[imagesource:here]

It’s like they never learn.

Remember when former English scrumhalf Matt Dawson said, ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup final, that a combined best XV out of England and South Africa’s teams wouldn’t feature a single Springbok player?

Yeah, that ended well. I reckon I could point to 32 reasons why Matt is wrong, but let’s move along.

Earlier this week, writing for the Times in the UK, English journalist Owen Slot ranked the top 10 players in the world.

Despite the fact that Pieter-Steph du Toit is the reigning World Rugby Player of the Year, and also a world champion (say it out loud – feels good, hey?), Slot ranked him fifth.

Springbok winger Cheslin Kolbe was only good enough for sixth, with Slot picking English lock Maro Itoje as the world’s finest.

The Times article is behind a paywall, but Stuff summed up his reasoning as follows:

[Slot] wrote that Itoje dominated the lineout against the All Blacks’ four jumpers, locks Brodie Retallick and Sam Whitelock and starting back rowers Kieran Read and Scott Barrett.

“The British & Irish Lion neutered New Zealand’s apparent strength,” Slot said. “The All Blacks didn’t rule the lineout. Itoje did. Of course, he might object to that assessment, because it is a team game and all that. However, he stole two of the All Black throws in the first half and forced New Zealand into an early tactical substitution.

“He also made two turnovers. He was the most influential player on the pitch. That is why he is our world No 1 player, because of the number of games on which he imposes this relentless, over-bearing influence. Ask the opposition and they will tell you that he is hell to play against.”

There is no denying that Itoje is a beast, and his World Cup stats with regards turnovers and rucks hit show his immense impact.

For rugby fans outside of the UK, it does seem like a touch of favouritism may have been employed, especially when you consider that two other English players feature in the rest of his top 10.

Here’s the full list:

1-Maro Itoje (England, lock)

2-Beauden Barrrett (New Zealand, flyhalf)

3-Antoine Dupont (France, scrumhalf)

4-Semi Radradra (Fiji, wing)

5-Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa, flanker)

6-Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa, wing)

7-Brodie Retallick (New Zealand, lock)

8-Ardie Savea (New Zealand, loose forward)

9-Kyle Sinckler (England, prop)

10-Tom Curry (England, loose forward).

I’m not sure that Pieter-Steph will be greatly fussed about only nabbing fifth, especially when you consider that he could be in line for an incredible payday.

SA Rugby Mag reports that French club Montpellier has tabled a three-year contract to lure Du Toit to France.

The numbers are quite staggering, with some saying the three-year deal will be worth a cool €100 000 (just over R2 million) per month. That equates to €3,6 million, or around R72 million, for the duration of the contract.

Sorry, you don’t pay that for the fifth-best player in the world.

Montpellier was quick to distance themselves from the story, but sources maintain there is truth to it:

Besides SARugbymag.co.za receiving assurances that the original story was based on solid information, Stormers coach John Dobson told this website they were aware of the talk doing the rounds.

‘I’m not aware of any formal offer being made as yet, but we do have massive reservations at the moment that we can’t negotiate with our own players, and that’s obviously a frustration.’

SA Rugby’s policy allows for overseas-based players to be picked for the Springboks, which makes the lucrative overseas offers all the more enticing.

As things stand, only 14 of the 33 players that featured in the Bok World Cup squad will play their rugby in South Africa this season.