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Rassie Erasmus’ Springboks have dominated World Rugby men’s 15s dream team of the year with a seven-strong representation.
Just four countries gained selection, with Andy Farrell’s Ireland providing four
players, New Zealand three and Argentina one.
World Rugby’s 2024 player of year award winner Pieter-Steph du Toit was one of four South African forwards included in the selection announced in Monaco on Sunday night.
He was joined in the pack by fellow countrymen Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx and Eben Etzebeth.
The three South African backs who made the cut were Damian de Allende, Jesse Kriel and Cheslin Kolbe.
Etzebeth and Kolbe were du Toit’s challengers for the player of the year award along with Caelan Doris, who headed up his Ireland team’s four-strong dream team picks.
Tadhg Beirne, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Lowe were the three
other Irish selected, while the three All Blacks recognised were Tyrel
Lomax, Damian McKenzie and Will Jordan.
The final place on the dream team was filled by Argentina forward Pablo Matera.
World Rugby men’s 15s dream team of the year: 15. Will Jordan (New Zealand); 14. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa), 13. Jesse Kriel (South Africa), 12. Damian de Allende (South Africa), 11. James Lowe (Ireland); 10. Damian McKenzie (New Zealand), 9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland); 1. Ox Nche (South Africa), 2. Malcolm Marx (South Africa), 3. Tyrel Lomax (New Zealand), 4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), 5. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), 6. Pablo Matera (Argentina), 7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa), 8. Caelan Doris (Ireland). — Rugbypass
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