All Blacks snubbed in 'World XV' team
More Englishmen than All Blacks have been named in the The Telegraph newspaper's 'World XV' from the end of year internationals.
Halfback Aaron Smith, prop Owen Franks and blindside flanker Jerome Kaino were the only three All Blacks deemed to do enough over the past few months to impress The Telegraph scribes.
Meanwhile four England players made the XV - loosehead prop Joe Marler was one, while lock Courtney Lawes, captain Chris Robshaw and winger Jonny May were all picked ahead of their All Black counterparts.
And it is fair to say that many fans are not amused.
"Did Walter Mitty write this?," asked Britmartykiwi. "No Savea? No Retallick? ...I see that some poms (I'm one actually) are living in Cloud Cuckoo land - good, all the more fun when the crash occurs next year!"
Keith Butler wrote: "What drugs are you on MC. How you can pick Lawes beyond Brody Retallick, May instead of Savea and Robshaw is beyond me."
Perhaps ichall summed up the selection best: "The most rubbish selection of any team, in any sport, ever."
The All Blacks won their three matches in the UK, after their thumping win over the USA in Chicago.
Meanwhile England followed defeat against the All Blacks for the fourth time in 2014, with another loss to the Sprinbgoks before battling past Samoa and Australia.
Richie McCaw didn't make the cut, despite their rugby experts naming the All Blacks' captain as one of the tourists of the summer.
It also means their was no room for World Rugby Player of the Year Brodie Retallick, or fellow nominees Julian Savea or South Africa's Duane Vermeulen.
Indeed, of the five nominees, only two made the team - Ireland first-five Jonny Sexton and Springboks fullback Willie le Roux.
The overall team shows a strong Northern Hemisphere bias, with Ireland having the most representatives with five, while no Wallabies feature in the team at all.
Great to see everyone in New Zealand incensed by @TelegraphRugby World XV selection. Another job well done. Was that you @MickClearyTel ?
— Scotty Stevenson (@sumostevenson) December 1, 2014
Hilarious parody article from @TelegraphSport with their joke World XV!!
— Huw Beynon (@huw_beynon) December 2, 2014
The Telegraph's World XV
1. Joe Marler (England)
2. Agustin Creevy (Argentina)
3. Owen Franks (All Blacks)
4. Courtney Lawes (England)
5. Paul O'Connell (Ireland)
6. Jerome Kaino (All Blacks)
7. Chris Robshaw (England, capt)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Ireland)
9. Aaron Smith (All Blacks)
10. Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
11. Jonny May (England)
12. Jean de Villiers (South Africa)
13. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)
14. Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
15. Willie Le Roux (South Africa)
