africa will present a big challenge on home turf.”
- Once he gets back on the park, expect him to make an impression quickly.
- Nothing too flashy, he continued to find his close-in runners and – mostly – his areas when box kicking.
- He reportedly earns $1.2 million as a key position player in sparking attacks.
- South Africa is always great and the vast majority of their fans are brilliant.
- Antoine Dupont needs no introduction, and few would disagree that he is the best player in the world right now.
- Sexton was banned for abusing/disrespecting Peyper in what was the identical version of this for the Chamions League competition.
- His wonderful performance against Argentina at the World Cup will go down in English Rugby history as one of the best individual performances in a white shirt.
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Add to that the fact that this team has now won nearly everything available to them, and they become even more impressive. Their most impressive performance was their win in New Zealand, closely followed by their dominant victory over Australia. Winning away from home against a team that hadn’t lost up to that point was mighty impressive from Felipe Contepomi’s side. On the other hand, France star Ramos is a strong contender for the top-point scorer in the Six Nations as he is in almost every competition he plays in.
Mexico the big winners in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings
He is up there as one of the best No 8s in world rugby and will be key to Les Bleus navigating the tournament without Antoine Dupont. As captain of La Rochelle, Gregory Alldritt is no stranger to being the leader of his side. Fresh from his mid-season break, Alldritt is expected to lead from the front for France, his power and commanding presence in the pack giving his side confidence. Head coach Warren Gatland believes he can grow into an Alun Wyn Jones-style of leader- the highest of compliments for the young man. Potentially the best scrum-half in England at the moment after an incredible season with Northampton, Alex Mitchell could really come into his own at this tournament. Leinster and La Rochelle once again met in the Champions Cup final, with the Irish side dominating the first half before La Rochelle staged a big comeback to retain their title once again.
George Ford – Sale Sharks
- Other criteria include the relative strength of each team, the margin of victory, and an allowance for home advantage.
- A kicker without a game is like going to a great restaurant and having nothing but a slice of white bread.
- A decent side to be sure, but you shouldn’t be blaming them for getting your ar$e handed to you the next week.
- He’s beaten 12 defenders so far, level with Ben Earl (who some pundits have even suggested should be played at centre).
- His impact has changed England’s thinking away from having a Billy Vunipola-like hulk at No8.
- “There are no better matches than the Red Roses against the Black Ferns and they will be wanting to put a few things right.”
- Leinster and La Rochelle once again met in the Champions Cup final, with the Irish side dominating the first half before La Rochelle staged a big comeback to retain their title once again.
Is there a team with more depth in world rugby right now than the Springboks? No team in the world can match the depth the Springboks have, and it was fully on display in the Rugby Championship, which they won after losing only once. The All Blacks are rarely second-best, let alone third-best, but this year they finished third in the tournament.
Andrew Porter – Ireland – Prop
Born in Auckland and raised in Australia, Meafou has lived in France since 2018. Five years later, at the close of 2023, he was finally granted French citizenship. As a result, Meafou is now eligible to represent France on the international stage for the first time at the Six Nations. Sadly though, he may have to wait until after round one to make his debut. Unfortunately for him, he sustained an injury during Toulouse’s victory over Bath in the Champions Cup.
Defeat costs Wales in World Rugby Women’s Rankings
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.
Big weekend for World Rugby Women’s Rankings powered by Capgemini
Dyer has a chance to make the position his own and show Wales fans that the loss of LRZ has given them a chance to see Dyer shine. At the Six Nations, we will see if he can meet the challenge of blending youth, experience, and managing players he has played alongside https://becric.co.in/ for a long time. Like Reed, Scotland’s Six Nations squad features three other uncapped players. Most noteworthy is loosehead prop Alec Hepburn, who earned six caps for England in 2018. Additionally, Will Hurd and Harry Paterson will make their debuts.
Regular season
It was also a major reason behind their exhilarating victory over the All Blacks on the Gold Coast, as was his exceptional defensive and breakdown work. It’s hard to imagine if the Springboks would be the world’s top-ranked side without Kolisi, who will no doubt be instrumental in their World Cup title defence next year. In a year where the All Blacks struggled to reach the lofty goals they expect of themselves, Ardie Savea stood head and shoulders above his peers as the best New Zealand had to offer.
We continue our countdown of the the 50 best players set to have a significant impact this year, based on previous form, talent and the potential impact they can have on their team’s season. Scott Robertson won’t be disheartened, though, as there were many positives. However, his Achilles’ heel was the bench’s inability to close out games as well as they started. The wing is truly prolific personified and a dangerous threat whether he crosses for a try or sets one up.
World Rankings: Why the Boks remained second despite Rugby Championship win
Nothing too flashy, he continued to find his close-in runners and – mostly – his areas when box kicking. As the Barrett brothers have proven time and time again, it is hard to keep any of them down (especially when playing together). With Scott Barrett also captaining the Crusaders, Jordie will also be desperate to get his hands on a Super Rugby title. One of the standout All Blacks of 2023, Roigard is looming as the perfect successor to Aaron Smith in Scott Robertson’s starting side.
- Cam Winnett for Wales, Johnny Matthews for Scotland, Ciaran Frawley or Calvin Nash for Ireland, Nocolas Depootare for France and Feyi-Waboso or Cunningham-South for England.
- One half of an all-star French halves combination, Romain Ntamack continues to emerge as one of rugby’s most promising young players.
- While Wales’ lineout has faltered at key moments, back rower Aaron Wainwright (15) and lock Dafydd Jenkins (12) have been the go-tos in this area.
- 10 – Ioan Lloyd – 7.5Dallied on the ball and, like a sacked quarterback, was monstered by Maro Itoje under his own sticks.
- A tenacious openside flanker, van der Flier’s work rate and breakdown prowess are his standout traits.
- Bendon recently undertook the daunting task of ranking the top 100 rugby players in the world.
- The wing is truly prolific personified and a dangerous threat whether he crosses for a try or sets one up.
- Du Toit, who delivered another Man of the Match performance in the victory over Argentina, stressed the importance of teamwork.
Owen Farrell’s absence presents an important moment to one of the brightest talents in English rugby, who should now be given an extended run at fly-half. Smith shows an instinct for attack and courage to play beyond any of his rivals for the jersey, but he must also prove he can guide England through choppier waters. Here we take a look at five stars expected to grab the headlines when the tournament kicks off on February 2nd.
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The Irish “romped” to the Grand Slam in as “dominant a fashion as the championship has ever seen,” said Sky News, beating each side by at least 13 points. They will open this year’s tournament against favourites France, with the winner opening up the path to another perfect championship. The England No 8 has been nominated for @SixNationsRugby’s player of the championship award. Stephen Varney was brought up in Wales but opted to represent Italy to honour his grandparents.
The once-intimidating aura of the All Blacks seems to have faded.They are by no means in crisis like the Wallabies, but at the moment, they aren’t performing at a level that puts them among the elite. The emergence of young loose forwards like Carlo Tizzano and Fraser McReight was a huge plus, while the growth of Harry Wilson was impressive. The return of Len Ikitau also provided much-needed defensive strength and attacking creativity. The Wallabies finished last, with only a last-minute win against Argentina in South America to their name.
He made his international debut at the 2022 tournament, where he scored a brace against Scotland. In the next game, he set up Edoardo Padovani’s winning try against Wales. Nicknamed the ‘Italian wonder kid’, Ange Capuozzo will compete at his third Six Nations in 2024.
Ioane also makes disrespectful gestures to the Irish crowd twice, which is a citable offense and misconduct under the same regulation that Sexton was disciplined for abusing Peyper. Clermont are the best sports fans in the World in any sport, never mind rugby. French fans generally are amongst the best in the World, so they are right up there. Anyone who has been to Buenos Aires will tell you how great Argentina is, with a real party atmosphere and passion that can’t be beaten.
- He is up there as one of the best No 8s in world rugby and will be key to Les Bleus navigating the tournament without Antoine Dupont.
- 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.
- At times erratic but invariably brilliant, Penaud is already one of the greatest finishers of all time and is just three tries short of equalling the national record of 38 held by Serge Blanco.
- At just 20 years old, Cunningham-South is already forging a fierce reputation.
Sexton was banned for abusing/disrespecting Peyper in what was the identical version of this for the Chamions League competition. He was as fast as Christian Cullen, had a pass on him as good as Quade Cooper’s and a Roger Gould boot. His telling off of Sacha was very much the right thing but hopefully not too late.
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.
While this has, at times, counted against him starting, his world-class ability has made him a British and Irish Lion, as well as a staple in the Irish match day 23. His performance against the All Blacks in the 2019 World Cup semifinal is up there with the best individual showings of all time. Rugby in countries like the US has a long way to go to catch up in spending. The sport continues to gain popularity and may eventually land players on the list.
At the top of Andy Farrell’s Six Nations players to watch list is talented centre, Garry Ringrose. The Leinster co-captain was previously referred to as ‘the next Brian O’Driscoll’, a claim that added undue pressure. A versatile and powerful forward who is comfortable in the second row, at blindside flanker or number eight, Cunningham-South will make his debut at the upcoming tournament. He will likely vie for pitch time alongside Alex Dombrandt, with Steve Borthwick adding both players to his Six Nations squad.
- I actually always thought that was how I would see myself playing,” he said.
- Showed that last week’s tricks weren’t just a consequence the hopeless situation.
- 8 – Aaron Wanwright – 7Wales’ best player last week continued his form here.
- A versatile back, Barrett’s impressive boot, aerial skills, and positional awareness offer versatility to the All Blacks.
- Here we take a look at five stars expected to grab the headlines when the tournament kicks off on February 2nd.
- The 21-year-old arguably is Borthwick’s most viable long-term option, given his ability to combine what the England coach traditionally has favored with a strong running game.
- Captain of two-time European Cup-winning Stade Rochelais, Alldritt is a key leader for the French national side.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox. His leadership has brought about some of Italy’s best performances in their history and 2024 could be the year they take it to the next level. 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.
- In contrast with the other Six Nations teams, Ireland’s squad contains more experienced players and fewer new talents.
- Is there a team with more depth in world rugby right now than the Springboks?
- 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.
- 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.
- However, if the occasion calls for it, he is a more-than-able option in the centers or on the wing, making him a prized asset to the South Africa setup.
- He made 10 clean breaks, beat 30 defenders, made 28 tackles and scored five tries at the tournament.
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.
Clear yellow card and the latest in a long line of dumb plays by the All Blacks who, let us not forget, collected two red cards for dangerous head contact in the last four games they played against the Boks. Antoine Dupont needs no introduction, and few would disagree that he is the best player in the world right now. Not only can he display his skills on a 15s stage, but he has also started his 7s career with a bang, scoring a try on his debut for France. So far in his career, he has won the Six Nations with France and three top 14 titles with Toulouse. Eben Etzebeth is one of the first players that comes to mind when fans think of the Springboks jersey.
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.
Now that the 2024 squads have been announced, here are the Six Nations players to watch from each team. The captain of South Africa’s Rugby team, Siya Kolisi, makes the list at fifth. Kolisi plays for the French club Racing 92 for an estimated $800,000 to $850,000 a year.
