The 4 best teams in the tournament; New Zealand, France, Wales and South Africa dominate the selection as expected, with only 1 player from outside this group – the immense Gorgodzilla.
1. Jean-Baptiste Poux (France) – Destructive in the scrum and an effective operator in the loose – unlikely to be going on barnstorming (Ooooooh) Tonga’uiha esque runs, but his power has given France a real platform.
Honourable mention: Guthro Steenkamp (South Africa), Cian Healy (Ireland). Steenkamp is a big man, and was the pick of the rest. Healy had a very good group stage, but learned a lesson against Adam Jones
2. William Servat (France) – An excellent open-field runner whose darts are accurate and secure and who can scrummage- Servat has every attribute a modern hooker requires, and he has shown them all in this tournament.
Honourable mention: Mario Ledesma (Argentina), Rory Best (Ireland). Best is playing the best rugby of his career right now and Ledesma oozes desire and class
3. Owen Franks (New Zealand) – The NZ scrum has been solid against 2 of the strongest units around, and dominant against Australia. Ben’s understated yet crucial contribution to the cause may be yet to reach its zenich, if NZ decide to Munster it on Sunday.
Honourable mention: Adam Jones (Wales), Nicolas Mas (France), Jannie du Plessis (South Africa). A lot of tight heads were embarrassing, like Ben Alexander and Dan Cole, but these 3 were solid and gave their teams a real platform
4. Danie Roussow (South Africa) – Gave away the decisive penalty against the Wallabies, but had a storming tournament aside from that – seemed to get over the gainline every carry and was rock solid in the set piece.
Honourable mention: Luke Charteris (Wales), Patricio Albacete (Argentina). Albacete dominated the lineout in all his sides big games, and Charteris showed all lanky light locks that the future can be bright
5. Lionel Nallet (France) – France have had the best lineout in the tournament (particularly defensively) and Nallet has been at the heart of that. His aggression in the loose has been notable as well.
Honourable mention: Brad Thorn (New Zealand). Dominant presence in the NZ engine room, brings real power and agressive rucking to the table
6. Schalk Burger (South Africa) – The Boks tame inability to get on the scoreboard was nothing to do with Shalk, whose physical ruck work and tackling were of the highest order. With Roussow, the standout forward in the best unit.
Honourable mention: Jerome Kaino (New Zealand) Sean O’Brien (Ireland). Kaino is now a team leader, and potentially Ruchie’s successor and O’Brien carried on his HEC form into the tournament
7. Ruchie McCaw (New Zealand) – Jokes about his invisibility to Joubert aside, Ruchie has shown real skill and leadership, and tore David Pocock a new one in the semi-final. The best openside in the tournament, and the world.
Honourable mention: David Pocock (Australia). Aus would have been on the easier side of the draw had he been playing against Ireland, and how differently it might have turned out. Utterly omnipotent against the Boks
8. Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia) – The only player from outside the semi-finalists to make this team, and its easy to see why. Despite being the only threatening ball carrier in a heavy and immobile team, he made huge yardage every game, which was complemented by an obscene amount of tackles. A revelation.
Honourable mention: Imanol Harinordoquoy (France). Top line-out operator and wrecking ball off the back of the scrum with very soft hands. A class above Louis Picamoles, who was responsible for 2 of the NZ tries in the group stages
Honourable mention: Kahn Fotuali’i (Samoa): The man brought to Ospreys to replace Philips. Fast, clever and a good passer, he directed the Samoan attack superbly, especially against the Boks.
10. Rhys Priestland (Wales): Strangely, not a vintage competition for 10s, with Carter injured, France going so far as playing without a natural fly-half, and several others out of form. But Priestland was the find of the tournament, graduating from Magners League class to test level seemingly overnight. Has the look of a young ROG, right down to the apple cheeks.
Honourable mention: Aaron Cruden (New Zealand): From skateboarding with his mates to directing the world’s best team’s attack. Things looked better for the Kiwis once Colin ‘Spooked’ Slade exited stage left.
11. Vincent Clerc (France): Even in the group stages he was good for France. Master poacher whose sniffer’s instincts for where the ball is going to go enable him to get on the end of countless try-scoring passes. Outstanding individual try against England, too.
Honourble mention: Richard Kahui (New Zealand): Relatively unheralded by Kiwi back-three standards, but Kahui has played his way into the first team. Underrated performer.
12. Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand): Superb form has kept cult hero Sunny Bull out of the first team. Ma’a Nonu’s line breaks from the inside centre channel have given New Zealand a key launchpad for their attacking game. Once a straight-line bosher, now Ma’a has the all round game to beat all-comers.
Honourable mention: Sunny Bull Wulliams (New Zealand): Restricted largely to cameos off the bench, but the offloads are breathtaking. The world’s best reserve.
13. Jamie Roberts (Wales): Okay, so it’s a fudge to put him at 13, but he’s been so good we had to get him in. Played so well it’s strange to think that he looked so laborious for the last two seasons: how can he not get over the gainline? The key has been the depth and speed with which he has come on to the ball.
Honourable mention: Manu Tuilagi (England), Jacque Fourie (South Africa): Harbour-jumping aside, Tuilagi was a rare bright spot for England, and lead the partial fightback against France.
14. Cory Jane (New Zealand): Could play full-back he’s so good under the high ball. Tall, but with a fairly rangy physique, Jane is also surprisingly strong. More easily forgiven than, say, Mike Tindall for boozy indiscresions because he’s so damn good.
Honourable mention: James O’Connor (Australia) and George North (Wales): O’Connor looked threatening every time he got the ball, which was not half often enough. George North is big, but no flat-track bully – he has an array of skills to his game.
15. Israel Dagg (New Zealand): Player of the tournament? Probably. Graham Henry showed his ability to make the big calls in playing him ahead of a Kiwi legend on his way out. He has been handsomely rewarded by Dagg’s brillliance. Supreme runner with incredible balance and hands. A star is born.
Honourable mention: Kurtley Beale (Australia): Sorely missed by the Aussies in their semi-final. With Cooper in melt-down mode, Beale was the one who brough the genius to the Aussie attack, albeit too sparingly.
Whiff of Cordite 
paddy o
/ October 22, 2011For the most part agree Palla, although I reckon Adam Jones, Kaino and (particularly) George North are unlucky not to get in there. From the minnows DTH VDM helped Canada beat Tonga, whilst the moment of the entire tournie for me (there have been a few – a post maybe?) was the prop in the Tongan front row against France whoopin' and a hollerin' at scrum time in last minute. I will forever be mystified why Marius Tincu got taken off against Scotland too, although I thought Kelly Brown had a gutsy tournament too – good player.