Rugby World Cup team of the pool stage: Five Boks in our XV

The 2023 Rugby World Cup pool stage came to a thrilling conclusion over the past weekend as the teams taking part in the competition knockouts were confirmed.

Ireland sent close rivals Scotland home, hosts France thumped Italy to conclude a perfect pool phase and Portugal claimed a superb upset win over Fiji to bow out of the competition on a high.

A number of players for the various teams have shone over the pool phase, and here ahead of the quarter-finals this weekend, is our Best XV from the World Cup pool stage:

15. Thomas Ramos

French fullback Thomas Ramos has been in sparkling form for the host nation over the pool phase of the World Cup and is currently the top point scorer in the competition with 61 points, eight ahead of New Zealand’s Damian McKenzie and 10 ahead of Ireland’s Johnny Sexton. Ramos has been dead eye off the tee and has the most conversions so far with 19, while he has knocked over six penalties and scored a try to boot.

14. Damian Penaud

France right wing Damian Penaud has been in lethal form at this year’s World Cup after he drew a blank at the previous showpiece event in Japan. On that occasion in 2019 Penaud was unable to score a single try in the three appearances he made. This year he currently tops the charts with six tries in three games, ahead of four players on five. He scored once in the opener against New Zealand, a hat-trick against Namibia and a double against Italy.

13. Garry Ringrose

Garry Ringrose has enjoyed a superb World Cup so far and has struck up a brilliant centre partnership with Bundee Aki. He has played in all four games and scored a lovely try latching onto a Jack Crowley cross kick against Scotland. Ringrose has made 23 carries for 235 metres, made six clean breaks and beaten five defenders, and has been solid in defence with 15 tackles. He will be looking to take that top form into their quarter-final clash against the All Blacks.

12. Bundee Aki

Ireland inside centre Bundee Aki has arguably been the player of the tournament over the pool stage and his brilliant form has played a big role in them heading into the quarter-finals unbeaten. He has played in every game, scored four tries and picked up two man-of-the-match awards against Tonga and the Springboks. He has made 31 carries for 372 metres, made nine clean breaks, beaten 23 defenders and made five offloads.

11. Leicester Fainga’anuku

Leicester Fainga’anuku has all the makings of becoming an All Blacks legend. The left wing only made his debut earlier this year, but is already considered first choice, although he has shared duties with Mark Tele’a at the World Cup so far. In the three games he has played he has scored four tries, which included a hat-trick against Uruguay. He has made 27 carries for 279 metres, beaten 18 defenders and made five clean breaks and five offloads.

10. Johnny Sexton

Irish captain Johnny Sexton is a talismanic leader and is hoping to end his international rugby career on a high with a World Cup win. He has had a fantastic final World Cup so far, playing in every game and is third on the scoring chart with 51 points, has converted the second most conversions with 15 and has scored three tries. He passed Ronan O’Gara’s Irish point scoring record during their match against Romania and he will hope to make more history by leading his side to a first ever semifinal.

9. Jamison Gibson-Park

Jamison Gibson-Park has been in top form for Ireland and has become their number one choice scrumhalf, pushing the experienced Conor Murray into a supporting role. He has played three games in the World Cup so far, scoring one try, making eight carries for 95 metres, beaten two defenders and made one offload while also making 11 tackles. He was the starting scrumhalf for his teams wins over the Boks and Scotland and he is likely to be given that role against the All Blacks.

8. Ardie Savea

Over the past few years Ardie Savea has become one of the world’s best eighthmen and has won multiple New Zealand player of the year awards. He has carried that superb form into the current World Cup and has dominated over the pool sage. Over the three games he has played he has made 24 carries for 171 metres, scored two tries, beaten 11 defenders, made two clean breaks and six offloads, while he has also made 13 tackles.

7. Pieter-Steph du Toit

After an average few years Pieter-Steph du Toit looks to be hitting the best form he has been in since the 2019 season where he won the World Cup and was named World Rugby player of the year. Although only playing in two games so far in the World Cup for the Boks he was massive in both making seven carries for 35 metres and scoring a try, while he also made an impressive 20 tackles. His form will be vital in their quarter-final against France.

6. Peter O’Mahony

The experienced Irish flank seems to have ridden the wave from leading his Munster side to the URC title into the World Cup where he has put in a number of big performances. O’Mahony has played in every match so far, making 10 carries for 38 metres, beaten four defenders, made two clean breaks and four offloads and scored two tries. He has also been immense on defence making 31 tackles and his work at the breakdown will be very important this weekend against the All Blacks

5. Franco Mostert

Although the Boks suffered the blow of losing first choice No 5 Lood de Jager before the World Cup, it has allowed Franco Mostert to slot back into his more preferred position, with him having featured more at loose forward over the past few seasons. It has gone superbly well with him striking a fantastic partnership with Eben Etzebeth. He has been dominant in the Bok lineout, making a number of steals for his side while securing any ball sent his way.

4. Eben Etzebeth

The Springboks enforcer Eben Etzebeth is one of their most important players and one of the first names on the team sheet. His influence on the team over the past few seasons is undeniable and he has carried that aura during the World Cup. Despite an early injury against Scotland that saw him miss the Romania match, Etzebeth was back and firing against Ireland and Tonga and he will look to take that momentum into the game against France.

3. Frans Malherbe

The unassuming and quiet Frans Malherbe just quietly goes about his job, which makes him arguably the best tighthead prop in the world. Malherbe isn’t a flashy prop and barely runs with the ball, but he consistently does his job and he does it well. He absolutely dominates in the scrum with the powerful Bok front row and he hits his rucks and makes his tackles, having made 17 at the World Cup so far for a 100% tackle success.

2. Peato Mauvaka

France suffered a big blow in their opening World Cup match against the All Blacks when first choice hooker Julian Marchand suffered a hamstring injury early in the game. However Peato Mauvuka took over and has done brilliantly since, playing in all four matches and doing superbly. He has packed down well and hit his jumpers, while being active around the field with 14 carries for 131 metres, scored two tries and made 26 tackles.

1. Ox Nche

The Boks loosehead prop Ox Nche is one of the strongest scrummers in the world and he must instill fear in most teams’ hearts when he is largely used as part of the vaunted ‘bomb squad’. He has played every game in the World Cup so far, off the bench against Scotland and Ireland and starting against Romania and Tonga, and has absolutely dominated whoever he has come up against. He will be aiming to do exactly the same in the quarterfinal against France.