2021 World XV
Updated: Jan 24, 2022
Written by Max Sharp
After a highly disrupted 2020 international rugby season, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fans and pundits alike now have the evidence they need to select a genuine World XV this season.
Selection criteria can vary from person-to-person, for me, the criteria is mostly based around which players were able to perform the basics of their position best in 2021. I’ve also selected a team based on their abilities regarding teamwork.
In the tight five forwards, I’ve been looking for players who are able to use soft hands, give a strong set-piece performance, while powerful carrying is always a plus from your tight-five, you can’t rely just on the backline to gain carry metres with ball-in-hand. Test rugby is won based on the performance of the tight-five.
I’ve looked for loose forwards who can win a strong turnover, carry hard, while also being tackling machines.
My inside back selections have been based around passing, kicking and communication ability, while I chose my midfield combination around similar lines, while also wanting powerful defence from my 12-13 combination.
Criteria for my outside backs was to be a player unlocked by the midfield and using finishing abilities to score many tries and beat defenders one-on-one.
Read through for a summary of my selection and their individual player statistics!
World XV Replacements:
16. Ronan Kelleher (Ireland)
17. Wyn Jones (Wales)
18. Taniela Tupou (Australia)
19. Adam Beard (Wales)
20. Siya Kolisi (South Africa)
21. Tate McDermott (Australia)
22. Marcus Smith (England)
23. Gael Fickou (France)
Loosehead Prop: Steven Kitshoff (South Africa)
Tests played: 12 tests
Minutes played: 548 minutes
Tries scored: 0 tries
Metres run: 38 metres
Defenders beaten: 3 def. beaten
Clean breaks: 0 breaks
Carries: 44 carries
Passes: 10 passes
Offloads: 2 offloads
Tackles completed: 69 tackles
Turnovers won: 3 turnovers
Picking a loosehead prop was a hard choice, as it was a strong 50/50 split between Kitshoff and Wyn Jones (Wales). I went on to pick Kitshoff for the basis of his impact off the bench, which proved to be instrumental for South Africa’s ability to close out tests. Kitshoff’s highlight of the season was the second test of the British and Irish Lions series, when he won his 50th test cap for South Africa.
Hooker: Codie Taylor (New Zealand)
Tests played: 10 tests
Minutes played: 521 minutes
Tries scored: 3 tries
Metres run: 153 metres
Defenders beaten: 5 def. beaten
Clean breaks: 2 breaks
Carries: 28 carries
Passes: 15 passes
Offloads: 2 offloads
Tackles completed: 74 tackles
Turnovers won: 3 turnovers
Although Dane Coles was able to grab the headlines for scoring 7 tries from 6 tests in 2021, Taylor remains by a long distance, the first-choice All Blacks hooker. Taylor’s lineout throwing, which was proven to be the most important element of the team’s set piece, was often targeted by opposition because of this stated importance. Taylor’s carrying and robust hits are still prominent features of his game, as he enters the twilight of his career.
Tighthead Prop: Tadgh Furlong (Ireland)
Tests played: 11 tests
Minutes played: 576 minutes
Tries scored: 0 tries
Metres run: 115 metres
Defenders beaten: 13 def. beaten
Clean breaks: 2 breaks
Carries: 65 carries
Passes: 23 passes
Offloads: 2 offloads
Tackles completed: 52 tackles
Turnovers won: 0 turnovers
After missing the bulk of the 2020 season with injury, Furlong returned to action by resuming his status as the best scrummager in the world. The British and Irish Lions scrum was noticeably weaker whenever he left the field, while his powerful running is unmatched by most props. Furlong is perhaps one of the most elite athletes in Ireland, second only to Conor McGregor.
Lock 4: Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)
Tests played: 12 tests
Minutes played: 858 minutes
Tries scored: 0 tries
Metres run: 106 metres
Defenders beaten: 6 def. beaten
Clean breaks: 1 break
Carries: 53 carries
Passes: 21 passes
Offloads: 2 offloads
Tackles completed: 83 tackles
Turnovers won: 5 turnovers
Etzebeth, now his nation’s greatest-ever player, remains on top of his game at 30, after 97 tests. Etzebeth was perhaps the most consistent tight-five forward in 2021 and was unlucky to miss a nomination for World Rugby Player of the Year. The behemoth of a man remains an intimidating force in the South African defence line, while his rugby IQ is often on display during the lineout. Although Etzebeth’s running statistics are low, as expected, his mammoth work rate is showing no sign of stopping. His biggest achievement for the year was being named Man of the Match vs Scotland.
Lock 5: Maro Itoje (England)
Tests played: 11 tests
Minutes played: 880 minutes
Tries scored: 2 tries
Metres run: 122 metres
Defenders beaten: 12 def. beaten
Clean breaks: 1 break
Carries: 56 carries
Passes: 29 passes
Offloads: 2 offloads
Tackles completed: 89 tackles
Turnovers won: 13 turnovers
Itoje, named as the Lions’ Player of the Tournament, after a Man of the Match performance in the first test, reached 50 tests this year and looks to have reached the height of his rugby career. His 13 turnovers were the most of any player in test rugby for 2021, while he played the full 80 minutes of every test he was eligible for. Itoje’s efforts are to be commended, a brilliant season.
Blindside Flanker: Courtney Lawes (England)
Tests played: 8 tests
Minutes played: 516 minutes
Tries scored: 0 tries
Metres run: 89 metres
Defenders beaten: 7 def. beaten
Clean breaks: 1 break
Carries: 40 carries
Passes: 38 passes
Offloads: 0 offloads
Tackles completed: 58 tackles
Turnovers won: 3 turnovers
Missing the bulk of the 2021 Six Nations due to injury, I suspected that Lawes would miss the Lions tour for this reason. Lawes bounced back from this injury to display his athletic ability and ferocious tackling. Soft hands and an eye for good decisions also saw the 32-year-old veteran captain England for the first time. Lawes is a player who was first capped very young and has gone on to fulfill his potential
Openside Flanker: Hamish Watson (Scotland)
Tests played: 10 tests
Minutes played: 616 minutes
Tries scored: 2 tries
Metres run: 128 metres
Defenders beaten: 13 def. beaten
Clean breaks: 0 breaks
Carries: 79 carries
Passes: 23 passes
Offloads: 2 offloads
Tackles completed: 98 tackles
Turnovers won: 5 turnovers
In a struggling Scottish side, Hamish Watson continues to be world class, not only producing Man of the Match performances against Australia and Italy, but also being named as Six Nations Player of the Tournament. Easily made the most tackles in test rugby for 2021 and although one of the smaller flankers playing today, Watson continues to run the ball like a battering ram. The Lions potentially could have won the South Africa series with more game time from Watson.
Number 8: Ardie Savea (New Zealand)
Tests played: 10 tests
Minutes played: 737 minutes played
Tries scored: 4 tries
Metres run: 312 metres
Defenders beaten: 21 def. beaten
Clean breaks: 3 breaks
Carries: 67 carries
Passes: 53 passes
Offloads: 8 offloads
Tackles completed: 89 tackles
Turnovers won: 5 turnovers
Savea is easily the most complete athlete in World Rugby. The beast reached 50 tests for the All Blacks in 2021, captaining the team for the first time, in Perth. Savea can beat defenders at will, while also amassing high running metres and a great amount of passes, while his knowledge on when and when not to attempt turnovers often reduces his team’s penalty count. He continues to prove his status as a household name in the nation with his fearlessness, even in losing causes. The best player in World Rugby by a country mile.
Halfback: Antoine Dupont (France)
Tests played: 8 tests
Minutes played: 574 minutes
Tries scored: 3 tries
Metres run: 340 metres
Defenders beaten: 26 def. beaten
Clean breaks: 9 breaks
Carries: 58 carries
Passes: 402 passes
Offloads: 12 offloads
Tackles completed: 54 tackles
Turnovers won: 5 turnovers
Although not the world’s best rugby player, Dupont is peerless when discussions around the world’s best 9 arise. His passing game and support lines are unparalleled right now, while he also has extreme competence in the tackle. The World Rugby Player of the Year had season highlights in three tries, captaining his nation for the first time, as well as a Man of the Match performance against Italy. At 25, Dupont will undoubtedly become an even better rugby player, which is a mouth-watering prospect.
First-Five Eighth: Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand)
Tests played: 10 tests
Minutes played: 537 minutes
Points scored: 95 points
Tries scored: 3 tries
Metres run: 408 metres
Defenders beaten: 26 def. beaten
Clean breaks: 6 breaks
Carries: 42 carries
Passes: 175 passes
Offloads: 8 offloads
Tackles completed: 33 tackles
Turnovers won: 2 turnovers
Despite Ian Foster’s best efforts to undermine the 27-year-old’s playmaking, he remains the best 10 in World Rugby. Back-to-back Man of the Match performances against Australia saw Mo’unga beat defenders en masse, while he also proved many a time, to be competent under pressure. The All Blacks removed him from first-reciever in the bulk of end-of-year test attacking patterns and looked directionless without his communication abilities and tactical kicking ideas. Easily New Zealand’s most accurate goal-kicker, another player seems to be best from long range however.
Left Wing: Duhan van Der Merwe (Scotland)
Tests played: 11 tests
Minutes played: 860 minutes
Tries scored: 6 tries
Metres run: 524 metres
Defenders beaten: 50 def. beaten
Clean breaks: 10 breaks
Carries: 63 carries
Passes: 18 passes
Offloads: 0 offloads
Tackles completed: 32 tackles
Turnovers won: 1 turnover
The Springboks will truly see van Der Merwe as one that got away. The 26-year-old proved crucial to the Lions’ tactics in 2021, despite his position, while he was the top try-scorer of the Six Nations, scoring 6 for the year. A complete fini