Global Rugby Dream Team Announced — Springboks dominate

Wednesday, 29 October 2025 at 06:57

byCharlie Elliott

Putting together the best 23 in rugby isn’t about stats or fancy moments. It’s about the players who make you care — the ones who turn games, lift teammates, and never seem to fade when things get tough.

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They’ve all got their own way of doing it, but every one of them brings something honest, something that makes the sport worth watching.

15 Will Jordan

Some players sprint; Will Jordan just seems to glide. He’s got that knack of showing up exactly where he needs to be, without looking like he’s trying. You don’t notice him forcing plays or panicking—he just reads the game better than most. When he’s in full flight, everything around him feels a bit lighter.

14 Damian Penaud

Damian Penaud plays like he’s having the time of his life. You never quite know what he’s going to do, and that’s half the fun. He’ll chip when others would carry, spin when a tackle’s coming, grin while defenders slide past. He looks like someone who grew up playing for the pure joy of it—and never stopped.

13 Jesse Kriel

Jesse Kriel isn’t flashy, and that’s his strength. He does the jobs that win games but rarely make highlight reels—organising, closing space, communicating. He’s one of those players you only fully appreciate when he’s not there. The harder the match gets, the more his steady influence seems to matter.

12 Damian de Allende

There’s nothing complicated about Damian de Allende’s rugby—he runs hard, tackles harder, and keeps going. But behind that is real smarts. He knows when to hold the ball, when to offload, when to take the hit. He’s the kind of player who simplifies messy moments, dragging his team forward when things stall.

11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey

Louis Bielle-Biarrey still plays like the game’s fresh to him. He’s young, fearless, and clearly loves having a go. There’s energy in everything he does—chasing kicks, running angles, backing himself. He makes mistakes sometimes, but you sense he’d rather that than play it safe. That confidence lifts everyone around him.

10 Finn Russell

Finn Russell looks like he’s playing a different sport sometimes. He’ll spot a pass that no one else even thought was on and make it look obvious. He’s relaxed, smiling, chatting, but then—bang—something outrageous happens. He’s risky, sure, but that’s what makes him dangerous. When he’s in rhythm, it’s magic.

9 Antoine Dupont

Antoine Dupont does everything at full tilt but never loses control. He’ll smash into a tackle one minute and fire a perfect pass the next. He’s built like a flanker but thinks like a fly-half. There’s no showmanship about him, just pure competitiveness. When he’s around the ball, you can feel the tension rise.

1 Ox Nche

You can tell Ox Nche loves the battle. Every scrum, every carry, he’s up for it. He’s got this mix of power and humour that makes him easy to like—he competes hard but never looks miserable doing it. Off the field, he’s all smiles; on it, he’s all business.

2 Dan Sheehan

Dan Sheehan feels like the modern hooker in a nutshell—strong in the set piece, fast in open play, and never quiet for long. He’s one of those players who always seems to be involved, whether hitting a ruck or running a support line. He’s got a real edge to him too, like he enjoys the fight.

3 Tadhg Furlong

You get the sense Tadhg Furlong could’ve been good at anything—he just happened to pick rugby. He’s a prop who plays with personality, mixing brute strength with little moments of skill that catch people off guard. There’s always a grin nearby, even when he’s locking horns with someone twice his size.

4 Eben Etzebeth

Eben Etzebeth’s presence changes everything. He doesn’t have to say much—you just know he’s there. His tackles echo, his ruck work rattles opponents, and his energy never really dips. He plays angry, but it’s a controlled kind of anger, the type that lifts a team instead of distracting it.

5 Maro Itoje

Maro Itoje never stops moving. He’s constantly talking, contesting, clapping, pointing—completely locked into the game. You can tell how much he loves competing by the way he celebrates the small stuff. It’s not arrogance, it’s drive. He brings intensity, but it’s the intelligence behind it that sets him apart.

6 Siya Kolisi

Everything about Siya Kolisi feels genuine. He’s a leader, yes, but not the loud, look-at-me kind. He carries himself with calm, even when the pressure’s up. You can sense his teammates play harder because of him. Kolisi’s not trying to be inspirational—it just sort of happens that way.

7 Pieter-Steph du Toit

Pieter-Steph du Toit looks like he’d happily play for 100 minutes straight. He’s a worker, pure and simple. There’s nothing fancy in what he does—he just keeps hitting, running, chasing, and somehow never tires. You can see why coaches love him: he’s all effort, no ego.

8 Ardie Savea

Ardie Savea wears his heart on his sleeve. He celebrates, he shouts, he lifts teammates—he’s emotionally in it from start to finish. He’s got the power and pace, sure, but what really stands out is how much he seems to care. Every run feels personal. Every tackle means something.

REPLACEMENTS:

16 Malcolm Marx

When Malcolm Marx jogs on, you can almost feel the atmosphere change. He’s built for the gritty parts of rugby—breakdowns, scrums, contact. There’s nothing fancy about him, just a ruthless efficiency. He hits hard, works hard, and gives absolutely nothing away. A true tone-setter.

17 Andrew Porter

Andrew Porter goes about his job with zero fuss. He’s reliable, durable, and takes pride in the unglamorous work. You rarely see him complaining or gesturing—he just gets on with it. You can build a pack around that sort of attitude.

18 Thomas du Toit

Thomas du Toit is exactly the kind of prop you want coming on late. Big, mobile, and full of aggression. He adds weight to everything—the scrum, the defence, the mood. There’s a satisfaction to the way he plays, like someone who knows his role and loves doing it.

19 Will Skelton

When Will Skelton’s on the field, everyone notices. He’s enormous, obviously, but there’s skill in his game too. He knows how to use his size without wasting it—offloading smartly, picking lines, leading with presence. You can see teammates feed off his energy. He’s impossible to ignore.

20 Tadhg Beirne

Tadhg Beirne’s the kind of player who pops up where you least expect him. One minute he’s stealing a ball, the next he’s making a line break. He’s got great timing and a proper feel for the game. You can slot him anywhere in the pack and he’ll deliver. Coaches love that sort of reliability. Tactically, filling the second and back row also helps him.

21 Caelan Doris

Caelan Doris doesn’t look rushed. He plays with a quiet confidence—doesn’t chase big moments, just keeps delivering the small ones. His carries always seem to get over the line, his defence always on time. He’s a steadying influence, the kind of player who makes those around him look sharper.

22 Cam Roigard

Cam Roigard brings energy the moment he steps on. He’s lively, direct, and unafraid to have a go. You can tell he loves testing tired defences and finding space where there shouldn’t be any. He’s still learning, but there’s a fearlessness about him that’s hard to teach.

23 Santi Carreras

Santi Carreras is all about composure. No matter the situation, he looks like he’s in control. He glides when others rush, makes smart choices under pressure, and fits wherever you put him. There’s creativity there, but also a cool head. He’s the kind of player who quietly fixes things when they start to wobble. Extremely versatile, he is the ideal 23rd player.