French publication L’Equipe have named their Team of 2024 that includes six Les Bleus stars, three All Blacks and just three Springboks, despite a strong year.
In a XV that will no doubt cause plenty of backlash from some quarters, L’Equipe readers have snubbed the likes of Damian de Allende and Jesse Kriel from their team.
The public vote led to no spot for New Zealand tighthead prop Tyrel Lomax and Springboks star Ox Nche as Ireland duo Tadhg Furlong and Andrew Porter are named.
France hooker named
Continuing with the front-row, L’Equipe’s hooker jersey goes to France and Toulouse star Peato Mauvaka, who had an impressive campaign for both club and country.
The front-row is completely different to World Rugby’s selection and they have also looked elsewhere at lock with Emmanuel Meafou getting in over Tadhg Beirne. The Toulouse and France man mountain was outstanding over the past year and he joins Eben Etzebeth in the engine room in what would be a formidable combination.
L’Equipe readers’ back-row is also a powerful unit as Francois Cros (France) and World Rugby Men’s Player of the Year Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa) are the flankers, while All Blacks workhorse Ardie Savea is named at number eight, after helping New Zealand improve as the year wore on under new coach Scott Robertson.
Moving into the backline, the result at scrum-half saw Antoine Dupont gobble up an eye-watering 96.22% of the public vote in a procession to the number nine jersey.
Dupont’s team-mate for club and country, Thomas Ramos, was rewarded for an impressive 12 months at both full-back and fly-half by being named in the 10 position.
Then came arguably the most contentious decisions as Boks De Allende and Kriel miss out to Jordie Barrett (New Zealand) and Bundee Aki (Ireland) in the midfield.
Rounding out the line-up was a devastating back three that is stacked with speed as Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France) and Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa) are recognised for strong years on the wings while All Blacks flyer Will Jordan is picked in the full-back shirt after becoming a focal point of Robertson’s attack over the Test season.
L’Equipe Team of the Year:
15 Will Jordan (New Zealand), 14 Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa), 13 Bundee Aki (Ireland), 12 Jordie Barrett (New Zealand), 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France), 10 Thomas Ramos (France), 9 Antoine Dupont (France), 8 Ardie Savea (New Zealand), 7 Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa), 6 Francois Cros (France), 5 Emmanuel Meafou (France), 4 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), 3 Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 2 Peato Mauvaka (France), 1 Andrew Porter (Ireland)
