Team of the Pool Stages

After three weeks and 40 fixtures, the pool stages of the 2015 Rugby World Cup have come to an end. It's been nothing short of mesmerising and majestic at times, and while there has been the odd drab game (Ireland v Italy comes to mind) it has been arguably the greatest world cup ever. We have seen displays of pure attacking brilliance, sheer grit and determination in defence, shocks as Tier 2 nations played well above their expectations, and Tier 1 nations fall apart under pressure. So who have been the stand out players at during the pool stages?

Fullback - Ayumu Goromaru

Goromaru has been the figure head of the Japanese bid for glory at this World Cup. He has been a constant attacking threat, hitting the line with ferocity using his considerable bulk do make consistent gain-line successes. But it has been his kicking that has set him apart, out of hand it has been accurate and powerful putting Japan in the right areas of the pitch from which to act out their game plan, off the tee he has been nothing short of quality. It has always been a problem of smaller nations, lacking a quality goal-kicker who could keep the score board ticking over, not so for Japan this year with Goromaru kicking well into the 80%'s which is expected of Tier One goal kickers.

Honourable Mentions: Mike Brown, Joaquin Tuculet

Right Wing - Nehe Milner-Skudder

New Zealand have not looked anywhere near they're best at this tournament, making a lot of mistakes where normally there'd be none. Milner-Skudder has been a shining light amid a pretty poor showing, I picked him to be a star at this World Cup and he's come through on that promise. His jinking feet have wrong footed multiple defenders, allowing him - despite his small frame - to work his way over the gainline and offload the ball. He's also show an innate ability to finish tries squeezing a couple in at the corner with remarkable agility, but can also set them up for others around him with subtle hands and a knack for offloading.

Honourable Mentions: Anthony Watson, Santiago Cordero

Outside Centre - Damian De Allende

This is a tough one to do, because no outside centre has stood out enough so far, so instead I've moved De Allende from 12 to 13, it seems a reasonable enough move for him, with his strong running and surprising turn of pace. His most shocking trait is his ability to move his large powerful frame around defenders, he is surprisingly light on his feet. I was surprised to see him dropped in favour of De Villiers for the opening game, but an unfortunate injury to the national captain meant that he got his chance. He has really brought the South African attack to life at the end of the pool stages, and could be a crucial player for them in the quarter final against Wales.

Honourable Mentions: Mathieu Bastareaud, Scott Williams, Ciaran Hearn

Inside Centre - Matt Giteau

He has just oozed class in the Australian midfield, alongside Bernard Foley was responsible for the shredding of the England back-line. He offers a left footed option for clearances, and a creative brain with the skills to execute an attacking game plan both sides of the breakdown. It hasn't just been his skills, he has put his body on the line again and again for his home country, proving that the effort put into bringing the ex-pat's back into the fold has been worth it, willing to take the ball into contact hard and do what it takes to win the game. Not to mention a nicely finished try, showing he hasn't lost too much pace, against England.

Honourable Mentions: Sonny Bill Williams, Robbie Henshaw

Left Wing - DTH Van der Merwe

Another easy pick, in a Canada side that has played well in most of their games, and probably deserved more than four losses. DTH has been nothing short of world class, busting tackles, chasing down ever kick, scoring in every game, there is nothing more you want from your winger. He would walk into any other side at this World Cup, hopefully Canada can up their game and build a team around him four years down the line.

Honourable Mentions: Nemani Nandolo, 

Fly Half - Daniel Biggar

Engineered a Wales win at Twickenham with a fearless display, imperious in the air, lethal from the tee, and a general on the field who makes the right decision at the right time. Almost designed a victory over the Wallabies with superb defence and aerial ability, but missed his first kick of the tournament that day too. While everyone else around him has been falling foul of injuries he has provided a steady rock from which Gatland has formed his back division. He made some decisions that potentially cost the game against Australia, but deserves his sport

Honourable Mentions: Bernard Foley, Nicholas Sanchez

Scrum Half - Fourie du Preez

Nothing has proven the veterans worth to the South African team than the fact he was missing against Japan when South Africa had no doubt their worst performance in a long time. du Preez provides a wealth of experience and precision that a youthful looking back-line has needed. He dictates how South Africa play, controlling the style and making sure they are the team dominating the territory and possession. He will never be a scrum half who can make the break or score many tries, but he controls the tempo and make's sure the exciting back-line functions as peak efficiency. 

Honourable Mentions: Gareth Davies, Greig Laidlaw

Loose-head Prop - Scott Sio

Who would have thought that an Australian prop would get on a World XV? But the Australian scrum has been nothing short of gigantic, I mean when a team scrummages England off the paddock - the Twickenham paddock at that - you know they are a force to be reckoned with. His force around the park is nothing to be sniffed at either, strong ball carrying with an distinct Australian passing ability. Utterly superb across every facet of the game that he is needed for, and a little more besides, and he's still a relative youngster, foundations for a dangerous Australia for years to come.

Honourable Mentions: Campese Ma'afu, Marco Ayerza

Hooker - Guilhem Guirado

A difficult choice, but eventually I had to go with the rampaging, free running Frenchman. On more than one occasion we have seen him on a bullocking run up field put through a hole by one of his compatriots. He has incredible speed for a hooker, something that is fast becoming a trait of international hookers across the world, he also executes the basic's extremely well with his work at the line out and the driving maul. Is an important player for France as they head into a quarter final battle royal against New Zealand.

Honourable Mentions: Dane Coles, Agustin Creevy

Tight-head Prop - Rabah Slimani

Another French front rower who has impressed in the loose at this World Cup, completing a delightful chip and chase by Freddie Michalack to score under the posts, he has also been one of France's chief ball carriers around the breakdown. However it's been at scrum time where he has been most impressive, ousting the set piece behemoth that is Nicolas Mas is no mean feat, and yet Slimani has done it with ease once again giving France a scrummaging platform from which to attack. Could be crucial against a sub-par New Zealand scrum.

Honourable Mentions: Sekope Kepu, WP Nel

Second Row - Iain Henderson & Leon Nakarawa

With Paul O'Connell's recent forced retirement, it is of great relief to the Irish fans that the Ulsterman Henderson has be putting in some of the performances of the tournament. He has been a force to be reckoned with in the contact area, stealing far too many meters than anyone should at international level, constantly pumping the legs into and through the collision dragging flailing defenders with him. Combine this with his ability to keep the ball free and look to deliver it out of the contact, and his strength in the line out and he has burst on to the scene at the right time for the Irish faithful and Joe Schmidt.

The Fijian Nakarawa has been nothing short of superb, strong into the contact, devilishly good at offloading, fierce in defence but perhaps most impressively is his ability to win turnovers. For such a tall man his ability to get into a ruck and win the ball is unparalleled, and it has been a source from which Fiji rattled all three of the Pool A giants are some stage. His confidence with ball in hand is up there with Sonny Bill Williams, and with his added height he is able to look for the pass over the top of reaching defenders. Nothing short of wonderful to watch and it's a shame he is leaving the tournament.

Honourable Mentions: Alun Wyn Jones, Lood de Jager, Joe Launchbury

Blindeside Flanker - Mamuka Gorgodze

Played pretty much everywhere across the backrow at some stage this tournament, and put in an incredible performance no matter what shirt he wore. His leadership qualities are second to none, dragging is team forward with grit, determination and aggressive willpower, and because of that Georgia secured automatic qualification for the tournament in 2019. He has a fantastic report with the referee's, is never shirking in his defensive duties, and scoring tries at the other end of the field too. Nothing short of fantastic, another who every team in the world would love to have him in their side.

Honourable Mentions: Francois Louw, Peter O'Mahony

Openside Flanker - David Pocock

While he has been playing at No. 8 all tournament, he is naturally and naturally an openside. There are not enough adjectives for how good he has been, especially after two years out of the game. He wins uncountable number of turnovers, and those times he doesn't he slow the ball so much the Australian defence has reformed and looks entirely solid. The entire world knows what he can do in defence, its with the ball in hand that he has upped his game. At the back of the driving mauls he has turned close range try scoring into an art form, and he has stepped up his ball carrying and taking it to the opposition. Getting away without a formal citing after a suspicious knee against Wales was crucial to Australia at this World Cup.

Honourable Mentions: Michael Hooper, Sam Warburton

Number 8 - Talupe Faletau

Wales' scrum has been shambolic, and despite this Wales have pulled off the impossible and qualified for the knock-out stages, that is in no small part down to Faletau. He has pulled off feats the defy belief at times, gathering the ball behind a retreating pack and still making considerable yardage while staying on his feet long enough for support to arrive and secure possession. His work in the loose has been superb as well, often appearing in the wider channels to eat up the distance in front of him, before showing a soft pair of hands to release the players around him. He is paramount to Wales' chances at this World Cup, and is fast becoming the best No. 8 in the world.

Honourable Mentions: Louis Picamoles, Amanaki Mafi

Australia vs Wales, the Pool of Death climax

So it's all come down to this, after months, years of planning and preparation and worries over getting out of the Pool of Death, one game decides 1st and 2nd place in Pool A. Both Australia and Wales have already qualified for the knock out stages, both are equal on points heading into the final match, and both know that top spot offers an easier route to the final. So the question is who can take the spoils at Twickenham.

Battle of the 10's, both Biggar and Foley have been amazing so far

Missing midfield magic?

In the matches leading up to Saturday it's obvious there is a disparity in form between the two teams, yes they have both won all three, but Australia have looked far more comfortable in their victories than the Welsh. This could be down in part to the fact that Wales seem incapable of playing a game without picking up an injury at the moment, every red-shirted supporter will be hoping they can come through Australia without a big name limping off. What Wales have managed to do is win ugly, against England where they had no right to win the game, second best for most of the match, they eeked out the win with the peerless Dan Biggar having the game of his life (including the game against South Africa last year). Not to mention that piece of magic from the pair of scrum halves. Having to face Fiji barely five days later was always going to be tough, and it showed, despite early promise of try scoring Wales looked tired during the second half and ended up on the ropes near the end. But once again the level head of Biggar combined with the leadership across the park saw them through. Also the benefits of all the pre-tournament training camps are showing, Wales looked far fitter and capable of pulling off the heroics at the death than England, and managed to survive against Fiji. Wales are lacking the ability to excite at the moment with the likes of Amos and Scott Williams injured, but they have developed a habit of winning, and results are all that matter in a World Cup.

Hooper & Pocock have been amazing so far,

Meanwhile Australia are getting those results while playing the best looking rugby of the tournament. Playing double open sides they have ripped good teams apart with ease, but it's how they've gone about using their two open sides that has impressed me. There is an obvious plan there, where each man knows their role in play. Pocock with his unparalleled ability to win turnovers, clamping down on the ball with all the suction of a limpet mine, and that's all he does. Meanwhile the supremely athletic Hooper is given licence to cause chaos as a tackler, often the primary defender from lineouts he rushes up to bring down the ball carrier in ferocious collisions. Pocock follows around his team-mate waiting for those swift tackles where the opposition doesn't have enough support. Unfortunately for Australians (and perhaps some vengeful English) Hooper is banned for this game, but Australia have another openside flanker to parachute into the role with the young McMahon stepping up after captaining the side against Uruguay. Open-sides isn't the only place Cheika has the opposition seeing double, playing two class play makers at 10 and 12, giving them creativity across the park, able to attack both sides of the breakdown with ease and confidence. It also provides Australia with a very strong kicking game with both Foley and Giteau moving the ball around the park with precision.

Ledesma has transformed Australia

It seems weird that we have to discuss the Australian scrum, but it has to be mentioned. For years it was the laughing stock of the Tier 1 international game, that is until the induction of Scott Sio at loose-head and the former Argentina Mario Ledesma as forwards coach. Now Australia possess one of the best scrums in the world, providing an incredible platform from which Australia can unleash their back line, or win penalties for Foley to knock calmly through the posts.

Anyway that's enough about the previous games, we've seen more than once in rugby matches where the form book get's ripped up and thrown out the window, so what matters is what happens on the day. So who is taking the field? Australia have stuck to their guns, as well as they can, excluding the missing Hooper and the injured winger Horne, especially with both Folau and Giteau passing their fitness tests hours before the (delayed) team announcement. The strong front row of Sio, Moore and Kepu remains to target a Welsh scrum that has struggled so far this tournament. The back row even without Hooper continues in the same vein. The backline again remains unchanged from the team that beat England, Foley and Giteau looking to control the game, while Folau, Ashley-Cooper and (the freshly drafted in) Mitchell provide plenty of excitement and try scoring ability out wide.

Folau has been passed fit, and could wreak havoc on Saturday

Gatland has made some big calls for selection

On the opposite side of the field, Gatland has torn up the form book, for the last few years Wales' team has been predictable, but the Kiwi has always had the ability to drop a bomb in team selection: Warburton as captain four years ago, North test cap at 18 years old, no room for O'Driscoll in the Lions final test. And it's safe to say he's done it again. While certain players are carrying knocks, they are available to play, Gatland is probably looking ahead to the knock-out groups where the defensive bravery of Lydiate and strong ball carrying of Bradley Davies will be needed. So instead in the pack, the maul destroying Luke Charteris has been brought in, and after months of Welsh fans begging for the inclusion of Justin Tipuric, he starts. Wales combating the two open-side flankers of Australia with their own two, who so expertly destroyed the English two years ago. In the front row Wales have brought in their strongest scrummagers, Gethin Jenkins get's rested as Paul James gets a chance to prove his prowess, while the highly rated Samson Lee has recovered from his ankle/heel issues to form the corner stone at tight-head.

Anscombe is a Super XV winning fullback, can he show it on the Test stage?

The pack isn't the only place Gatland has made some eye opening choices, super-star George North fills in the outside centre berth he excelled in last time Wales faced Australia (in 2013), looking to recover the form he had for the Lions against the Wallabies. In attack all supporters will love to see North get his hands on the ball far more often, but defensively he will be facing a baptism of fire in the toughest position. With North out of position, the out of form Cuthbert retains his place, as maverick Liam Williams returns from injury this time at wing. Lastly is Gareth Anscombe winning his first ever test start, at full back. It's certainly a risk, even though Anscombe had a good game from the bench against Ireland, after his inconsistent performances for the Cardiff Blues last season. Although he does come with some very strong credentials in the fullback position, after filling the shirt for the Chiefs the year they won the Super XV title. But the long and the short of it is, he is facing up against arguably the best fullback in world rugby, and he has to prove he is deserving of the central contract his on.

This game is the biggest of the World Cup so far, who ever wins it has a very strong chance of reaching the final, while whoever loses faces two serious battles to make the final. The fact that Australia are winning their games comfortably and in total control gives them the edge this weekend, especially if Wales are incapable of fixing the issues at the scrum. But Wales have shown that if they are within a score  when the game comes down the final moments they have the ability to steal a win, or defend a lead, something they haven't managed to do over the last few years - especially against the Australia.

Prediction: Australia by two scores

England out played and out of the cup

This World Cup just keeps bringing the shocks, it wasn't enough to have Georgia beat Tonga, or Japan beat South Africa, or Japan beat Samoa, or a injury ridden Wales win at Twickenham, no it transpired that England had to be knocked out of their own World Cup before the quarter finals. It is the worst thing that could have happened for the host nation, but one of the big three had to be knocked out, it just so happened to be the men in white.

Looking back, even from the warm-up matches England didn't look secure, the pack seemed inconsistent at set-piece, and the back line was changed again and again never settling. Lancaster has had four years to settle on his best team, but has never managed it. Looking at the team that took the field against Australia in the crunch match, the front row seemed strong, but Tom Youngs has always been behind Hartley before now, and Joe Marler has been accused of illegal scrummaging all tournament. In the locks, I don't think anyone knows who the first choice selection is, Parling was brought in as emergency at the lineout, breaking apart the apparent choice of Lawes/Launchbury. Also in the squad the inexperienced George Kruis was selected over the power-house Dave Attwood, it reeked of confusion. The back-row  also suffered considerable chopping and changing, Robshaw was the eternal ever present unsurprisingly, but Tom Wood never really nailed down the shirt and the inform warrior of Haskell was often over looked despite the job he did on Wales during the 6 Nations. At No. 8 England possess two of the best ball carrying options in the British Isles, yet neither performed consistently for long enough (both picking up injuries was worrying regularity) to build a reputation in the international game.

Although despite all the inconsistency in the pack, they look positively settled compared to the constant changing in the England back-line. While a lot of this is down to injuries of England's pick name players it's still surprising just how often England changed their set up. Ben Youngs was in firm possession of the nine shirt into the World Cup, but never seemed trusted enough to last a whole game - always substituted early in the second half despite often being England's best player - we'll touch on Lancaster bench usage later. You can argue that this was Lancaster picking on form, but Danny Care was the live-wire that unleashed the England back-line in the past. Just outside him was the constant battle between Farrell and Ford, both worthy international fly-halves and in was always going to be difficult to choose between the two. In the warm-ups Ford looked a little lacking in control, and maybe it was expected that Farrell was going to bring an element of control for the big matches. The confusing thing was that - against Australia any way - England looked to utilise the Bath style attacking technique, surely logically you should pick the Bath fly-half to pull that off? It was incredibly noticeable when Ford came on against Australia that their attack picked up and they look much better with ball in hand.

England still are unsure as to who should be at fly-half

Did England miss Tuilagi?

The midfield partnership that every team needs, the Nonu/Smith of New Zealand, the Roberts/Davies of Wales (missing from this World Cup) and the similarly legendary D'Arcy/O'Driscoll of Ireland, didn't exist for England. It's largely down to a rather endless supply of injuries to Lancaster's preferred two of Barritt/Tuilagi, the argument is, do you back your preferred choice for when they are both fit, or do you attempt to create a new centre combination to avoid what happened this World Cup? Barritt has been injured for ages, and Tuilagi was missing for disciplinary reasons. They still had the majestic Jonathan Joseph but during this year they failed to team him up with anyone consistently, and it got to the World Cup where they combined him with a brand new inside centre for the first time. And we wont delve down the rabbit hole discussion of Burgess.

The England back-three was perhaps the only settled section in the entire team, Mike Brown is the best fullback in the northern hemisphere at the moment, Anthony Watson showed just how lethal a finisher he is, despite playing all of his club rugby at fullback, and Jonny May found some quality form, backing his speed rather than constantly trying side step through the defence.

Overall the writing was on the wall for England, not in a strong foreboding way but the signs were there. Against France the scrum crumpled, which then happened again in the opening match against Fiji. That game against Fiji wasn't exactly the type of game to fill the fans with confidence, yes they got the bonus point (something neither Wales nor Australia managed) but they were wholly unconvincing, and lucky not to have lost it around the 60 minute mark as Fiji pushed hard. A week later game the biggest game in World Cup history, Wales vs England at Twickenham. This time England were the dominant team for the majority of the game, Ben Youngs running Wales ragged and Joe Marler - illegal or not - demolishing the Welsh scrum with glee. Yet even against a Wales team patched together with duct tape and blue-tack they couldn't get over the line. Robshaw could be having nightmares for the next four years about that last penalty decision, two points from that game and they'd still be in the tournament and Wales would be the team likely to be knocked out instead.

However England knew what they had to do against Australia, a win nothing else would do (well a bonus point draw would have sufficed but that was always unlikely). Lancaster again selected Farrell to lead his team, understandable after the kicking display against Wales, however it's the prevailing opinion of many pundits that while Farrell is a ten to make sure you don't lose, Ford is the fly-half who is likely to win you the game. And in the end it was perhaps Farrell that cost England the game. After Ford had come on and England looked on top, bringing the scoreline back within one converted try Australia were on the back foot. England's defence was ferocious, Australia repelled again and again, that was until Farrell showed too much ferocity. Trying to read the pass - through the dummy runners - he got it terribly wrong pile driving into Giteau with debatable effort to use his arms.
Behind him Burgess practically clotheslined Hooper - who actually had the ball - but this was ignored by the officials in the end,  despite in my opinion it being the worse offence. The loss of Farrell (who had shifted to inside centre), leaving just the rookie Burgess to defend the middle of the park meant Australia took control back.

The fact that Burgess was on the field was an unfortunate one, England were hit with tricky injuries as May didn't return after half time, Joseph moving to wing, yet Lancaster decided to disrupt his fly-half axis and move Farrell to centre instead of using the centre on his bench. Perhaps Burgess could have added more to England's attack while they seemed on top. It wasn't the only confusing change, again Ben Youngs was replaced early, when he was having a very good game, replaced by the Saracen Wigglesworth who has never really shown any form at this World Cup, certainly not enough to merit such an early inclusion. Confusing substitutions have defined the Lancaster tenure, flashbacks to Paris last year with Danny Care being taken off far too early, and in this World Cup

Ben Youngs always one of England's best 

Ben Youngs was taken off against Wales early despite him having terrorised the Welsh fringe defence. It's perhaps the big problem for England at this World Cup, the squad depth wasn't there, the replacements didn't offer much impact when they did come on, something that England will aim to build on before Japan in 2019 surely.

The yellow-card wasn't the only reason for England's defeat, the scrum was beaten repeatedly by the Wallabies (something I never thought I'd say), and the ten-twelve axis of Foley and Giteau was just majestic, how neither of them won Man of the Match is beyond me, controlling the game, putting their body on the lines to make ground and both slicing through the white wall on multiple occasions. But the number one reason that Australia dominated the game was Pocock and Hooper, this double openside system has proven its efficiency again and again. I lost count of the number of turnovers and penalties that Pocock won at the breakdown, and the athleticism and sheer disregard for his personal safety of Hooper provided both defensive security and an ability to win the gain-line battle too. Australia didn't notice the "missing" ball carrier that some pundits mention, without a true No. 8, with Scott Fardy doing the donkey work of two players. Australia currently look the strongest team at this World Cup, after South Africa stummbled through the first rounds and New Zealand looked limp against Georgia. Wales have to look out next weekend.

Are Pocock and Hooper going to be the pairing of the World Cup? They've been lethal so far

In the end though the big news is England have become the first host nation to ever exit the World Cup in the pool stages, and the first former-finalist not to make the knock-out stages. As much as the players and coaching staff are hurting, the back-room staff can take solace in the fact that they have produced the greatest World Cup in memory without a shadow of a doubt.