World rugby's best of the best in 2014

A piece like this is subjective and guaranteed to spawn heated debate, but I tried to look at the players in world Test rugby who stood out, were consistent, played their positional requirements the best, and influenced games the most.

Loosehead props
Marcos Ayerza was part of an awe-inspiring Puma front row, but Beast Mtawarira had the better year.

Yet I am giving the nod to the annoying but stout Joe Marler from England. He will be a handful at the World Cup.

Hooker
Bismarck du Plessis, when in form, is the best hooker in the world, but he was not even the best hooker in his homeland this year. Adriaan Strauss carried the ball better, was smart around the park, and threw the ball more accurately.

Dane Coles was just as good as Strauss, but I am handing my World XV number 2 jersey to El Capitan Augustin Creevy. He was a real menace who never stopped fighting for every inch in every game.

Tighthead prop
Owen Franks and Ramiro Herrera fight over this big jersey, but I am giving it to the Argentine, who was impressive in virtually every Puma scrum in the Rugby Championship.

Locks
My pairing will be the frightening duo of the world’s best player, Brodie Retallick, and the world’s scariest captain, Paul O’Connell, who would be very nicely cast in a horror film. They were better than the handsome Springbok second row, although Eben Etzebeth improved throughout the year, after a serious injury, and finished as the best Bok forward on the European tour. Ancient Victor Matfield was good, but did not attend enough rucks with intent.

Honourable mention to Courteney Lawes and the super-talented Sam Whitelock.

Blindside flank
Big Jerome Kaino and hard-working Marcell Coetzee were the best. Coetzee doubles as a fetcher when Francois Louw is out, but he is still learning that dark craft. I will give the shirt to Kaino, who was just a bit more impressive.

Openside flank
While I’ve been sceptical of him in this role, Chris Robshaw really impressed me this year.

Michael Hooper is impossible for me to assess; I just cannot get my mind around his skillset. He is too easily moved, when he is trying to stay. He moves quicker than any other forward. I just don’t know about this lad.

Francois Louw missed a lot of games because Richie McCaw hurt him, and I’ll give this spot to McCaw. If Louw wanted it, he should have knocked McCaw out. I’m looking forward to this battle next year.

Honourable mention to Sam Warburton, who improved a great deal.

No. 8
We are in a great era for number eights. Jamie Heaslip was grand, as was Sergio Parrisse. But the battle royale was between New Zealand superhero Kieran Read and Nordic Nelspruit demi-god Duane Vermeulen. Vermeulen’s triumph over cracked ribs and Read give him the shirt.

Scrumhalf
Conor Murray is the only competition for Aaron Smith, but I don’t want to read 5,000 Kiwi posts about my idiocy, so of course I’ll pick Smith, who needs to work on his tackling, but has the sweetest pass in rugby.

Flyhalf
Two South Africans figure into this conversation (at long last). Handre Pollard is 20. Let me repeat. Pollard is 20. So, let’s give him another season or two. For now, Jonny Sexton’s game management makes him reign supreme. Aaron Cruden: set your alarm clock.

Inside centre
This will be unpopular, but Jean de Villiers, even out of top form, was the best no. 12 in world rugby in 2014. I apologise in advance.

Outside centre
Conrad Smith was not at his best. Robbie Henshaw looked good. But Tevita Kuridrani was a nightmare, and a revelation. Take a bow, Tevita. You were a threat every single time you touched the ball.

Wings
Julian Savea picks himself. A load. A freight train. And smart, too; seldom ran into bad areas. Jonny May was second best, maybe. On the other side, Adam Ashley-Cooper was reliable, as was Tommy Bowe. I’ll take Ashley-Cooper, because I like him.

Fullback
A head-scratcher. Israel Folau’s positioning was exposed at times, and his kicking is woeful, but he scores tries. Leigh Halfpenny was not himself. Mike Brown was inconsistent, but belongs in the top three.

Ben Smith and Willie le Roux were marvellous at times, but sometimes erratic, too. I’ll go with Willie, because he was asked to do more for the Boks than any other fullback was asked by their teams.

World XV
Willie le Roux, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Jean de Villiers, Julian Savea, Jonny Sexton, Aaron Smith, Joe Marler, Augustin Creevy, Ramiro Herrera, Brodie Retallick, Paul O’Connell, Jerome Kaino, Richie McCaw (c), Duane Vermeulen.