Rugby World Cup - Talking Rugby Union's Team of the Tournament

Backs 

15.  Israel Dagg (New Zealand) “ he was impressive in the group stages, but many questioned whether he could perform to the same level come the big pressure matches and the answer was yes. A superb runner who always beats the first man, unflinching under the high ball, an all round brilliant player. His offload for the Nonu try in the semi-final was a moment of class.

Honourable Mention “ Kurtley Beale (Australia) Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)

14. Vincent Clerc (France) “ the tournaments joint top scorer was superb in a stuttering French side. Scored a crucial try in the defeat to Tonga and popped with a brilliant score against England in the quarter-final.

Honourable Mention “ Chris Ashton (England) Cory Jane (New Zealand)

13. Conrad Smith (New Zealand) “ I've said before he is the best 13 in world rugby and in this tournament he was just a class above the rest. The brains in the All Black backline in the absence of Carter, runs silky lines and rarely misses a tackle. Outstanding.

Honourable Mention “ Manu Tuilagi (England) Aurélien Rougerie (France)

12. Jamie Roberts (Wales) “ The giant centre really returned to the form that made him the star of the 2009 Lions tour. When he is going at full tilt he is a very tough man to stop, but he is also a brilliant decoy runner sucking in defences. It's great to see him back to his best after a tough couple of years.

Honourable Mention “ Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand) Francois Steyn (South Africa)

11.  James O'Connor (Australia) “ A class act on the wing. His intelligent play is really something to behold, when he has the ball he always looks threatening and under the high ball he rarely makes a mistake. His penalty to win the game against South Africa was brilliant.

Honourable Mention “ Richard Kahui (New Zealand) Digby Ioane (Australia) George North (Wales)

10. Rhys Priestland (Wales) “ It's amazing to think that the young Scarlet only got the 10 jersey after Stephen Jones got injured before the first warm-up game. His game control and composure was incredible for such a young man. His absence in the semi-final was very noticeable, Wales weren't the same without him.

Honourable Mention “ Dan Carter (New Zealand) Morne Steyn (South Africa)

9. Will Genia (Australia) “ The best nine in world rugby. Despite his fly-half having a rough time Genia never looked flustered and gave his side some direction. His kicking game has really developed and his distribution is second to none.

Honourable Mention “ Mike Phillips (Wales) Dimitri Yachvili (France)

 

Forwards

1.Tony Woodcock (New Zealand) “ Brilliant in the loose and solid in the tight. Was a crucial part of the win over Australia, and was the unlikely hero scoring the only try in the final. He has had a brilliant tournament and the All Blacks aren't the same without him.

Honourable Mention “ Cian Healy (Ireland) Gethin Jenkins (Wales)

2. William Servat (France) “ The experienced Frenchman is a master of the line-out and scrum. He was shaky at times in the group stages, but like most of the French side he came alive in the knock-outs.

Honourable Mention “ Bismarck Du Plessis (South Africa) Kevin Mealamu (New Zealand)

3. Nicolas Mas (France) “ Missed some of the group games, and it is no shock that his return coincided with France's return to form. A world class scrummager who destroyed England, and in the final he got the better of Woodcock on more than one occasion.

Honourable Mention “ Owen Franks (New Zealand) Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy)

4. Brad Thorn (New Zealand) “ The veteran lock could not of asked for a better way to bow out of international rugby. For my money he was man of the match in the semi-final, disrupts every ruck and tackles his heart out. A proper old-fashioned lock.

5. Luke Charteris (Wales) “ The most improved player this year. His work around the ruck is incredible, smashing anything in his way. At the line-out he rarely puts a foot wrong and like Thorn he tackles like a demon. Another great Welsh performer.

Honourable Mention “ Dannie Russouw (South Africa) James Horwill (Australia) Victor Matfield (South Africa)

6. Thierry Dusautoir (France) “ The newly crowned IRB Player of the Year was heroic in the final. Not much more can be said about this man, he tackles everything that is unfortunate to cross his path. An inspirational leader he almost carried his side to biggest shock in World Cup history.

Honourable Mention “ Jerome Kaino (New Zealand) Stephen Ferris (Ireland)

7. Richie McCaw (New Zealand) “ When Carter was injured New Zealand found a way to cope, but without McCaw they would never have won the World Cup. In the semi-final he got the better of David Pocock, whenever a turnover needs to be won you can garuntee McCaw will win it. Carried his side up the mountain even with though he was injured, still the king of the breakdown.

Honourable Mention “ Sam Warburton (Wales) David Pocock (Australia) Sean O'Brien (Ireland) Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia)

8. Imanol Harinordoquy (France) “ Didn't really get a game in the groups but when he was recalled for the England game, he was colossal. King of the line-out for Les Bleus and in the contact he is a ferocious ball carrier. Against the Kiwi's he produced one of the games of his life, and his efforts were almost rewarded with a winners medal.

Honourable Mention “ Kieran Read (New Zealand) Toby Faletau (Wales)