O'Driscoll has it all

Lightning quick and with the skills to match. Forget Jonah Lomu, this is the All Blacks wing to keep tags on in World Cup year.

Outside centre - Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)

Tony Marsh and Tana Umaga have their claims, but O'Driscoll is perhaps the premier back in world rugby. Pace, power, peerless skills and true grit, the Irishman has it all.

Inside centre - Damien Traille (France)

Traille combines power with grace to form a lethal partnership with Tony Marsh for France, winning him the place ahead of Aaron Mauger and Daniel Herbert.

Left wing - Ben Cohen (England)

Perhaps the shock inclusion in the team. Cohen began his international career as a mere bruiser, but has developed into a complete international wing.

Fly-half - Jonny Wilkinson (England)

Wilkinson is getting stronger and improving his play with every season, whilst Andrew Mehrtens and Stephen Larkham are looking increasingly battle scarred.

Scrum-half - George Gregan (Australia)

Gregan's athleticism and skill wins him the spot

The Wallabies are in something of a slump under Gregan's leadership, but he remains the premier scrum-half in world rugby. His all-round athleticism wins him the spot above the talismanic Fabien Galthie.

Loosehead prop - Jean-Jacques Crenca (France)

Crenca has terrorised tightheads for the last two seasons, yet still finds enough energy to gallop around the field like a gazelle.

Hooker - Federico Mendez (Argentina)

Keith Wood's injury absence opens the way for the meanest hooker in world rugby.

Tighthead prop - Pieter de Villiers (France)

Part of a French front row that can match Argentina in the tight and the All Blacks in the loose.

Lock - Ben Kay (England)

Looks ready to step into Martin Johnson's shoes as England's strongman for the next decade.

Lock - Chris Jack (New Zealand)

Part of a Canterbury pack that ran rampant in the Super 12, Jack carried his form into the Tri Nations where his all-round play helped New Zealand to the title. Other than Kay, no lock in the autumn series did enough to displace the New Zealand first choice.

Blindside flanker - Serge Betsen (France)

Van Niekerk has stood out for the struggling Boks

The Frenchman's pace and power from the blindside have taken back-row play to another level. England have learned the lesson with Lewis Moody, and other teams are picking up on it.

Number eight - Joe van Niekerk (South Africa)

Imanol Harinordoquy is one of the classiest number eights in world rugby, but his performance against the All Blacks suggests he needs to add an extra physical dimension to his play. Van Niekerk has been a stand-out performer in a struggling Springbok pack.

Openside flanker - Richard Hill (England, capt)

Hill was a serious contender for all three back-row positions. Claims the openside shirt in the teeth of quality opposition from the likes of Olivier Magne, George Smith and Richard McCaw.

So there are our choices... Four players each from France and England, three out of New Zealand, and one each from Ireland, Argentina, South Africa and Australia.

The northern hemisphere dominates, with nine players compared to six from the south. Is that fair? Let us know and make your selections.