RWC Finals XV
The eighth final of the World Cup is over. The eighth winner has been presented with the Webb Ellis Cup. Suddenly life seems emptier than it has been for the last couple of months of expectation and reality.
For fun we have looked at the teams of the eight finals and tried to choose our all-time Final XV.
It's fun, and it brings back floods of memories, from perky David Kirk to unyielding Richie McCaw, both winning captains – McCaw twice.
No team is chosen without disagreement, not even the Under-9D. But even the disagreement can by fun, and there will be here when we are choosing players 28 years apart. Michael Jones was a star in 1987. He turned 50 this year. Do we compare him with David Pocock who is 27?
To make our task easier we have chosen our team just from players who have played in the eight finals. Some selections were easy, some difficult and all open to debate. But we have not limited their play to the finals only but considered them in their careers.
Fullback
Just look at the fullbacks we have to choose from and the size of the problem is immediately evident. Just choosing from the 1987 duo is hard enough – suave Serge Blanco of France and John Gallagher, the English Kiwi of great skill and surprise. And that is just the start. It goes on right down to the Israelis Dagg and Folau, and to Ben Smith, as each fullback has Brough great talents – differing though they may be – to the final. We are going to pick the man they called the Rolls Royce of Fullbacks, elegant André Joubert who – broken hand and all – stood so bravely, Horatio-like against the French in the Durban morass and then faced the eager All Blacks at Ellis Park.
Right wing
Opponents count. There is the 1987 memory of big, fast, powerful John Kirwan racing metre after unwavering metre for his 1987 try against Italy. But there is also the sight of a determined man running across the face of the All Blacks to score in the corner on the left, tossing a brilliantly careless pass to his centre for another try against the All Blacks, a clever wing with speed and other skills – David Campese.
Outside centre
In 1987 there was smooth Philippe Sella and in 2007 there was majestic Jaque Fourie but our choice is the cleverest centre for many a year, the reason why New Zealand wings are so good – Conrad Smith whose cleverness and skill set up the All Blacks' first try in the Final of 2015. He is the sort of centre who can give his wings the best chance to run, creating space for them and never shovelling the ball at them when they are in a difficult place, a centre who tackles and rucks and kicks deftly. Much of the greatness of New Zealand back play is in the straightness of their running and the player who does it best is Conrad Smith.
Inside centre
We have four candidates – Tim Horan and Matt Giteau of Australia and rugged Frank Bunce and Ma'a Nonu of New Zealand. Giteau had an excellent 2015 World Cup but had to leave early from the final because of concussion. Ma'a Nonu, who is much more than just a smaller version of the French basher, Mathieu Bastaraud, for Nonu is clever, fast, subtle. But we are going to choose Timmy Horan, chosen as the Player of the 1999 Rugby World Cup. He was a creative inside centre, giving those around him a better chance. Mind you, he played in days when a flyhalf had 10 on his back, not one of the lower numbers and an inside centre wore 12, not one of the lower numbers.
Left wing
Bryan Habana was named Rugby Player of the Year in 2007 when he was speeding on the left wing for the victorious Springboks. In 1999 there was little Christophe Domninici a try-scoring part of that French celebration, beating the All Blacks. But really there was just one choice – Jonah Lomu. When top players bank their cheques each month they should thank Lomu for the noughts on it, for he was the man television wanted. Rupert Murdoch said: "I want that", and that was the mighty Lomu. He did not score a try in the final of 1995 but that was just because of the urgent determination of the Springboks.
Flyhalf
He should still be the general – the one who plays and lets play, the one sees that the gameplan happens, but also the one who is too often relegated to a spectator in the modern game of thump-'n-bang. Look at the flyhalves in finals and see their greatness – Grant Fox, Christophe Lamaison in that Twickenham semifinal, Joel Stransky, such a star in 1995, the man who kicked the greatest drop in the history of the game, Jonny Wilkinson who did it in 2003 but could not do it in 2007 and then this year's pair – Bernard Foley of Australia and Daniel Carter of New Zealand, the Player of the Year in 2015. We chose Dan Carter, not just for his outstanding performance in the 2015 Final but also for a magnificent career.
Scrumhalf
Stephen Fry, a great Springbok loose forward and captain, a great thinker about the game, believed firmly that you should pick your best player at scrumhalf, for he is the pivot around which the whole game turns. Several of them have been captains of their countries – David Kirk, Pierre Berbizier and Fabien Galthié, Joost van der Westhuizen and Fourie du Preez, Will Genia, Nick Farr-Jones and George Gregan. That is a significant number. As players it's so hard to separate them, but our choice, not just for that pass to Joel Stransky or for tackling Jonah Lomu, is Joost van der Westhuizen – secure of pass, strong and fast on the break, courageous on defence, varied in his play, instinctive in his decisions and completely determined in his team's cause.
No.8
We are not going to consider Mark Andrews who had the soul, body and modus operandi of a lock, and he was a great lock.
There are some outstanding candidates – Buck Shelford, Laurent Rodriguez, Kieran Read (before 2015) and David Pocock. But our choice is Zinzan Brooke, a rugby cavalier. He could do anything – run, tackle, handle, kick, cover, carry – and who will forget his soaring drop at Newlands in 1995?
Flanks
We are not going into this artificial 6/7 thing because the numbers apply only to scrums.
Our candidates: Michael Jones, Simon Poidevin and Willie Ofahengaue, Richard Hill, Ruben Kruger, Thierry Dusautoir, Juan Smith, Richie McCaw and David Pocock.
Our choice – two New Zealanders, Michael Jones and Richie McCaw.
Locks
Again we are not going to try to distinguish between 4 and 5, left and right, No.2 or No.4.
Our candidates: Gary Whetton, John Eales, Paul Ackford, Ian Jones, Bakkies Botha and Victor Matfield, Martin Johnson and Brodie Retallick.
Our choice: Martin Johnson and John Eales.
Tightheads
It's a difficult position – the most difficult we had to find candidates. Eventually we ended with three – Olo Brown, Phil Vickery and Sekope Kepu and of them we chose the Raging Bull – Phil Vickery, not for his success in Masterchef, nor just for his 78 Test caps or captaining England but for the strength and unyielding courage of a farmer's son.
Hookers
They used to be regarded as rugby's rogues but that has faded away with the crooked put-in and the disregard of foot-up. Now more is expected of them at line-outs and about the field. And among our final hookers there are captains – Sean Fitzpatrick, Daniel Dubroca, John Smit, Raphaël Ibañez and Stephen Moore.
Our choice is the most artful of them all – Sean Fitzpatrick.
Loosehead
Candidates: Jason Leonard, Craig Down, Os du Randt and Tony Woodcock, and our choice is the amazing Os du Randt who played in two finals – 12 years apart. 1995 and 2007, a strong man of astonishing mobility.
All-Final XV
15 André Joubert (1995)
14 David Campese (1991)
13 Conrad Smith (2011, 2015)
12 Tim Horan (1999)
11 Jonah Lomu (1995)
10 Dan Carter (2015)
9 Joost van der Westhuizen (1995)
8 Zinzan Brooke (1995)
7 Richie McCaw (2011, 2015)
6 Michael Jones (1987)
5 John Eales (1991, 1999)
4 Martin Johnson (2003)
3 Phil Vickery (2003, 2007)
2 Sean Fitzpatrick (1987. 1995)
1 Os du Randt (1995, 2007)
1987
New Zealand: John Gallagher, John Kirwan, Warwick Taylor, Joe Stanley, Craig Green, Grant Fox, David Kirk, Buck Shelford, Alan Whetton, Michael Jones, Gary Whetton, Murray Pierce, Steven McDowell, Sean Fitzpatrick, John Drake
France: Serge Blanco, Didier Cambérabéro, Philippe Sella, Denis Charvet, Patrice Lagisquet, Franck Mesnel, Pierre Berbizier, Laurent Rodriguez, Dominique Erbani, Eric Champ, Alain Lorieux, Jean Condom, Pascal Ondarts, Daniel Dubroca, Jean-Pierre Garuet-Lempirou.
1991
Australia: Marty Roebuck, David Campese, Jason Little, Tim Horan, Bob Egerton, Michael Lynagh, Nick Farr-Jones, Troy Coker, Simon Poidevin, Willie Ofahengaue, Rod McCall, John Eales, Ewen McKenzie, Phil Kearns, Tony Daly.
England: Jon Webb, Rory Underwood, Jerry Guscott, Will Carling, Simon Halliday, Rob Andrew, Richard Hill, Mike Teague, Peter Winterbottom, Mickey Skinner, Wade Dooley, Paul Ackford, Jeff Probyn, Brian Moore, Jason Leonard.
1995
South Africa: André Joubert, James Small, Japie Mulder, Hennie le Roux, Chester Williams, Joel Stransky, Joost van der Westhuizen, Mark Andrews, François Pienaar, Ruben Kruger, Kobus Wiese, Hannes Strydom, Balie Swart, Chris Rossouw, Os du Randt.
Replacements: Garry Pagel, Rudolf Straeuli, Brendan Venter
New Zealand: Glen Osborne, Jeff Wilson, Walter Little, Frank Bunce, Jonah Lomu, Andrew Mehrtens, Graeme Bachop, Zinzan Brooke, Josh Kronfeld, Mike Brewer, Ian Jones, Robin Brooke, Craig Dowd, Sean Fitzpatrick, Olo Brown.
Replacements: Marc Ellis, Jamie Joseph, Richard Loe, Ant Strachan
1999
Australia: Matthew Burke, Ben Tune, Dan Herbert, Tim Horan, Joe Roff, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan, Toutai Kefu, David Wilson, Matt Cockbain, David Giffin, John Eales, Richard Harry, Michael Foley, Andrew Blades.
Replacements: Mark Connors, Dan Crowley, Owen Finegan, Nathan Grey, Jason Little, Jeremy Paul, Chris Whitaker.
France: Xavier Garbajosa, Philippe Bernat-Salles, Emile Ntamack, Richard Dourthe, Christophe Dominci, Christophe Lamaison, Fabien Galthié, Christophe Juillet, Olivier Magne, Marc Lièvremont, Fabien Pelous, Abdelatif Benazzi, Franck Tournaire, Raphaël Ibañez, Cédric Soulette.
Replacements: Olivier Brouzet, Arnaud Costes, Marc Dal Maso, Pieter de Villiers, Stéphane Glas, Ugo Mola, Stéphane Castaignède.
2003
Australia: Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor, Stirling Mortlock, Elton Flatley, Lote Tuqiri, Stephen Larkham, George Gregan, David Lyons, Phil Waugh, George Smith, Nathan Sharpe, Justin Harrison, Al Baxter, Brendan Cannon, Bill Young
Replacements: Jeremy Paul, Matt Dunning, David Giffin, Matt Cockbain, Chris Whitaker, Matt Giteau, Joe Roff
England: Josh Lewsey, Jason Robinson, Will Greenwood, Mike Tindall, Ben Cohen, Jonny Wilkinson, 9 Matt Dawson, Lawrence Dallaglio, Neil Back, Richard Hill, Ben Kay, Martin Johnson, Phil Vickery, Steve Thompson, Trevor Woodman
Replacements: Dorian West, Jason Leonard, Martin Corry, Lewis Moody, Kyran Bracken, Mike Catt, Iain Balshaw
2007
South Africa: Percy Montgomery, JP Pietersen, Jaque Fourie, François Steyn, Bryan Habana, Butch James, Fourie du Preez, Danie Rossouw, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, CJ van der Linde, John Smit, Os du Randt.
Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Jannie du Plessis, Johann Muller, Wikus van Heerden, Ruan Pienaar, André Pretorius, Wynand Olivier.
England: Jason Robinson, Paul Sackey, Mathew Tait, Mike Catt, Mark Cueto, Jonny Wilkinson, Andy Gomarsall, Nick Easter, Lewis Moody, Martin Corry, Ben Kay, Simon Shaw, Phil Vickery, Mark Regan, Andrew Sheridan.
Replacements: George Chuter, Matt Stevens, Lawrence Dallaglio, Joe Worsley, Peter Richards, Toby Flood, Dan Hipkiss
2011
New Zealand: Israel Dagg, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Richard Kahui, Aaron Cruden, Piri Weepu, Richie McCaw, Kieran Read, Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brad Thorn, Owen Franks, Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock
Replacements: Andrew Hore, Ben Franks, Ali Williams, Adam Thomson, Andy Ellis, Stephen Donald, Sonny Bill Williams
France: Maxime Médard, Vincent Clerc, Aurélien Rougerie, Maxime Mermoz, Alexis Palisson, Morgan Parra, Dimitri Yachvili, Imanol Harinordoquy, Thierry Dusautoir, Julien Bonnaire, Lionel Nallet, Pascal Papé, Nicolas Mas, William Servat, Jean-Baptiste Poux
Replacements: Dimitri Szarzewski, Fabien Barcella, Julien Pierre, Fulgence Ouedraogo, Jean-Marc Doussain, François Trinh-Duc, Damien Traille
2015
Australia: Israel Folau, Adam Ashley-Cooper, Tevita Kuridrani, Matt Giteau, Drew Mitchell, Bernard Foley, Will Genia, David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Scott Fardy, Rob Simmons, Kane Douglas, Sekope Kepu, Stephen Moore, Scott Sio.
Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, James Slipper, Greg Holmes, Dean Mumm, Ben McCalman, Nick Phipps, Matt Toomua, Kurtley Beale.
New Zealand: Ben Smith, Nehe Milner-Skudder, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Julian Savea, Daniel Carter, Aaron Smith, Kieran Read, Richie McCaw, Jerome Kaino, Sam Whitelock, Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Dane Coles, Joe Moody.
Replacements: Keven Mealamu, Ben Franks, Charlie Faumuina, Victor Vito, Sam Cane, Tawera Kerr-Barlow, Beauden Barrett, Sonny Bill Williams.
By Paul Dobson
Photo: Michael Jones
