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Five All Blacks make World Cup team of the tournament
Reigning champions South Africa take on fellow three-time winners New Zealand in Saturday’s Rugby World Cup final.
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Here, the PA news agency picks a team from the best performing players in the tournament.
15. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand): Two-time world player of the year set the standard for a playmaking full-back.
14. Damian Penaud (France): Daredevil wing who topped the try-scoring chart until Will Jordan ran amok against Argentina.
13. Waisea Nayacalevu (Fiji): The Islanders’ skipper stood out in a backline full of lethal runners.
12. Bundee Aki (Ireland): A player of the tournament candidate through his powerful running, clever lines and slick footwork.
11. Will Jordan (New Zealand): Ruthless finisher who is in the company of greats such as Jonah Lomu after amassing eight tries.
10. Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand): The game’s most complete fly-half with the creativity to match his game management.
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9. Aaron Smith (New Zealand): One of the World Cup’s smallest players is also among its smartest.
1. Ox Nche (South Africa): The Springboks’ strongest scrummager may be on the bench but what an impact he makes.
2. Mike Tadjer (Portugal): A front row all-rounder who was especially influential in the shock victory over Fiji.
3. Ben Tameifuna (Tonga): Monster tighthead prop weighing in at 23st 11lbs yet has the carrying prowess to match his scrummaging.
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4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa): A snarling enforcer and still the game’s dominant second row despite an off-night against England.
5. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland): Ever-present for Ireland who provided fight whether playing at lock or in the second-row.
6. Courtney Lawes (England): A back-row warrior with a sharp rugby brain excelled in the biggest games.
7. Jac Morgan (Wales): Blockbusting flanker who showed maturity beyond his years to lead Wales into the quarter-finals.
8. Ardie Savea (New Zealand): Pushed very close by England’s Ben Earl but Savea is a class apart.
What disappointing comments.
Agreed. The very best team in the WC (NZ) are coming into this final sh!t hot favourites. With all there super star players.
Even the bookies agree.
Pressure.
Top four teams have been so close that any team from those four would more or less suffice …
“…provided fight whether playing at lock or in the second-row….” - you pay some clown to write this?
No Dupont - sacre bleu!
How about Jonny Sexton haha 🤑
This is possibly the reason why most nations don’t like the brand of Rugby the Springboks play. Not a single Bok backline player in this team and yet they reached the final after pushing the Irish pretty close in the pool game, overcame the French in France, and then did the job against a pretty “good on the day” English team in the first wet-weather game of the tournament.
And funny thing is, its fair, because the Boks don’t have these magnificent bright shining stars at this tournament, apart from Etzebeth who is in a class of his own.
But one thing is for certain, they are the best unit from 1 all the way to 23 and beyond. The best squad. The most depth. They have changed rugby from a 15 man game to a 23 man game.
In their selections there is almost no difference between who starts and who comes on. They have a role for each player and their player management is extraordinary.
Very much proud of them!!
Go BOKKE!