The Rugby World Cup has finally ended and South Africa have become world champions for a record fourth time, becoming the second team to win it consecutively.

We were lucky enough to witness many great players compete in France this autumn in a very special World Cup. It’s always subjective when it comes to choosing a World XV and many of the decisions are extremely marginal these days, such is the standard in rugby these days.

rugby correspondent Stefan Tomás choose the one you think is the best XV in the world at the moment.

15. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)

Players like metronomic goalkeeper Tomas Ramos and silky Irish star Hugo Keenan were considered, but Beauden Barrett trumps that. New Zealand star Barrett has been a sensation for the All Blacks since making his Test debut in 2012 and was key to their success at the 2015 World Cup.

Last year, Barrett formed a powerful 10-15 axis with Richie Munga, providing a second playing option at the back, while his running game and handball have been a real asset for the All Blacks. The 32-year-old will join the list of the best players of all time.

14. Will Jordan (New Zealand)

One of the strongest attacking players on the planet. The 25-year-old is a sensational player who can score tries out of nowhere.

Jordan has great speed, but he is also a very talented football player who plays well in the air and in defense. The All Blacks star finished the World Cup as top scorer with eight touchdowns and was an integral part of his team’s run to the final, where they narrowly lost to South Africa.

The scary thing is that it has the potential to be even better.

13. Harry Ringrose (Ireland)

The Irish centre-back is one of the smartest players on the planet. While other players grabbed the headlines, Ringrose played a key role in Leinster and Ireland’s period of dominance over the last four years, which saw them win 17 Test matches before the heartbreaking World Cup quarter-final defeat to the All Blacks . .

Ringrose is the linchpin of Ireland’s defensive line, where he uses his fluid running game, footballing ability and inventive defensive style to his team’s advantage. The 28-year-old is almost ahead of South African Lucaño Ama and Frenchman Gael Fika.

12. Jonathan Danti (France)

The explosive center of La Rochelle is a powerhouse and when it disappears, France is the worst of them all. Danti can easily put you aside on the front foot with his explosive carry, but he’s much more than a crushing cruiser.

The 31-year-old has excellent footwork and is a good football player, but he doesn’t fail in defense. He has been instrumental for La Rochelle and France in recent seasons. Honorable mentions to Bundy Aki, Jordy Barrett and Damian de Allende.

11. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa)

The South African midfielder narrowly beat All Blacks star Marc Telea and French goalscorer Damian Penault for a place in that team. Kolbe has spent most of the last four years sidelined through injury but proved his worth in France, playing a key role in the Springboks’ back-to-back World Cup victories.

Kolbe is a phenomenal finisher, electric in marking and stretching the field, at the same time as an excellent football player who appears all over the field. The 30-year-old is also tough as old boots in defense and his aerial ability is a sight to behold for a guy his size.

Big and modern.

10. Richie Munga (New Zealand)

Despite all the hype surrounding the excellent form of Jonathan Sexton and Handre Pollard, Richie Munga is the best number 10 in the world. Just 18 months ago, the All Blacks hit rock bottom in their lofty standards, losing the first Test series at home to Ireland, being beaten in South Africa and suffering the ignominy of defeat to Argentina in New Zealand.

Perhaps one of the main turning points in their resurgence was Ian Foster’s decision to stick with Mounga in the first half. The All Blacks star is a sensational player, with his peripheral vision, silky skills, world-class kicking and game management a real asset.

New Zealand will miss him terribly when they travel to Japan next season.

9. Antoine Dupont (France)

Despite recent injury problems, the Toulouse maestro remains the best player in the world. France may have suffered a heartbreaking quarter-final defeat to eventual champions South Africa, but Dupont played as if he were from another planet.

He’s so good it feels like he’s playing in slow motion, that’s how much time he has on the ball. His passing is exquisite, his vision and dribbling are phenomenal and he is someone who can make something out of nothing.

It’s not for Dupont in 2023, but at 26 he has time on his side and one would expect the France captain to dominate the next four years.

8. Grégory Aldrit (France)

The 26-year-old has been nothing short of a totem in recent years for both La Rochelle and France. It is doubtful that La Rochelle would have won consecutive Champions Leagues without Alldritt’s experience in recent games.

The French number 8 is an explosive carry, but he is an intelligent rugby player who makes good decisions under pressure. He offers much more than a dangerous threat: his tireless defensive work, his impact at the point of attack, his distribution ability and his leadership are a great asset for France.

7. Ardi Savea (New Zealand)

Yes, his normal position at number 8, but I just needed to have Savea and Alldritt by my side. The 30-year-old started his career as a wing-back and at half-time he is as good, if not better, than any seventh player in the world.

If you ask almost any rugby expert to pick the best player in the world, you can bet your bottom dollar it will be split 50/50 between Dupont and Savea. There is nothing the All Blacks star cannot do with his ferocious passing, line ability, counter-attacking excellence and defensive prowess.

Savea is also a natural leader and the heartbeat of the All Blacks. Honorable mentions go to South African captain Siya Kolisa, world player of the year Josh van der Flier and Fijian mountaineer Levani Bothia.

6. Peter-Steph du Toit (South Africa)

The 31-year-old’s performance in South Africa’s tense World Cup final victory over New Zealand was simply remarkable. Du Toit made a sensational 28 tackles, using his immense physique to stop the All Blacks and put the Springboks in front.

There’s nothing the former World Player of the Year can’t do as long as his work rate is off the charts. He is a dynamic carry, a great attacker and a force to be reckoned with at the point of breakdown. Pure world class.

5. Scott Barrett (New Zealand)

The All Blacks team has taken its game to a new level in recent years and had an excellent World Cup campaign. Barrett, who can also play in the back row, is a key player in this group of All Blacks.

The 29-year-old player draws attention to his ability in wide channels and has the offloading game of an outside back, but it is at tight end that his true value for the All Blacks reveals himself. Barrett is one of the best hammer defenders in the world and also one of the best strikers on the planet. Read my weekly column in our rugby newsletter.

His carry isn’t bad either, although he’s another one that goes through a lot of defensive work. Overtaking Tadhg Beirne for a place on this side.

4. Eben Etzebet (South Africa)

One of the first names on this team. Over the last four years, Etzebeth has arguably surpassed Bakkis Botha and the great Victor Matfield as the greatest lock to ever represent South Africa.

His impact on gaming is phenomenal. While it does an excellent job of physical coercion, it is much more than that.

Yes, Etzebeth does all the unseen dirty work better than most, like cleaning his hands, executing an explosive shot and working in the lane, but there’s also a lot of dynamism to his game. The 32-year-old is a great modern player and will go down in history as one of the greatest players to ever play the sport.

3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

South African Frans Malherb and All Blacks captain Tyrell Lomax are the best scrummagers, but the versatile Furlong is the best player. The Leinster and Ireland star is a very serious player, but his work on the park is a sight to behold.

Furlong does all the little things like cleaning up the mess, scaling schedules and moving on, but he also has plenty of X-factor moments, even in the tightest Test matches. For a tough prop, Furlong is a force of nature and it’s no surprise to see the Leinsterman leap 40 meters up the hill before unloading like Sonny Bill Williams.

A world class player.

2. Malcolm Marx (South Africa)

Unfortunately, the South African hooker suffered a serious knee injury during the group stage of the World Cup, ruling him out of the rest of the tournament. Although the Springboks won the William Webb-Ellis Cup without him, it would have been easier for them if the 29-year-old had stayed fit.

Like Savea and Furlong, Marks is a force of nature and unusual. The powerful hooker is a very strong scrumager, while his alignment is precise.

In the park it is extremely dynamic, its true strength is in the narrow channels, but the real difference is its behavior during breakdowns. Marks is more effective in this area than many opensides and is without a doubt the best hooker in the world.

1. Steven Kitshoff (South Africa)

The 31-year-old is a world-class player who played a key role in two World Cup-winning campaigns. Kitshoff, who has now left the Stormers to join Ireland’s Ulster, is one of the best technical scrummagers on the planet.

He’s also a powerful carry who has a ridiculous work rate in defense, but like his front row counterpart Marks, Kitschoff is sensational in attack, especially on game-winning passes. One of the true unsung heroes of this South African group, ahead of New Zealander Ethan de Groot, Frenchman Cyril Bale and his compatriot Ox Nche for the number one jersey of this team.