Best XV of the RWC pool rounds

The faux sparring is over, tactics long-planned and carefully hidden are about to be slowly unwrapped as the coaches begin their chess games with 105 kg (ave) pieces.

The round-robin section does however provide us some insights to players from the smaller nations who can stand up on a big stage (and hopefully get themselves a contract upgrade) and it begins to highlight which of the players going through to the knock out rounds are progressing with building form behind them.

Thought we should recognise some of the pool round efforts with the selection of RWC 2019 Pool Rounds XV.

1. Keita Inagaki – Japan: Loosehead
The Japanese scrum has been very solid in pool play and its strength took Ireland a little by surprise with Inagaki giving Tadgh Furlong a surprising hurry up on the day.

His tackle workload up the middle of the park is one of the key reasons Japan are hard to break down at the gain line.

2. Torsten van Jaarsveld – Nambia: Hooker
Selected purely for an out of the skin performance against New Zealand. A performance which ignored his own physical limitations and the games law book in equal measure as he tore up the opening 30 minutes of this duel.

Worth noting the relative quietness of most of the tier one hookers at this stage.

3. Tomas Francis – Wales: Tighthead
Has got some attitude this bloke and works his butt off. Is there to scrum and to tackle, simple. Extra points awarded for not having had a single carry in the opening three games.

Will be seeking out Owen Franks to be mates in England next year.

4. Scotta Barrett – New Zealand: Lock
Excellent set piece and high effort levels both sides of the ball. Who doesn’t like a try scoring lock, and with a little more attention to detail could be topping the finishers list so far.

5. Guido Petti Pagadizábal – Argentina: Lock
Is rapidly racing towards being the best defensive lineout operator in the world and is no slouch ball in hand either.

Well within his rights to give his locking partner a slap for leaving him in the lurch in the England game but he continued to put in an excellent shift despite being outnumbered on the day.

I originally had Wales Captain Alun Wyn Jones as a shoe in here after his 25 tackle, warrior performance in the game against Australia, but there was a just a hint in the Fiji game that he got dusted in a few physical exchanges.

A rare occurrence but enough to leave him out.

6. Pieter-Steph Du Toit – South Africa: Blindside flanker.
So, so important to the Boks right now especially as the loosies are yet to really fire as a unit. Also gets the nod for his Richie McCaw like invisibility cloak offside intercept that led to his score in the NZ game.

Adds so much at lineout time and has a huge engine for a man who played second row for so long.

7. Michael Hooper – Australia: Openside Flanker
Probably the one position from the round robin where there are multiple worthy contenders. I am a big fan of England’s Underhill and he has had a strong tournament to date.

But the biggest surprises have come from the outer reaches of our game. Tonga, Russia, and Fiji have all produced quite wonderful openside performances.

But Hooper is on a hot streak and super important to the Wallaby effort as he remains the only loose forward consistently playing in front of the gain line either side of the ball – posting great numbers too.

He appears to have got his back his attacking mojo too, which means you can’t slide off him when he carries either.

8. Michael Leitch – Japan: Number Eight
Won’t be being benched in a power play again anytime soon. Almost personifies the hosts cup to date. Great leadership detailed and skilled. Vital to his team’s success.

Going to the one of the guys everyone associates with the Japan hosting of this event.

9. Aaron Smith – New Zealand: Halfback
Bringing his full court game to date. Rapier-like pass is providing space for the Mo’unga-Barrett axis both sides of the ruck, is kicking well off both feet and is now a real attacking threat in his own right.

But highlight of the pool rounds was his clear out on South African lock Franco Mostert as New Zealand put together their first try.

(Photo by Renee McKay/Getty Images)

10. George Ford – England: Fly Half
Has looked assured, is playing with creativity and control to date. England have lots of weapons available to them and successfully bringing them into games at the right time is going to fall to Ford and will be crucial to their progression.

Almost lost this spot for celebrating like a pork chop after scoring against a 14-man Argentina when already leading comfortably.

11. Cheslin Kolbe – South Africa: Wing
Was determined to not select anyone out of position as I put this together because that really annoys me. Made an exception for this excitement machine, so shoot me.

Leaving out Big Semi Radradra wasn’t easy, but such are the claims of two other quality wingers.

12. Gael Fickou – France: Inside Centre
Huge game in the pool decider against Argentina. Quick and an astute reader in defence. France are going to need rack up some points to stay past knockout week one and Fickou will be playing a key role in getting them. Glides like only French backs can.

13. Anton Leinert-Brown – New Zealand: Centre
Picked a great time to be in the richest vein of form of his career. Decision making has been his biggest plus for me. Set a record for defenders beaten versus the Sprinboks. Surely has the jersey locked down for the knockout stages.

14. Kotaro Matsushima – Japan: Wing
Has taken the competition by storm. Is lightning quick, knows his way to the try line and is doing so to great effect.

The tournament needed a local hero and his performances have been first class. A real problem for his opposite every week.

15. Beauden Barrett – New Zealand: Fullback
Selected in the impact role in New Zealand’s twin turret attempt to blast through the rush defences of the world’s better sides. Big tick to date and really solid in the core roles of fullback too.

Worth a crack at the referees we would like to see go through to the quarter-final stage given the, let’s call it variability, of performance of the officials to date.

For mine, and in order: Wayne Barnes, Paul Williams, Nigel Owens and Romain Poite (maybe Angus Gardner and Nic Berry in a tossup with Poite).

Bring the quarters on.