Team of the Tournament

[BaggyTrousers]

Interesting so many have picked read. I thought he's been very average. Pocock by a mile.

It should be very very obvious that you would return Pocock to 7 on a dumbass team selection such as this.

They'd go well with Peter O'Mahony at 6.

[Russ]

Interesting so many have picked read. I thought he's been very average. Pocock by a mile.

It should be very very obvious that you would return Pocock to 7 on a dumbass team selection such as this.

They'd go well with Peter O'Mahony at 6.

It's funny how much better Pocock is than Hooper

[BaggyTrousers]

Interesting so many have picked read. I thought he's been very average. Pocock by a mile.

It should be very very obvious that you would return Pocock to 7 on a dumbass team selection such as this.

They'd go well with Peter O'Mahony at 6.

It's funny how much better Pocock is than Hooper

Quite remarkable that Hooper was selected ahead of him, then again, he was on the way back from injury. He's a monster of a player. Then again, for many years I've considered Read the foremost player on the planet. I'll have both please.

[Rooster]

Lukie is bound to be a great 7

[Russ]

Lukie is bound to be a great 7

Don't give run ideas or he'll be calling for Marshall to play 7

[bazzaj]

I was hoping to establish a back 3 by now but we have lept to back row.
I will go with my back 3 and Russ' s centre combination of Nonu and Giteau.

Halfbacks then I will suggest Biggar who has been a revelation and Du Preez just ahead of Gareth Davies and Laidlaw both of whom were excellent.

Just halfbacks!
See how it works.
Jupiter's c0ck!

[Kofi Annan]

Interesting , you are not deemed world class unless you play tier 1 rugby

[Russ]

I was hoping to establish a back 3 by now but we have lept to back row.
I will go with my back 3 and Russ' s centre combination of Nonu and Giteau.

Halfbacks then I will suggest Biggar who has been a revelation and Du Preez just ahead of Gareth Davies and Laidlaw both of whom were excellent.

Just halfbacks!
See how it works.
Jupiter's c0ck!

Biggar? The boy can wiggle and kick but little else

Sanchez was a revelation

Toyed with Aaron Smith but wee Greg has been exceptional

[BaggyTrousers]

Interesting , you are not deemed world class unless you play tier 1 rugby

At 10 I'd have Sammy Umbongo from the Belgian Congo, he stole our milk once, put having been a missionary to Africa I try to be forgiving of the natives, they too are Gods childer.

[againstthehead]

Probably go pocock and Hooper. Possibly sob as he smoked the frenchies. Shame he missed the pumas game. Warburton played decent too. Read due a big game though as is Aaron Smith who was in incredible form earlier in the year. I'd expect the team to change a bit after this weekend....

[bazzaj]

I was hoping to establish a back 3 by now but we have lept to back row.
I will go with my back 3 and Russ' s centre combination of Nonu and Giteau.

Halfbacks then I will suggest Biggar who has been a revelation and Du Preez just ahead of Gareth Davies and Laidlaw both of whom were excellent.

Just halfbacks!
See how it works.
Jupiter's c0ck!

Biggar? The boy can wiggle and kick but little else

Sanchez was a revelation

Toyed with Aaron Smith but wee Greg has been exceptional

Theres that other thing in rugby Russ which is tackling and Biggar put his body on the line
He also organised his defence brilliantly with a makeshift back line and continually performed under pressure.
He couldn't really get his back line moving because he didn't have one but always kept his team going forward with his tactical nouse.
Bear in mind he had a 90% goal kicking ratio despite not being a first choice kicker coming into the tournament and most of those were pressure kicks which the stats don't show.
Also he didn't throw any intercept passes for scores which gives him the nod over Sanchez for me.

For similar reasons Gareth Davies would have to be considered at 9 coming in as a second choice and scoring 4 crucial tries.
Laidlaw was also superb for Scotland with his kicking and leadership.

However its Du Preez for me, who was brought on to start every game after that Japan defeat and was soley responsible for their change in fortunes.
Brought in organisation, control and tactical know how they had lacked and took the decision making pressure off Pollard.
Total master class that took them to a whisker of the final as well as scoring the decisive try v Wales in the quarters.
Not bad considering hes almost 34 and semi retired in Japan.

Aaron Smith hasn't scored since the opening game which is surprising given the arm chair ride he has had.
Not always a requirement but considering what the others have done that I have mentioned it puts him down the list.
Having just said that makes him a cert to score in the final.

[Deraless]

Keet ....

Oh yeah that Keet Sonnybillwilliams dude

[Russ]

Keet ....

Oh yeah that Keet Sonnybillwilliams dude

In all seriousness he is listed by espn as the top performing 13 of the world cup

[Deraless]

Lies, damned lies and statistics

[bazzaj]

Biggar at 10 then and give Russ Laidlaw at 9 as our halfbacks

Backrow- Pocock nailed as 8

7- I would go Warburton who out played both Burger and Hooper at the break down and conducted himself with his usual dignity off field refusing to lament the Welsh injuries at any point.

6 -People who suggest POM or Burger can't have watched Japan play.
Head and shoulders best 6 in the tournament was Leitch their skipper.
Even merits it alone for his decision to call a group hug then kick to the corner for the last play against South Africa, which would simultaneously lead to Englands elimination as Robshaw copied him.
He should also captain this team.

Further.note Japan would have qualified if they hadn't been totally stiched up by a four day turnaround v Scotland.
That should never be allowed to happen.