One All Black, zero Wallabies: Rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll’s reveals surprising Team of the World Cup

Ireland rugby great Brian O’Driscoll has revealed his team of the tournament, featuring zero Wallabies and only one All Black.

Fiji's wing Semi Radradra. (Photo by CHRISTOPHE SIMON / AFP)

No Wallabies were worthy of a spot in Brian O’Driscoll’s Team of the World Cup, with the rugby legend revealing his picks via Twitter on Monday.

It comes after Australia’s early exit from the tournament, after it was smashed by England in the quarter-finals last week in Oita Stadium, Japan.

O’Driscoll, who played 133 Test matches for Ireland and captained the British and Irish Lions, scribbled the team on scrap paper before posting to social media.

Been asked to pick a team of the tournament for @LandRoverRugby Fair?! pic.twitter.com/Es0fXXQPvP

— Brian O'Driscoll (@BrianODriscoll) October 28, 2019

BRIAN O’DRISCOLL’S WORLD CUP XV

15. Beauden Barrett – New Zealand (four matches, 13 points, two tries)

14. Kenki Fukuoka – Japan (four matches, 20 points, four tries)

13. Manu Tuilagi – England (four matches, 15 points, three tries)

12. Damian de Allende – South Africa (six matches, 10 points, two tries)

11. Semi Radradra – Fiji (four matches, 10 points, two tries)

10. George Ford – England (five matches, 32 points, two tries)

9. Yutaka Nagare – Japan (five matches, two linebreaks, 362 passes

8. Duane Vermeulen – South Africa (four matches, 25 carries, 20 tackles)

7. Sam Underhill – England (four matches, two linebreaks, 62 tackles)

6. Aaron Wainwright – Wales (six matches, two linebreaks, 43 tackles)

5. Maro Itoje – England (four matches, 26 carries, 55 tackles)

4. Alun Wyn Jones – Wales (five matches, 29 carries, 70 tackles)

3. Kyle Sinckler – England (five matches, two linebreaks, 33 carries)

2. Ken Owens – Wales (five matches, 29 carries, 52 tackles)

1. Kaita Inagaki – Japan (five matches, 30 carries, 48 tackles)

Five English players make up the squad, comfortably more than any other nation – Wales and Japan each feature three players.

Surprisingly, only one New Zealander made the starting XV. Superstar fullback Beauden Barratt was the lone All Black in O’Driscoll’s 15.

New Zealand suffered a shock loss to England in Saturday’s semi-final, their first defeat in a World Cup match since 2007. New Zealand have since slipped to third in the World rankings, their lowest position since 2003.

The All Blacks have dominated international rugby for decades, winning the previous two tournaments in 2011 and 2015.

Australia's Marika Koroibete reacts after the 40-16 loss to England. (AP Photo/Christophe Ena)

Australian winger Marika Koroibete was a noticeable exclusion after a stellar World Cup campaign. The 27-year-old scored three tries and made 12 clean line-breaks, the second most of any player in the tournament.

The absence of All Blacks flanker Ardie Savea was another source of discussion – the 26-year-old was New Zealand’s only tryscorer during Saturday’s loss to England and was dangerous in the breakdown throughout the tournament.

Josh Adams from Wales, the World Cup’s highest tryscorer (six), was also left out of O’Driscoll’s 15.

South Africa’s Faf de Klerk would also feel hard done by, with Japan’s Yutaka Nagare awarded the No. 9 spot. The Springboks halfback scored more tries, made more tackles and beat more defenders than his Japanese counterpart during the tournament. De Klerk was also named Player of the Match in South Africa’s must-win quarterfinal against Japan.

The Rugby World Cup Final between England and South Africa will take place Saturday evening.

Originally published as One All Black, zero Wallabies: Rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll’s reveals surprising Team of the World Cup