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World Rugby named Pablo Matera on the official 2022 Men’s Dream Team of the Year. The Argentine was named as the best 6 in the world. He played at both 6 and 8 for Argentina in 2022, with the latter being his usual position.
Matera is the only player from the Americas to make the prestigious Men’s Dream Team. He joins four Irishmen, three South Africans, two Englishmen, two Frenchmen, two New Zealanders and one Australian.
The back-row is divided between Argentina, Ireland, and France. Matera is joined by Josh van der Flier and Gregory Alldritt. This means a significant surprise; there is no place on the back-row for New Zealand’s Ardie Savea.
There will be plenty of debate as to the team selected. From an Americas perspective the inclusion of Wallaby Marika Koroibete ahead of Emiliano Boffelli is hard to fathom. Whether or not Boffelli was the best winger of not does not excuse the point that it would be very hard to argue that Koroibete had a better 2022 than Boffelli.
Another choice that is certain to raise eyebrows is Eben Etzebeth. The South African’s name is not on the list. World Rugby deem Samuel Whitelock and Tadhg Beirne to have been the world’s best second-rowers in 2022.
What a team 🤩
These are the players chosen to assemble the 2022 Men's Dream Team of the Year, in partnership with @Capgemini pic.twitter.com/2s6UqwsNX5
— World Rugby (@WorldRugby) November 20, 2022
