Rugby
Opta’s team of the tournament
If 2011 and 2015 was Black to Black, then 2019 and 2023 is Bok to Bok. Winning the Rugby World Cup is hard enough to do once but doing it in consecutive editions takes something special.
The winning mentality of this current South Africa unit is beyond special, triumphing in all their World Cup knockout games in 2023 by just a single point, refusing to be beaten, whatever it takes.
A total of 48 games were played in this World Cup, with plenty of memories forged along the way that will live long into rugby folklore. Incredible feats of attacking brilliance paired with defensive bravery and resolve.
Using the unique Opta Index – which objectively scores each player’s performances throughout the campaign – we can select the best XV of the tournament.
We go through each selection and back up their inclusion with some pertinent statistics, also flagging some players who were unlucky to miss out in key positions.
15. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
All three Barrett brothers ranked in our top 30 players overall for the tournament, but Beauden is the one to feature in this XV. In the final he became the first ever player to score in two men’s Rugby World Cup finals, he also ranked joint first for metres gained (492) in the tournament, a ranking he also topped in 2019 (460).
Close: Davit Niniashvili (Georgia), Thomas Ramos (France).
14. Damian Penaud (France)
Defeat in the last eight by South Africa denied Penaud the chance to etch his name firmly into French legend, yet he still made more breaks than any player in the tournament (13), crossed for six tries and provided five assists. No Frenchman has scored more tries in a World Cup (Vincent Clerc in 2011 and Jean-Baptiste Lafond in 1991 also scored six).
Close: Mark Telea (NZ), Raffaele Storti (Portugal), James Lowe (Ireland).
13. Garry Ringrose (Ireland)
Quarter-final heartbreak yet again but Ringrose was at his creative best, his six try assists are the most by an Ireland player in a men’s Rugby World Cup. Only one centre made more breaks (seven) than him as well, team-mate Bundee Aki (10).
12. Bundee Aki (Ireland)
One of the standout players of the tournament, without doubt, again with a curtailed campaign. Scored five tries, made the most carries of any back (81) and was the only player to make 45+ carries and have a dominant carry rate of 50%+ (54%). He also made 10 breaks and beat 30 defenders, ranking third in both of those categories.
11. Will Jordan (New Zealand)
Jordan crossed for eight tries in the tournament, equalling the record for most tries in an edition of a men’s Rugby World Cup held by Jonah Lomu (1999), Bryan Habana (2007) and Julian Savea (2015). The 25-year-old also made the second most breaks (12) as well as the most dominant tackles (eight) by an All Black.
10. Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand)
Mo’unga is a rare all-rounder in the 10 jersey, a creative and dangerous ball carrier and distributor as well as a shrewd tactical kicker. In this World Cup he made the most break passes (six), gained the most metres (352) and beat more defenders (21) than any other fly-half.
Close: Matthieu Jalibert (France).
9. Antoine Dupont (France)
Injury looked like it would derail Dupont’s World Cup, but in the end it was the Springboks who really shattered his dream. Limited to just 200 minutes of action he still made the joint most offloads (10) of anyone in the tournament, avoided 55% of the tackles that players tried to make on him and created five breaks, the most of any scrum-half.
Close: Aaron Smith (NZ), Alex Mitchell (England).
8. Ardie Savea (New Zealand)
Savea is a relentless force, in fact he was the only player to rank in the top 10 on both the attack and defence-specific categories of the Opta Index. He beat 27 defenders, the joint most by a forward in an edition of the men’s World Cup (Italy’s Jake Polledri 27 in 2019), while his 22 carries in the final was the most by any player in a men’s World Cup final. Savea was also directly involved in more tries than any other forward (three tries, four assists).
Close: Caelan Doris (Ireland), Ben Earl (England).
7. Nicolas Martins (Portugal)
Martins was arguably the breakthrough player of the World Cup. His gainline success rate of 79% was the second best of any forward to make 20+ carries in the tournament. He also won 24 line-outs, including four steals, and averaged 16.3 tackles per 80 minutes across Portugal’s impressive campaign.
Close: Jac Morgan (Wales), Charles Ollivon (France).
6. Courtney Lawes (England)
This was Lawes’ swansong, and he went out with a bang, leading England to a third-place finish. As usual he carried hard (35 carries, 10 defenders beaten), tackled strongly (30 tackles) and was a menace at both the breakdown (41 defensive arrivals, 4 breakdown turnovers) and line-out (23 takes, including 3 steals).
Close: Michael Leitch (Japan), Shannon Frizell (New Zealand).
5. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
Beirne is a key weapon for Ireland, contributing across the pitch in a variety of ways. He scored three tries in this tournament, made 56/59 tackles and won four turnovers. He also chips in at the line-out, claiming 13 takes on Ireland’s throw and stealing two from the opposition.
4. Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)
Retallick was at his barnstorming best at this World Cup, his overall ruck effectiveness rate was the best of anyone to hit 100+ rucks (78%). The giant lock also stole a competition high eight opposition line-outs and made 32 carries and 31 tackles.
Close: Maro Itoje (England), Theo McFarland (Samoa), Franco Mostert (South Africa).
3. Ben Tameifuna (Tonga)
Tonga captain Tameifuna led from the front throughout this RWC. He won 88% of the scrums he was involved in (22/25) despite finding himself in a pool with Scotland, Ireland and champions South Africa. He also ranked in the top five props for metres gained (69) and defenders beaten (nine) and crossed for a pair of tries.
2. Peato Mauvaka (France)
A shining light for France who has made the hooker shirt his own. Mauvaka had the best gainline success rate (76%) of any player to make 30+ carries in the tournament and gained more metres (226) and made more breaks (five) than any other front-rower. Only misplaced four of 49 line-out throws too.
Close: Codie Taylor (NZ), Julian Montoya (Argentina).
1. Steven Kitshoff (South Africa)
Kitshoff was crucial to South Africa’s success, as proved by the fact he is the only Springbok included in this XV. He was one of just six players to hit 40+ attacking and 40+ defensive rucks in the tournament, and the only prop to do so.
Close: Thomas Gallo (Argentina).
— Reports /TrainViral/