Sanzarrugby.com takes a look at the fifteen players we think would make a team of the tournament so far, as The Rugby Championship enters its second travel bye for the 2013 season.

Without further delay, here is the side!

15 – Israel Folau (Wallabies)

Israel Dagg has rediscovered his form in All Blacks colours, but the competition’s eye catching fullback wears gold, and while many, including the man himself, want ‘Izzy’ to get more ball, he grows with every outing, and in Perth showed his power potential when bursting through the Pumas defence. A hint for a midfield shift perhaps?

14 – Ben Smith (All Blacks)

Everything Smith touches turns to gold, now boasting the longest All Blacks contract – beyond even McCaw and Carter – while there appears to be no obvious weakness to his game. Brilliant under the high ball, sterling positional play and an ability to break the line almost at will. Cory Jane has a fight on his hands to regain this jumper.

13 – Conrad Smith (All Blacks)

Watch him closely and it is very obvious why they call the man ‘Snake’. Despite a physique that is a throwback to the old days, he is unmatched in world rugby as a defensive midfielder, and has been a crucial leader in the World Champion’s backline despite changes to the navigators throughout the year. He is heading for a well-deserved extended break at year’s end – forcing the search for the next New Zealand centre.

12 – Jean de Villiers (Springboks)

A gentleman amongst a team of bruisers, de Villiers has wrestled the crown as the best 12 in the game off Ma’a Nonu, whose penchant for penalties seems to have raised its head again. Silky on attack and unable to be shifted in the tackle, the most capped South African centre looks to have ‘McCaw status’ in the Republic, and is likely to be managed through to the next World Cup.

11 – Julian Savea (All Blacks)

The big man continues to be polished, and it is now unfair to force comparisons with Jonah Lomu considering how sublime Savea has become under the high ball. Such a heavy tackler that it is rare traffic runs down his alleyway, his real talent comes from how easily he beats defenders. How good could he become?

10 – Nicolas Sanchez (Pumas)

The All Blacks and Wallabies haven’t used the same flyhalf throughout the tournament, while Morne Steyn has certainly looked the goods, even if his ride has been eased sitting behind a rampant pack. But Bordeaux playmaker Sanchez has repaid the faith that saw him start ahead of some Pumas veterans, and one wonders how effective he could be with a X-Factor strike player running off his shoulder. His boot gets better with every outing.

9 – Aaron Smith (All Blacks)

It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that the Highlanders halfback is now the premier nine in the world, still possessing that bullet pass that allows the All Blacks to always play on the front foot. His class was confirmed by putting an average Super Rugby season behind him, while this year out of nowhere a smart kicking game has emerged.

8 – Kieran Read (All Blacks)

The best player in the world? Read has been immense for the All Blacks, taking up the captain’s armband without blinking, and his performances continue to astound. Technically excellent at the back of the scrum, Read is comfortable at the coalface or roaming, while he is now one of the world champion’s main lineout options.

7 – Michael Hooper (Wallabies)

If he received consistent support from other members of Australia’s back row the countries Super Rugby player of the year could be quite spectacular. Few would have through David Pocock’s absence would be put aside in arguably the greatest position of strength for the Wallabies. Hooper’s style fits the Ewen McKenzie blueprint perfectly, even if other players are still adjusting to the mould.

6 – Steven Luatua (All Blacks)

Liam Messam may have reminded all and sundry of his class over the weekend, while Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe has been his talismanic self, but Luatua has been one of the most consistent players in New Zealand this year. Looks tailor made for the highest stage and while critics lean towards too much eagerness to roam out wide, he can afford to thanks to the balance of New Zealand’s loose forwards.

5 – Sam Whitelock (All Blacks)

The senior New Zealand second row forward has the attitude of a classic All Blacks lock, deadpan during interviews, clearly wanting to save all of his energies for his performances which back up week after week. Tough as teak to boot, shrugging aside a broken finger by saying he needed his palms, not his fingers, to catch the ball.

4 – Eben Etzebeth (Springboks)

When the likes of Victor Matfield and Bakkies Botha hung up their mammoth boots South Africa should have had to wait for another world class lock, but the 21-year-old almost has 20 Test caps and should overtake those two legends if he continues in this vein. As good as Matfield in the air yet as terrifying as Botha in the loose, a long career waits.

3 – Owen Franks (All Blacks)

Quite simply when he is missing New Zealand’s scrum loses a significant amount of power. Usually the best tightheads take years to develop, but the immensely strong Franks never budges, even when the All Blacks front row pops up on rare occasions. Already with 50 Test caps, at this rate he will become the first number three to earn a century of caps for his country. Big Juan Figallo warrants a mention.

2 – Bismarck du Plessis (Springboks)

The most physically intimidating player in the game, du Plessis crosses the boxes for his standard roles with aplomb, a fine lineout thrower and strong scrummager, but it is his presence around the field that marks him as perhaps the best number two in world rugby. We know well of his tackling ability, while if a tackler finds the shadow of the Bethlehem born 114kg behometh over them, often big Bismarck is guaranteed a turnover at the ruck.

1 – Tony Woodcock (All Blacks)

Tendai Mtawarira might not roam around as much these days prompting the call ‘beast’, but the first and last job of any loosehead is to scrum, and here Tony Woodcock has no equal. Still attracts his doubters, which only serves to make the fourth All Blacks centurion put in “I’ll prove you wrong” showing every time. Still to be challenged by an understudy.

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TEAM NAMINGS: Argentina / Australia / New Zealand / South Africa

MATCH CENTRES: Wallabies v Pumas / All Blacks v Springboks

STATISTICS: Argentina / Australia / New Zealand / South Africa

REFEREES FOR THE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP / OFFICIAL RESULTS ROUND FOUR

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