Picking A Current World XV
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This is a tough one.
Picking a current World XV is always going to be controversial. Picking your first few players is usually easy, but after that things start to get complicated. The likes of Beauden Barrett, Dane Coles, Maro Itoje and Kieran Read will make most selections, but the rest of the team is open for debate.
In our selection we’ve moved some players around to incorporate them into our selection. Trying to choose between Ben Smith and Israel Folau for example is tricky, so why not have both players in your team?
The most difficult area hands down is the back-row. There’s a lot of top number 8’s in world rugby right now but Kieran Read gets that slot all day long. On the other hand Louis Picamoles has been one of the in-form players in the last 12 months, hence why we’ve made room for him at 6.
The 7 jersey is also up for grabs but on current form Sean O’Brien deserves the nod. The Irish forward was simply immense during the Lions series.
Picking A Current World XV
15. Israel Folau
14. Ben Smith
13. Jonathan Davies
12. Owen Farrell
11. Israel Dagg
10. Beauden Barrett
9. Conor Murray
1. Joe Moody
2. Dane Coles
3. Tadhg Furlong
4. Maro Itoje
5. Brodie Retallick
6. Louis Picamoles
7. Sean O’Brien
8. Kieran Read
