SA Rugby magazine writers each picked a world Team of the Year for 2021 and, though the backline is loaded with unanimous selections, the pack highlights the world champions’ wealth of talent.

The six unanimous selections include the Boks’ Lukhanyo Am, Damian de Allende, Makazole Mapimpi, Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth, and France scrummy Antoine Dupont.

Though Bok tight forwards occupied 18 of the 25 available slots, Etzebeth was the only unanimous selection as South Africa’s wealth of scrum hogs was showcased in the remaining four positions by the selection of Frans Malherbe, Trevor Nyakane, Malcolm Marx, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche and Steven Kitshoff.

The All Blacks pair of Jordie Barrett and Will Jordan, and England lock Maro Itoje fell one vote shy of being unanimous inclusions while such was the nature of an up-and-down season that four players were named for the No 10 jersey.