A World Cup hero is one of two Springboks named in an ‘illustrious’ lineup of players who had the talent to become superstars for their country.

Selecting a team of former internationals considered to have failed or were impeded from reaching their full potential, The Telegraph’s Wasted XV includes five Frenchmen, three Englishmen, two Kiwis, two Fijians and a Samoan giant.

A 1995 World Cup winner, Bok loosehead prop Garry Pagel played the last of his five Tests in 1996, before the former Western Province bruiser completed his career in the UK with Northampton Saints.

“The brutish Pagel won the World Cup with South Africa in 1995 and later started for Northampton’s 2000 Heineken Cup win,” The Telegraph stated.

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“Woefully underused for the Springboks, the loosehead, as well as being a granite scrummager, had all the facets of a modern prop: mobile, skilful and sage.”

Former Sharks and Saracens lock Alistair Hargreaves made just four appearances for the Boks between 2010 and 2011, his last outing in a 40-7 defeat to the All Blacks.

“One of Saracens most underrated imports, delivering and offering far more than some of their more high-profile acquisitions, both on and off the field,” The Telegraph described Hargreaves.

“A grizzly lock from Durban, Hargreaves was a shrewd lineout operator, intelligent in the loose, and would go on to captain Saracens for two years between 2014 and 2016.”

The Telegraph’s Wasted XV – 15 Isa Nacewa (Fiji), 14 James Simpson-Daniel (England), 13 Philippe Bidabe (France), 12 Regan King (New Zealand), 11 Rupeni Caucaunibuca (Fiji), 10 Alex King (England), 9 Julien Dupuy (France), 8 Henry Tuilagi (Samoa), 7 Steffon Armitage (England), 6 Xavier Rush (New Zealand), 5 Thibaut Privat (France), 4 Alistair Hargreaves (South Africa), 3 Benoit Lecouls (France), 2 Olivier Azam (France), 1 Garry Pagel (South Africa).

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