England captain Owen Farrell fends off Samu Kerevi to be voted world's best inside centre

England captain Owen Farrell has been voted the world’s best No. 12 by fans around the globe after fighting off the challenge of former Wallabies star Samu Kerevi in a poll on social media.

The 28-year-old claimed the victory with a slim winning margin of little over 50 percent on RugbyPass‘ Facebook and Instagram accounts as part of the Straight 8 Fan Vote campaign to determine the best player on the planet in each position.

Farrell and Kerevi were left as the last two players standing in the third and final round of the knockout bracket after having dispatched some household names in the prior two rounds.

After dispatching Argentina and Jaguares midfielder Jeronimo de la Fuente with ease in the first round, Farrell backed that up with a tight win against Springboks and Panasonic Wild Knights star Damian de Allende with more than 55 percent of the public’s backing.

On the other side of the draw, Kerevi had defeated Ireland and Leinster midfielder Robbie Henshaw after accruing 75 percent of the vote, before squeaking past blockbusting All Blacks sensation Ngani Laumape with around 55 percent of the fans’ approval.

Farrell's decorated career, however, proved too much for the 33-cap Australian to overcome.

To have your say, click the stories on either the RugbyPass Facebook page (here) or the RugbyPass Instagram page (here).

RugbyPass Straight 8 Fan Vote World XV (as it stands)

1. N/A

2. Malcolm Marx (South Africa/NTT Communications Shining Arcs)

3. N/A

4. Maro Itoje (England/Saracens)

5. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa/Toulon)

6. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa/Stormers)

7. Ardie Savea (New Zealand/Hurricanes)

8. Duane Vermeulen (South Africa/Kubota Spears)

9. N/A

10. N/A

11. Semi Radradra (Fiji/Bordeaux)

12. Owen Farrell (England/Saracens)

13. Manu Tuilagi (England/Leicester Tigers)

14. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa/Toulouse)

15. Stuart Hogg (Scotland/Exeter Chiefs)