Leone Nakarawa named in Rugby Pass Top 30 players of 2018

Flying Fijians and Racing 92 second-row Leone Nakarawa has been named in the Rugby Pass Top 30 players of 2018.

Rugby Pass compiled a list including what they thought were the Top 30 rugby players of 2018 and number 24 on that list was Nakarawa.

Nakarawa made it to number one on the list last year.

Meanwhile, a slightly quieter year for Nakarawa in 2018 but that is probably a trade‑off he will happily make for the improved fortunes the Fijian team have enjoyed.

Rugby Pass compiled their list based on players performance in the Six Nations, southern hemisphere tours, Rugby Championship and European tours and not to mention a year full of domestic club rugby done and dusted.

Having seen off France in the city he calls home, Nakarawa continues to do things which no other second row in world rugby can do, but less individual brilliance and a more cohesive team unit is something which should have Fijian fans very excited ahead of the 2019 RWC.

Number one on the list this year was Ireland’s Tadgh Furlong.

Furlong has become a master of his craft and not only excels in the traditional roles of a tighthead, both as a scrummager and a lineout lifter, but also in the loose, where his carrying, breakdown work and solidity in the defensive line have all helped propel Leinster and Ireland to an unprecedented year of success.

Ireland’s Johnny Sexton was placed in number two, his guile and technical excellence have seen him establish himself as the world’s most effective fly‑half this year, despite strong competition from both All Blacks Beauden Barrett and England’s Owen Farrell.

Sexton was also named as World Rugby player of the year 2018.

Other players in the top 10 are South Africa’s Malcolm Marx, All Blacks Kieran Read and Sam Whitelock, Ireland’s Peter O’Mahony, England’s Mako Vunipola, New Zealnad’s Beauden Barrett, South Africa’s Faf de Klerk and England’s Owen Farrel.

[Source: Rugby Pass]

Top 30
Tadgh Furlong, Leinster and Ireland (91), Johnny Sexton, Leinster and Ireland (92), Malcolm Marx, Lions and South Africa (92),Kieran Read, Crusaders and New Zealand (93), Sam Whitelock, Crusaders and New Zealand (87), Peter O’Mahony, Munster and Ireland (92), Mako Vunipola, Saracens and England (90), Beauden Barrett, Hurricanes and New Zealand (92), Faf de Klerk, Sale Sharks and South Africa (79), Owen Farrell, Saracens and England (92), Willie le Roux, Wasps and South Africa (70), Jack Goodhue, Crusaders and New Zealand (91), James Ryan, Leinster and Ireland (92), Maro Itoje, Saracens and England (92), Kurtley Beale, Waratahs and Australia (80), Ardie Savea, Hurricanes and New Zealand (93), Ellis Jenkins, Cardiff Blues and Wales (78),Siya Kolisi, Stormers and South Africa (84),  Jacob Stockdale, Ulster and Ireland (85), Rieko Ioane, Blues and New Zealand (85), Duane Vermeulen, Kubota Spears and South Africa (84), Aphiwe Dyantyi, Lions and South Africa (78), Ben Smith, Highlanders and New Zealand (89), Leone Nakarawa, Racing 92 and Fiji (81), Jonny Gray, Glasgow Warriors and Scotland (88), Emiliano Boffelli, Jaguares and Argentina (79), Israel Folau, Waratahs and Australia (86), Alun Wyn Jones, Ospreys and Wales (83), Huw Jones, Glasgow Warriors and Scotland (82), Jonny May, Leicester Tigers and England (75).