1 Ox Nche
You can tell Ox Nche loves the battle. Every scrum, every carry, he’s up for it. He’s got this mix of power and humour that makes him easy to like—he competes hard but never looks miserable doing it. Off the field, he’s all smiles; on it, he’s all business.
2 Dan Sheehan
Dan Sheehan feels like the modern hooker in a nutshell—strong in the set piece, fast in open play, and never quiet for long. He’s one of those players who always seems to be involved, whether hitting a ruck or running a support line. He’s got a real edge to him too, like he enjoys the fight.
3 Tadhg Furlong
You get the sense Tadhg Furlong could’ve been good at anything—he just happened to pick rugby. He’s a prop who plays with personality, mixing brute strength with little moments of skill that catch people off guard. There’s always a grin nearby, even when he’s locking horns with someone twice his size.
4 Eben Etzebeth
Eben Etzebeth’s presence changes everything. He doesn’t have to say much—you just know he’s there. His tackles echo, his ruck work rattles opponents, and his energy never really dips. He plays angry, but it’s a controlled kind of anger, the type that lifts a team instead of distracting it.
5 Maro Itoje
Maro Itoje never stops moving. He’s constantly talking, contesting, clapping, pointing—completely locked into the game. You can tell how much he loves competing by the way he celebrates the small stuff. It’s not arrogance, it’s drive. He brings intensity, but it’s the intelligence behind it that sets him apart.
6 Siya Kolisi
Everything about Siya Kolisi feels genuine. He’s a leader, yes, but not the loud, look-at-me kind. He carries himself with calm, even when the pressure’s up. You can sense his teammates play harder because of him. Kolisi’s not trying to be inspirational—it just sort of happens that way.
7 Pieter-Steph du Toit
Pieter-Steph du Toit looks like he’d happily play for 100 minutes straight. He’s a worker, pure and simple. There’s nothing fancy in what he does—he just keeps hitting, running, chasing, and somehow never tires. You can see why coaches love him: he’s all effort, no ego.
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