Rugby World Cup 2015: 10 Best Performances so Far

The Rugby World Cup is a showground for the most impressive figures in rugby, but only few will become legends based upon their breathtaking tournament performances.

Rugby World Cup 2015 is the eighth edition of the international tournament, hosted by England from September 18 to October 31.

Within the 20 teams competing, there are certainly familiar household names, such as Canada’s DTH van der Merwe and South Africa’s Bryan Habana—men who have solidified their fates in rugby stardom. Yet this year’s rookies, like New Zealand’s Nehe Milner-Skudder, have proved themselves just as capable of being the next great rugby star.

The following countdown contains 10 rugby standouts—both experienced and new to the Rugby World Cup—who have impressed the international audience and the competition with their brilliant performances.

The rankings are not only based upon personal talent, but also the significance of the player's contributions to their team’s historical success and reputation.

Almost Legends...

Associated Press

Honourable Mentions

Israel Folau (Australia)

In any other World Cup, Australia’s full-back Israel Folau would be the undisputed team MVP.

The 26-year-old began his professional sporting career as a wing before he moved to full-back. Since then, he has proved to be the Wallabies’ greatest weapon.

Known for his size, speed and strategic movements, Folau is a monster on the field and, as Gregor Paul and Wynne Gray note in the New Zealand Herald, he won the John Eales Medal as the Wallabies' most valuable player for the second time in three years.

This time around, however, Folau’s performance has shown a truth fans have so long ignored: He is human, and therefore, he makes mistakes.

During Australia’s pivotal match against England, Folau botched his control of the ball repeatedly.

Rugby World’s Owain Jones noted that Folau first failed to pass the ball to Rob Horne to score a try and then embarrassingly dropped a Bernard Foley cross-kick, a pass that was dead-on in delivery. Folau then caused a breakaway by spilling a kick from Mike Brown.

If his shocking errors are not enough to raise eyebrows, Folau suffered an ankle injury during game and consequently may not compete in Saturday’s match against Wales, according to the Press Association (h/t the Guardian).

Thus, great expectations can often lead to devastating realities.

Gareth Davies (Wales)

Welsh half-back Gareth Davies received the No. 9 jersey after Rhys Webb suffered an injury, but his performance has hardly been that of a second-choice player.

Scoring a game-changing try against England, Davies proved his abilities on the pitch and his determination to achieve victory, as noted by the Sydney Morning Herald’s Paul Cully.

But he’s not only impressing his fellow Welshmen—he is terrifying his opponents.

Australia’s Will Genia told the Daily Mail: “He's probably been one of the best half-backs of the tournament so far. He's played really well. (He's) obviously been under a lot of pressure, coming in off the back of Rhys Webb being injured, and performed really, really well.”

Perhaps it’s the peer pressure Davies really needed to show the international rugby arena what he is capable of.

If Davies himself claims more of the spotlight in Wales’ match against Australia, he might step up as one of the greatest performers in the World Cup.

Kieran Read (New Zealand)

Paul and Gray were right in saying that it’s “no coincidence that the All Blacks enjoyed their first perfect season in the year Kieran Read was crowned World Player of the Year.” His RWC performance so far has only emphasized this idea. 

New Zealand found themselves in a potentially dangerous situation when Richie McCaw was forced to leave their match against Georgia after suffering an injury in the 60th minute of regulation.

However, Read assumes the captaincy while Sam Cane returns on the openside flank in place of McCaw, and his talents cannot be belittled.

The No. 8—if his abilities can be limited to just that—maintains that the men will “continue playing to win, not to entertain,” according to the Telegraph.

While they may be missing their top-notch captain and thus their prime team dynamic, they will continue to be unstoppable.

Yes, New Zealand supporters certainly wish that McCaw was well enough to continue on, but they know they need not worry—Read is a fluid, instrumental force on the pitch that the All Blacks can and must rely on.

10. Tjiuee Uanivi (Namibia)

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When one thinks about Namibian rugby, the name of Jacques Burger—the team captain—always comes to mind before all others.

Their lock, Tjiuee Uanivi, however—a 6’7”, 24-year-old weighing 240 pounds—has made a name for himself during this World Cup. In short, he’s a mammoth: With his excellent lineout skills and aggressive physicality, Uanivi is a terror on the pitch.

His performance against the All Blacks in a 54-14 defeat in the opening match for Namibia demonstrated his great rugby talent and potential. Upsetting forwards and lineouts, then showing no mercy against Tonga, Uanivi has proved he is, in a word, fearless. He even shone in Namibia’s most recent loss to Georgia. 

Uanivi currently plays without a contract to a particular club, wrote Informante’s Michael Uugwanga, as his contract with French club CA Brive ended on July 1.

No doubt this incredible performance at the Rugby World Cup will have smaller clubs in the Aviva Premiership wooing him for his loyalty.

9. Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia)

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Georgia’s captain plays professionally for Toulon with a host of rugby royalty—Bryan Habana, Matt Giteau and various French internationals. Yet, playing for a nation with a World Rugby ranking of 14 obscures his potential.

The 31-year-old proved himself a World Cup hero capable of playing alongside rugby greatness in Georgia’s opening win over Tonga.

If scoring 24 tackles is impressive—which matches most tackles of the tournament’s top players so far—Gorgodze also racked up "eight offloads, five tackle busts, four turnovers and a try," as Stuff’s Andy Fyers tracked.

But his show of talent was far from complete: With much help from their captain, Georgia impressively held New Zealand to 43 points. Consequently, Gorgodze received the man-of-the-match award.

Having just defeated Namibia 17-16, Georgia—and Gorgodze—are certainly redefining their reputation in the international arena.

8. Bernard Foley (Australia)

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Stuff’s Mark Reason believes Bernard Foley “could take the Wallabies all the way to Rugby World Cup glory,” and his recent performance only supports this notion.

Foley’s outing against England was nothing less than inspiring: He scored 28 points of the 33 points, thus clearly dominating the match. His kicking was spot on—both from the hand and at goal.

The acclaim he received internationally was well-deserved for the young Aussie, and no doubt he will continue to deserve it.

7. Carlos Arboleya (Uruguay)

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The last time Uruguay scored a try at the World Cup was back in 2003, by the team’s current coach Pablo Lemoine. For even the nation with a World Rugby ranking of 19, this is a sorry reality. 

But in Uruguay’s match against Fiji on Tuesday, Carlos Arboleya ended this 12-year pattern of disappointment.

In the 16th minute of regulation time, the prop took control of the ball and touched it down into the try zone.

The celebration by both the players and the crowd, as shown in Rugby World’s video, was nothing less than heartwarming and inspiring.

While Uruguay eventually lost 47-15 to Fiji, thus leaving them winless through their first three games, Arboleya can pride himself on the fact that he not only ended one legacy, but began creating another: his own.

6. David Pocock (Australia)

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David Pocock has returned to Test rugby after sitting out two years following consecutive knee reconstructions, but his time away from the pitch has clouded his once flawless reputation: Specifically, Pocock clearly rivalled All Blacks legend Richie McCaw for the title of best openside flanker in the world.

However, the old face continues to live up to fans’ great expectations, so seemingly he has not taken a leave from rugby at all. In fact, he is as sharp and aggressive on the pitch as ever.

Ian Malin of the Observer noted that in Australia’s match against England, he “was a constant menace”; he viciously stole the ball from opponents, cut through defenders as if they were weightless and carried on as though he had never been hurt.

Malin might be on to something: If Pocock keeps this performance up, he might be a likely candidate for World Player of the Year.

5. Nehe Milner-Skudder (New Zealand)

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No one—not even Nehe Milner-Skudder himself—thought he would have come this far.

"He is a bit of a surprise selection," previous Wallabies back Rod Kafer said of him, according to the Sydney Morning Herald’s Rupert Guinness.

It was risky—no one knew how he would actually perform. Whereas players like Pocock and even Wales’ George North face doubt due to injury, they at least have the benefit of having performed brilliantly in various international tournaments.

By being a real rookie in the rugby community, Milner-Skudder had expectations of mediocrity to rise above as well as the weight of All Blacks pride on his shoulders.

Going into the Rugby World Cup, Bleacher Report’s featured columnist Danny Coyle anticipated that Milner-Skudder would rise in the ranks of the All Blacks and become the team’s “X-Factor.” In fact, the Hurricanes’ utility back has done exactly that.

The World Cup rookie was instrumental in New Zealand’s Pool C 58-14 victory over Namibia.

Scoring two tries, the back demonstrated his agility by leaping and ducking over Namibian players across the pitch like a side-step salsa dancer. His physicality was so impressive that he was even named the MasterCard UK Man of the Match.

Milner-Skudder has fully defied expectations and has shown his few caps are more than enough for his qualification in the games—sometimes innate talent proves to be greater than experience.

4. Karne Hesketh (Japan)

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Japan shocked the world when they defeated two-time Rugby World Cup champions South Africa 34-32, causing what was one of the biggest upsets in rugby union history.

In just 10 minutes—the last minutes of play—Japan became legends, thanks to New Zealand-born wing Karne Hesketh’s final-minute try.

Time was running out on Japan—a team that needed organization and mental strength more than anything else in those final moments. Though Japan had the option of kicking a penalty, which could tie the score, coach Eddie Jones threw in Hesketh in the 79th minute.

Just seconds after stepping on to the pitch, Hesketh had hold of the ball for the first time. Little did the world know just how monumental his possession would be.

According to Rugby World Cup’s official writer Shintaro Kano: “Hesketh admitted he had been happy just to be selected in coach Eddie Jones’ squad, let alone score the try that ended Japan’s 24-year barren spell at the RWC.”

In his final minute cross and try, Hesketh sparked a celebration of sentiments for the future of rugby in Japan; there’s no denying that defeating the world No. 3-ranked Springboks has not only boosted Japan’s reputation in the rugby arena, but has cemented Hesketh in the history of the game.

Hesketh accomplished the unexpected, the unthinkable. He performed nothing less than a miracle.

3. DTH van der Merwe (Canada)

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Canada wing DTH van der Merwe has had a record-breaking World Cup.

In Canada’s final game against Romania, he scored a try for the fourth World Cup match in a row (following games against France, Ireland and Italy), making him the only player from a Tier Two nation to ever accomplish such a record, according to WalesOnline's Matthew Southcombe.

What's more, Southcombe reported that Van der Merwe sealed his position in the top five for various attacking stats: tries scored (4); clean breaks (7—behind only Anthony Watson and Mike Brown); and carrying over the gain line (21 times). He's also on top for running the most meters in the tournament (381) so far. 

Perhaps the greatest disappointment of Canada’s departure from the tournament is that we will not get to see just how much more Van der Merwe would accomplish.

2. Bryan Habana (South Africa)

Associated Press

It’s official: Springboks wing Bryan Habana equaled legendary Jonah Lomu's 16-year Rugby World Cup try-scoring record with a hat-trick.

All in all, it was an exciting—and sentimental—match for Habana. The 32-year-old, who is likely viewing this tournament as his third and final World Cup, according to the Independent, began the game with a head injury after fighting with USA full-back Blaine Scully mid-air for a high ball. He temporarily left the pitch for a head injury assessment, but it was ultimately ruled not severe.

In less than a minute of the second half, Habana began his scoring frenzy, completing three tries.

The South Africa vs. USA game was certainly one for the books: The Springboks crushed the USA 64-0, closing the Pool B matches of the World Cup like the champions that they are.

Yet, at the end of the day, Habana’s lifetime achievement on the pitch is almost the greatest moment of all.

1. Dan Biggar (Wales)

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In a history-making World Cup, Dan Biggar takes the prize by securing Wales’ dramatic win against England in the 73rd minute of the most heated, most anticipated Rugby World Cup event.

Biggar entered the pitch as a surprising candidate, replacing the injured Leigh Halfpenny. What followed was pure rugby mastery. 

Wales were trailing behind England 25-18, and with two key players being carried off the field, the team were not feeling optimistic.

Nevertheless, Biggar was completely focused: He struck over the conversion to even the scores at 25-25. But then—as viewers held their breath—he slot a 75th-minute penalty, giving Wales the victory.

Thanks to Biggar, Rugby World Cup’s Adrian Warner said the side claimed “one of the most important Welsh victories over their rivals in 134 years of internationals between the two countries.”

Biggar landed eight kicks out of eight, including the winning penalty from the halfway line that was widely thought to have been out of his range. In total, fly-half Dan Biggar kicked 23 of his side's points.

Dan Biggar is not only the man of the England vs. Wales match—he’s the man of the tournament.

Kaitlin McCabe is a featured columnist for the Advanced Program in Sports Media. Follow her on Twitter @kam3194.