FOX Sports Lab has crunched the numbers and settled on its Rugby Championship team of the tournament for 2018.

Seven Springboks, five All Blacks, two Wallabies and a lone Pumas player have made the cut.

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New Zealand’s Karl Tu'inukuafe runs the ball during the Rugby Championship.

1: Karl Tu’inukuafe (New Zealand)

After coming off the bench in the Bledisloe Cup Tests, the former bouncer stepped up as a starter following another Joe Moody injury.

Tu’inukuafe combined with Codie Taylor and Owen Franks to form a formidable front row, and helped force five scrum penalties across six games.

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South Africa’s Malcolm Marx is tackled by Argentina’s Gonzalo Bertranou.

2: Malcolm Marx (South Africa)

The dynamic hooker was a constant threat at the breakdown, securing the equal most pilfers (4) and ruck and maul forced penalties (5).

To show he is not a one trick pony, Marx also had 39 carries for 203 metres, three linebreaks, nine tackle busts and a try.

Marx also made 45 tackles and was the only starting hooker who did not concede a single penalty, despite playing the second most minutes in the position (394).

Owen Franks of the All Blacks drinks from the Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park.

3: Owen Franks (New Zealand)

The 103 Test veteran capped his centurion campaign by winning his seventh Rugby Championship trophy and 10th Bledisloe Cup.

Franks forced seven scrum penalties in five matches and conceded the fewest penalties by a prop with three or more starts (1).

Eben Etzebeth of the Springboks takes a lineout during The Rugby Championship.

4: Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)

Etzebeth won the most lineouts this year (30), including the equal most steals (5).

In addition to his lineout dominance, Etzebeth was nearly perfect in defence, completing 46 of his 47 tackle attempts.

Etzebeth did not shy away on the offensive end, either, with the second most carries by a Springboks player (44), leading to eight tackle busts and 173 run metres.

Sam Whitelock of New Zealand holds the trophy after winning the Rugby Championship.

5: Sam Whitelock (New Zealand)

Whitelock led all locks in minutes played this season (441), a likely result of Brodie Retallick’s shoulder injury against the Pumas in week three.

The Super Rugby winning captain showed his experience and expertise around the park with 11 lineout wins, 64 tackles (most by an All Black), and carried 37 times for 140 metres.

He also filled in for Kieran Read as Test skipper in Buenos Aires.

South Africa lock Pieter-Steph du Toit is tackled by New Zealand centre Sonny Bill Williams.

6: Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)

In his fourth Rugby Championship, du Toit was one of the competition’s best.

The 2m blindside led the competition in tackles (87) with an average of almost 15 a game.

Du Toit was also the most active Springboks player with ball in hand, chalking up a team high 52 carries as well as being a reliable option at the lineout with nine wins.

Siya Kolisi of the Springboks breaks through a tackle by Will Genia of the Wallabies.

7: Siya Kolisi (South Africa)

The new captain was one of six Springboks to start all six games this Rugby Championship.

Kolisi’s powerful, evasive running showed in the stats, leading his side in run metres (384), tackle busts (21) and linebreaks (6).

Kolisi also made 70 tackles, the fourth most in the competition.

8: David Pocock (Australia)

Following a 2017 sabbatical, Pocock made a welcome return to the Wallabies’ starting lineup. The versatile backrower filled the No 8 jersey in four of his five starts and was back to his best, securing the equal most pilfers (4) and ruck and maul forced penalties (5).

He also made the third most tackles in the competition this year (73) — his most in a Rugby Championship campaign since 2011.

He was also one of the more active Wallabies ball runners with 40 carries for 175 metres.

South Africa’s Faf de Klerk kicks the ball against Australia in Port Elizabeth.

9: Faf de Klerk (South Africa)

The 26-year-old scrumhalf was at the centre of the Springboks’ revival this year, playing all but the last seven minutes of the Rugby Championship — the most by a South African and equal second most in the competition.

De Klerk threw the third most try assists this season (4), trailing teammate Willie le Roux (6) and All Blacks flyhalf Beauden Barrett (5).

His left boot also played a significant role for the Springboks, executing the second most kicks (51) in the competition.

Argentina flyhalf Nicolas Sanchez is tackled by New Zealand flanker Sam Cane.

10: Nicolas Sanchez (Argentina)

The skilful playmaker is in career best form.

In his seventh Rugby Championship, Sanchez put up his best numbers in every attacking category including tries (4), points (67), runs (40), run metres (322), tackle busts (21), linebreaks (7), linebreak assists (8) and try assists (3).

Sanchez became the first Pumas player to score four tries in a Rugby Championship campaign and broke his own record for most points (67).

11: Rieko Ioane (New Zealand)

The standout All Blacks winger played in four of his side’s six matches and crossed the line five times for the equal most in the competition.

Ioane broke through the defensive line seven times (equal second overall) and his 11.5 metres per carry was the sixth highest among all players.

Australia’s Folau Faingaa tackles South Africa’s Andre Esterhuizen in Port Elizabeth.

12: Andre Esterhuizen (South Africa)

Esterhuizen had the equal most starts at inside centre, a position riddled with injuries and selection changes.

He featured in two of the Springboks’ three wins, contributing 27 carries for 185 metres, four linebreaks, a linebreak assist and 12 tackle busts.

Esterhuizen was also excellent in defence, completing 26 of his 29 tackles.

Jack Goodhue of the All Blacks puts a fend on Kurtley Beale of the Wallabies.

13: Jack Goodhue (New Zealand)

Goodhue was outstanding in the opening four games of the Rugby Championship.

The rookie led all centres in carries (44) run metres (395), linebreak assists (5) and tackle busts (16).

Goodhue’s strong running led to four linebreaks and two tries and he appears to now be Steve Hansen’s first choice No 13.

14: Aphiwe Dyantyi (South Africa)

After a breakout Super Rugby season, Dyantyi has transitioned seamlessly to the international stage.

The Test rookie equalled Rieko Ioane with the equal most tries in the competition (5).

And Dyantyi showed he is more than an attacking weapon by thwarting a number of opposition attacks and scoring opportunities this Championship.

The Springbok speedster finished with 31 runs for 317 metres and five linebreaks.

15: Dane Haylett-Petty (Australia)

Haylett-Petty was one of Australia’s most consistent performers throughout the competition, leading all fullbacks in runs (60), metres (515) and tackle busts (23).

After moving from the wing to replace Israel Folau, DHP was equal to the challenge with four linebreaks, three linebreak assists and three tries.