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Faf only Bok in Telegraph's Top 20 RWC players

Cape Town - Springbok scrumhalf Faf de Klerk is the sole South African to make the Telegraph's Top 20 best Rugby World Cup players in the world.

The British publication asked all of their rugby writers to vote for their Top 50 players in the world and combined their picks with those of coaches and directors of rugby from within the English game.

ALSO READ | SA well represented at RWC with 14 non-Bok players

The All Blacks had the most representation as six players made the Telegraph's list, meanwhile their were four Englishman who made the Top 20.

De Klerk was the only South African to make the coveted list, despite the Springboks boasting some of the world's best locks and one of the best hookers, Malcolm Marx.

South Africa's opening Pool B match against the All Blacks in Yokohama on September 21 (11:45 SA time) is sure to be a humdinger.

The Telegraph's Top 20:

20. Liam Williams (Wales)

19. Finn Russell (Scotland)

18. James Ryan (Ireland)

17. Michael Hooper (Australia)

16. Sam Whitelock (New Zealand)

15. Rieko Ioane (New Zealand)

14. Aaron Smith (New Zealand)

13. David Pocock (Australia)

12. Ben Smith (New Zealand)

11. Faf de Klerk (South Africa)

10. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

9. Maro Itoje (England)

8. Johnny Sexton (Ireland)

7. Jonathan Davies (Wales)

6. Billy Vunipola (England)

5. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)

4. Mako Vunipola (England)

3. Owen Farrell (England)

2. Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)

1. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)

Compiled by Lynn Butler

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