Demolition Man, Botia on Top 20 List
“I am so grateful that the management has trust in me to join the boys for another RWC,” Botia said.
Monday 04 September 2023 | 16:16
FIJI Water Flying Fijians player Levani Botia (right) receives his Rugby World Cup cap during the official welcome in Bordeaux, France. Photo: FRU Media
Demolition man Levani Botia is one of the three tier two players to make the top 20 following the teams welcoming ceremony at Bordeaux, France on Saturday night.
The list, compiled by British newspaper The Telegraph, has snubbed England coach, Steve Borthwick’s charges in their top 20, with France and Ireland players dominating the best of the best.
Outstanding centre-come-back-rower Botia, 34, ranking 15th is the only Fiji star to make the list.
The other Fijian on the list is Wallaby centre Samu Kerevi.
A household name now but few knew much about Botia when he joined La Rochelle nearly a decade ago.
It would be easy to say the rest is history for the Fiji international, now a cult hero at the double Champions Cup-winning club, which is now regarded as one of the elite sides in France.
Like Toulon outside back and skipper Waisea Nayacalevu and Queensland prop Peni Ravai, Botia joins the duo for their third World Cup outing.
“I am as blessed as I got another opportunity for the Rugby World Cup.
“I am so grateful that the management has trust in me to join the boys for another RWC,” Botia said.
“For us it is normal, we have to get over it.
“It is a team call and what stance is there, as a player we will accept. WFor possibly the first time ever, New Zealand doesn’t head into the Rugby World Cup as favourites to lift the Webb Ellis Cup, and that is reflected in the Telegraph’s picks.
Sensational outside back Will Jordan just cracks the top 20, taking the 20th place on the list. His teammate, Ardie Savea, is the only other member of Ian Foster’s squad in the list.
Telegraph’s top 20 best players in the world: 20 Will Jordan (New Zealand), 19 Steven Kitshoff (South Africa), 18 Malcolm Marx (South Africa), 17 Samu Kerevi (Australia), 16 Thomas Ramos (France), 15 Levani Botia (Fiji), 14 Johnny Sexton (Ireland), 13 Julien Marchand (France), 12 James Ryan (Ireland), 11 Dan Sheehan (Ireland), 10 Hugo Keenan (Ireland), 9 Damian Penaud (France), 8 Jonathan Danty (France), 7 Tadhg Beirne (Ireland), 6 Will Skelton (Australia), 5 Caelan Doris (Ireland), 4 Gregory Alldirtt (France), 3 Ardie Savea (New Zealand), 2 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa) and 1 Antoine Dupont (France).
Story by: Waisea Nasokia - waisean@fijisun.com.fj
