The second edition of the Top 100 continues this week counting down numbers 90 to 81, after concluding last week with Springbok loosehead Tendai Mtawarira.

90. Michele Campagnaro (ITA) – Centre
One of the stars of the 2015 Six Nations, at only 22 years of age Campagnaro looks to have an enormous future ahead of him in the sky blue of the Azzuri.

Remarkably mature for his age, and possessing all the physical qualities one would expect of an international centre, it is Campagnaro’s Conrad Smith-esque ability to read the opposition’s play that gets him the nod here over the perhaps more talented Malakai Fekitoa.

His Six Nations debut in 2014 showcased all his attributes, including two tries, over 100 run metres, and two brilliant crunching tackles on none other than George North and Jamie Roberts. Staying calm under pressure and making swift, calculated decisions is not often something seen in young players until they have the experience to develop their game beyond just physical capability, and for a player so young to possess such a skill is very rare.

Now with nearly two years of experience under his belt, one can expect the Italian centre to bring his phenomenal talent to the biggest stage later this year.

89. George Ford (ENG) – Fly Half
Another 22-year-old talent, English fly half Ford has been on the international radar since almost leading the English Under-20s to a national title in 2011. Although he possessed obvious talent, his error strewn play and less than ideal decision-making limited him to an impact role in 2012 during the Leicester Tigers’ title winning campaign.

Since moving to Bath, however, Ford has developed into one of the best pivots in the game, combining his noticeable offensive ability with newfound accuracy and intelligence in his play. Two years of vintage form for Bath, including a 45-0 drubbing of old team Leicester, saw Stuart Lancaster toss him the reigns for the 2015 Six Nations, where he led them to a first win in Cardiff in nearly 12 years.

Having now overcome the nervous start most newcomers suffer from with their introduction to Test rugby, it would come as little surprise to see Ford become one of the stars of the 2015 Rugby World Cup, as England resume their quest for a second world championship title.

88. Wyatt Crockett (NZL) – Loosehead Prop
Experience has proven vital for the now 32-year-old Crockett, as his introduction to international rugby has proven memorable for all the wrong reasons. Penalised off the park against Italy in 2009, it is debuts like this that can prematurely end a player’s international career (think Rod Davies).

But it speaks volumes about the mental determination of the man when he spurned lucrative overseas deals to chase his dream. Since then, Crockett has become a stalwart in the New Zealand side, despite somewhat unfairly missing out on 2011 Rugby World Cup selection after being named New Zealand Super Rugby player of the year earlier in the season.

A strong defender, ruck clearer, lineout lifter and now scrummager, Crockett is everything you would want from your loosehead prop, even possessing a remarkable turn of pace. However, what holds him back on this list is not being able to build upon his stellar 2011 season, proving good at both levels of rugby, but not developing into the force one may have expected him to after that season. Still, having committed to New Zealand rugby until 2018 when he will end his career, the 2015 tournament could yet be the arena where he reaches those lofty heights.

87. Francois Trinh-Duc (FRA) – Fly Half
Why oh why, Philippe St Andre, must you continuously let your personal views of players stand conflict with the all so obvious benefit of the team. Continued neglect of France’s best No.10 is nearly criminal, given some of the hopeless performances of one French pivot who shall not be named, and the nervous and inexperienced showings by other youngsters.

Much has been made of Les Bleus’ inability to put two decent performances together, but one of the obvious answers lies in that management continually selects the wrong players. Partnered with the equally neglected Morgan Parra, the two Frenchmen at their best were without peer in Europe, leading France to a grand slam in 2010.

Like his halfback accomplice, pressure does not seem to shake the French pivot, evident in a marvelous cameo of the bench in 2011 World Cup final, who along with captain Thierry Dusautoir had to be considered the best on ground that day. Possessing a booming boot, a strong passing game and the intelligence to know when to run and when to distribute, Trinh-Duc has been one of the best in Europe since that fateful day, despite not being given an opportunity to demonstrate those abilities at the top level since then.

However, sanity seems to have prevailed finally with Trinh-Duc selected in the practice squad for the Rugby World Cup. If the Nonu 2015 Super Rugby saga has taught us anything, once the politics is eliminated from decision-making, a player will often return faith in spades.

86. Taulupe Faletau (WAL) – No.8
Since exploding onto the Test scene with a bulldozing performance against South Africa in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Faletau has been the go to man for coach Warren Gatland at No.8. With Sam Warburton granted the captaincy, which virtually assured him the No.7 jersey, and the defensively oriented Dan Lydiate at No.6, the Welsh side were in need of a powerful back rower who excelled on attack to compliment the skills of the other two.

Enter Faletau, who has been a stalwart of the side for four years now despite being only 24. A rare breed of size and fitness, Faletau’s greatest attribute is his ability to make an impact well into the tail end of games, something most No.8s struggle to accomplish. Able to run, offload, defend and support throughout the entire game, he is one of the best in world rugby, and with age on his side, one can expect him to be for years to come.

85. Juan Martin Hernandez (ARG) – Fly Half/Centre
When you are facing a man labelled the ‘Maradona of Rugby’, you had better be on your toes, because a title like that does not come easily. In the period of 2006 to 2009, Argentinian magician Hernandez was one of the best backs in the world, possessing nearly all offensive and defensive capabilities one could wish for in a back.

Having showcased his remarkable talent mostly at fullback, it was the 2007 World Cup which really stamped him as one of the game’s greats, where then coach Marcelo Loffreda named the talented Hernandez at fly half for the duration of the tournament. Possessing the instinctive ability to make good decisions and the physicality to back it up, he was an instant success, and arguably the best 10 at the tournament.

Although the past few years have seen Hernandez unable to recapture that sort of vintage form, his combination at inside centre with fly half Nicolas Sanchez has formed the spine of a potent back division for Los Pumas, who will be out to stake their claim as one of the best sides in the world.

84. Willem Alberts (RSA) – Flanker
One of the most imposing forces in world rugby, at top form Alberts is a colossus on the field. Standing at 6’4″, and around 120 kilograms, Alberts combination of bruising defence and powerful runs have seen him stake his claim as one of the best players in South Africa. Unlike a lot of other break aways who take a while to make an impact at Test level, Alberts proved to be a star from day one.

He produced an extraordinary debut off the bench against Wales, where he put his renowned physicality to immediate use as the Springboks recorded a 34 -31 win at Millennium Stadium. With the ability to play second row or No.8, versatility is not an issue for the Sharks man, and nor is pressure, as his powerful performances against the All Blacks demonstrate.

Complementing the more skill-based styles of Duane Vermeulen and Francois Louw, the forward oriented game plan that the Springboks like to implement is the perfect mould for the 31-year-old bruiser, able to smash his way over the gain line and lay a strong platform for their halves pairing. On the possibly damp conditions that could be in store for the Rugby World Cup, a player of Alberts’ calibre could well prove indispensable for the Boks’ cause.

83. Rhys Webb (WAL) – Scrumhalf
Unlike a few players above who make the list based on past glories more than current form, Rhys Webb is the polar opposite, having hit a rich vein of form that has placed him ahead of veteran and 2011 hero Mike Phillips in the Welsh pecking order.

A snappy passer, Webb was in magical form in the 2014 autumn internationals, where he scored tries against both Australia and New Zealand as Wales recorded a two heartbreaking losses to both these teams before a breakthrough victory against South Africa. Concerns over the drop in form of Phillips were quickly eradicated as Webb stepped into the starting role commendably, presenting a sniping threat from the base of the ruck, as well as an accurate kick.

However, one of the most desirable aspects of any scrumhalf’s play is their ability to run strong support lines when a linebreak is created, and this is the main factor that moves Webb from a good halfback to a great one. Having already guided the Ospreys to a semi-final appearance this year in the Pro 12, there is a strong reason for Welsh supporters to be optimistic when Webb is on the field.

82. Billy Vunipola (ENG) – No.8
Another bruising back rower, in 2015 Vunipola has enjoyed his best season ever for both club and country. Bursting onto the international scene in the back end of 2013 with a string of powerful performances against the world’s top sides, his game featured deceptive speed combined with trademark eighth man brutality; the perfect fit for a side using Chris Robshaw and Tom Wood as flankers.

However, it is this year that a real change can be sensed in Vunipola’s game, as he comes out of a brilliant Six Nations campaign with England and an Aviva premiership win with the Saracens. This past year has seen the development of key skills for Vunipola, with fitness and defensive prowess now being showcased week in, week out for both his sides.

Partnered with his already game-breaking talents, the Tongan-born back rower looks to have developed the necessary attributes that can make him one of the best in the game. This has come at a crucial time for England with the Rugby World Cup now in sight, as doubts remain over first choice Ben Morgan’s availability as he continues his rehabilitation from a broken leg. They should fear little though, as Vunipola could yet become a force in Test rugby with a newfound level of maturity and experience.

81. Dan Lydiate (WAL) – Flanker
The most courageous defender in world rugby bar none. Since his debut in 2009, Lydiate has proven time and time again that when games begin to get gritty, there are very few people that excel more.

Despite not possessing the powerful ball carries that typify the international blindside flanker, ‘The Chopper’ is characterised by his powerful defensive capabilities, and is probably the best defensive forward in world rugby. Paired with enormous stamina that sees him regularly go the full 80 minutes in any match, the 2012 Six Nations player of the tournament has been a stalwart of the Welsh back row, and is indispensable.

Reliable at the set piece and a strong lineout jumper, Lydiate also boasts experience that has proven to be vital at the World Cup, having earned 46 Test caps to date. The only element that holds him back on this list is his previously mentioned lack of punch in attack, which within the Welsh team dynamic can be partially overlooked.

That concludes this week’s edition of the Top 100, continuing next week with one of the best scrummagers in the game.