Four Boks named in July Series ‘dream team’

Following a captivating series home series victory over Wales, the Springboks have contributed four players to this star-studded World XV based on performances during the Incoming Tours.

In a dream team compiled by BBC Sport after the July global Test schedule, former England players Chris Jones and Ugo Monye picked their starting XV and bench.

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Unsurprisingly, Ireland dominated the selections after a historic series victory in New Zealand, contributing a total of six players, including captain and flyhalf Johnny Sexton, fullback Hugo Keenan and inside centre Robbie Henshaw.

The Springboks are next up, with four players selected from the squad that claimed a 2-1 home series victory over Wales.

Three of those players are in the pack as centurion Eben Etzebeth, hooker Bongi Mbonambi – who won his 50th cap in the third Test – and tighthead prop Trevor Nyakane getting the nod.

“Tight-head prop in the second Test, loose-head in the third. That is extraordinary versatility and the Springbok scrum was powerful throughout the series,” said Monye about Nyakane.

Lukhanyo Am is the only Bok back to get selected.

“I think Am is phenomenal. He has to be in our starting XV. He is brilliant,” said Monye.

Damian Willemse, who shifted between flyhalf, centre and fullback in the series, earns a place on the bench.

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BBC Sport’s Dream XV:

15 Hugo Keenan (Ireland), 14 Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales), 13 Lukhanyo Am (South Africa), 12 Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), 11 Emiliano Boffelli (Argentina), 10 Johnny Sexton (Ireland), 9 Kieran Hardy (Wales), 8 Caelan Doris (Ireland), 7 Josh van der Flier (Ireland), 6 Courtney Lawes (England), 5 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), 4 Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), 3 Trevor Nyakane (South Africa), 2 Bongi Mbonambi (South Africa), 1 Ellis Genge (England).

Image courtesy of @Springboks/Twitter

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