Who are your best fifteen players after this round...?

Another round of great matches, Ireland Australia being the most thrilling for all.

Some teams are starting to really show their colours, demonstrating what we can expect of them over the remaining few weeks.

Who have been the players you rated best?


Let's see people post their own teams rather than nit picking other people's views.

1. Steenkamp SA
2. Servat FRA
3. Kubrashvilli GEO
4. O'Callaghan IRE
5. O'Connell IRE
6. Kaino NZ
7. Burger SA
8. Spies SA
9. Fernandez ARG
10. Trinh Duc FRA
11. Toeva NZ
12. Steyn SA
13. O'Driscoll IRE
14. Williams NZ
15. Clerc FRA

maestegmafia wrote:1. Steenkamp SA
2. Servat FRA
3. Kubrashvilli GEO
4. O'Callaghan IRE
5. O'Connell IRE
6. Kaino NZ
7. Burger SA
8. Spies SA
9. Fernandez ARG
10. Trinh Duc FRA
11. Toeva NZ
12. Steyn SA
13. O'Driscoll IRE
14. Williams NZ
15. Clerc FRA

you seriously need to catch up with some sleep to have TD there! you sure you didnt meant sexton?

by the way, clerc plays 14.

Some very strange selections there as well as positional oddities. Were they just plucked out of the air?

1 - Healy
2 -
3 - Du Plessis
4 - Rossouw
5 - O'Connell
6 -
7 - O'Brien
8 - Picamoles
9 - Parra
10 - Steyn
11 -
12 - Nonu
13 -
14 - Bowe
15 - Gavin Williams

Based on just this week.
Would like to have Steenkamp and Roberts in there.

whocares wrote:

you seriously need to catch up with some sleep to have TD there! you sure you didnt meant sexton?

by the way, clerc plays 14.

Post your own team don't just criticise others.

I am sure I am not alone in saying that we would rather read your accolades far more than you pedantically and pointlessly nit picking mine.

maestegmafia wrote:

whocares wrote:

you seriously need to catch up with some sleep to have TD there! you sure you didnt meant sexton?

by the way, clerc plays 14.

Post your own team don't just criticise others.

I am sure I am not alone in saying that we would rather read your accolades far more than you pedantically and pointlessly nit picking mine.

fair enough...intention wasnt to be harsh or anything, sorry if gave the wrong impression.
havent got time to watch all the games yet (difficlut to put a team based on the 3 games i saw)

whocares wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

whocares wrote:

you seriously need to catch up with some sleep to have TD there! you sure you didnt meant sexton?

by the way, clerc plays 14.

Post your own team don't just criticise others.

I am sure I am not alone in saying that we would rather read your accolades far more than you pedantically and pointlessly nit picking mine.

fair enough...intention wasnt to be harsh or anything, sorry if gave the wrong impression.
havent got time to watch all the games yet (difficlut to put a team based on the 3 games i saw)

No problem mate...!

Maybe you could have said you only saw three games and select a xv from those six teams?

I would but since I missed on wales, NZ and 2nd half of england, it would be a SA-Ireland affair!
now have a whole afternoon to do some catch up!

whocares wrote:I would but since I missed on whales, NZ and 2nd half of england, it would be a SA-Ireland affair!
now have a whole afternoon to do some catch up!

Look forward to hearing your team later.

Sexton wouldn't be on a team of the week. You could have a few of the Irish pack on it though!

I haven't seen all the games yet but i will go by who I have seen

1. C Healy
2. W Servat
3. J Du Plessis
4. S Shaw
5. S Whitelock
6. J Kaino
7. M Gorgodze
8. L Picamoles
9. M Parra
10. J Sexton
11. A Tuilagi
12. M Nonu
13. M Tuilagi
14. V Clerc
15. I Toeava

1. C Healy
2. B Du plessis
3. M Ross
4. H Russow
5. P O'Connell
6. J Kaino / S Ferris
7. S Warburton/ S O'Brien
8. L Picamoles
9. M Parra
10. M Steyn
11. D Ioane
12. J Roberts
13. M Nonu
14. V Clerc
15. C Beale

ok that what I come up with (just done with wales_samoa game)
for NZ, its very difficult to pick one particular player (although all their backs were class), the lack of defense from japan does not help.
the team of the weekend was SA, the performance of the weekend being Irish. this is kind of reflected in the below:

1 - Healy
2 - Best
3 - Du Plessis
4 - DOC
5 - Rossouw/POC
6 - Brussow
7 - SOB
8 - Heaslip / Picamoles (carpenter from canada was quite solid as well)
9 - Parra
10 - M Steyn / Flood
11 - Pietersen /Kahui
12 - Nonu / François Steyn
13 - Van der Merwe/conrad smith
14 - Clerc
15 - hpenny / foden

whocares wrote:ok that what I come up with (just done with wales_samoa game)
for NZ, its very difficult to pick one particular player (although all their backs were class), the lack of defense from japan does not help.
the team of the weekend was SA, the performance of the weekend being Irish. this is kind of reflected in the below:

1 - Healy
2 - Best
3 - Du Plessis
4 - DOC
5 - Rossouw/POC
6 - Brussow
7 - SOB
8 - Heaslip / Picamoles (carpenter from canada was quite solid as well)
9 - Parra
10 - M Steyn / Flood
11 - Pietersen /Kahui
12 - Nonu / François Steyn
13 - Van der Merwe/conrad smith
14 - Clerc
15 - hpenny / foden

Enjoy watching the games ?

1 - Healy
2 - Best
3 - Du Plessis
4 - DOC
5 - Rossouw
6 - Brussow
7 - OBrien
8 - Heaslip
9 - Parra
10 - M Steyn
11 - Kahui
12 - Nonu / François Steyn/Jamie Roberts all had outstanding games cant be separated
13 - Jaque Fourie
14 - Clerc
15 - Toeava

Great to see such even mixes of northern and southern hemisphere players.

The SA players worth a mention.

1. Gurthro Steenkamp - Great scrumming, defence and well executed try.
2. Bismarck du Plessis - Physical, demanding
3. J du Plessis- great scrumming and some great runs, huge on defence
4.
5. Danie Rossouw - 120 running meters, great try, very physical
6.
7. Schalk Burger - very physical, had some great distribution and drives
8. Pierre Spies - his best game for a long time
9.
10.
11.
12. Frans Steyn - a revelation at 12, more attacking flair and huge drop
13. Jaque Fourie - in the form of his life
14. JP Pietersen- doesn't lok flash, but awesome on defence and attack.
15.

biltongbek wrote:The SA players worth a mention.

Kind of missing the point of the thread there bill. This is a multinational pick n mix, and the Bok are not good enough to have 9 out of 15 players as the best in their position at this world cup.

maestegmafia wrote:

biltongbek wrote:The SA players worth a mention.

Kind of missing the point of the thread there bill. This is a multinational pick n mix, and the Bok are not good enough to have 9 out of 15 players as the best in their position at this world cup.

I am aware of that, from what i have seen very few are rating Jaque Fourie as an example, and this man is on fire. I leave the who's best to those who know, I just put the SA nominations in.

Yes Fourie has been great so far. I'm looking for him every time the ball goes near him. He's the threat against us in the backs if we meet.

Not a lot of Kiwis in the listgiven their results though we have won a couple of easy matches. Doesn't mean they're not still good players

Taylorman wrote:Yes Fourie has been great so far. I'm looking for him every time the ball goes near him. He's the threat against us in the backs if we meet.

Not a lot of Kiwis in the listgiven their results though we have won a couple of easy matches. Doesn't mean they're not still good players

There is a few Kiwis in everyone bar Biltongs list.

Kaino had a great game, Kahui and Toeava were very good too. I like the look of Ellis at 9 for the ABs too. seems faster than Cowan and Weepu

Taylorman wrote:Yes Fourie has been great so far. I'm looking for him every time the ball goes near him. He's the threat against us in the backs if we meet.

Not a lot of Kiwis in the listgiven their results though we have won a couple of easy matches. Doesn't mean they're not still good players

not to worry - am pretty sure there will be a lot of Kiwis in next weekend best XV

Can't comment on Wales game but from what I saw over the weekend:

1. Healy - Solid set-piece and animal around the park, becoming top draw
2. Servat - Getting back to some top form after injury, best basics hook about
3. J.Du Plessis - not a massive fan but he's nailing the TH berth and impressing
4. Shaw - tough between DOC & Russouw but Shaw was standout in a not great England pack, was everywhere
5. POC - world class performance for Paulie, best 5 in world rugby right now?
6. O'Brien - I know he played OS but his game is pure BS, gave Ireland the platform and go forward, outstanding player
7. Brussow - Makes such a differnce to way SA play, great all round game and capped with chip to savour
8. Picamoles - Gave France a focus and made the hard yards, I didn't think Heaslip played that well tbh

9. Parra - The little genius is showing why he's one of the best 9's about, just keeps France ticking
10. Steyn - Flood and Sexton come close but the SA pivot is coming into some decent form at the right time, still like to see Lambie given a crack
11. Tuilagi - 3 tries and a constant physical threat, Kahui pushes close
12. Nonu - The Japanese will be having nightmares about Nonu, made yards and made so much space for NZ back 3
13. Smith - Fourie pushes close but the AB is just so god damn classy
14. Bowe - He needed this game and didn't disappoint, outstanding
15. Beale - One of the few shining lights in the Aus team, deserved more

Surely Marty pushed himself for a spot in the midfield. Looked very tidy.

Great form team Pooly. I concur.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Can't comment on Wales game but from what I saw over the weekend:

No problem mate, only Warburton or Roberts might edge players out of your side.

Good team..

I would have had Roberts in there he has made yards against tough opposition.

He'd have had to have been good to displace Nonu, he was terrifying!

Watch rugby dump for highlights mate. first touch he went through the samoan midfield like a howitzer

Only seen the highlights of the Samoa game but Roberts was phenomenal against the boks.

Nonu has maybe been the player of the tournament so far though.

Great team Pooly. I´d have Roussow in for Shaw. Has had to fill Matfield´s shoes which are big ones, literally and seems to be growing in confidence.

Kaino has stepped up to the plate in Read´s absence and has added bringing the ball up powerfully to his aggressive defence. But fair enough having an Irish lad in there after that performance.

I´d give Faletau at least an honourable mention at 8 just for that great display against the Boks. At just 20 he looked like a seasoned veteran in rich form. A great individual performance in a great team performance.

Shame about the Pisi injury as he would´ve been worth a shout as well at 10 I think.

Nice cosmopolitan team.

Should we not take the opposition into consideration when we judge a players performance ?

Cymroglan wrote:Should we not take the opposition into consideration when we judge a players performance ?

Er not really otherwise there's no point.

For example I would go for Clerc ahead of Bowe based on his hatrick but you could argue Bowe was up against tougher opposition.

roddersm wrote:

Cymroglan wrote:Should we not take the opposition into consideration when we judge a players performance ?

Er not really otherwise there's no point.

For example I would go for Clerc ahead of Bowe based on his hatrick but you could argue Bowe was up against tougher opposition.

Bowe didnt actually play very well... He looked slow and not his usual sharp self.

maestegmafia wrote:Bowe didnt actually play very well... He looked slow and not his usual sharp self.

Hmm he doesn't look 100% match sharp but this is his 3rd game back from injury.

I thought he had a good game. He made a very good break in the 1st half which put us on the front foot.

That intercept at the end not only prevented an Australian losing bonus point but any chance of them winning the game. That was a phenomenal piece of play and maybe the most important play Bowe has made in his career to date.

roddersm wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:Bowe didnt actually play very well... He looked slow and not his usual sharp self.

Hmm he doesn't look 100% match sharp but this is his 3rd game back from injury.

I thought he had a good game. He made a very good break in the 1st half which put us on the front foot.

That intercept at the end not only prevented an Australian losing bonus point but any chance of them winning the game. That was a phenomenal piece of play and maybe the most important play Bowe has made in his career to date.

I was surprised he couldn't finish it off though, I'm sure i remember him being a lot quicker, you say he's injured?


As to that the team, I agree with Pooly's have to say Shaw deserves to be there, gave a locking masterclass on the weekend while the rest of the pack went to pieces and lasted the full 80, even captained for the final quarter.

Form teams are always open to debate as people look at different things. I thought Bowe was immense, he was involved everywhere and kept AAC quiet all game.

Pooly - I like your team choice there.

I would change Brussow for Gorgodze who was the outstanding 7 over the weekend, and I agree with Maesteg - Bowe was OK but but not at his best. Clerc gets my 14 shirt.

Guilford to bring on drinks.

yappysnap wrote:
I was surprised he couldn't finish it off though, I'm sure i remember him being a lot quicker, you say he's injured?

No but hes just back from injury after missing a lot of the preseason. He did run 90 metres and to be fair James O'Conner is no slouch!