(left to right) Doohan van der Merwe, Jack Morgan and James Lowe
Less than two weeks until the Rugby World Cup Rugby Experts Rugby publications Telegraph Sport have come together to rank the top 100 players in the world.
Here are the players from 100 to 81. Check back every day this week to see the rest of the list and find out who ranks first.< /p>100. Pierre Schuman (Scotland)
South Africa's Mbombela has made Scotland his home and become a cult figure for the Edinburgh and Gregor Townsend team, combining indomitable ball control with scrimmage power. Given his prolific speed for props, he can rival Ellis Jenge for the title of top tier carry in the Six Nations, so it's no wonder he's become a fan favorite.
99. Tommaso Menoncello (Italy)
Ready to play a key role in Italy's World Cup squad as a solid center capable of first-hand shots and resisting heavy traffic, Menencello is out of the tournament with a bicep problem. It's a huge shame for a youngster who played as a striker before moving to midfield. However, at 21, he has a great future.
98. Franco Mostert (South Africa)
Not to be forgotten is Mostert, who is just as effective at number 6. He is brilliant at winning in the lineouts or destroying opponents' mauls, his versatility and size make him a key asset for a team of defending champions.
97. Paul Alo-Emil (Samoa)The most obscure player on this list? Perhaps, but the Samoan Sherman will be well known to any regular Top 14 player. In the playoff matchup against Racing 92, Alo-Emil had one of the most devastating scrum performances of the era against a fully international front row. The Samoans have turned first-class beef into minced meat; get ready for more this fall.
96. Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland)
Even if Scotland haven't quite backed up their Calcutta Cup success in recent years with more trophies, the emergence of Huvipulotu's central partnership has been a lot of fun. Jones makes breakthroughs from the outside, but it is Tuipulotu who destroys the defense, performing hard, powerful offloads and adding a lot of ballast to the Scottish backline.
95. Juan Martin Gonzalez (Argentina)
The standout star of the 2022 Rugby Championship with four tries, including superb results against New Zealand and South Africa, with Gonzalez burning Willy le Roux on the wing in the latter. He is now signed by the Saracens and at the age of 22 his potential is extremely impressive. Will be a key part of the Argentina team for a decade to come and will be its standout winner in the lineout this year.
Juan Martin González scored the goal at last year's rugby championship, in which the Argentine made a splash. Photo: Getty Images/Joe Allison 94. Jasper Wiese (South Africa)
To rank higher on this list, the world's best ball-handling No. 8 will probably need a few more strings to his bow, but the Leicester Bull will only have to work with the ball. Ferocious aggression and primitive strength; the two form a powerful cocktail.
93. Damian Willemse (South Africa)
So far more effective for South Africa as a full-back than as a midfielder, questions have been raised about where he can also dictate play at 10 compared to other options. His contribution to the Kurt-Lee Arendse counterattack against England is Willems at his best, attacking space and luring defenders. For this reason, it is on the list.
92. Mark Telea (NZ)
As evasive as any runner on the planet right now and able to beat defenders in many ways. His kick left Marika Koroibete miserable at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and Telea could have been a World Cup star if New Zealand had clicked.
91. Faf de Klerk (South Africa)
Not in the best nickname at the time of writing, but the class is undeniable – and, as in 2019, it can be turned on exactly when necessary. Given that the zeitgeist seems to be deviating from boxing punches, De Klerk's work may prove even more valuable.
90. Khandre Pollard (South Africa)
Will he somehow be squeezed into the South African squad for the World Cup? Damian Willems is versatile and Mani Liebock is intuitive, but Pollard remains the best linebacker available to the Springboks. He controls the game more than the total creator. And yet, even as South Africa seeks to expand its game, this approach works well.
89. James Lowe (Ireland)
Like Mac Hansen, Lowe offers a complete package for Ireland – and there may not be a better left player in world rugby right now. So much so that Leinster and Ireland are building games around it. If he had been hit, it might have affected Irish hopes more than one might think.
88. Jamie Ritchie (Scotland)
Even if Ritchie wasn't at his best at the 2023 Six Nations, the role the flanker played in taking over the captaincy from Stuart Hogg in building Scotland's best team in a generation cannot be overstated. . Persistent, combative and excellent floor trainer.
Jamie Ritchie may not have had his best record in the Six Nations this year, but he did lead Scotland to victory in Calcutta. Cup photo: Reuters/Andrew Mogridge 87. Paul Willems (France)
Another one that hasn't been at its best this season – admittedly the castle was damaged along the stretch – but another one that ended up playing leading role in the French resistance. For all the artistry that France has at its disposal, Willems is a master at offering a side balance. Experienced maul defender.
86. Shannon Frizell (New Zealand)
It looks like New Zealand have found a flanker who can balance their team. Frisell, who was acquitted of criminal charges two years ago after an embarrassing incident at a Dunedin nightclub, jumped into action and kicked off 2023. Muscular and mobile, he is exactly what the All Blacks need.
85. Freddie Steward (England)
Without a doubt the best England player to appear in this four-year cycle. Steward has come a long way from having to turn down Costa's switch to play for Leicester in the Premier League Rugby Cup to becoming England's high-ball diffuser specialist at full-back, while also winning a string of honours. The potential is huge and he should succeed in his first world championship.
84. Thibault Flament (France)
Even ignoring the romance of his rise from Loughborough's fifth XV to moving to France, Flaman remains the most advanced player in world rugby. Two seasons ago, the castle was in and out of the Os starting line-up; he is now indispensable for his country and his club Toulouse.
Thibault Flament's rise to the top of the game was swift. Photo: Getty Images/Jeffroy Van der Hasselt. 83. Doohan van der Merwe (Scotland)
Van der Merwe's double at Twickenham in the last Six Nations tournament will go down in folklore. The first attempt was a phenomenal solo attempt, epitomizing his uncanny ability to get past defenders. A second strong finish completed Scotland's stunning attack all along the coast. The 28-year-old, also the 2021 British and Irish Lion of the Year, is a constant and painful headache for the defense.
82. Mathieu Jalibert (France)
Many astute rugby players believe that France will be the more dangerous proposition with Jalibert, a well-balanced and fearless runner in the semi-finals. Now that Romain Ntamak has been eliminated from the World Cup and beyond, we will all see how true those hunches were.
81. Jack Morgan (Wales)
It would be wrong to wear the number 7 shirt for Wales and not be a very effective jackaler, but Morgan definitely excels in this area. Having excellently won Wales' warm-up victory over England, his first game as captain, Morgan will now lead Wales as second captain in France at the age of 23. If he does as well as Sam Warburton did for Warren Gatland in 2011, then Wales will be thrilled.
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