Rugby World Cup Groups 2015: Biggest Surprise Players in Pool B Teams

Pool B has proved itself to be arguably the most dramatic grouping of teams at the Rugby World Cup 2015, with a landscape that could be interpreted as a lower-profile Pool of Death in its own right.

And that's by no small part thanks to a host of stars performing outside their means, from Japan's shock defeat of South Africa in Week 1 to Scotland's surprisingly confident performances throughout the contest so far.

In the last instalment of our surprise player breakdown, here we highlight which players have succeeded most in dazzling despite perhaps not being expected to do so before the competition got under way.

Make sure to check out which players made the cut in Pool A, Pool C and Pool D, and use the forum below to let us know who you think should have been included.

1. John Hardie, Scotland

John Hardie had just a couple of Scotland caps to his name before coming to the World Cup, but you'd think the flanker was a seasoned veteran at international level judging by his performances.

Unfortunately, his influence has been limited to just the one outing thus far, after he picked up a head injury during his World Cup debut against Japan, when he also happened to score Scotland's opening try.

As well as being a major string-puller going forward with ball in hand, the New Zealand-born back-rower made more tackles than any other player in that game with 21, per the official Rugby World Cup Twitter account.

Some naysayers have risen against the influx of foreign-born talent making its way into the Scotland team, but one thing for certain is that Vern Cotter's side already look substantially better with Hardie present.

2. Fourie du Preez, South Africa

Martin Cleaver/Associated Press

South Africa coach Heyneke Meyer has persisted with Ruan Pienaar as his first-choice scrum-half despite many calling for the Ulster playmaker to be dropped, and the defeat to Japan may have been the final straw.

Against the odds, Fourie du Preez was finally handed his chance to start in the 46-6 win over Samoa, instantly improving the rhythm of the squad and providing a more potent carrying threat of his own.

SuperSport writer Brenden Nel agreed Du Preez is the Springboks' best option in the half-back role, but for the longest time, it seemed as though his coach had merely chosen to disregard him as a starter.

3. Amanaki Mafi, Japan

Alastair Grant/Associated Press

Japan's shock 34-32 victory against the Springboks will always be regarded as one built on emotion and team spirit, but the Cherry Blossoms would never have managed that result without genuine talent, either.

No. 8 weapon Amanaki Mafi came off the bench in that result, and despite playing just under 35 minutes, he turned the screw enough on South Africa to finish as Japan's third-best carrier, clocking up 53 metres in all.

That display was rewarded with a start against Scotland, where he was even more prolific in possession and raced for 90 metres and scored one try before succumbing to injury on the 45-minute mark.

Andrew McKenna of talkSPORT recently highlighted what a blessing it was Mafi would be fit to return for Eddie Jones' side at some point, proving to be an almost irreplaceable presence at the base of the pack.

4. Tim Nanai-Williams, Samoa

Brendan Gallagher of the Telegraph raised an intriguing point after suggesting Tim Nanai-Williams be moved to Samoa's fly-half position in the wake of their damaging defeat to South Africa last Saturday.

It's a call that vindicates the New Zealand-born convert as arguably the most technically gifted star among Stephen Betham's ranks, which he's gone a long way to proving already at the World Cup.

Super Rugby audiences will tell you what a talent the former Chiefs utility is and one the All Blacks may regret not capping themselves, but his transition into the Manu Samoa back line has been surprisingly swift.

5. Thretton Palamo, United States

There won't have been many players who made a bigger impact with their first World Cup carry than Thretton Palamo did when he took on Samoa's Rey Lee-Lo, as the attached video will show.

That kind of no-holds-barred approach perfectly sums up what makes the American football convert such an asset as a centre, utilising his past life as a running back to be a major advantage.

ESPN Scrum's Tom Hamilton described the centre as "monumental" during his outing against Samoa, and although his United States are yet to win a match, London Welsh's Palamo has stood out as a heavyweight talent.

All statistics come courtesy of ESPN Scrum.