Thanks for all the memories, guys

As Peter de Villiers arrived back in South Africa with tears in his eyes about John Smit and Victor Matfield, it got us thinking in today’s RWC wrap – which other players will never be seen again at Rugby World Cup level?

Whilst we know about Smit and Matfield (both of whom have officially retired from Test rugby), what about the likes of O’Driscoll, Wilkinson, Shaw and Roncero – will they be seen on the World Cup stage again?

Sadly, we think not… and for that reason we have selected a starting XV based on players whom we believe would have played their final matches at the World Cup come the end of the current tournament.

Some players have already retired, and are thus in the mix in our team. Others, we are merely speculating, and could even defy us – and their age and overplayed bodies – and make it to the 2015 World Cup in England.

For now, however, we salute those players who have brought us so much joy on the biggest rugby stage of them all – the Rugby World Cup; thanks for all the memories, chaps!

Our Departing World Cup XV:

15 GEORDAN MURPHY (IRELAND):
Sadly, the Rugby World Cup stage never got to see the best of his man – described by his former Leicester boss Dean Richards as the George Best of rugby; not, however, for his off-field exploits! A mazy runner, with the softest of hands, he cruelly missed out on the 2003 World Cup when he broke his leg in a pre-RWC warm-up match and played bit-part roles in 2007 and 2011.
Age at 2015 World Cup: 37
Status after RWC 2011: Will continue to play for Leicester Tigers – where he is captain. Has not announced his international retirement as yet but one would have to assume that it’s close given his recent injury troubles and his Leicester commitments.
Special mention also to: Chris Wyles (USA)

14 MILS MULIAINA (NEW ZEALAND):
Muliaina had a forgettable World Cup, with injury eventually putting him out of the tournament. He managed to play in his 100th game – against Argentina last weekend – but, sadly, one wonders if Israel Dagg’s fitness had more to do with his selection. (Editor’s note: We’ve picked him on the wing to accommodate Murphy at fullback.)
Age at 2015 World Cup: 35
Status after RWC 2011: Taking up a playing contract in New Zealand. His Test days are over.

13 BRIAN O’DRISCOLL (IRELAND):
Part of Ireland’s ‘Golden Generation’, the stage was set for this brilliant and lion-hearted centre to take Ireland into their first-ever RWC semifinal (at worst). Sadly, Wales did not keep to the script in the quarterfinals.
Age at 2015 World Cup: 36
Status after RWC 2011: Will continue to play for Leinster. No talk of international retirement as yet, but – given his workload and some younger players yapping at his heels – could he make it to a fifth World Cup?
Special mention also to: Paul Emerick (USA Eagles)

12 FELIPE CONTEPOMI (ARGENTINA):
The former Leinster and Toulon star single-handedly carried Argentina into the quarterfinals with some brave performances from inside centre – from a playing point of view and given that he was playing with a rib injury.
Age at 2015 World Cup: 38
Status after RWC 2011: He has just moved from Toulon to Stade Français, so expect the magic to continue at club level still. No talk of international retirement as yet – hopefully he will hang on now that Argentina will be playing in an expanded Tri-(Four) Nations?
Special mention also to: Mike Tindall (England), Gordon D’Arcy (Ireland).

11 MARK CUETO (ENGLAND):
After two Rugby World Cup campaigns for England, he ended the 2011 RWC as his country’s first-choice left-wing but that was more through Delon Armitage’s suspension than anything else.
Age at 2015 World Cup: 36
Status after RWC 2011: Will continue to play for Sale Sharks. Absolutely no talk of international retirement – he went on record this week in the media saying just that! – but surely he will soon be cast aside for younger and quicker men in the shape of Armitage, Wade, Varndell and Sharples?

10 JONNY WILKINSON (ENGLAND):
A big disappointment at the World Cup, especially when it came to goalkicking, Wilkinson – like most of his teammates – seemed caught between playing a forwards-based and expansive game in New Zealand. There was, however, no lack of effort from this lion-hearted man.
Age at 2015 World Cup: 36
Status after RWC 2011: Will continue to play for Toulon. No talk of international retirement – especially as he is just three caps short of that magical 100-cap mark – but one would assume that his best international days are behind him as the English look ahead to the next World Cup on home soil and with someone like Toby Flood breathing down his neck.
Special mention also to: Nicky Little (Fiji), Stephen Jones (Wales), Ronan O’Gara (Ireland).

9 FOURIE DU PREEZ (SOUTH AFRICA):
The best halfback from the 2007 World Cup was unable to help his team defend their title in New Zealand. Some feel that Francois Hougaard should have started ahead of him for the Boks, but – thankfully – sanity prevailed, despite the Boks being knocked out in the quarterfinals.
Age at 2015 World Cup: 33
Status after RWC 2011: Taking up a playing contract in Japan. It seems his Bok days are over.

8 RADIKE SAMO (AUSTRALIA):
At 35 going on 36, a World Cup call at the start of 2011 would have been the furtherest thing from Radike Samo’s mind. However, helping the Reds to the Super Rugby title saw him called up by Robbie Deans after seven years in the Test wilderness and he promptly helped the Wallabies to a first Tri-Nations title since 2001.
Age at 2015 World Cup: 40
Status after RWC 2011: He will continue to play for the Reds until 2013, when he will be 37 going on 38… Could he defy us and make it to England in 2015 at the age of 40?

7 LEWIS MOODY (ENGLAND):
The Bath star – and former Tiger stalwart – did well to make it to his third successive World Cup, especially after suffering a few knee injuries over the past few months. He has no regard for his body, which is why he picks up so many injuries, and it could count against his international future.
Age at 2015 World Cup: 37
Status after RWC 2011: He will head back to Bath and try and help his new(ish) club to glory. Time will tell if England boss Martin Johnson will look elsewhere in terms of the English captaincy – especially given Moody’s horrific run of injuries.

6 MAURO BERGAMASCO (ITALY):
A versatile and experienced campaigner, having featured at loose forward, scrumhalf and on the wing, this man has given his all for the Azzurri over the years – along with younger brother, winger Mirco.
Age at 2015 World Cup: 36
Status after RWC 2011: Talk is that he could join Lyon, or move to Italy and join Benetton Treviso (a logical move, perhaps), but his playing future is up in the air which could affect his immediate international future too.

5 VICTOR MATFIELD (SOUTH AFRICA):
The 2007 World Cup Final Man of the Match finished his international career on a personal high by having a stormer against the Wallabies last weekend. Sadly, his majestic line-out showing was not enough to see his team into the semifinals.
Age at 2015 World Cup: 38
Status after RWC 2011: Has announced his playing retirement from all forms of rugby at the end of 2011.
Special mention also to: Paul O’Connell (Ireland), Nathan Hines (Scotland).

4 SIMON SHAW (ENGLAND):
What can one say about this guy? Just when you think he’s done, he comes back.. and well! Presently without a club, surely Shaw cannot defy us all once more and make it to another World Cup – despite ending the tournament as arguably the best English lock.
Age at 2015 World Cup: 42
Status after RWC 2011: Currently unattached in terms of a club – but talk is he could pop up at Bath. One would have to assume that his Test days are over as England look ahead to 2015.
Special mention also to: Brad Thorn (New Zealand), Bakkies Botha (South Africa), Lionel Nallet (France), Marco Bortolami (Italy), Donncha O’Callaghan (Ireland).

3 MARTÍN SCELZO (ARGENTINA):
After four World Cups, Scelzo has called it a day – no doubt to the relief of many Test (loosehead) props across the rugby-playing globe! A wonderful campaigner and part of Argentina’s rise to the top and impressive RWC form.
Age at 2015 World Cup: 39
Status after RWC 2011: Announced his retirement from Test rugby after Argentina’s quarterfinal loss to the All Blacks. He will continue to play for Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14.

2 JOHN SMIT (SOUTH AFRICA):
No Springbok has played more Tests than him… No player has captained his country at Test-match level more than Smit… No Bok has played as many World Cup matches as him. South Africa’s loss is Saracens’ gain.
Age at 2015 World Cup: 37
Status after RWC 2011: Has announced his international retirement. Will continue his club/provincial career at English club Saracens.
Special mention also to: Mario Ledesma (Argentina), William Servat (France), Steve Thompson (England), Marius Tincu (Romania).

1 RODRIGO RONCERO (ARGENTINA):
A veteran of three World Cups, he is one of the most destructive scrummagers in the world. Along with Scelzo and Ledesma, Roncero was part of Argentina’s key trio and helped put the Pumas back on the map as a modern-day rugby force.
Age at 2015 World Cup: 38
Status after RWC 2011: Will continue to play for Stade Français. Has not announced anything about his Test status.
Special mention also to: Andrea Lo Cicero (Italy)

* Why don’t you leave a message to the departing players below – or are we being harsh on some guys by forcing them into ‘retirement’? If you do send a nice message, perhaps we will publish the best ones!