In the USA, FloRugby will broadcast some of the best international rugby fixtures of 2024. “There are no better matches than the Red Roses against the Black Ferns and they will be wanting to put a few things right.” “It is great that we have the opportunity to play the world champions again within a few weeks. England won 2023’s inaugural WXV title with victory over New Zealand, as well as their most recent meeting with the Black Ferns, at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium last month.
- Seemingly unstoppable, Italian fans have high hopes that he will soon become one of their best Six Nations players of all-time.
- The 25-year-old was England’s starting fly-half on the summer tour to Japan and New Zealand and will have an opportunity to retain the No 10 shirt for the autumn campaign that George Ford is likely to miss with a torn quad.
- The back rower has made a breathtaking 55 tackles after three rounds of play – he also tops the dominant tackles list, with six – with Wales’ Tommy Reffell nine behind.
- Forced to play in a dual playmaker role for an extended period under former coach Eddie Jones, the two players somewhat stifled each other on many occasions.
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Once he gets back on the park, expect him to make an impression quickly. He’s earned 129 Super Rugby caps and 85 international caps for a reason. Second to one other hooker higher in the list, he looms as one of the All Blacks’ strongest competitors.
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What was most remarkable was how, despite rotating and changing the team almost weekly, their efficiency remained incredibly high. The Springboks have an established way of playing that continues to yield results. Singled out as one to watch by Italy great Sergio Parisse, the uncapped Izekor is a colossus of a back row who stands 6’5 tall and weighs well over 17 stones. A force on both sides of the ball, the 23-year-old will be looking to transfer his impressive form for Benetton onto the Test arena.
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- The veteran lock was a shining light in England’s below-par Six Nations campaign to become a regular test starter for the British and Irish Lions on their tour of South Africa.
- This includes rugby legends like Jonny Wilkinson, Alun Wyn Jones and Ronan O’Gara, whose names remain synonymous with the championship.
- “It is great that we have the opportunity to play the world champions again within a few weeks.
- His annual salary of $900,000 establishes him as the fourth highest-paid rugby player.
- 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).
- Prop Joe Marler and centre Henry Slade also have not played so far this season due to foot and shoulder injuries respectively.
- The other two players to have achieved the feat are legends Jonah Lomu and Bryan Habana.
His significant size in the backrow opens up a whole world of possibilities at set piece for Los Pumas – in particular, his explosive power getting off the ground quickly for lineouts and kickoff receipts. Not since the great Joe Rokocoko has New Zealand Rugby had a winger who ties together immense physicality with guile to the level of Telea. Captain of two-time European Cup-winning Stade Rochelais, Alldritt is a key leader for the French national side. England’s lost soldier, and yet another Toulouse player, how Willis remains ineligible due to selection rules is one of the greatest travesties in rugby.
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A surprising amount of people were happy when the Irish team beat the All Blacks as it was good for the game. With 15 tries in 11 tests, it’s easy to understand why Will Jordan was crowned World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year in 2021. Blessed with speed, vision and footwork, it became common nature to see the young wing slide through and around defences to run in try after try – five of which were scored in a single test against Tonga. Now a first-choice selection on New Zealand’s team sheet, another big year beckons for Jordan in 2022 as he looks to maintain his immaculate strike rate. That celebration concludes today with the announcement of world’s top 10 players in test rugby from throughout 2021.
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Will Jordan has lit up the rugby stage for years, and added to his list of achievements at the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He finished the tournament with eight tries, equalling the record for most tries at a Rugby World Cup. The other two players to have achieved the feat are legends Jonah Lomu and Bryan Habana. The versatile back, who has won the Super Rugby title multiple times with the Crusaders, has at least one more Rugby World Cup cycle in him to add to his points tally.
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A true headhunter on defense, the giant center smashes opponents with an unrelenting velocity, while in attack, he has the glint of the great Waisale Serevi about him. Fijian Rugby’s spiritual leader, Nayacelevu led his team to within an inch of a Rugby World Cup semifinal in 2023. England’s chop-tackling maestro is back to his best and has added another layer to his game as a game-changing carrier. Still just 27 years old, the 2019 Rugby World Cup star brings a nasty edge to an explosive England pack. Slotting into a star-studded Toulouse backline, the diminutive dynamo is one of the most exciting attacking talents in the world.
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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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- 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.
- Followers of Reffell since his fledgling days with the U20s and Leicester will say it was ever thus, and won’t be surprised to see him atop the list of turnovers won.
- Djordje Mihailovic opened for the scoring against Guinea with a world-class free kick from just outside the box in the 14th minute.
- Rampaging second row Federico Ruzza is a cornerstone of the Italian pack, and he is evidently their target man at this set-piece, taking 17 lineouts in three matches.
- Arguably only the second true utility player on this list alongside Levani Botia, former sevens specialty Smith is one of the best back row players in the world.
- Not since the great Joe Rokocoko has New Zealand Rugby had a winger who ties together immense physicality with guile to the level of Telea.
“He’s up for renewal at Christmas and we are in negotiation about extending to the World Cup – there have been positive tones, I might add,” Sanderson said. The Wallaroos flanker will match the record for the most appearances, set by Liz Patu with 33 caps, this weekend in Cape Town. Ashley Marsters will become the equal most-capped Australian women’s Test player this weekend. Singled out as one to watch by Italy great Sergio Parisse, the uncapped Izekor is a colossus of a back row who stands 6’5” tall and weighs well over 17 stones. A force on both sides of the ball, the 23-year-old will be looking to transfer his impressive form for Benetton on to the Test arena. With the U.S. trailing 12-7 in the game’s final seconds, Sedrick broke away from the Australia defense for a game-tying try.
Other Ireland players to watch
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.
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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In short, NZ rugby did not take responsibility for the disrespect shown to Irish players, Irish supporters and Ireland. NZ are responsible and accountable for the conduct of their players. He obliquely referenced Sexton’s incident with Peyper seemingly unaware that Ioane was citable under the exact same offence.
8 – Aaron Wanwright – 7Wales’ best player last week continued his form here. Rangy runs, athletic grabs under high balls, he also offered a target at the line-out. 2 – Elliot Dee – 6On a long list, it was the line-out that was most abject in Wales’ game last week. Dee’s accuracy here meant England wouldn’t get handed free balls at the set-piece. It was a brave call to go to the back of the line within striking distance, but it worked and Wales won a penalty try from the subsequent maul.
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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.
Mark Telea – New Zealand – Winger
16 – Ryan Elias – 5Hit first jumper but missed his most important throw when Wales had to chase the game. 5 – Adam Beard – 5A hefty presence at set piece, he couldn’t replicate that anywhere else on the park. Wales had the upper hand on a few metrics, but their engine doesn’t have the requisite torque to boss around the fringe. 11 – Rio Dyer – 6.5This felt like a more senior, accomplished performance from Dyer. His darting runs – like the one where he reached the safe ty of his 22 after collecting a pass under his own poles – weren’t just brave, they were calculated. 12 – Nick Tompkins – 4Struggled to provide any strike force through midfield.
- His performance against the All Blacks in the 2019 World Cup semifinal is up there with the best individual showings of all time.
- 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.
- Russell had been making about $800,000 a year from Saracens, his home club since he was a teenager.
- 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.
- Having just carried up-field a minuter before half-time, he got up, carried again, stepped, off-loaded and found Williams on his inside.
- Australian rugby is clearly feeling the effects of a disruptive tenure under Eddie Jones.Joe Schmidt has a massive job ahead of him.
- 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.
- The sport continues to gain popularity and may eventually land players on the list.
- Les Bleus are likely to win most of their games and Penaud is a shoo-in for top try scorer making him a very strong pick.
- However, his Achilles’ heel was the bench’s inability to close out games as well as they started.
- 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.
- Far and away the most experienced option on this list, the 91 times capped George Ford likely would have been in a shootout with Farrell for the 10 shirt, had the England captain not stepped down.
In addition to Ringrose, Irish supporters will be excited to watch new captain, Peter O’Mahony. Farrell will be hoping that O’Mahony can fill the void left by behemoth Johnny Sexton, who retired after the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Unless you’re a London Irish or Harlequins fan, then Chandler Cunningham-South is a name you might not know. However, he could become a familiar face following the 2024 Six Nations. Somewhat of a throwback in his style of play, Kremer is the enforcer in a gnarly Argentine pack that never takes a backwards step.
Sinned when he went early on another scrum when Wales had the feed on England’s line. 15 – Cameron Winnett – 8Didn’t merely catch high balls and hoof them back. He showed maturity and composure, looking up with the intent to impact the game. And when fielding under pressure he demonstrated the strength to keep the ball alive. Gets extra points for a one-on-one tackle on the much larger Tommy Freeman that saved a try early in the second half. An effective kicker, dangerous in broken play and a strong finisher, the decision to re-sign him for two years is a strong indication of his potential as an attacking weapon.
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.
- The back-row bruiser also expressed his satisfaction with his evolving role as a ball-carrier in the wider channels, a tactic that has proven effective for the Boks this season.
- Is there a team with more depth in world rugby right now than the Springboks?
- He made 10 clean breaks, beat 30 defenders, made 28 tackles and scored five tries at the tournament.
- In contrast with the other Six Nations teams, Ireland’s squad contains more experienced players and fewer new talents.
- 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.
- 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.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Scoring eight tries in the 2023 season, this flying Fijian went on to earn his first cap for the All Blacks, as they demolished Los Pumas in Mendoza to kick off their Rugby Championship campaign. This will be a year of significant growth for the talented loose forward, with spots now wide open and a chance to impress his former coach, Scott Robertson. Anyone can contribute to The Roar and have their work featured alongside some of Australia’s most prominent sports journalists. Some of the changes he made, like the elevation of Tomás Albornoz, gave the team more control in terms of game management, resulting in major improvements.
His ability to play fullback, wing, or center, coupled with his goal-kicking prowess, makes him a valuable asset to the New Zealand squad. Japan’s Rugby League One and France’s Top 14 have two players each among the top five highest-paid rugby players. Hopefully NZ will respect us enough to do likelwise without abusing Irish players or abusing our amazing supporters https://becric.co.in/ again. “They also are producing a steady stream of positive drug tests.” No ‘They’ are not. A few players outside the Bok squad like Jantjies and Nkosi have tested positive and often players are testing positive once they’ve moved to another country to play club rugby. Meanwhile, the ABs seem to have no problem turning a blind eye to wife beaters.
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.