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Four England internationals voted in Top 14 team of the season so far
By Josh Raisey
With just over half the Top 14 regular season already played, fans have voted for their team of the season so far, with four England internationals making the cut.
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In their first seasons playing in France, both Vannes’ Mako Vunipola, 33, and Bayonne’s Manu Tuilagi, 33, have been selected.
Now in the twilight of their careers, their moves to the Top 14 brought an end to their England careers after a decade of service, though the former Saracens prop had already announced his international retirement prior to the 2024 Guinness Six Nations. Tuilagi has made the team despite missing the start of the season with a broken hand.
The two other England stars to make the squad, Toulon captain David Ribbans, 29, and Toulouse’s Jack Willis, 28, would probably make Steve Borthwick’s England squad if they were eligible.
Willis is joined by four of his Toulouse club-mates in the team, all of which are in the pack. The XV is dominated by league-leaders Bordeaux-Begles, with four players in the backline, and reigning champions Toulouse.
The response on social media suggests another England star, Montpellier No. 8 Billy Vunipola, was unlucky not to be selected, which would have meant a third of the team would have been made up of former England internationals.
The squad is largely comprised of Frenchman, understandably, though Fiji centre and Tuilagi’s midfield partner Sireli Maqala has also been picked.
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Top 14 team of the season so far
15. Romain Buros (Bordeaux-Begles)
14. Damian Penaud (Bordeaux-Begles)
13. Manu Tuilagi (Bayonne)
12. Sireli Maqala (Bayonne)
11. Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Begles)
10. Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Begles)
9. Baptiste Couilloud (Lyon)
1. Mako Vunipola (Vannes)
2. Peato Mauvaka (Toulouse)
3. Regis Montagne (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
4. Joshua Brennan (Toulouse)
5. David Ribbans (Toulon)
6. Francois Cros (Toulouse)
7. Jack Willis (Toulouse)
8. Alexandre Roumat (Toulouse)
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Tuilagi and Maqala play together in the centres for Bayonne at 12 and 13 respectively. Why has the team of the season swapped them around?