The Current World XV Statistically Speaking
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Conor Murray is ranked as the best scrumhalf in the world right now according to the stats.
The new regular club season is about to start up here in the northern hemisphere, with the business end about to begin down south.
On the international scene, the summer tours are now over with the Rugby Championship set to kick-off soon, so we thought it would be a good time to take a look at a World XV based on stats alone.
The guys over at The Rugby Net regularly compile a detailed database ranking players in each position based on a variety of factors. Their most recent database update was collected last month following the summer tours and we’ve complied all the top performers in each position into a World XV.
Forwards
Loosehead – Jack McGrath (Ireland)
Hooker – Dane Coles (New Zealand)
Tighthead – Dan Cole (England)
Lock – Devin Toner (Ireland)
Lock – Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)
Flanker – Chris Robshaw (England)
Flanker – Francois Louw (South Africa)
Number 8 – Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
Backs
Scrumhalf – Conor Murray (Ireland)
Outhalf – Bernard Foley (Australia)
Centre – Jonathan Joseph (England)
Centre – Damian de Allende (South Africa)
Winger – Anthony Watson (England)
Winger – Nehe Milner-Skudder (New Zealand)
Fullback – Mike Brown (England)
What do you think? There’s certainly plenty of surprises. Which positions would you change, despite the stats?
