The Current World XV Statistically Speaking
Latest posts by Will Matthews (see all)
Who would make a current World XV statistically speaking?
Now that the November series is over we thought it might be a good time to look at what a World XV would like right now according to statistics.
Jack McGrath makes the XV at loosehead with New Zealand’s Dane Coles and England’s Dan Cole joining him in the front-row. All Blacks’ duo of Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock pack down behind them in the lock department with Jerome Kaino, Michael Hooper and Kieran Read making up the back-row.
The half-back pairing see’s Ireland’s Conor Murray and New Zealand’s Beauden Barrett link up with Anton Lienert-Brown and Jonathan Joseph standing outside them at 12 & 13 respectively. Ryan Crotty come’s in as the best 12 on the list but Lienert-Brown ranks above him so we’ve given him the nod at inside centre.
The back three sees Dane Haylett-Petty on one wing, with Julian Savea on the other, while Ben Smith slots in at fullback.
The ratings are mathematically generated from a variety of objective criteria, meaning they aren’t simply an opinion of who is best, they are calculated by The Rugby Net Rating Engine. The Rating Engine takes in information (statistics, standings, match results, etc) and produces a rating for each player. For a full breakdown of the algorithm click here
1. Jack McGrath
2. Dane Coles
3. Dan Cole
4. Brodie Retallick
5. Sam Whitelock
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Michael Hooper
8. Kieran Read
9. Conor Murray
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Dane Haylett-Petty
12. Anton Lienert-Brown
13. Jonathan Joseph
14. Julian Savea
15. Ben Smith