It’s very difficult to achieve anything of note in the Top 14 without a stellar halfback combination. There are some electric nine-ten axes circulating the league at the moment, and most, unsurprisingly, find themselves near the top of the table.

Among the list are international stars from numerous countries, including Italy, Wales, Scotland and, of course, France, showing just how deep a pool of players the Top 14 has on display.

The quality on offer has made the league an incredible spectacle to watch this season, and while it’s always challenging to rank these halfback combinations – as is done below – there is one clear standout which will surprise no one.

1) Toulouse

Was there ever any doubt? Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack may just be the best halfback pairing in the world across club and international level.

The pair often defy logic, doing things mere mortals can only dream of. Cast your mind back to when Ntamack, featuring for France, stepped two defenders in his own dead ball line before setting off on an attack down the field.

Dupont has an even bigger backlog of ingenious acts, from his ability to kick off both feet to his fearlessness when tackling anyone, even a second row towering above him.

That’s why he’s considered by many to be not only the best scrum-half in the world but the best player in the world as well.

Toulouse are truly lucky to have the exploits of both these men, who seemingly possess some telepathic energy, to the extent that neither requires to look at the other to communicate a plan for an upcoming phase.

And on top of all this, they’re versatile. Just last weekend, Dupont was subbed on in the 12^th minute for Toulouse and covered the centres, and even filled in for a time at Flyhalf. There’s truly nothing these two can’t do.

2) Toulon

Had someone said at the start of the season that Toulon possessed one of the best halfback partnerships in the league, you’d likely have scoffed and simply turned away. Their form was dire, and performances were beyond poor.

However, the arrival of Dan Biggar midway through the season has brought stability and poise to the flyhalf position, and the overall impact of this move has been tremendous.

Before his arrival, Toulon were edging towards a relegation battle, but now, following a rich vein of form, the club finds itself in the top four with an eye on the playoffs.

Biggar is one of the best game managers around and holds a wealth of experience, with a CV containing over a century of caps for Wales and starting role for the British and Irish Lions.

His serene calm on the pitch has helped galvanise Toulon, and the relationship he has developed with scrum-half Baptiste Serin is a key cog in this change.

Serin was already an experienced figure but lacked a complementary piece to work with. Now he has that, and he’s back to his best, sniping around the rucks and changing games, like he did with a stunning last-minute winner against Toulouse in Round 18.

3) Racing 92

The free-flowing attacking style of Racing is defined by their halfback duo. Between the youthful exuberance of Nolann Le Garrec and the mercurial brilliance of Finn Russell, the Parisians have one of the most livewire combinations in the entire league.

Admittedly, much of the magic originates from Russell, who arrived in Paris a maverick but departs the club this summer for Bath, a hero with a highlights reel to match anyone.

The off-the-cuff improvisations which the Scottish international has brought to the league has become his trademark and are precisely what makes him so difficult to defend.

His kicking from the hand has greatly improved, but it’s his variety of passing which sets him apart from the crowd. Very few can deliver a miss-pass like him, releasing the ball at the exact moment when the defender has committed to the tackle, perfectly zipping through to a teammate who is now open with room to run into.

On his inside, you have Le Garrec, a young talent with U20 caps under his belt who Fabien Galthié has his eye on. The 20-year-old is still at the beginning of his journey, but his desire to run at defences stands him in good stead moving forward and has made him a worthy complement to Russell this season.

4) Montpellier 

Of all the teams on this list, Montpellier has the most fluid setup at halfback. At flyhalf, they have the duel threat of Italian wonder-kid Paolo Garbisi, who has lately become quite the connoisseur for slotting last-minute penalties.

Mix in his determination to play quickly off the breakdown, and you have a live prospect with plenty of gas in the tank.

Competing for his starting spot is an equally electric playmaker in, Louis Carbonel. The young Frenchman may look diminutive in stature, but his performances are anything but, as he uses his step and pinpoint pass to cut open an opposition defence on demand.

His recent showcase against Exeter in the Champions Cup was a particular highlight, as Carbonel frequently slalomed his way through tacklers with relative ease.

And then there’s Cobus Reinach at scrum half, easily one of the best nines in the league right now with a match-winning ability to snipe around a ruck.

The nippy South African’s blistering acceleration makes him a complete nuisance on the fringes and was a pivotal tool in Montpellier’s title run last season.

5) Bordeaux Bègles

To even stand close to challenging Ntamack for the French starting ten jersey marks Matthieu Jalibert out as a supreme talent, and anyone watching Bordeaux with any frequency will know just what he’s capable of.

Of all the tens listed above, he has the best step and continues to use that weapon to befuddle defenders and create unscripted attacking moves out of nothing.

One of the major concerns surrounding the Bordeaux Bègles fly-half has been his injury tendencies, and right now, he finds himself out of action. But there’s no doubt that, when fit, few can match Jalibert for outright outrageous moments with ball in hand.

On his inside is the experienced Maxime Lucu, whose kicking ability offers an added dimension to the Bordeaux attack. Indeed, just last weekend, the 30-year-old slotted seven penalties to keep his side within touching distance of Racing.

They ended up losing the fixture but would not have been remotely close to contesting if it weren’t for Lucu’s impeccable boot.

Written by Stefan Frost