Northern Hemisphere v Southern Hemisphere XV: The Battle of the Best (Final Score Revealed!)

Saturday, 11 October 2025 at 07:15

byCharlie Elliott

No medals, no pressure. Just a game. North vs South.

It’s about personalities, not just power. Familiar faces, rival styles, and players who carry more than just the ball. Here’s how the two sides might shape up—position by position.

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Front Row (Score: South 1–0 North)

The Northern Hemisphere front row of Dan Sheehan, Jean-Baptiste Gros, and Tadhg Furlong is a solid mix of mobility, scrummaging know-how, and work rate. Furlong’s ability to carry and pass like a back gives them something extra, while Sheehan is a real handful in the loose. Gros brings a quiet toughness up front, no frills but no backward steps.

Across the divide, the Springboks trio of Malcolm Marx, Ox Nche, and Thomas du Toit feel like a throwback in all the best ways. Marx is relentless—strong over the ball and brutal in contact—while Ox is known for his low centre of gravity and explosive power. Du Toit brings muscle and versatility. It’s a battle that would be as technical as it is physical but the South Africans take it.

Second Row (Score: South 2–0 North)

This one’s a very good one. Maro Itoje and Tadhg Beirne have both built reputations as big-game players. Itoje thrives in chaos—whether it’s disrupting lineouts or just being a constant presence. Beirne brings a bit more unpredictability, always in the right place, always looking for a steal.

The Southern Hemisphere brings fire and presence in Eben Etzebeth and RG Snyman. Etzebeth leads with emotion and brute force, never far from the action. Snyman, with his offloads and sheer size, adds a different dimension—unorthodox, but effective. You get the sense neither of these pairs would give an inch. However, you can't argue with back-to-back World Cups so the Boks duo take it again.

Back Row (Score: South 3–0 North)

The North’s trio—Ollie Chessum, Josh van der Flier, and Caelan Doris—are workhorses who don’t look for headlines. Chessum’s still finding his ceiling, but covers ground and competes hard. Van der Flier is a quiet operator who never seems to miss a beat. Doris brings a calm, intelligent edge, linking forwards and backs with ease.

But the South has experience and bite. Siya Kolisi, Pieter-Steph du Toit, and Ardie Savea know what it means to lead from the front. Kolisi plays with heart, always seems to make the tackle that matters. Du Toit’s motor is ridiculous—he just keeps going. And Savea? He’s a force of nature. You can’t teach what he brings. It’s instinct. Unfortunately for the north, two Springboks legends and Ardie Savea are too much for anyone to handle.

Halfbacks (Score: South 3–1 North)

This is where the tempo gets set. Antoine Dupont and Finn Russell are like jazz musicians—structured when they need to be, but always ready to improvise. Dupont is relentless; he never switches off. Russell’s vision is unmatched on his day, and you live with the risks because the rewards are often spectacular.

On the other side, Grant Williams brings speed and bite. He keeps defences honest. Beauden Barrett, still one of the smoothest operators around, knows exactly when to speed things up or slow them down. He plays what’s in front of him. With either combo, chaos is never far away. This one goes to the northern hemisphere

Centres (Score: South 4–1 North)

The Northern midfield pairing of Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones has grown together, feeding off each other’s strengths. Tuipulotu brings a physical edge and defensive grit, while Jones offers timing and finishing. They’re not flashy—they’re just consistently effective.

In the South, Jesse Kriel is a battering ram with subtle touches, and Jordie Barrett adds kicking, passing, and a big boot—he’s like a second playmaker with size. It’s a pairing built on balance—one plays direct, the other sees space before it’s even there. Both are very strong duos but the southern hemisphere takes it.

Back Three (Score: South 4–2 North)

This is where it gets electric. For the North, Louis Bielle-Biarrey is fearless, still new but already looking comfortable at the top. Tommy Freeman is a smart, rangy finisher who doesn’t waste chances, while Thomas Ramos offers security and a boot that wins tight games. They are a strong mix of flashy but also consistent.

In the South, it’s a different story. Cheslin Kolbe is box office—one step and he’s gone. Canan Moodie has the instincts and athleticism of someone who could be around for a long time. Will Jordan? He just scores tries. Finds space where there shouldn’t be any. Together, they’re dangerous from anywhere. This is actually going to the northern hemisphere, as the balance is just so good.

Final Score: Southern Hemisphere 4–2 Northern Hemisphere

The mix of Springbok and All Blacks talent is simply too strong for the Six Nations to handle, as evidenced by the back-to-back World Cups the Boks have won and the positive results New Zealand have managed in the Autumn Nations Series. Both are obviously very strong squads, but the South's is simply outstanding and reads like a who's who of some of the best players in the world.

? Northern Hemisphere XV

Front Row

Jean-Baptiste Gros (France)
Dan Sheehan (Ireland)
Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

Second Row
4. Maro Itoje (England)
5. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)

Back Row
6. Ollie Chessum (England)
7. Josh van der Flier (Ireland)
8. Caelan Doris (Ireland)

Halfbacks
9. Antoine Dupont (France)
10. Finn Russell (Scotland)

Centres
12. Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland)
13. Huw Jones (Scotland)

Back Three
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France)
14. Tommy Freeman (England)
15. Thomas Ramos (France)

? Southern Hemisphere XV

Front Row

Ox Nche (South Africa)
Malcolm Marx (South Africa)
Thomas du Toit (South Africa)

Second Row
4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)
5. RG Snyman (South Africa)

Back Row
6. Siya Kolisi (South Africa)
7. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)
8. Ardie Savea (New Zealand)

Halfbacks
9. Grant Williams (South Africa)
10. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)

Centres
12. Jesse Kriel (South Africa)
13. Jordie Barrett (New Zealand)

Back Three
11. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa)
14. Canan Moodie (South Africa)
15. Will Jordan (New Zealand)

Northern Hemisphere v Southern Hemisphere XV: The Battle of the Best (Final Score Revealed!)

byCharlie Elliott

Front Row (Score: South 1–0 North)

Second Row (Score: South 2–0 North)

Back Row (Score: South 3–0 North)

Halfbacks (Score: South 3–1 North)

Centres (Score: South 4–1 North)

Back Three (Score: South 4–2 North)

Final Score: Southern Hemisphere 4–2 Northern Hemisphere

? Northern Hemisphere XV

? Southern Hemisphere XV

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