With players making the call, the line-up was of course dominated by New Zealand, who have seven of their star side which went 14 games unbeaten in 2013.
Even world No 4 England have an inclusion, Alex Corbisiero, while four from the Welsh side beaten by the Wallabies at the weekend got a nod.
On a positive note for the Wallabies, Israel Folau – a convert from AFL from rugby league before that – was named newcomer of the year.
All Black No 8 Kieran Read took out player of the year – the players assoc. agreeing with the IRB who said the same last week.
“There’s no greater honour than to be recognised by the people you play against,” Read said.
“Rugby’s a tough game – on the field there’s no quarter given or expected. So for your opponents to single you out for this sort of attention means an awful lot.”
Here’s how they line up. And since there’s no Wallabies, that leaves them perfectly placed to play them, right? Eek.
World XV: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), Ben Smith (NZ), Conrad Smith (NZ), Wesley Fofana (France), George North (Wales), Aaron Cruden (NZ), Aaron Smith (NZ), Kieran Read (NZ), Sam Warburton (Wales), Liam Messam (NZ), Sam Whitelock (NZ), Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), Adam Jones (Wales), Bismarck de Plessis (South Africa) Alex Corbisiero (England)
Player of the year: Kieran Read (NZ)
Newcomer of the year: Israel Folau (Australia)
Team of the year: New Zealand
Images via Getty
