Springboks, England stars dominate in fan-voted World XV

The votes are in, and after two months of polling, the RugbyPass Straight 8 Fan Vote World XV has been finalised.

In a lengthy campaign launched across the RugbyPass Facebook and Instagram channels, fans from around the globe have voted and debated against one another in a bid to find the best player in the world in each position.

Eight players were nominated and pitted against each other in a three-round knockout bracket in each positional group, and fans were left to decide amongst themselves who was the cream of the crop.

Some positions were more tightly contested than others, with the tighthead prop, flanker, No. 8, second-five and fullback spots decided by a margin of five percent or less.

Others, such as the loosehead prop, halfback, first-five, centre and wing positions, were claimed in more dominant fashions.

In total, ten players from last year's World Cup final feature in the composite team, six of whom were member of the world champion Springboks side.

A further four players from England are accompanied by two All Blacks representatives, while one player from each of Scotland, Ireland and Fiji were voted in.

No players from traditional World Rugby powerhouses Wales, Australia and France made the cut.

RugbyPass Straight 8 Fan Vote World XV

1. Mako Vunipola

Age: 29

Nation: England

Test caps: 65 (six for British and Irish Lions)

Club: Saracens

Major honours: 2x Six Nations, 2016 Grand Slam, 3x Triple Crowns, 6x Calcutta Cups, 2013 B&I Lions series winner, 2017 B&I Lions series draw; 4x Premierships, 3x European Champions Cups; 2018 RPA England Player of the Year

"https://www.rugbypass.com/news/malcolm-marx-one-of-5-departures-from-the-super-rugby-lions/">who is rumoured to be close to signing with the Kubota Spears - pitted against experienced All Blacks star Dane Coles in the semi-finals of the bracket.

A comfortable 61 percent victory was enough to guide Marx into the final round of the vote, and while England's Jamie George provided the sternest challenge, he still couldn't stop the soon-to-be free agent from attaining 56 percent of the public's backing.

3. Tadhg Furlong

Age: 27

Nation: Ireland

Test caps: 47 (three for British and Irish Lions)

Club: Leinster

Major honours: 2018 Six Nations, 2018 Grand Slam, 2018 Triple Crown, 2017 B&I Lions series draw; 2x Pro14, 2018 European Champions Cup

"https://www.rugbypass.com/news/stormers-issue-du-toit-update-admitting-he-is-one-of-3-players-requesting-contract-termination/">the subject of ongoing transfer rumours considering his world-class quality that has been recognised by fans worldwide in the Straight 8 Fan Vote.

The former Sharks lock was thrust into a stacked flanker bracket but emerged victorious in compelling fashion in the opening round with an 82 percent thrashing of French forward Charles Ollivon.

After scraping past up-and-coming English prospect Tom Curry with 56 percent of the vote in the semi-final, Du Toit put the debate to bed with a tight 52 percent win over barnstorming All Blacks star Ardie Savea with 52 percent of the public's backing.

7. Ardie Savea

Age: 26

Nation: New Zealand

Test caps: 44

Club: Hurricanes

Major honours: 3x Rugby Championships, 4x Bledisloe Cups, 4x Freedom Cups, 2017 B&I Lions series draw; 2016 Super Rugby; 2019 World Rugby Player of the Year nominee, 2019 NZ Rugby Player of the Year, 2019 All Blacks Player of the Year

Considered by many not to have outright won the flanker vote, Ardie Savea still showed how highly valued he is among the rugby fraternity by making it into this side as the runner-up to Du Toit.

A dominant 76 percent win over Welsh loose forward Justin Tipuric was followed by a similarly comprehensive 60 percent winning margin over inspirational Springboks captain Siya Kolisi.

However, it wasn't to be for Savea, who fell just short of clinching the title of the world's best flanker, but proved along the way that he is a force to be reckoned with.

8. Duane Vermeulen

Age: 33

Nation: South Africa

Test caps: 54

Club: Kubota Spears

Major honours: 2019 World Cup, 2019 Rugby Championship, 2013 Mandela Challenge Plate; 2x Currie Cups; 2019 World Cup Final Man of the Match, 2014 World Rugby Player of the Year nominee, 2014 SA Rugby Player of the Year, 2014 SA Rugby Players' Player of the Year