Once again, some of the choices will spark debate. Others look more obvious. On Tuesday, World Rugby unveiled its Dream Team of 2025. A selection with a strong South African accent, since six Springboks have been named.

The front row is 100% South African with the giants Ox Nche, Malcolm Marx (who took the 2025 player of the year award) and tighthead Thomas du Toit. Fairly logical when you know the power of those three units at set-piece and in open play.

No Ardie Savea

In the second row, England’s Maro Itoje and Ireland’s Tadhg Beirne pair up. The back row, on the other hand, may look surprising. Especially if you take a full year into account… The excellent Pieter-Steph du Toit lines up at 6 (fairly logical), alongside England’s Tom Curry and Australia’s Harry Wilson.

It is hard to understand how New Zealand’s Ardie Savea is not in there, given the impressive consistency he shows season after season. The All Blacks can console themselves with the appearance of Cameron Roigard in the XV, at scrum-half. The Hurricanes man has well and truly picked up Aaron Smith’s torch.

Alongside him at fly-half, South African prodigy Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has been chosen. As a reminder, his first cap dates back to June. In the centre, no Kriel, no De Allende, no Fickou and no Jordie Barrett, for example, but instead a surprising pairing of Len Ikitau and Huw Jones.

On the wings, a French cockerel crows! While Cheslin Kolbe is named on the right, France’s serial try-scorer Louis Bielle-Biarrey takes his place on the left. Finally at full-back, the other peerless finisher, New Zealand’s Will Jordan, completes a fine-looking XV.