Our team is 'Painted Black'

To borrow the opening lines from that famous Rolling Stones song ‘Paint It Black’, we say: ‘I see a red door and I want it painted black; No colours anymore I want them to turn black.’

Yes, our Team of the Week is totally dominated by All Blacks, and deservedly so.

Nine New Zealand players made it into our starting XV and another four are ‘Bubbling Under’.

Wales, with three, are next best in our starting XV, which also features two Australians and one Frenchman.

France are rewarded for their semifinal win with nine players Bubbling Under, followed by New Zealand’s four and two more from Wales.

Four players are back from last week’s quarterfinal selection – centre Jamie Roberts (Wales), flank Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), lock Brad Thorn (New Zealand) and prop Nicolas Mas (France).

Team of the Week – semifinals: 

15 – Israel Dagg (New Zealand):
Incredible running from the creative star, and his break and flip pass for Nonu’s try was something special.
Bubbling under: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)

14 – Cory Jane (New Zealand):
Ran well and was acrobatic under the high ball in a top-class performance as he bled for the cause.
Bubbling under: George North (Wales)

13 – Conrad Smith (New Zealand):
The best of a very ordinary bunch at No.13 this weekend. Quieter than some of the other backs, but made his tackles and kept a cool head.
Bubbling under: Aurélien Rougerie (France)

12 – Jamie Roberts (Wales):
There was a lot more competition in this midfield position. He straightened the line well as ever and bashed his way over the gainline. Even packed down on the side of the scrum at times.
Bubbling under: Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand)

11 – Digby Ioane (Australia):
Beautiful first run – when he came within inches of scoring – and always looked dangerous with ball in hand, one of the few Wallaby backs who did.
Bubbling under: Alexis Palisson (France)

10 – Aaron Cruden (New Zealand):
By default or by design, New Zealand have found themselves another gem. Not afraid and unfazed by the pressure of being the All Blacks pivot.
Bubbling under: Morgan Parra (France)

9 – Mike Phillips (Wales):
Looked the most likely player to provide the moment of magic that would bring Wales a win. Used his strength well to burst through a gap on the blindside as he went over for the only try of the game.
Bubbling under: Piri Weepu (New Zealand)

8 – Kieran Read (New Zealand):
Running, tackling and linking with the backs brilliantly. Read the game beautifully and was exciting whenever he had his hands on the ball.
Bubbling under: Imanol Harinordoquy (France)

7 – Richie McCaw (New Zealand):
Got the better of David Pocock in the crucial breakdown battle. Just shows what a decent referee can do…
Bubbling under: Julien Bonnaire (France)

6 – Jerome Kaino (New Zealand):
He has been one of the most consistent performers for New Zealand. There was a try-saving tackle on Digby Ioane and his work in the rucks and mauls was incredible.
Bubbling under: Thierry Dusautoir (France)

5 – James Horwill (Australia):
One of the few Wallabies who emerged with his reputation unscathed. Led from the front and tried to take the game to New Zealand. He did not, however, have enough support.
Bubbling under: Lionel Nallet (France)

4 – Brad Thorn (New Zealand):
One of the stars of the tournament. A number of line-out steals, coupled with some very physical play. The hardman in the All Blacks’ team… doing the dirty unflattering work.
Bubbling Under: Pascal Pape (France)

3 – Nicolas Mas (France):
Tough call, with plenty of debate. Had early pressure on Gethin Jenkins in scrum and worked hard on defence. But in a game of inches, he was most effective in the close exchanges.
Bubbling under: Owen Franks (New Zealand)

2 – Keven Mealamu (New Zealand):
Another close call. Excellent in the line-outs and won some turnovers with very good loose play.
Bubbling under: William Servat (France)

1 – Gethin Jenkins (Wales):
Was put under serious pressure after Jones left and Warburton was sent off. Showed up well in open play but was playing off the back foot for most of the match.
Bubbling under: Tony Woodcock (New Zealand)

Our individual selections!

Tim Hancox XV:  15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 Cory Jane (New Zealand), 13 Conrad Smith (New Zealand), 12 Jamie Roberts (Wales), 11 Digby Ioane (Australia), 10 Aaron Cruden (New Zealand), 9 Mike Phillips (Wales), 8 Kieran Read (New Zealand), 7 Richie McCaw (New Zealand), 6 Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), 5 Lionel Nallet (France), 4 Brad Thorn (New Zealand), 3 Owen Franks (New Zealand), 2 Keven Mealamu (New Zealand), 1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales).

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 Cory Jane (New Zealand), 13 Conrad Smith (New Zealand), 12 Jamie Roberts (New Zealand), 11 Digby Ioane (Australia), 10 Aaron Cruden (New Zealand), 9 Will Genia (Australia), 8 Kieran Read (New Zealand), 7 David Pocock (New Zealand), 6 Julien Bonnaire (France), 5 James Horwill (Australia), 4 Brad Thorn (New Zealand), 3 Owen Franks (New Zealand), 2 William Servat (France), 1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales).

Howard Kahn XV: 15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 Cory Jane (New Zealand), 13 Conrad Smith (New Zealand), 12 Jamie Roberts (Wales), 11 Digby Ioane (Australia), 10 Aaron Cruden (New Zealand), 9 Mike Phillips (Wales), 8 Imanol Harinordoquy (France), 7 Richie McCaw (New Zealand), 6 Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), 5 James Horwill (Australia), 4 Brad Thorn (New Zealand), 3 Owen Franks (New Zealand), 2 William Servat (France), 1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales).

Len Kaplan XV: 15 Leigh Halfpenny (Wales), 14 Cory Jane (New Zealand), 13 Conrad Smith (New Zealand), 12 Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand), 11 Digby Ioane (Australia), 10 Aaron Cruden (New Zealand), 9 Mike Phillips (Wales), 8 Kieran Read (New Zealand), 7 Richie McCaw (New Zealand), 6 Thierry Dusautoir (France), 5 Sam Whitelock (New Zealand), 4 Brad Thorn (New Zealand), 3 Nicolas Mas (France), 2 Keven Mealamu (New Zealand), 1 Tony Woodcock (New Zealand).

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 Cory Jane (New Zealand), 13 Aurélien Rougerie (France), 12 Jamie Roberts (Wales), 11 Digby Ioane (Australia), 10 Aaron Cruden (New Zealand), 9 Mike Phillips (Wales), 8 Toby Faletau (Wales), 7 Richie McCaw (New Zealand), 6 Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), 5 Brad Thorn (New Zealand), 4 Pascal Papé (France), 3 Nicolas Mas (France), 2 Keven Mealamu (New Zealand), 1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales).

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 Cory Jane (New Zealand), 13 Aurélien Rougerie (France), 12 Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand), 11 Digby Ioane (Australia), 10 Aaron Cruden (New Zealand), 9 Piri Weepu (New Zealand), 8 Kieran Read (New Zealand), 7 Julien Bonnaire (France), 6 Thierry Dusautoir (France), 5 James Horwill (Australia), 4 Brad Thorn (New Zealand), 3 Nicolas Mas (France), 2 William Servat (France), 1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales).

Previous selections:

Team of the Week – quarterfinals:  15 Leigh Halfpenny (Wales),  14 Vincent Clerc (France), 13 Aurelien Rougerie (France), 12 Jamie Roberts (Wales), 11 Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand), 10 Rhys Priestland (Wales), 9 Dimitri Yachvili (France), 8 Imanol Harinordoquy (France), 7 David Pocock (Australia), 6 Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), 5 Victor Matfield (South Africa), 4 Brad Thorn (New Zealand), 3 Nicolas Mas (France), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (South Africa).

Team of the Week – Part Four:  15 Patrick Lambie (South Africa), 14 Tommy Bowe (Ireland), 13 Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland), 12 Gordon D’Arcy (Ireland), 11 Zac Guildford (New Zealand), 10 Ronan O’Gara (Ireland), 9 Taniela Moa (Tonga), 8 Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), 7 Sean O’Brien (Ireland), 6- Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Australia), 4 Richie Gray (Scotland), 3 Euan Murray (Scotland), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 1 Cian Healy (Ireland).

Team of the Week – Part Three:  15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 Adam Ashley-Cooper (Australia), 13 Manu Tuilagi (England), 12 Felipe Contepomi (Argentina), 11 Mark Cueto (England), 10 Dan Carter (New Zealand), 9 Francois Hougaard (South Africa), 8 Sergio Parisse (Italy), 7 Sean O’Brien (Ireland), 6 Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Australia), 4 Richie Gray (Scotland), 3 Owen Franks (New Zealand), 2 Keven Mealamu (New Zealand), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (South Africa).

Team of the Week – Part Two:  15 Lucas González Amorosino (Argentina), 14 Shane Williams (Wales), 13 Jaque Fourie (South Africa), 12 Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand), 11 Richard Kahui (New Zealand), 10 Santiago Fernández (Argentina), 9 Morgan Parra (France), 8 Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), 7 Sean O’Brien (Ireland), 6 Heinrich Brüssow (South Africa), 5 Paul O’Connell (Ireland), 4 Danie Rossouw (South Africa), 3 Mike Ross (Ireland), 2 Mahonri Schwalger (Samoa), 1 Cian Healy (Ireland).

Team of the Week – Part One: 15 Kurtley Beale (Australia), 14 Richard Kahui (New Zealand), 13 Aurelien Rougerie (France), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand), 11 Digby Ioane (Australia), 10 James Arlidge (Japan), 9 Ben Youngs (England), 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (Argentina), 7 Sam Warburton (Wales), 6 Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), 5 James Horwill (Australia), 4 Leone Nakarawa (Fiji), 3 Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 1 Alisona Taumalolo (Tonga).