The International Rugby Board will hopefully not select a 2008 World XV, because it would be filled with endless consternation and debate.

For while Shane Williams is without a doubt the premier wing in world rugby, it is somewhat singular to name him the best player in the world when overlooking men such as Richie McCaw, Sergio Parisse, Matt Giteau and John Smit, who are all of vital importance to their teams.

But despite the ruthless assessments now under way of nations such as England, the game is blessed with an abundance of genuine superstars and game breakers. Let’s look at the team I would select...

The custodian position of fullback belongs to New Zealand's Mils Muliaina (Waikato, 68 Test caps, 24 tries), who has benefited from playing in position and not being challenged by the likes of Leon MacDonald. Captaining Waikato this season, his dependability has increased and his positional play is unmatched. He is now earning comparisons with Christian Cullen and George Nepia. 

Lee Byrne of Wales deserves back-up spot. He has had an outstanding season both in the Six-Nations and autumn internationals.

At wing we of course see the inclusion of Shane Williams (Ospreys, 59 Test caps, 44 tries), who has been in sparkling form, his dancing feet even making the likes of Bryan Habana look ordinary. He broke Gareth Thomas’s try scoring record for Wales this season. 

New Zealand's Sitiveni Sivivatu (Waikato, 34 Test caps, 24 tries) just pips Peter Hynes and Cedric Heymans for the second wing spot. Featuring in 13 Tests in 2008, his consistency over the All  Blacks' end-of-season tour earned his spot.

At outside centre we select Stirling Mortlock (Brumbies, 74 Test caps, third-highest point scorer in Australian history), who finished the season at inside centre but is no doubt the best No.13 in the game, closely followed by the silky Ireland captain, Brian O’Driscoll.

The position of inside centre sees us blessed with three world-class players, but All Black Ma’a Nonu (Wellington, 33 Test caps, 11 tries) makes the team after not only an outstanding end-of-season tour, but a revelation of a season where he has looked twice the player. He just pips Jean de Villiers of South Africa and Welshman Gavin Henson, both equally world-class players.

The crucial position of fly-half goes to Dan Carter (Canterbury, 59 Test caps, third highest point scorer in New Zealand history), who at 26 could go on to become the greatest player of all time. Regarded by many as the most complete No.10 the world has ever seen. Back-up spot goes to Australia's Matt Giteau, who is as brilliant individually, but has yet to control games as Carter has done.

At scrum-half we see much depth from the All Blacks and Springboks, but Scotland's  Mike Blair (Edinburgh, 50 Test caps, 5 tries) has had such a strong season behind an average Scotland pack that he is being tipped to captain the British Lions in 2009. Nominated for World Player of the Year.

From the back of the scrum, at No.8 we see outstanding Italian captain Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais, capped since 2002), who just pips Rodney So’oialo and up-and-coming Welshman Andy Powell. Parisse's ability in the loose and interplay around the field is a large part of why the Azzurri both as a team and a scrum are becoming genuine top contenders.

At open-side flanker, we of course pay homage to New Zealand's Richie McCaw (Canterbury, 70 Tests, 14 tries), who is unchallenged as not only the best in his position but is becoming a remarkable and formidable captain. However, there are quality sevens in world rugby, with Australia's George Smith and Martyn Williams of Wales both brilliant fetchers. 

At blind-side flanker, the menace of South Africa's Schalk Burger (Western Province, 49 Tests, 10 tries) is unequalled as a destructive player. He narrowly pips the French tackling machine Thierry Dusautoir to the post.

The tall timbers of lock feature Ali Williams (Auckland, 61 Tests, 7 tries) notable for being the only All Black to feature in all 15 games of the 2008 season. He has relished the opportunity of being senior lock and has all but eliminated New Zealand’s problems at the lineout.

Despite being criticised for his work rate, South Africa's Victor Matfield (Blue Bulls, 80 Tests, 5 tries) is unequalled as the world’s premier lineout jumper. Matfield this year became the first international captain to beat the All Blacks at home since Martin Johnson.

The big men of the prop ranks are first represented by New Zealand's Tony Woodcock (Auckland, 49 Tests, 5 tries) who as loosehead is unrivalled possibly as the best in the world. Woody caused significant problems for the Wallaby, Welsh, English and Irish scrums this year.

The bolter for the world team is Scotland prop Euan Murray (Northampton, 25 Tests, 2 tries), who has had a remarkable 2008 allowing the Scots to dominate the Puma packs, and then causing an All Black second XV huge problems. Feted for a British Lions berth.

Finally, at hooker, despite being switched to prop, we see South Africa's World Cup winning captain and hooker John Smit (Clermont-Auvergne, 81 Tests, 4 tries). The most capped Springbok captain of all time, he narrowly pips his Tri-Nations rivals of Stephen Moore, Andrew Hore and Keven Mealamu. 

WORLD XV: 15 -M. Muliaina (New Zealand), 14 – S. Williams (Wales), 13 – S. Mortlock (Australia), 12 – M. Nonu (New Zealand), 11 – S. Sivivatu (New Zealand), 10 – D. Carter (New Zealand), 9 – M. Blair (Scotland), 8 – S. Parisse (Italy), 7 – R. McCaw (New Zealand), 6 – S. Burger (South Africa), 5 – A. Williams (New Zealand), 4 – V. Matfield (South Africa), 3 – E. Murray (Scotland), 2 – J. Smit (South Africa), 1 – T. Woodcock (New Zealand).

SECOND XV: 15 – L. Byrne (Wales), 14 – C. Heymans (France), 13 – B. O’Driscoll (Ireland), 12 – J. De Villiers (South Africa), 11 – P. Hynes (Australia), 10 – M. Giteau (Australia), 9 – J. Cowan (New Zealand), 8 – R. So’oialo (New Zealand), 7 – G. Smith (Australia), 6 – T. Dusautoir (France), 5 – N. Sharpe (Australia), 4 – B. Botha (South Africa), 3 – T. Mtawarira (South Africa), 2 – A.Hore (New Zealand), 1 – L. Faure (France).