Rugby World Cup Groups 2015: Best XV from Pool Phase
With the pool stages of the Rugby World Cup 2015 over, we can reflect on three weeks of matches that have had the lot.
In some ways, the fun is over, as we wave farewell to 12 of the teams from this tournament.
One of the greatest appeals of the tournament is the rare spotlight it shines on players and teams we see virtually nothing of in the years between World Cups.
In some cases, that has to change. Japan, for one, deserve to be included on more of the big guns' summer and autumn fixture lists, and the progress of Georgia and Romania can only continue with more regular exposure to Tier One nations.
Many of the players in this XV have come from those sides who have risen to the challenge of competition against the powerhouses of the game, and they are joined by some of the more well-known names who have rubber-stamped their world class credentials before we enter the knockout rounds.
Here is your pool-phase one to 15.
15. Ayumu Goromaru
1 of 15Japan’s full-back Ayumu Goromaru was one of the stars of their three wins in Pool B.
The 29-year-old scored 24 points in their win over South Africa, including their penultimate try—the result of a perfectly executed, flowing back-line move.
He totalled 58 points and, aside from his goal-kicking, displayed a cast iron boot with his touch-finders. He was solid defensively and posed a genuine threat when joining the line.
His try may have lifted the roof off against the Springboks, but his try-saving tackle against Scotland was the tackle of the tournament so far.
14. Santiago Cordero
2 of 15Ireland will give Santiago Cordero space to run at their peril.
The 21-year-old has lit up the World Cup with his pace during the pool stage.
He scored two scintillating tries against Georgia and used his gas to create one of the scores of the tournament against Tonga.
A deadly runner with a wicked sidestep, Cordero has successfully bridged the gap between Sevens and the big show.
13. Jesse Kriel
3 of 15
For a player who only made his debut in this year's Rugby Championship, 21-year-old Jesse Kriel is now the first-choice outside centre for South Africa.
The Bulls youngster has had to step up with the injury to captain Jean de Villiers, and he has looked like he's been there an awful lot longer than just eight matches.
There is more to come from Kriel, and it will be worth watching.
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12. Sonny Bill Williams
4 of 15
Sonny Bill Williams has been in and out of the side while New Zealand shuffled their pack during a relatively easy pool stage, but when he played, he was New Zealand’s most influential back.
He came off the bench in their first match against Argentina and almost single-handedly changed the game with his strength and offloading ability.
And we saw the pass of the tournament from him against Namibia when his one-handed flip set Malakai Fekitoa up for a try.
11. DTH van der Merwe
5 of 15From the moment he snatched a long-range interception against Ireland, DTH van der Merwe was one of the most eye-catching players of the pool stage.
The former Glasgow man scored in all of Canada’s pool matches and looked highly dangerous when given space.
His try against Italy, which he instigated from inside his own half, was arguably the score of the entire tournament so far.
10. Bernard Foley
6 of 15In Australia’s two crunch Tests of Pool A, Bernard Foley was almost immaculate.
The Wallaby No. 10 shredded England with two tries and a faultless record from the tee, and he kicked all 15 points a week later to see Wales off.
Now with the luxury of playing behind a scrum that goes forward and a back row that secures him clean balls in bucketfuls, Foley is looking a contender for player of the tournament.
9. Gareth Davies
7 of 15
Rhys Webb’s form last season meant that, when the Ospreys No. 9 was ruled out of the World Cup before it began, he was going to be devilishly difficult to replace.
Gareth Davies was given the job and did it brilliantly. He scored four tries in the pool stage—the most notable being his well-taken effort against England.
8. David Pocock
8 of 15
Australia’s turnover machine was one of the pool stage’s standout performers.
David Pocock crucified England at the breakdown and was again an insufferable presence at the rucks during his team’s win over Wales.
If Scotland send single runners down his channel, not many of them will come back unscathed.
An honourable mention for Georgia's Mamuka Gorgodze, who was every inch the titan followers of the French Top 14 know him to be.
7. Sean O’Brien
9 of 15
Ireland flanker Sean O’Brien was the best player on the field in his team’s Pool D decider against France.
The Leinsterman carried powerfully and often, and he forced three turnovers at the ruck.
He was the principal cause of French frustrations at the breakdown where, if he wasn’t turning ball over, he was slowing it down.
6. Michael Leitch
10 of 15
The leadership and work rate of Japan’s captain Michael Leitch was one of the most impressive aspects of the Brave Blossoms’ astonishing campaign.
Leitch scored in their famous win over South Africa and was also bold enough at the death to go for the win by electing to scrummage rather than take a penalty shot at goal that would have levelled the contest.
He crossed the gain line more than any other player in the tournament during the pool stages (36 times), which underlines just how fit this Japanese side is.
5. Iain Henderson
11 of 15
Iain Henderson impressed early in the tournament but was dropped for the extra height afforded to Ireland’s lineout by Devin Toner for their final pool game against France.
But the Ulsterman was called upon early when Paul O’Connell went off.
He ensured Ireland did not miss a beat in terms of the work O’Connell does in and around the fringes of the breakdown, and he carried powerfully throughout.
It looks like the succession plan of Henderson for O'Connell is going to be brought forward. The younger man is ready.
4. Lood de Jager
12 of 15
South African lock Lood de Jager showed a voracious appetite for work whenever he was on the park.
The Springbok amassed 50 tackles in his four appearances, the second-highest tackle count in the tournament.
Victor Matfield's lineout smarts are a hard weapon to leave out for Heyneke Meyer, but De Jager is making him think hard about it.
3. Hiroshi Yamashita
13 of 15
Japan’s traditionally perceived weakness has always been their lack of bulk at the set piece.
But this presumption was scotched by the Blossoms pack during their campaign, as they displayed a rock-solid scrum and highly effective driving maul.
At the cornerstone was Hiroshi Yamashita. The tighthead scrummaged with a ramrod-straight back, delivering all his power from a perfect knee bend and leg drive.
He did not give a single penalty away at the scrum in four outings.
An honourable mention for Australia’s Sekope Kepu, who has been at the heart of the transformation of the Wallaby scrum.
2. Agustin Creevy
14 of 15
Argentina's skipper, Agustin Creevy, has led the buccaneering Pumas into the last eight with his usual gusto.
The hooker has hit his mark in the lineout and carried with his typical power.
Not far behind him, Bismarck du Plessis of South Africa and Scott Baldwin of Wales have been in fine fettle.
1. Scott Sio
15 of 15
Australian loosehead Scott Sio got the better of Dan Cole and Samson Lee on consecutive weekends at Twickenham, London.
His display against Lee was particularly impressive, driving the Scarlets man up and out of the Welsh front row and winning three penalties from the set piece.
Sio has carried well, too, and will give Scotland's Willem Nel plenty to deal with when the pair pack down in the quarter-final.
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