Six All Blacks, Four England Players & No Ireland Players In Rugby World's 20 Best Players

Six All Blacks have been included in Rugby World magazine's top 20 list of 100 best players of 2021, with France's Antoine Dupont topping the list.

The biennial countdown by the Magazine of the 100 best players in the world right now was selected by a panel that included Rugby World columnist Stephen Jones, Wasps Women director of rugby Giselle Mather, Chris Jones from the BBC, Welsh broadcaster Lauren Jenkins, and Sportsbeat's Paul Eddison.

The Six All Blacks included on the list are Ardie Savea (2), Aaron Smith (6), Sam Whitelock (10), Brodie Retallick (12), Beauden Barrett (14), and Richie Mo'unga (15).

Four England players crack the top 20, with men's internationals Maro Itoje (3), Tom Curry (9), and Courtney Lawes (19) joined on the list by Red Roses star Abby Dow.

Lukhanyo Am (7), Cheslin Kolbe (8), and Eben Etzebeth (17) are the three South Africans who crack the top 20, with Wallabies captain Michael Hooper placed in fourth place ahead of countryman Taniela Tupou in fifth.

Antoine Dupont (1) is joined by France women's star Rose Bernadou (13), while Fijian Sevens star Jerry Tuwai features at 16. 

Wales and Scotland contribute a single player each, with Josh Adams rounding out the top 20 and Hamish Watson featuring at 18, respectively. 

*The full Top 100 list is in the latest Rugby World magazine