Siya Kolisi and the Boks celebrate. Photo: SA Rugby website
REMINDER: The 2021 Dream Team selected by World Rugby
There were five Springboks named in the World Rugby Dream Team of the Year, with South Africa boasting more players than any other country.
Siya Kolisi and the Boks celebrate. Photo: SA Rugby website
Following stellar performances for the Boks in a blockbuster 2021 season, Malcolm Marx, Eben Etzebeth, Siya Kolisi, Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi were all included in the Dream Team that was unveiled by World Rugby on Wednesday.
The full team of players selected boast a combined 850 caps for their countries with the world champion Springboks having the most representatives with five, followed by New Zealand with three.
The World Rugby Men’s 15s Dream Team:
15 Stuart Hogg (Scotland), 14 Will Jordan (New Zealand), 13 Lukhanyo Am (South Africa), 12 Samu Kerevi (Australia), 11 Makazole Mapimpi (South Africa), 10 Beauden Barrett (New Zealand), 9 Antoine Dupont (France), 8 Adrie Savea (New Zealand), 7 Michael Hooper (Australia), 6 Siya Kolisi (South Africa), 5 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), 4 Maro Itoje (England), 3 Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 2 Malcolm Marx (South Africa), 1 Wyn Jones (Wales).
The team that was dominated by Boks also featured the four players nominated for the World Rugby Player of the year, Maro Itoje (England lock), Michael Hooper (Wallaby loose forward), Antoine Dupont (France scrumhalf) and Samu Kerevi (Wallaby centre).
“To contribute a third of the World Rugby Dream Team not only underlines how good the Springboks performed in a very difficult season, but also how our individual players rose to the occasion – and this is true for more than just these five,” said SA Rugby president Mark Alexander.
“It’s certainly a well-deserved accolade in what was an important season for the national team following a long absence from international rugby due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The competition for this award was tough, and for a handful of our players to be in the mix in a year in which they finished the season as the top team in the world makes this an even more notable achievement.
“A sincere congratulations to Siya, Eben, Malcolm, Lukhanyo and Makazole for this significant recognition,” added Alexander.
READ | LUKHANYO AM LOSES OUT ON WORLD RUGBY’S TRY OF THE YEAR AWARD
Boks’ coach Jacques Nienaber full of praise for the players
Nienaber echoed the sentiments shared by Alexander.
“The entire Springbok team and coaching staff are delighted for the players.
“It is a fantastic achievement, and it shows the class and skill level of the players we have within our squad and in the country. We all share in their excitement.”
Another big day awaits the top players in the country on Friday when the SA Rugby Player of the Year nominees, along with the short-listed players for a cohort of other awards for the 2021 season, will be named.
World Rugby Women’s 15s Dream Team
1. Annaëlle Deshayes (France)
2. Agathe Sochat (France)
3. Sarah Bern (England)
4. Safi N’Diaye (France)
5. Abbie Ward (England)
6. Zoe Aldcroft (England)
7. Karen Paquin (Canada)
8. Poppy Cleall (England)
9. Laure Sansus (France)
10. Caroline Drouin (France)
11. Abby Dow (England)
12. Beatrice Rigoni (Italy)
13. Stacey Fluhler (New Zealand)
14. Caroline Boujard (France)
15. Jasmine Joyce (Wales)
