WORLD CUP TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT
Beauden Barrett
The world’s best fly-half may well be returned to his more usual position moving forward but he was brilliant against both South Africa and England. A joy to watch.
Kotaro Matsushima
It seems a long time ago now that the Brave Blossoms winger bagged a hat-trick on the opening night, and he followed up with scores against Samoa and Scotland.
Manu Tuilagi
Tim Laefele a contender, but England’s fit-again Leicester Tiger has been so important to their regeneration as he puts years of injury behind him.
Damian de Allende
The 27-year-old has beaten 16 defenders so far and produced three clean breaks for a side who often kick away before he has a chance to get his hands on it.
Semi Radradra
Wing made a quite staggering 546m, adding in two tries and four scoring passes. Fiji had a disappointing campaign but he was arguably the star of the pools.
George Ford
England’s No.10 has been quietly very, very good. While he didn’t start the quarter-final win over the Aussies, his game management has been strong.
Faf de Klerk
The Sale man hasn’t always got brilliant press here in Japan, but his influence is impossible to ignore and his sniping is so dangerous.
Keita Inagaki
Japan’s scrum wasn’t meant to be a weapon but nobody told their loosehead prop. Scored one of the tries of the tournament against Scotland.
Shota Horie
And Inagaki wasn’t the only of Jamie Joseph’s front-row to impress. Horie was a more familiar figure having been a star at 2015 and again he was an all-action proposition.
Kyle Sinckler
England’s tighthead one of the undisputed stars of the tournament. With just two No.3s in the squad, had to dig deep throughout but produced a string of stellar games.
Maro Itoje
Performance against New Zealand in the semis was one for the ages. The Saracen is quite simply destructive. So many ways in which he stops an opposition.
Alun Wyn Jones
The Welsh captain remains a totemic figure even as plenty of the side’s other leaders fell to injury. Was brilliant in the big win over Australia.
Pieter-Steph du Toit
A toss up between him and Tom Curry. Du Toit just edges it given how important his vicious counter-rucking is to setting up South Africa for the way they want to play.
Sam Underhill
England’s flanker is only 23 but already looks right at home on the biggest stage. The Bath man was simply brilliant last week. Will be a fixture for years to come.
Kazuki Himeno
Much was made of the injury to Mafi just prior to the tournament but the less talked about Japanese No.8 made light of his continued absence. A menace.