In anticipation of the final on Sunday, here is a look back at the players who have lit up the 2011 Rugby World Cup over the past six weeks.
15. Israel Dagg: Showed flashes of brilliance with the Crusaders and Highlanders in Super Rugby over the past few years, but in this tournament he has taken his play to a new level.
Reminiscent of Christian Cullen with his ability to ghost through gaps and past would be-tacklers. Backs it up with solid defence and a first class kicking game.
Honourable mentions: No real competition here, maybe had Leigh Halfpenny had more game time he could have challenged, same goes for Francois Steyn.
14. Chris Ashton: Not dragged down by the mediocrity of his teammates, showed he is a fantastic finisher with an unquenchable thirst for work.
Honourable mentions: Cory Jane, Vincent Clerc.
13. Jamie Roberts: I admit he plays 12 but I have picked a centre pairing as opposed to a 12 and 13. Never took a backward step, mighty in defence and a menace in attack. The man Wales built much of their play around.
Honourable mentions: Manu Tuilagi, Jacques Fourie.
12. Ma’a Nonu: Now free of the defensive lapses that blighted his early career, he is showing the world what a fine player he really is. A nightmare for opposing defences, and not shy of the big hit himself.
Honourable mention: Maxime Mermoz.
11. Alesana Tuilagi: One of the toughest positions to call, but the Samoan beast made fantastic viewing. It is a shame they didn’t progress so we could see more of him.
Honourable mentions: Digby Ioane, Richard Kahui, Shane Williams.
10. Felipe Contepomi: A lot of disappointing play from No 10s during the tournament (Cooper, Wilkinson etc.) so I have opted for the heartbeat of the Puma effort. Had Carter remained fit, he would surely have been here.
Honourable mentions: Rhys Priestland, Morne Steyn.
9. Mike Phillips: Seems to raise his game on the big occasions (Rugby World Cup, Lions tur), scored important tries, good quality service, excellent kicking game and a monster around the fringes.
Honourable mentions: Piri Weepu, Taniela Moa.
8. Toby Faletau: Tough to pick any of the back row positions, but the young Tongan/Welshman produced numerous standout displays in Wales run to the semis.
Honourable mentions: Kieran Read, James Haskell, George Stowers, Imanol Harinordoquy.
7. Sam Warburton: Electric in every game he played, a crying shame that his contributions ended in such ignominy.
Honourable mentions: David Pocock, Sean O’Brien, Richie McCaw; Thierry Dusautoir.
6. Jerome Kaino: My man of the tournament. Played every minute for the only unbeaten side in the run to the final. Brutal in defence, strong in the tight and carried well. Scary that he can still improve.
Honourable mentions: Schalk Burger, Dan Lydiate, Stephen Ferris, Julio Caballas.
5. Danie Rossouw: Moving forward from 6/8 has given the big Springbok a new lease of life. Injuries to Matfield and Botha seemed to matter little with Rossouw able to step up in their absence.
Honourable mentions: Luke Charteris, James Horwill, Lionel Nallet.
4. Brad Thorn: The powerhouse of the All Blacks forward pack. Abrasive, better in the line out than expected, his emotion at turning over Wallaby ball late on in their semi-final showed how much this means to him.
Honourable mentions: Patricio Albacete, Donnacha O’Callaghan.
3. Owen Franks: Almost like having another back rower with this guy around. Phenomenal work rate in the loose, but doesn’t shirk it at scrum time.
Honourable mentions: Adam Jones, Juan Figallo, Martin Castrogiovanni.
2. Bismarck Du Plessis: Showed in his all-too-brief appearances that he is the foremost hooker in world rugby. Unfortunately for the rest of the world, he can expect to be first choice for the ‘Boks for the foreseeable future.
Honourable mentions: Marius Tincu, Mahonri Schwalger, Keven Mealamu; William Servat.
1. Cian Healy: Came of age in the tournament. Strong at scrum time, and put in numerous big hits in the loose.
Honourable mentions: Gethin Jenkins; Jean-Baptiste Poux.
Thoughts?
Jeff
Guest
You guys know that Contepomi plays at #12 right? And that (granted he does it well) all Jamie Roberts does is run straight lines and does nothing off the ball? Glad to clear that up.
jim
Guest
Need to find room for Clerc, O'CONNER, tuilagi, Beale, FOURIE, Priestland, Weepu, Yashvilli, Bounaire, McCaw, Dusatoir, Nallet, Horwill, Wynn Jones, Dickinson, Mealamu and Moore. Make it a 22 as its a 22 man game nowadays. Agree with Dagg, Nonu, Kaino, Franks, Heally. The others showed patches of great form- A lot of them against weak opposition. Not all though- argument for all of them to be in there.
sk
Guest
15. Medard/Dagg 14. North 13. BOD 12. Nonu 11. Ioane 10. Contenpomi 9. Yachvilli/Phillips 8. Parisse/Harinordoquy 7. Warburton/Pocock 6. Dusitoir/Clever 5. Rossouw 4. Gray 3. Castrogiovanni/Jones 2. Du plessis 1. Healy
BloodRunsRed
Guest
15. Dagg 14. North 13. Roberts 12. Nonu 11. Jane 10. Priestland 9. Phillips 8. Falatau 7. Pockock 6. Kaino 5. Charteris 4. Thorne 3. Franks 2. Mealamu 1. Jenkins Picking a 7 out of McCaw, Pockock and Warburton was a nightmare, but Pockock got Australia to 3rd place practically on his own.
cm
Guest
Cos they've got Palu. Proven performer!
Ben S
Roar Guru
You're right. That certainly hasn't held Polata-Nau back from being the world class hooker we all know he is... The Wallabies have certainly been all the weaker in his absence.
manalien
Roar Pro
Anyone who has selected yachvili over Phillips has had their right to an opinion revoked. The Frenchman was good I agree. Phillips was excellent, a real game changer.
tenyearsold
Guest
1. G. Steenkamp 2. B. Du Plessis 3. M. Castrogiovanni 4. J. Horwill 5. B. Thorn 6. J. Kaino 7. D. Pocock 8. S. Parisse 9. M. Phillips 10. D. Carter 11. D. Ioane 12. M. Nonu 13. C. Smith 14. C. Jane 15. I. Dagg.
Football United
Guest
i liked the samoan nine and ten, pisi and fotuali'i, both deserve an honorable mention. they had such lovely play against south africa.
Jerry
Guest
Look, just cause he has the skeletal structure of a sparrow and barely plays any international rugby, you shouldn't hold that against him.
Ben S
Roar Guru
To be fair, I thought long and hard over who would back up Du Plessis. Flynn was obviously my preferred choice what with him being a great impact sub and all, but as a fantasy coach I'm just very anxious about those damn weak arm bones...
Jiggles
Roar Guru
15. Dagg (NZ) 14. Jane (NZ) 13. Roberts (WLS) 12. F. Steyn (RSA) 11. North (WLS) 10. Priestland (WLS) 9. Yachvilli (FR) 8. Harinordiquay (FR) 7. Pocock (AUS) 6. Kaino (NZ) Man of the Tournament 5. Charteris (WLS) 4. Matfield (RSA) 3. Franks (NZ) 2. Du Plessis (RSA) 1. Healy (IRE) Honourable Mentions: Nonu, Smith, Thorn, Burger, Dusautoir, Contepomi, Castrogiovanni, Ioane, Warbourton, Moore, O'Connell, O'Brien, Ferris, Bonnaire, A. Jones, Faletau, O'Garra. So thats 4 from NZ & Wales, 3 from the Republic, 2 from France, and 1 each from Australia and Ireland. which probably reflects the better teams more or less. South Africa have a lot of talent, they just have bad tactics, Australia has both bad tactics and they played poorly for most of the tournament. France like South africa have immense talent, but tactics have been inane at times. For how good Ireland was in this tournament, especially the back row and in particular Ferris & O'Brien, I always found a player who performed just a tad better.
Jerry
Guest
(frans steyn very close 2nd) Steyn played 12 for the most part.
Justin
Guest
How any one could pick Conetpomi is beyond me. He is so over rated. And he played 12 this tournament. Cant tackle to save himnself, is slow and uncreative.
Who Needs Melon
Roar Guru
Interesting that in those positions where you haven't picked a NZer, you have at least mentioned a NZer pressing for the spot for almost ALL positions. And there is a HUGE case to be made for NZers in the positions where you have selected others. E.g. Cory Jane, Kahui, Mealamu, McCaw, Read, Weepu. In other words, NZ aren't just better because they have a sum-of-the-parts-greater-than-the-whole thing happening. Each of their parts (their players) are bloody good and the team itself is bloody good too. Also interesting that not a single Australian makes the list. I don't disagree with that at all.
katzilla
Roar Guru
15) Dagg 14) North 13) Rougerie 12) Roberts 11) Jane 10) Priestland 9) Tanaka 8.) Parisse 7) Pocock 6) Kaino 5) Nallet 4) Charteris 3) Franks 2) Du Plessis 1) Healy
Jerry
Guest
Read's only played 2 and a half matches.
Johnno
Guest
To me George North and Toby Faletau have been the 2 finds of the tournament,. What OZ rugby would do to have a forwad like Faletau. He reminds me of Brad Clyde, Nathan Hindmarsh, Paul Gallen type, simply loves doing lots of work and all the work is quality too and has an impact not just workman like, and has amazing cardiovascular endurance levels. He is like those players and energiser battery who maintains the same standards from 1st to 80 minutes. How i would love a no 8 like him instead of a 35 yr old Radike Samo, or a hard working but lacking impact ben mcelman. I hope Palu stays injury free the next 4 years and gets his form back. Palu looked good in the world cup and fit such a shame he got injured again. And George North 6'4 only 19, he reminds me of Greg Inglis or Isreal Folau, a real handful to have to tackle a 6'4 man on the wing who is big strong and has pace. Matt Banaghan is 6'7 but seems ot only be an impact player of the bench. And isreal Dagg he is the best fullback i have ever seen , he offers more than Christian Cullen, and Corey Jane to is a fullback/wing a super palyer to. ee those wellington hurricanes back when they put on an All Black jersey are different players.. My team 15) Dagg(frans steyn very close 2nd) 14) North 13)BOD 12) Nonu(just beats Roberts/steyn/SBW) 11) Jane 10) Carter 9) Phillips(just beat Khan foetuli) 8) Sergio Parisse 7)Mcgaw 6) kaino best forwad int he world right now 5)Matfield 4)Thorn 3) Castrogivani 2) Bismark 1) Big Northampton Tongan Prop
Brett McKay
Guest
Manalien, I like your team, actually, but I'd swap out Ashton for just about anyone (I just can't take him) but probably Jane, and I'd have Harinordiquay in front of Faletau but both of them behind Read. But I'd reckong you'd have done pretty well in the fantasy comps with your side there...
Quakezone...
Guest
15. Dagg 14.North 13.Roberts 12. Nonu 11. Ioane 10.Carter 9. Phillips 8. Faletau 7. Warburton 6. Kaino 5. Matfiled 4. Thorn 3. Franks 2.Bismark 1. Steenkamp That would be my dream centre pairing running outside of Carter, the loose forwards are very talented and the tight 5 ferocious