Southern Hemisphere Team of the Year - 2023 

Would love to see WR arrange a North vs South showdown at least once.

Its great that Arendse flies under the radar on these selections. His strike rate and work off the ball in defense is unbelievable. Glad that he goes unnoticed, as when everybody opens their eyes he will be scoring another match winning try......

Great team, Mark! Just remind PSDT that Jordie is his teammate now! He went after him in that final like he owed him money 😂

Great segment Mark. Never given much thought to S.Hemisphere demographic as a whole (I tend to limit my thinking to RC teams), so this was interesting. Perfect Bio on Ardie - man that guy is a phenomenon! Good selection in Pollard - hard to counter your reasoning there. I'm a big Mark Telea fan - watch that guy, he's just getting started IMHO. As for Jacques N, I think you read his vibe correctly. What a good year it's been - shot for guiding us through it all 👊

I can't believe this guy lives down the road from me .And lm always watching his podcast to hear his reaction especially when South Africa vs New Zealand .Keep it up I love your honest reviews

Ardie Savea could have easily been player of the year 2 or 3 times. Man the guy is Superhuman!

Great call on Kwagga 👍 We might see a revolution in a 5 / 1 / 2 split where that 1 is a loosie than can play backline. A 7s type specialist. Don't think you've got the centres correct. Personally i think the ABs forwards won all the ball they needed to win the rwc (Whitelock remains very underrated). The nz backline didn't use possession effectively, and i blame the centres. Would pick de Allende and even consider Jesse Kriel at 13 (which I'm surprised to say)

Great Team, Great channel love it keep it up! All the best to you, dad and the family for 2024. Looking forward to your reviews for 2024

Agree with all your picks, the Barrett bros looking pretty good in their new positions I must say. great world cup for SA and NZ 🤙🤙

Great team, would have expected to see Frizell get a mention, solid player, great attack always scores against us. (the boks) Anyway, great viddy as always and cheers to a blessed New Year to you and the family!🎉

I just love tour videos! Please never stop! No one does unbias like you man. Your a RU-vid gem!

Have a great New Year! Keep the Tour videos coming! And that curmudgeon Gazza!

Thank you kindly Mark TC You did an excellent, consistent and well considered, weighted job all throughout made a helluva difference to the Game evaluation and discussions MUCH appreciated and WELL DONE‼️ 🥂 beste ex ZA 👊🔥 🪖

Thanks for the vid! Looking forward to the NH!

I think Franco Mostert doesn't get the plaudits he deserves

Hi Mark, thank you for all your excellent videos in the build-up to and through the RWC. I so enjoyed them and they enriched my following of the tournament very much. I have also enjoyed this latest one on the Southern Hemisphere team of the Year. I think that your choices were perhaps a little generous to the Boks, but done with your usual astute insight. Thank you. On a more serious note there is something that I have been wondering about that might be worth a panel discussion or some such thing. It is just why has rugby been so strong in New Zealand and South Africa over such a long time, and the related issue of the impact of the professionalisation of the sport? If one looks at soccer in the UK a team like Liverpool, not that long ago, used to be composed of local players that had grown through the deep community roots in soccer in Liverpool, while now, Liverpool is just another multi international money team with no or very few local players. It is great for the soccer sport entertainment industry, but what about the local roots of the game? I live in SA and I know how deep the community roots of rugby are over here, and I get the impression that the same applies in NZ. Is the reason that rugby has been so strong in NZ and SA for so long due to these community roots and culture, or is there some other reason? In many discussions overseas commentators go on and on about how big the SA men are and how much meat they eat - FFS, that's just nonsense. With modern gyming and supplements just about anyone who trains hard enough can be a huge big rugby forward. Part of this discussion also needs to be about professionalisation and how it will continue to change the game. Players playing overseas in overseas leagues etc, what happens to the game back at home, especially with reference to NZ and SA who are the two great power houses of world rugby?

When I think of Savea throwing a dummy, I can't help but just chuckle 😂 it's so ridiculous

Very interesting recap of the best players, made me wonder if there would ever be a Northern Hemisphere v Southern Hemisphere exhibition match.

Great video, agree with the selections. Good to see you in a Boks jersey! 😉

Sorry Mark, #10 is Richie Mo'unga because of the all around performance

Etzebeth had a huge year. So dynamic, and came up huge in some key moments of the RWC if I remember correctly.

Thanks for a great year of analysis, Mark!

Kitsoff's quality is demonstrated by the fact that he's keeping probably the best scrummaging prop (ether side) in the world to a benchplace. Malherbe reminds me of Adam Jones circa 2012/13, maybe living with a reputation as "just" a scrumager but has worked on his game so much.

My team of the year (Southern Hemisphere): 1. Steven Kitsoff 2. Bongi Mbonambi 3. Frans Malherbe 4. Scott Barrett 5. Eben Etzebeth 6. Peter Steph du Toit 7. Ardie Savea 8. Villiame “Bill” Mata 9. Aaron Smith 10. Richie Mo’unga 11. Cheslin Kolbe 12. Jordie Barrett 13. Waisea Nayacalevu 14. Mark Telea 15. Emiliano Boffelli 16. Julian Montoya 17. Angus Bell 18. Ox Nche 19. Sam Whitelock 20. Theo Macfarland 21. Juan Martin Gonzales 22. Faf De Klerk 23. Beauden Barrett

Faf de Klerk is massive for SA... Covers as extra defense loose forward, srumhalf, as well as covered the wing when Kolbe went off.

Fair calls, for me only possible notable omission is Santiago Arata of Uruguay, best no.9 in Top14 after Dupont.

lol, best review ever!!! at least za aint woke. blessings for the new year

Completely agree with what you said about their definitely being a place for a specialist super sub like Kwagga and 2015 BB. Reminds me of what Danny care and TJ used to bring for England and the ABs respectively. Never really justified themselves as a starter in their position but there was no one you'd rather bring on to make an impact late on in a game. Can easily make the difference between winning and losing

If it wasn't for the TMO Richie Mo'ungas breaks against SA in the final and his break against Ireland in the Qfinal is absolute relentless , i pick him over Pollard any day.

Maybe Ox over Angus is all I would change.

Solid list. Allowing for injury, i probably wouldve gone for Samu Kerevi over Jordie, Nico Sanchez over Pollard, and Luhkanyo Am over Reiko. The All Blacks and Pumas lacked for straight-ahead firepower in the midfield and pack, and the Boks were uninspired from fly half, so a bit more spark and invention, along with a dose of line-breaking punch would for a more balanced lineup.

Nice team! Can't really fault your selections. A season or two ago I would've made a case for Kerevi, but he's struggling with his form.

Kitshoff: I said; finesse. you said; sauce.

Love your teams and your stats

Love this team would like to see it play against the Lions

I’d love to see a few teams go up against the Lions. Imagine something like these teams in a tournament: British and Irish Lions NZ, Aus and the Island nations SA, Africa and Argentina France and the rest of the World

Great years ahead for ABs and Boks. Respect for both. Whingers are usually armchair specialists and most likely hardly able to play the game. New year resolution, we take mistakes on the chin and move on -- all guilty -- no more complaining. Hope Aussie rugby recovers. Bok supporter.

I know it's probably to spread and have less Boks in, but man, Ox, the OX. He's following the legacy of the Afrikaans version of himself nearly 30 years before, Os du Randt (Os is Ox in english).

lukanyo am and maybe arendse probably get in for me but cant really argue with the rest. quality team

Yes to Kwagga! Amazing team mate!

Really great vid. Very few areas where I’d choose differently. ANGUS BELL. Glad you put him on the bench. Dude is an average scrummager, but he’s absolute elite class at everything else. If he improves his scrummaging to great, he will be the world’s best loosehead by a mile. Guy’s been the best Wallaby player in 2023 TRC. I think especially the game against the Boks, he was the best player on the field in a losing side. HANDRÉ POLLARD. You won’t find me disagreeing with your selection there. It absolutely fascinates me how this class A achiever is constantly getting sh@t on, including by a large contingent of South African fans. The amount of nonsense that’s being said about this guy and his game is just staggering. Double World Cup winner now, and South Africa weren’t winning either of those Cups without him. MARCOS KREMER. Here’s where I’d possibly put him on the bench. Guy’s had the biggest amount of tackles and dominant tackles at the RWC, absolute work horse, genuine lineout option, good carrier. An argument could be made for him to start over P-SdT, but for him not to even make the bench … very unlucky. JULIÁN MONTOYA. He’d perhaps be my starter. In terms of an individual’s impact on the team, this guy is up there. Bongi was more crucial for SA at the RWC, but averaged across the year, I’d pick Montoya by a hair’s breadth. MOODIE, and ARENDSE might have deserved an HM, I feel. Moodie looks like a freak of a talent. I hope he ends up being a 13. Arendse with all his tries across the year, and his defensive effort in the RWC playoffs. And thumbs up for the joke about Mark Telea. Guy’s so good, he could just as well have been engineered in a lab. It wouldn’t surprise me. He’s got everything. What a specimen.

The whiteboard says 2024 team of the year.. bit early there Mark. 😂

good video again Mark, crossing the t's and dotting the i's for 2023. just watch out for some pundits calling you out on the legality of a 6 - 2 split seems moving on is a difficult skill for rugby supporters. Maybe get a team of best sideline experts to play against this team would not have Rico in the southern hemispehere team of 2023 --- he does ok when ABs beat up opponents, but not so good under pressure. I think Razor should move Will Jordan to 13, the way he runs with the ball in two hands, plus he reads the game better than most and the more time you can get him on the ball, the better. Boks have the same in Moodie. As centres, I would pick either De Allende or Esterhuizen above Barrett, although Barrett gives you an extra kicking option, if that is why you pick him. But that is only my opinion, as those 3 are so very close and do not think any of them would let the team down.

Agreed. That would be the team.

Would love to see a a lions v southern hemisphere’s team …..cracking team you picked big man and yes I know I missed out France joining the lions but IYKYK legacy 🙌🏻🔥…….hold on your not doing a northern hemisphere RUDE 😂

That would be a team I would pay to see play!

If you are going to pick Botia for his turnovers and his general attacking play, then Kwagga Smith is much much better than him at turnovers and for his size, he is so strong with ball in hand. Much higher work rate too. Kwagga is the best open side flanker in the world and is one of the few traditional open side flankers around

Excellent SH team, although: 🇳🇿🇿🇦 Top dogs as shown in that final 🇦🇷 Did okay 🇦🇺 Terrible as reflected on their previous RA board where picking EJ again may have come back to bite them. 🇼🇸🇹🇴🇫🇯 Fiji were the standout of the three reaching the quarterfinals despite average performances against Portugal and Georgia. Samoa and Tonga were really competitive despite not making the last eight. 🇺🇾🇨🇱 Not a bad world cup debut from Chile and Uruguay were okay too indicating that South American rugby is looking good. 🇳🇦 Yeah they had another winless tournament unfortunately.

Nice to see unbiased thinking, agree with 90%. Would play Marx

Fair calls there, Mark. I'm glad NZ rugby is moving on to a new chapter.

To leave out ox nche is insane but otherwise perfect team

I got to see Ardie playing that game at Twickenham this year.

Interesting concept, and very strong team. Obviously these things are always subjective. Completely SA-NZ backline? Smith v de Klerk is curious ... although the only one I really disagree with is picking Ioane in there - he's earned that jersey for NZ but is not a complete player - eg defensive deficits. Just my 2 cents' worth 😉 PS - I'd love to see a south v north game ... although easy to predict the winner at present.

As a long time Springbok and Handre Pollard fan, I would not have selected him. 100% strike rate off the boot is impressive as f*** and won us the title, but that is pretty much all he did. Defensively he was okay but missed a lot more than you'd expect and in attack he was meh, apart from a couple of runs at the line. Every time he replaced Manie, the backline simply faltered. Richie Mounga played a better game, but his kicking was terrible at the RWC and Carter Gordon was just too up and down. Guess you could go with Sanchez as the supersub he was?

Good team. Just would have two changes…Jesse Kriel has been a beast at the world cup after Am took over his role. So Rieko i would take out and put Jesse in. Lastly i would start with Arendse...underrated and people dont see that. Still a good video

Southern Hemisphere would defeat the North Hemisphere in a best of 3 series 🍿👁👃👁 👄

BOngi MBonambi... the 1st 2 letters of each name spell BOMB! 😅

Mine would be really close to that Ox nche Bongi mbonambi Frans malherbe Eben etsebeth Scott barrett Juan martin Gonzalez Pieter steph du toit Ardie savea Aaron smith Richie mo unga Mark telea Jordie barrett Jesse kriel Cheslin kolbe Beauden barrett Julian Montoya Steven kitshoff Ben tameifuna Sam whitelock Kwagga smith Simione kuruvoli Handre pollard Will jordan

Must have Solisi in or even Matera with Aldrit at 8😊

Can’t disagree with that selection. Although if Caeleb Muntz hadn’t been injured, he could’ve made the squad as prior to his bad luck he was in the form of his life. Regarding Ardie, he’s one of the best athletes in the game of rugby, he’s strong, fast and agile, he could play in the backs if needed.

As a Saffa I would pick Will Jordan above Kolbe. Will has been next level the entire 2023.

Its great 👋🇨🇭👋🇨🇭👋🇨🇭👋🇨🇭

Jesse Kriel,Kurt-Lee Arendse deserves a shout!Otherwise great team.

Would love to see this team against British Lions.

The two Fiji's no's 12 and 13. Tousova and his Captain.

Why can't the Southern hemisphere put a team together like the Lions and tour the North end of year every 4 years. Someone suggested this which is in fact a very interesting prospect.

How do New Zealanders feel about losing Aaron Smith? I can't imagine there's anyone coming through thaht can match his passing game, big loss?

I cannot see any of our ET opponents beating this Earth Southern Hemisphere side in the initial rounds of the Universe Cup.🏆

In my opinion Jesse Kriel was one of the best back line players at the World Cup.

Ox Nche not on your bench?

rugby 2024 yes

I would change Kitshoff, put Faf in, take Richie at 10, get Kriel and maybe even de Allende in. Rest pretty good.

Great team, but no backup scrumhalf? You counting on Beauden to fill that role? I suppose Cheslin's done it before. Hell, I'm sure Kwagga wouldn't mind having a stab at it.

You needed Ox to make it the pefect team

No place for Marks even on the bench, surprising!!

I would go with 1. Kitsoff 🇿🇦 2. Mbonambi 🇿🇦 3. Taimafeuna 🇹🇴 4. Etzebeth 🇿🇦 5. Barrett 🇳🇿 6. Psdt 🇿🇦 7. Kremer 🇦🇷 8. Savea 🇳🇿 9. Smith 🇳🇿 10. Barrett 🇳🇿 11. Telea 🇳🇿 12. Randrandra 🇫🇯 13. Nayacelevu 🇫🇯 14. Kolbe 🇿🇦 15. Boffelli 🇦🇷 16. Montoya 🇦🇷 17. Bell 🇦🇺 18. Mahelber 🇿🇦 19. Skelton 🇦🇺 20. Botia 🇫🇯 21. De Klerk 🇿🇦 22. Mo’anga 🇳🇿 23. Nawanqanitawasie 🇦🇺

Waiting for the “where’s Japan” comment.

Kremer? Most tackles in the World Cup

Ardie should’ve been a good a player of the year last year as well..

You missed Arendse 😁

No way Bongi starts before Max

Nayacalevu?

No Radradja at 12? Oh, and completely forgot, no Ox on bench!!

Good team but why would you not have Ox on the bench? Belle has been good but not nearly as good as Ox has been this year

I think you're biased with the Pollard pick because you resemble him quite a bit, especially with your Bok jersey on currently😂😂 JK! Pretty decent team👌

Player of the World Cup for me bundee akai

As a South African can we just have a cup between Southe hemisphere teams all named here

Erm….. Ox Nche?

i would have put kremer in there

Mark Telea is the future....untouchable🔥🔥🔥

NZ Centres over SA Centres? You’ve got to be kidding me

Nice selections Bro, but some calls i question. Here is the 23 i'd pick 1. Nche 2. Malolo 3-8 Same 9. Smith 10 Fernandez 11. Mouton 12 & 13 A Fijian + Kriel 14. Jordan 15. Donaldson 5-3, Drop Skelton. Over Hyped, Underperformed. 21. Kolbe 22. Pollard 23. Amaya

Awesome team, but I would add Ox ahead of the Ausie, and I will find a spot for Kurtley Arendse, he was amazing this season. Perhaps do a up and coming team with youngsters? Like Canan Moodie for example.

Richie at 10, BB at 15, Kerevi at 12 and just about anyone over Rieko

Willemse for the 15

2023 was the year that we had more than 2 candidates for the RWC trophy : France played exceptional rugby, but just fell short of making the SFs; Ireland were regarded as a top dog, but their QF voodoo was too strong; England played well but lacked confidence against their Nemesis at the end, but were rewarded with 3rd place; Argentina improved considerably; Australia disappointed; Wales and Scotland were NOT impressive; Fiji and Georgia were impressive. The 2 old foes South Africa and New Zealand were once again competing for trophy bragging rights, with New Zealand playing eye candy rugby in all games and South Africa playing lack-luster games without expending to much energy, but pulling through in the RWC FINAL by suppressing the opponents scoreless behind for more than 20 minutes!

Excellent team. Pity Malcolm Marx did not qualify for inclusion.

Ioane was great but surely not the best at his pos. Plenty of 13 better than him. Great choice of 10 though.

Nayacalevu over ioane any day. It’s a no brainer 🤷

Scotty Barrett's discipline is so bad. Great player, but going to cost you games. The AB version of Lavanini.