North beat South in top world team

LONDON - Northern Hemisphere teams fill 11 of the 15 positions in the Zurich World XV for 2002.

Only three All Blacks - wing Doug Howlett, No 8 Scott Robertson and lock Chris Jack - and a lone Springbok, flanker Joe Van Niekerk, make the final cut.

World champions Australia do not have a single player in the team, reflecting their poor season, which ended in defeat to Ireland and England on last month's tour of Europe.

They also lost their Tri-Nations title to New Zealand.

Resurgent England have five players in the side and Six Nations champions France three.

From England, fullback Jason Robinson, winger Ben Cohen, centre Will Greenwood and forwards Lewis Moody and Ben Kay came out top in their respective positions.

But first five-eighths Jonny Wilkinson does not figure, with Frenchman Gerald Merceron named as the only survivor from the 2001 side.

Scotland provide two of the front row trio in the form of prop Tom Smith and hooker Gordon Bulloch.

The Zurich World Player Rankings are based on detailed statistical analysis of all 2002 games involving countries from the Six Nations and Tri-Nations.

The system uses detailed video analysis of individual performances to produce the rankings, based on how well players perform their core skills required for that position.

World XV: Jason Robinson (England), Doug Howlett (New Zealand), Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland), Will Greenwood (England), Ben Cohen (England), Gerald Merceron (France), Fabien Galthie (France), Scott Robertson (New Zealand), Joe Van Niekerk (South Africa), Lewis Moody (England), Ben Kay (England), Chris Jack (New Zealand), Pieter De Villiers (France), Gordon Bulloch (Scotland), Tom Smith (Scotland).

* Toulouse's former All Black No 8, Isitolo Maka, will be out of action for at least three months after fracturing his left ankle during training.

Maka was to have played in yesterday's French league game against Mont-de-Marsan, but was injured after slipping on the ball.

- AGENCIES