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The people's choice: Cheslin Kolbe voted ahead of Semi Radradra as the best wing on the planet by fans

(Photo by Michael Sheehan/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

Springboks star Cheslin Kolbe has been crowned the world’s best wing by fans around the globe after defeating Fijian flyer Semi Radradra in a poll on social media.

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The electric 26-year-old enjoyed a comfortable win with 60 percent of the fan vote on RugbyPass‘ Facebook and Instagram accounts as part of the Straight 8 Fan Vote campaign to determine the best player on the planet in each position.

Continue reading below…

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Kolbe and Radradra were left as the last two players standing in the third and final round of the knockout bracket after having fought off the challenges of some big names in the prior two rounds.

Backing up his 79 percent winning margin against Japanese sensation Kenki Fukuoka, Radradra dominated against South African speedster Makazole Mapimpi in the second round to run away with the tie by 72 percent.

On the other side of the draw, Kolbe had little trouble in dispatching Welsh wing Josh Adams with 89 percent of the fan vote, before cruising to victory against rapid Englishman Jonny May with 69 percent of the public’s support.

In the end, it was Kolbe’s speed, fleet-footed prowess and ability to punch well above his weight despite standing at only 1.7m and 77kg that got him past the might of Radradra.

Whether it’s been from the midfield or the wing, the Fijian league convert has been a dominant force in union since making the switch to the Top 14 from the NRL three years ago, but that didn’t stop Kolbe from winning 60 percent of the vote.

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His selection as the world’s best wing comes after he helped play a pivotal role in South Africa’s World Cup success in Japan last year, where he scored the decisive try in the final against England.

Kolbe was also a standout for club side Toulouse, as he won Top 14 player of the year en route to his side’s first domestic title in seven years.

Despite finishing runner-up in the vote, Radradra can take solace in the fact that by virtue of being one of the last two wings in the vote, he will be included in the RugbyPass Straight 8 Fan Vote World XV alongside Kolbe.

The duo will join England powerhouse Maro Itoje and World Rugby player of the year Pieter-Steph du Toit, who both won the lock and flanker votes, as well as runners-up Eben Etzebeth and Ardie Savea in the fan-voted team.

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The Straight 8 Fan Vote will begin its fourth instalment early next week.

RugbyPass Straight 8 Fan Vote World XV (as it stands)

1. N/A
2. N/A
3. N/A
4. Maro Itoje (England/Saracens)
5. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa/Toulon)
6. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa/Stormers)
7. Ardie Savea (New Zealand/Hurricanes)
8. N/A
9. N/A
10. N/A
11. Semi Radradra (Fiji/Bordeaux)
12. N/A
13. N/A
14. Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa/Toulouse)
15. N/A

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f
fl 8 hours ago
What is the future of rugby in 2025?

Smith generally isn't well connected to his forward pods; doesn't do a great job of distributing to those around him; and has inferior positional and contestable kicking games than Ford and Fin.


When England have had success over the past few years, its been either through (i) defensive rugby backed up with smart tactical kicking or (ii) high possession attacking phase play based on quick ruck ball. George Ford was key to the implementation of (i) in the RWC, and in the 6N win over Wales, and to the implementation of (ii) in the 6N games against Ireland and France. Smith did great at (ii) when running at tired defenders at the end of the Ireland match, but has never successfully implemented that gameplan from the start of a test because he doesn't distribute or support his forwards enough to create consistent fast ball and build attacks over multiple phases. Instead, his introduction to the starting side has resulted in much more playmaking responsibilities being forced onto whoever plays 9. Alex Mitchell copes ok with that, but I think he looks better with a more involved playmaking 10 outside him, and it really isn't a gameplan that works for JVP or Spencer. As a result of that the outside backs and centres have barely touched the ball when Smith has been at 10.


This might not have been too much of a disaster, as England have seemed to be moving slightly towards the sort of attacking gameplan that France played under Labit and Quins play (I think this was especially their approach when they won the league a few years ago - but its still a part of their play now), which is based on kicking to create broken field rugby. This is (i) a sharp departure from the gameplans that have worked for England in the past few seasons; (ii) bears very little relation to the tactical approaches of the non-Quins players in the England team; and (iii) is an absolute disaster for the blitz defence, which is weak in transition. Unsurprisingly, it has coincided with a sharp decline in England's results.

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