RWC 2011: Team of the Tournament

An inevitable thread, so let's get it out of the way with.

No point doing voting buttons for this. Post teams below please.

If you don't provide at least some context or rationale for your choices then, well, why should we assume that you're right?

Let's start the ball rolling with:

First Choice/Honourable Mention

15. Israel Dagg (NZ) – Maxine Medard (France)
14. George North (Wales) – James O'Connor (Australia)
13. Conrad Smith (NZ) - Aurélien Rougerie (France)
12. Ma'a Nonu (NZ) – Jamie Roberts (Wales)
11. Corey Jane (NZ) – Vincent Clerc (France)
10. Dan Carter (NZ) – Rhys Priestland (Wales)
9. Will Genia (Australia) – Mike Philips (Wales)

8. Imanol Harinordoquy (France) – Kieren Read (NZ)
7. Richie McCaw (NZ) – Sam Warbuton (Wales)
6. Theirry Dusautoir (France) – Jerome Kaino (NZ)
5. Lionel Nallet (France) – Luke Charteris (Wales)
4. Victor Matfield (SA) – Brad Thorn (NZ)
3. Adam Jones (Wales) – Nicholas Mas (France)
2. Keven Mealamu (NZ) – William Servat (France)
1. Jean-Baptiste Poux (France) – Tony Woodcock (NZ)

No consideration of how the team might play has been taken into account.

I have only chosen the stand-out players in the shirts numbered over the course of the tournament as a whole.

I'm am shaking with shock as I write this, but apart from swapping some of the two players you have named I agree with everything, except *shudder* that I believe Bennett should be one of the hookers (yes I know, Bennett!)

I would also say that Lydiate must surely be a very close third on the blind side.

15 Israel Dagg
14 George North
13 Conrad Smith
12 Jamie Roberts
11 James O'Connor
10 Morne Steyn
9 Will Genia
8 Toby Faletau
7 Ritchie Mccaw
6 Jerome Kaino
5 Brad Thorn
4 Paul O'Connell
3 Adam Jones
2 William Servat
1 Tony Woodcock

can you say whether you are picking the top player of each position or whether considerations such as balance and tactics come into it?

Nobody's mentioned O'Brien I see

Ferris is also a close third at 6 in my opinion.

The advantage of McCaw/Dusautoir being selected is you have two opensides in your team. There are of course negatives with that.

Personally, probably due to injury, I felt that McCaw was a long way from his best. In my mind Pocock was the best out and out "7".

I picked what I feel were the best players in their positions. I didn't take into account balance, except maybe the 2nd row were I've gone for the best enforcer and best lineout general IMO.

O'Brien and Ferris would be honorable mentions for me but there were a lot of great backrowers so don't quite make the cut.

Quite shocked to see Genia mentioned a few times, thought he was very average myself.

1. Healy (Poux)
2. Servat (Mealamu)
3. Franks (Jones)
4. Thorn (Roussow)
5. Nallet (POC)
6. Kaino (Dusa)
7. McCaw (Warburton)
8. Read (Falatu)

9. Weepu (Yachvilli)
10. No standout
11. Ioane (North)
12. Nonu (Roberts)
13. Smith (Manu)
14. JOC (Jane)
15. Dagg (Beale)

Glas a du wrote:I'm am shaking with shock as I write this, but apart from swapping some of the two players you have named I agree with everything, except *shudder* that I believe Bennett should be one of the hookers (yes I know, Bennett!)

I know George, I'm on antibiotics, I may have been delirious at the time, but he played really well, a dog on the floor and around the park

I think throwing has to be taken into account when considering a hookers performance and Bennett would struggle to hit the floor if instructed to do so

Dagg
Jane
Roberts
Barnes
North
Priestland/Carter
Phillips
Reid
Warburton
Dausitoir
Whitlock
Charteris
Jones
Servat
Woodcock

15. Dagg/Beale
14. North/Jane
13. Smith/Fourie
12. Nonu/Roberts
11. Clerc/Kahui
10. Preistland/Parra
9. Weepu/Phillips
8. Felatau/Read
7. Dusautoir/McCaw
6. Kaino/Lydiate
5. Thorne/Nallet
4. Chartris/O’Connell
3. Jones/Mas
2. Servat/Best
1. Healy/Poux

Sgt_Pooly wrote:I think throwing has to be taken into account when considering a hookers performance and Bennett would struggle to hit the floor if instructed to do so

France picked him off because they realised all they had to do was track Charteris as he would be jumper or lifter on every call. That's not Bennett's fault. Wales' line out in the previous games was much improved whilst B was on the field.

You know it is a sign of the quality of the competition that you can't really argue with any of the teams selected.

Woodcock
Servat
Jones
Thorn
Charteris
Dusautoir
McCaw
Harinardoquy
Genia
Priestland
Clerc
Nonu
Tuilagi
Jane
Dagg

wasn't a great tournament for scrum halves I felt, none of them really impressed me, so plumped for Genia out of personal preference more than anything. Had Mad Marc played Trinh-Duc a bit more, he might have made the team as he was awesome in the final.

Think Bennett is an awful hooker myself but no dramas

15- Dagg
14-North
13-Smith
12-Roberts
11-Amoriseno
10-Priestland
9-Fotualii
8-Harri
7-McCaw
6-Kaino
5-Horwill
4-Matfield
3-Franks
2-Ledesma
1-Tamalolo

I think Healy and Parisse need to be given more credit myself I thought both were fantastic, granted didn't get as far as others but they were truely brilliant I felt.

Priestland as well.

pete (buachaill on eirne) wrote:I think Healy and Parisse need to be given more credit myself I thought both were fantastic, granted didn't get as far as others but they were truely brilliant I felt.

Priestland as well.

I had Priestlan in my side, was tempted to go with Healy but Woodcock just edged him out. Good as Parisse is, Harinardoquy was outstanding through the knock-out matches, and Read was excellent too, would have them both ahead of Parisse.

I just think Priestland did more than Carter did, in a way. Although can see the arguement for Carter as well obviously.

Think Parisse is actually better than both Har and Read just didn't get enough games to show it IMO.

15. Kurtley Beal - Israel Dagg (NZ)
14. George North (Wales) - James O'Connor (Australia)
13. Conrad Smith (NZ) - Aurélien Rougerie (France)
12. Ma'a Nonu (NZ) - Jamie Roberts (Wales)
11. Corey Jane (NZ) - Vincent Clerc (France)
10. Rhys Priestland (Wales) - Morne Steyn (SA)
9. Peri Weepu (NZ) - Will Genia (Australia)

8. Imanol Harinordoquy (France) - Kieren Read (NZ)
7. Sam Warbuton (Wales) - Richie McCaw (NZ)
6. Theirry Dusautoir (France) - Jerome Kaino (NZ)
5. Lionel Nallet (France) - Luke Charteris (Wales)
4. Brad Thorn (NZ) - Victor Matfield (SA)
3. Adam Jones (Wales) - Nicholas Mas (France)
2. Keven Mealamu (NZ) - William Servat (France)
1. Tony Woodcock (NZ) - Cian Healy (Ire)

Healy-Ledesma-Jones
Thorn-Horwill
Dusatoir-Harinordquoy-McCaw
Genia-Priestland
Nonu-Rougerie
O'Connor-Dagg-North

Woodcock-Servat-O'Connell-Kaino-Weepu-Trinh Duc- Roberts

15.Israel Dagg
14.George North
13.Conrad Smith
12.Jamie Roberts
11.Corey Jane
10.Morgan Parra
9.Dimitri Yachvilli

8.Imanol Harniordoquoy
7.Lewis Moody
6.Theirry Dusautoir
5.Lionel Nallet
4.Brad Thorn
3.Franks
2.Kevin Mealamu
1.Tony Woodcock

World Cup XV - Honourable Mentions.

15. Isreal Dagg - Maxime Medard
14. James O'Connor - Vincent Clerc
13. Conrad Smith - Aurélien Rougerie
12. Jamie Roberts - Ma'a Nonu
11. Corey Jane - Adam Ashley-Cooper(class in any position but slots in at wing)
10. Morne Steyn - Dan Carter
9. Mike Phillips - Dimitri Yachvilli

8. Toby Faletau - Imanol Harinorduquy(at 8 for Sam to get a mention)
7. Richie McCaw - Sam Warburton
6. Jerome Kaino - Theirry Dusatoir
5. Lionel Nallet - Luke Charteris
4. Brad Thorn - Victor Matfield
3. Nicholas Mas - Adam Jones
2. Kevin Mealamu - William Servat
1. Tony Woodcock - Jean Baptiste-Poux

I believe my selections at 8, 9, 10 and 15 were not only the most effective but the most consistent players in their positions. I also feel a lot of the All Blacks played average for most of the tournament but have selected the best; so the cup winners just edge the French who were probably the most powerful pack in the tournament. Nallet and Pape are a 2nd row partnership to be reckoned with! Unusually no standout performers from Ireland or England good enough to break into the XV, in my opinion.

Mogannwg
There are a few players from Ireland and one or two from England that would be up for consideration, but probably all fall a bit short of making the team of the tournament.

Ireland:
Healey
Paul O'Connell
Ferris
O'Brien
O'Gara (was solid in a tournament that had few if any stand-out performers at 10)

England
Tuillagi
Ashton (was joint top try scorer)

As I say, I wouldn't say any definitely make the team or even the honourable mentions, but in part because there were several outstanding performers in the back row to get ahead of Ferris and O'Brien and at outside centre to be ahead of Manu the diver.

15. Israel Dagg (NZ) – Maxine Medard (France)
14. James O'Connor (Australia) - George North (Wales)
13. Jamie Roberts (Wales)- Aurélien Rougerie (France)
12. Ma'a Nonu (NZ) – Conrad Smith (NZ)
11. Corey Jane (NZ) – Vincent Clerc (France)
10. Dan Carter (NZ) – Rhys Priestland (Wales)
9. Mike Philips (Wales) - Will Genia (Australia)

8. Imanol Harinordoquy (France) – Toby Faletau (Wales)
7. Richie McCaw (NZ) – Sam Warbuton (Wales)
6. Jerome Kaino (NZ) - Theirry Dusautoir (France)
5. Luke Charteris (Wales) - Lionel Nallet (France)
4. Brad Thorn (NZ) - Victor Matfield (SA)
3. Castrogivanni (Argentina) - Adam Jones (Wales)
2. Keven Mealamu (NZ) – William Servat (France)
1. Tony Woodcock (NZ) - Jean-Baptiste Poux (France

Mentions from Welsh persepctive to Lydiate, Bennett (yes I know) and Halfpenny.

3. Castrogivanni (Argentina)

Eh? Are you talking about the Italian of a similar name or the Argentinian of a completely dissimilar name?

Glas,

Doh the Argentine Italian thats the fella.

Got you.

Knew it was right when typing it but just couldn't think lol.

I think that was the best World Cup. Full stadiums, the odd upset, not much gap between the big three and the rest. Plenty to talk about. Lots of tries scored and a close intense final.

It seems Danie rossouw and frans steyn isn't rated much at all?

Frans Steyn was awesome this world cup I thought, gutted he was injured, would have made my team if he hadn't been

You know it's been a terrible world cup for scrum halfs when Mike Phillips is in the frame

SafeAsMilk wrote:You know it's been a terrible world cup for scrum halfs when Mike Phillips is in the frame

+1

I don't think Yahvilli had a bad tournament

dissapointed not to see Mike Tindall in there,,,,

SafeAsMilk wrote:You know it's been a terrible world cup for scrum halfs when Mike Phillips is in the frame

I find Mike Phillips infuriating to watch. When on form he's immense - easily the best SH in Europe. When he's bad he's like a mini rugby player, (albeit a very big one!)

He's a just a poor scrum half. Gets away with with it as he's a menace around the fringes, just hinders so much attacking threat from any backline he plays in though as he seems to think he should take the ball on at every oppertunity.

cabbagesandbrussels wrote:

SafeAsMilk wrote:You know it's been a terrible world cup for scrum halfs when Mike Phillips is in the frame

I find Mike Phillips infuriating to watch. When on form he's immense - easily the best SH in Europe. When he's bad he's like a mini rugby player, (albeit a very big one!)

Disagree!
There are a tonne of French scrumhalves better than him and quite a few English ones too.
The point that gets me so angry with him is his picks around the side. He may make 5m off quick abll with it which is outstanding for a SH against forwards most likely, but if he looke dup on the same quick ball and fed out wide, his team could have made 30m.

Hate scrumhalves like Philips and O'Leary they aren't really scrumhalves re: skill levels, just great athletes, too much brawn and not enough brains.

Sgt_Pooly wrote:He's a just a poor scrum half. Gets away with with it as he's a menace around the fringes, just hinders so much attacking threat from any backline he plays in though as he seems to think he should take the ball on at every oppertunity.

Yes and by the time Hook has done exactly the same...