SIX OF THE WORLD CUP BEST
THE semi-finals of the World Cup take place this weekend with debate having already started about who have been the standout players.
But who will be player of the tournament when it comes to completion with the final in Yokohama on November 9?
Stars from semi-finalists New Zealand, England, Wales and South Africa are clearly at an advantage because they will continue to be in the limelight.
So the chances of a player whose country has already exited the World Cup being named World Rugby Player of the year may not be high.
But it hasn’t prevented us drawing up a list of six players, which includes two who won’t get another chance to show their wares in Japan, who have impressed us so far.
KAZUKI HIMENO (JAPAN)
THE No.8 is just 25 but his statistics at the World Cup are phenomenal.
And let’s not forget so-called minnows Japan were in a so-called group of death with Ireland, Scotland and Samoa before facing South Africa.
The hosts didn’t have one easy match with the tournament opener when they faced Russia being a nervous and taut affair.
Himeno made 50 tackles at a hugely impressive success ratio of 93 per cent, had 59 carries as he ran for 219m with five clean breaks to beat 11 defenders.
SEMI RADRADRA (FIJI)
LOVE or loathe him but England coach Eddie Jones has been around the block and certainly knows his stuff when it comes to identifying talent.
“What a player that Semi Radradra is,” he declared after the winger’s official player of the match performance against Wales.
“To see him play with such, power, pace and guile, it was one of the best displays I have seen.”
The former rugby league star, who has only a few months left on his contract at Bordeaux-Begles, ran for 400m, made eight clean breaks and beat an astonishing 29 defenders at the World Cup.
BEAUDEN BARRETT (NEW ZEALAND)
HE was forced to play full-back at the 2011 Under-20 World Championship by the presence of a certain Gareth Anscombe at outside-half.
And Barrett is back at No.15 at the World Cup with the impressive Richie Mo’unga having been drafted in at No.10.
Mo’unga is a better goal-kicker and defender than the 2016 and 2017 World Rugby Player of the Year but Barrett has benefited from New Zealand employing an innovative second playmaker role from full-back.
Whether it’s scoring tries or carving out openings to create for others, the skillful and quick 28-year-old is deadly with ball in hand.
JUSTIN TIPURIC (WALES)
JOSH Adams could come into the frame if Wales go all the way to the final and he adds to his Rugby World Cup haul of five tries.
And youngster Aaron Wainwright, 22, has grabbed the attention of the rugby world after coming from nowhere.
His rise has been extraordinary but his stats don’t compare with the stellar set provided by one Justin Tipuric.
Sometimes you need an outsider to tell you how good a player who is taken for granted by many of those who watch him on a weekly basis actually is.
No less a figure than Lions and England back-row great Laurence Dalla
glio has done just that, saying “more people would be eulogising” Tipuric if he was a New Zealand All Black.
“I’d like to think I know a thing or two about the qualities a flanker needs at international level and he has them all: high workrate, including tackling, great ability over the ball, a target man in the lineout and speed around the park,” he wrote in his Times column.
“Then there are the extras which make Tipuric world class - great handling ability and rugby intelligence.”
Enough said!
TOM CURRY (ENGLAND)
ALREADY red-hot at just 21, with his tackle success of 92 per cent being just two per cent less than that of Tipuric.
He was outstanding against Argentina and Australia, getting the better of the acclaimed David Pocock and Michael Hooper as England dumped the Wallabies out of the World Cup.
Curry picked up the man of the match award with 17 tackles, was a threat at the breakdown and had the presence of mind to make a two on two into a two on one by running a clever angle to draw in Australia’s outside defender and create the space for Jonny May to walk over in the corner.
His display was eye-catching and symptomatic of his consistent excellence for England throughout the year.
DAMIAN DE ALLENDE (SOUTH AFRICA)
THE choice of the centre may be strange for some with his Springbok team-mate Pieter-Steph du Toit, and New Zealand flanker Ardie Savea and outside-half Richie Mo’unga all having shined.
But the powerful De Allende has been the Conrad Smith of this World Cup, being the glue that has held together the South Africa midfield.
The 27-year-old does the basics so well, is a handful on the ball, can pass accurately and is a solid tackler who marshalls the Springbok defence.
If they are to go on and lift the World
Cup for a third time, his quietly efficient contribution could be a key factor.