By defeating New Zealand after a huge battle, South Africa put the end to a high-level World Cup. Who were the best players of this World Cup? Who led his team to the top? Have the stars of world rugby assumed their status? After intense debates, the editorial staff of Parisien-Aujourd’hui en France offers you its typical XV of this World Cup.
15. Thomas Ramos (FRA)
With possibly two additional matches in the event of qualification for the semi-final, the Stade Toulouse fullback would perhaps have finished as the competition’s top scorer. The Frenchman scored 74 points, only one less than Owen Farrell. He is still ahead of Emiliano Boffelli, Jonathan Sexton and Richie Mo’unga.
Also cited: Damian Willemse (AFS), Beauden Barrett (NZL), Hugo Keenan (IRL).
14. Will Jordan (NZL)
The All Black came close to becoming the best try scorer in history at a single World Cup. With eight tries, the winger still joins Bryan Habana (2007), Jonah Lomu (1999) and Julian Savea (2015). Just that. However, it did not weigh on the final.
Also cited: Rodrigo Marta (POR), Matteo Carreras (ARG), Damian Penaud (FRA).
13. Jordie Barrett (NZL)
The three-quarter center produced an absolutely stunning final phase. A defensive landmark and hub of his team’s play, the last of the Barrett siblings nevertheless came within a penalty of offering the title to the All Blacks. However, he will have to wait before a first world title.
Also mentioned: Garry Ringrose (IRL).
12. Bundee Aki (IRL)
The Irishman was true to himself, unstoppable. With 81 races, 10 breakthroughs and 5 tries in just five matches, the center has largely established himself in our team, despite the elimination of the XV du Trèfle in the quarter-finals. Nominated by World Rugby for the 2023 Player of the Year award.
Also cited: Damian de Allende (AFS), Pedro Bettencourt (POR).
11. Cheslin Kolbe (AFS)
The South African Cheslin Kolbe (with the trophy) notably caused a lot of misery to the French XV during the quarter-finals. Icon Sport/PA Images
Having lost momentum in the club for several seasons, the former Stade Toulouse and Toulon player had found his former legs for this World Cup. Twirling, the South African weighed on opposing defenses, notably in the quarter-final against the Blues with a speedy try. Also valuable defensively in the final.
Also cited: Mark Tele’a (NZL), Emiliano Boffelli (ARG).
10. Richie Mo’unga (NZL)
A position where the votes were divided: the New Zealand flyhalf won by a short header ahead of Owen Farrell and Handré Pollard, proof that no flyhalf was unanimous. Mo’unga impressed with his risk-taking and his offensive appetite, but we will also remember that he missed a decisive transformation in the final, after a high-flying performance, both on the foot and with the ball in hand. Only the title is missing to complete his World Cup.
Also cited: Owen Farrell (ANG), Handré Pollard (AFS), Jonathan Sexton (IRL).
9. Aaron Smith (NZL)
The All Black, leader of the haka, also led his team perfectly on the pitch. Very accurate in his role as metronome, he also found his punch to score a good try against Argentina in the semi-final. The one in the final was refused for a forward at the start of the action. He took advantage of the poor results of his main competitors, notably Antoine Dupont, to slip into this XV.
Also cited: Antoine Dupont (FRA), Faf de Klerk (AFS).
8. Ardie Savea (NZL)
“A dragster” Jean-Baptiste Elissalde told us when introducing the third row. And the New Zealander lived up to his reputation. He is also the one who completed the most races during this World Cup. Captain at the start of the competition, Ardie Savea is logically one of the nominees for the World Rugby Player of the Year title.
Also cited: Grégory Alldritt (FRA), Duane Vermeulen (AFS).
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (AFS)
His final perfectly sums up his World Cup. The South African is an incredible warrior. Against New Zealand, the flanker made 28 tackles, an absolutely mind-blowing total. Also agile with the ball in hand, the best player in the world 2019 was particularly valuable in winning this second consecutive title.
Also cited: Charles Ollivon (FRA), Caelan Doris (IRL), Ben Earl (ENG).
6. Siya Kolisi (AFS)
The captain of the Springboks was, as in 2019, an impenetrable leader. The true soul of this team, the new Racing 92 player achieved a World Cup of an astonishing level for a player who had knee surgery at the end of April.
Also cited: Shannon Frizell (NZL), Tom Curry (ANG), Levani Botia (FIJ).
5. Scott Barrett (NZL)
The New Zealander was in the balance with James Ryan for a long time, but we ultimately leaned towards the finalist of this World Cup. The colossus, author of 53 tackles at this World Cup, spent his time cleaning up the opposing defense. A muscular and successful competition.
Also cited: James Ryan (IRL), Franco Mostert (AFS), Maro Itoje (ANG).
4. Eben Etzebeth (AFS)
South African world champion Eben Etzebeth was very good throughout the World Cup. Icon Sport/Hugo Pfeiffer
The South African is the only one to have received unanimous support within our editorial team. Intractable in defense, daring in attack, the former Toulon player sacrificed several times to save his team, flirting with the yellow card. But everything went his way during this World Cup.
3. Frans Malherbe (AFS)
For his third World Cup, the right pillar maintained his incredible level. Extremely solid in conquest and scrum, Malherbe largely imposed his power and participated in the work of destroying the South African forwards.
Also cited: Uini Atonio (FRA), Tadhg Furlong (IRL).
2. Peato Mauvaka (FRA)
The Toulouse man had started to be second in the hierarchy, behind Julien Marchand, he finally assumed his starting status perfectly. Twirling for a hooker, the Frenchman pushed back opposing defenses a lot, particularly against the South Africans. However, this was not enough.
Also cited: Bongi Mbonambi (AFS).
1. Steven Kitshoff (AFS)
Second title and second XXL World Cup for the left pillar of the Stormers. With his counterpart Frans Malherbe, the former Bordeaux player continued to push through the opposing front lines, recovering countless penalties in the scrum. Also valuable in scratching despite a few penalties conceded.
Also cited: Andrew Porter (IRL), Cyril Baille (FRA).
