rugby365?s World XV

With the international season well underway we decided to look at some of the international individuals who stood out during the mid-year Tests.

There’s been plenty of international action so far this season with the bulk of the world’s premier players in action on the global Test arena.

The Boks clinched a significant 2-1 series win against the British and Irish Lions while their southern hemisphere counterparts, the All Blacks and Wallabies, were up against France and Italy.

The All Blacks were lambasted for their performances in their opening three Tests of the international season, while the Wallabies employed a different style to sweep aside their opponents to remain unbeaten heading into the Tri-Nations series.

After their series victory over the best of the British and Irish, the Boks dominate our selection with six players while only two All Blacks managed to crack our squad. The Lions also has a healthy representation with four players with two Wallabies and one Frenchman also getting the nod from our panel.

rugby365’s International XV:

15 Mils Muliaina (NZ)
With regular skipper Richie McCaw, as well as a host of other frontline players sidelined, Muliaina did a decent job of leading a vastly inexperienced All Blacks outfit in the opening tests of their 2009 international season. The added responsibility also seemed to have boosted his form as he remains one of the All Blacks’ most lethal attacking weapons.

14 Tommy Bowe (IRE)
During the build up to the three Tests against the Boks, Bowe was one of the few players to stake an early claim for inclusion in the test squad. He followed up his midweek performances with strong showings in the Test series, shifting seamlessly into the centre for the final test.

13 Stirling Mortlock: (AUS)
The powerhouse midfielder remains a crucial cog in the Wallabies’ machinery and apart from his ability to break the gain-line, his defence also stood out in Robbie Deans’ new-look system.

12 Jamie Roberts: (WAL)
The British and Irish Lion ‘Player of the Series’ during their recent trip to South Africa, Roberts has really emerged onto the international scene in the last couple of months. Powerful, quick and skilful, he caused the Springboks huge problems.

11 Bryan Habana: (RSA)
Getting back to his best, the South African flyer was looking dangerous during the Lions series and remains the one rugby365 rates the best in the world today.

10 Matt Giteau: (AUS)
The Australian playmaker continues to go from strength-to-strength and is the cog which ensures then entire Wallaby machine functions. He impressed against Italy and France will be one of the players to watch in the upcoming Tri-Nations.

9 Fourie du Preez: (RSA)
Had a great contest with Welsh No.9 Mike Phillips during the Lions series but his composure and awareness keeps him at the top of our list.

8 Jamie Heaslip (IRE)
Many will look only at his performance in the final Test in Johannesburg but throughout the tour the Ireland No.8 battled bravely. The hardworking No. 8 proved to many why coach B&I Lions coach Ian McGeechan had such faith in him.

7 Thierry Dusautoir: (FRA)
Captaining the side in the absence of Lionel Nallet, Dusautoir was brilliant in all three tests against New Zealand and Australia. He is starting to really shine on the world stage.

6 Heinrich Brüssow: (RSA)
Initially not named in the Springbok squad for the Lions series, Brussöw was brilliant against the tourists in a warm-up game and then starred in all three tests – even despite the fact that he started the second game on the bench.

5 Isaac Ross: (NZ)
The rookie had some big shoes to fill in the absence of veteran Ali Williams but he emerged as the shining light despite disappointing performances by the All Blacks. The Crusaders’ second row forward may well have established himself as a long-term option.

4 Bakkies Botha: (RSA)
His Lions experience ended on a sour note due to his two-week ban for ‘dangerous play’ but Botha was an unbelievable force for the Springboks in both Durban and Pretoria.

3 Adam Jones (WAL)
He may not have featured in the final Test of the series but Jones stood firm against the ‘Beast’ and he played with a lot of determination before his tour came to an abrupt end.

2 Bismarck du Plessis: (RSA)
The powerful hooker was a big part of the forward dominance by the Springboks in the first test and a dynamic force in the second one as well. He has clearly emerged as a very important figure in the Bok pack.

1 Tendai Mtawarira: (RSA)
The Springbok strong-man has come of age recently and his dominating performance in the first test against the Lions set the platform for the home side to go 1-0 up in the hotly contested series.

Individual Selections:

Ebrahim Moerat XV: 15 Maxime Medard, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Julien Dupuy, 8 Sergio Parisse, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 George Smith, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Nathan Sharpe, 3 Fabio Staibano, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Mils Muliaina, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Brian O’Driscoll, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Gethin Jenkins.

Peter Murison XV:15 Mils Muliana, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Julien Dupuy, 8 Richard Brown, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 Heinrich Brussöw, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Bismarck Du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira

Tim Human XV: 15 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Stirling Mortlock, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Rob Kearney, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Fourie Du Preez, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 George Smith, 6 Heinrich Brussöw, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 John Smit, 2 Bismarck Du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Maxime Medard.14 Tommy Bowe.13 Stirling Mortlock.12 Berrick Barnes, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Matt Giteau, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Thierry Dusautoir, 6 George Smith, 5 Isaac Ross, 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Fabio Staibano, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira

What do you think of our selections? Did we leave anybody out? Let us know…