Picture this: New Zealand steals South Africa’s brightest upcoming talent, South Africa makes Antoine Dupont their favourite son and suddenly, rugby looks like the world’s most physical episode of Trading Spaces. Like John Koskinen, Bill Clinton’s Y2K “czar,” who hopped on a 1999 New Year’s Eve flight to prove we wouldn’t plummet into tech-induced chaos, each top ten rugby nation drafts one rival superstar to fix their weak spots. Koskinen saved the millennium; these picks could save entire test matches.
The results? Pure mayhem, outrageous drama, and a fantasy draft so spicy that even the most die-hard patriots would begrudgingly accept their new star as one of their own. Who’s your nation’s millennium miracle? Let the chaos begin!
1. South Africa – Antoine Dupont | France
Yes we are aware South Africa and France’s golden boy have a tumultuous (mainly online) relationship. And yes, Rassie and Jacques took four scrumhalfs to the last World Cup, but hear us out. Whilst Grant Williams, Jaden Hendrikse, Cobus Reinach, Morne van den Berg and Faf de Klerk are all top-notch players, they ain’t Dupont. Slotting in alongside the burgeoning talent that is Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, the wizardry of Manie Libbok, and the dynamism of Jordan Hendrikse of the ice-cold big match temperament of Handre Pollard, Dupont would undoubtedly elevate whichever Bok flyhalf he slotted in alongside. Throw into the mix the absolute brilliance of Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse on the wings, the power of the Bok pack, and suddenly, the greatest Bok team in history just got a whole lot better.
2. Ireland – Will Jordan | New Zealand
So often Ireland’s undoing over the past few years, namely the World Cup quarterfinal… The All Blacks star would bring a pace element that is, at the current time, sorely missing in the Irish backline. This lack of pace means that the Irish, at times, struggle to capitalise on opportunities that haven’t been perfectly by their ultra-precise and structured game plan. In Ireland, players with top-end pace, such as Calvin Nash, Jacob Stockdale, Jordan Larmour and Robert Baloucoune, have struggled to stay in the line-up either through injury or not quite being what Farrell wants. For the All Blacks star, he brings everything you could possibly need in a back three threat and would slot in on the wing in place of a slightly declining James Lowe. His combination with Hugo Keenan and Mack Hansen would give Ireland a ‘messy’ playmaking back three that not even a wild Andy Farrell fever dream could ever comprehend. Editor’s note – we considered Jordie Barrett here, given his impact at Leinster.
3. New Zealand – Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu | South Africa
Let’s get one thing straight: Damian McKenzie and Beauden Barrett are two exceptional players. In 2025, however, South Africa’s Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu feels destined to be the true alpha flyhalf in The Rugby Championship. The former Bishops standout is blessed with every physical tool to dominate at the highest level and combines these gifts with outlandish rugby intelligence, big match temperament and leadership qualities. For Scott Robertson’s All Blacks, there remain a few key positions that need shoring up, and neither DMac nor Barrett truly solidified themselves as undisputed kingpins at ten in 2024. Picture this, it’s Eden Park September 6th 2025, Feinberg-Mngomezulu breaks through the Bok defence, before flinging a 15 meter bullet to Mark Tele’a who goes over in the corner to keep the unbeaten streak alive… Yes, Feinberg-Mngomezulu is that guy and the All Blacks would be an unmatched force with him at the controls.
4. France – Sione Tuipulotu | Scotland
Blessed with depth only South Africa can rival, finding a hole in Les Bleus’s line-up was a challenge. One area that has plenty of talent coming through but perhaps lacks a current world-class operator is the inside centre berth. Gone are the days of Jonathan Danty piercing defensive lines, and whilst Yoram Moefana is a talented operator, he is a step behind the Scottish skipper. Heading into 2025, Tuipulotu is a lock for the Lions tour and would bring a playmaking ability to the French 12 channel that would put them over the top as the best-attacking team in test rugby. Combining with any of Romain Ntamack, Thomas Ramos, Mathieu Jalibert (if he kisses and makes up with Fabian Galthie), Tuipulotu would form a lethal playmaking spine which would reward their dominant pack and put their deadly outside backs in acres of space.
5. Argentina – RG Snyman | South Africa
Now playing an easy-on-the-eye all-court game under Felipe Contepomi, Los Pumas are once again an ascending force in test rugby. Whilst they already have some top-notch locks in Guido Petti, Pedro Rubiolo and Tomás Lavanini, none of them can do what Snyman does. Bringing not only incredible capabilities at set-piece time as a dominant scrummager and ruler of the skies at line-out time, but the Bok lock would also add another dimension to Los Pumas’ attacking game with his ability to offload in contact and break defensive lines seemingly at will.
6. Scotland – Dan Sheehan | Ireland
A phenomenal team that, to date, has yet to cash in on its talent, Scotland is fizzing along once again as a threat in the Six Nations. Blessed with depth unlike at any point in recent memory, Gregor Townsend’s side can challenge anyone in this year’s Championship. One area they are lacking a truly special talent is at hooker to combine with Pierre Schoeman and Zander Fagerson. Currently, Ewan Ashman and Dylan Richardson are the top choices, and whilst both are tidy players, Sheehan is an all-world talent who can dominate a fixture on his own. Slot him into that Scottish pack, and they have a truly game-changing front row to compliment their uber-exciting backline and dynamic backrow.
7. England – Tyrell Lomax | New Zealand
Before we go any further, you will not find bigger Dan Cole fans than this publication. Now 37-years-old, the Leicester Tiger is one of the finest players English Rugby has ever produced. Certainly, he can still lock down a scrum like it’s nobody’s business, but in the modern game, much more is asked of tighthead props. Fans need to look no further than Ireland and Scotland, where Tadhg Furlong and Zander Fagerson are certified ballers. Down south, the transition to top-quality ball-playing props continues, with Thomas du Toit and Lomax being carrying forces. For England, whilst there is ample talent coming through, namely 20-year-old Asher Opoku-Fordjour, Lomax would immediately fill Steve Borthwick’s biggest area of concern as a major upgrade to Will Stuart and Cole.
8. Australia – Tadhg Furlong | Ireland
Australia have a top-three loosehead in test rugby. Prove us wrong! Waratahs star Angus Bell is a monster in every respect and is without a doubt going to be the pillar of the Wallabies pack for years to come. It would be fitting for the man with dancing shoes to have a partner in crime who is capable of matching him in all departments. Yes, we are aware of the Tongan Thor, but when it comes to putting it all together, few are better than Leinster and Ireland star Tadhg Furlong. Currently recovering from a pesky hamstring injury, the 32-year-old has been a mainstay for both province and country for the past decade and is one of the game’s elite players. Slotting him back in with his former coach, Joe Schmidt, would no doubt get the best out of the Wexford man, who would relish going toe-to-toe with the Southern Hemisphere’s best on a regular basis.
9. Fiji – Angus Bell | Australia
This pick was challenging, given the unique way in which the Flying Fijians play the game. Often times over the years a flyhalf would’ve been a good option here but in Caleb Muntz, the Fijians are sorted in that department. Thus, the Wallabies loosehead feels like the perfect option here as someone to bring extra grunt to the set piece without sacrificing the ball-playing abilities of those around him. Still just 24-years-old, Bell, as we touched on above, has a bright future ahead of him and would be a great one-two punch with Eroni Mawi coming off the bench. Mawi is a top-quality operator, but Bell is a notch ahead; more crucially, having both would go a long way to ensuring the Fijian pack can sustain an eighty-minute showing against the bigger teams in World Rugby.
10. Italy – Thomas Ramos | France
Possessing more backline talent than at any point since joining the Six Nations twenty-five years ago, the Azzurri took a major step forward in 2024. Sure, their November left something to be desired and highlighted that they still need a dominant playmaker to take the next step as a consistent threat. Answering the call to arms is the Toulouse and France star, who might just be the most skilful player in the Six Nations. Capable of playing both flyhalf and fullback to a world-class level, we would slot Ramos in at 15 for the Italians. This would take the pressure off the talented but inconsistent Paola Garbisi, both in a playmaking and kicking sense. Ramos would also get the best out of his clubmate Ange Capuozzo as well as any of Jacopo Trulla, Monty Ioane, Louis Lynagh, Paolo Odogwu or Simone Gesi.
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The post Rugby’s ultimate fantasy draft: 10 star swaps that would be game changers first appeared on Rugby 247.
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Author : rugby-247
Publish date : 2025-01-08 11:38:24
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