WC awards: The Leavers XV

And then there were eight! However, the 12 ‘leavers’ have given us a lot of joy at the World Cup and more than once in the one-on-one battles David was able to slay Goliath. We salute the best of the rest from the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

The World Cup really wouldn’t be the same without the minnow nations and they bring the gift of some of the best characters to emerge from the tournament, as well as genuine enthusiasm for the game.

Many players are not well paid and some aren’t full-time professionals, but they love the chance to tackle the Carters, Steyns, Coopers and Moodys of the world.

Not all of the players from the smaller nations are there for purely sentimental value either, and many are outstanding athletes who could be common household names had they been born in another country.

The minnows are vital and they need help with development from the IRB to grow because the greater the spread of rugby the more people will grow to love playing it, watching it and being involved in it.

Everyone loves the underdog and Russia in their first appearance at the World Cup scored three tries against mighty Australia, which hasn’t happened to the Wallabies at a World Cup since 1987!

Scotland are arguably the biggest and best of the teams on their way home and the phrase “close but no cigar” is and probably unavoidable when describing their exit, although the cliche police might disagree, and aptly they have narrowly missed out in our team with five of their players ‘bubbling under’ and Richie Gray the only man to make the cut.

Incredibly all 12 of the teams jettisoned from the tournament are represented in the final 30.

The rugby365.com Leavers XV:

15 – Paul Williams (Samoa):
Strong and abrasive and able to brush veteran Chris Paterson aside for the No.15 jersey. His selection did cause a lot of debate in the selection panel following the red card against the Springboks, but his contribution in all the matches was simply too good to be ignored. Tongan fullback Vungakoto Lilo was another top performer and starred in the shock defeat over France with his attacking style of play.
Bubbling under: Chris Paterson (Scotland)

14 – Kosuke Endo (Japan):
Enthusiastic and fast he ran his heart out in every match looking for half a chance to break down the touchline, while he did finally have success and crossed the tryline against Canada. Marvellous to watch a man who looked like he was enjoying every minute of the action.
Bubbling under: Max Evans (Scotland)

13 – DTH van der Merwe (Canada):
Daniel Tailliferrer Hauman van der Merwe, better known as DTH, was incredible in the Canadian midfield and a unanimous decision amongst our panel at outside centre. His defensive work was excellent and he broke the line brilliantly against much more fancied centres. Joe Ansbro also did well for Scotland and looks a talent, while honourable mentions must also go to the United States’ Paul Emerick and Tonga’s Siale Piutau.
Bubbling under: Joe Ansbro (Scotland)

12 – Ryan Nicholas (Japan):
A fairly unheralded star in the Japanese side, but it is his creative work that makes Alisi Tupuailai look dangerous outside the No.12. A strong tackler and an important cog in an improving team.
Bubbling under: Piet van Zyl (Namibia)

11 – Vladimir Ostroushko (Russia):
Very quick and a man who knows where the tryline is and memories of his try against Australia that he’ll cherish forever, although we’d worry about any wing unable to out-sprint Nathan Sharpe. Georgia’s Alexander Todua is unlucky to miss out as he has quick feet and will wish he had been given more ball to play with, while Alesana Tuilagi was big and intimidating, but marked out of the bigger games.
Bubbling under: Alexander Todua (Georgia)

10 – James Arlidge (Japan):
Perhaps not the most Japanese sounding name we’ve ever heard, but a quality flyhalf who had the French in trouble and they could use a No.10 by the looks of things. Samoa’s Tusi Pisi was another excellent performer who directed traffic in the giant Pacific Islander’s backline.
Bubbling under: Tusi Pisi (Samoa)

9 – Kahn Fotuali’i (Samoa):
There is a reason that he is often the first-choice scrumhalf for the Crusaders in Super Rugby, and that’s because he is bloody good and has quick hands and an eye for the gap. There was more debate surrounding who should be bubbling under, with Scotsman Mike Blair doing enough against England to win him the nod, although Taniela Moa (Tonga), Mike Petri (USA) and all 5 foot 4 of Russia’s Alexander Yanyushkin were also in the running for the No.9 jersey.
Bubbling under: Mike Blair (Scotland)

8 – Sergio Parisse (Italy):
A leader, a skillful player and an emotional rugby player wearing his heart on his sleeve, but ultimately he is one of the best No.8s in world rugby. The Russian man of steel Victor Gresev was strong, hard and uncompromising and stood up to every opponent.
Bubbling under: Victor Gresev (Russia)

7 – Jacques Burger (Namibia):
He was a man alone for most of Namibia’s matches and with complete disregard for his body he threw himself around into tackles and rucks. Battered and bruised he gave his all in a team comprising mostly of amateurs. The Georgian tower of strength Mamuka Gorgodze was another of the best players from any side and did more at the breakdown then the English, Argentinean or Scottish loose forwards in their matches against Georgia. There are three more outstanding openside flanks on their way home worth a mention, as Todd Clever (USA), Ovidiu Tonita (Romania) and Michael Leitch (Japan) were excellent.
Bubbling under: Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia)

6- Adam Kleeberger (Canada):
The most recognisable man at the World Cup took up the mantle left behind by Sebastien Chabal in 2007, and the bearded figure was never far from the action. Despite being awarded extra points in the vote for his wonderful facial hair, he was one of the stars for the Canucks on the field.
Bubbling under: Tinus du Plessis (Namibia)

5 – Leone Nakarawa (Fiji):
A galloping lock who has all the Fijian ability to run and pass the ball with the best of them and has the size and strength to add tremendous value in the second row.
Bubbling under: Tukulua Lokotui (Tonga)

4 – Richie Gray (Scotland):
Carries the ball up with great gusto and his regognisable blonde mop of hair is always in the thick of things earning the hard yards. One of the best talents to come through the Scottish ranks in many years and a powerful uncompromising lock if ever there was one.
Bubbling under: John van der Giessen (USA)

3 – Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy):
The massive prop is regarded by many as the best tighthead in the world and his presence in the front row is intimidating for any team to come up against the shaggy Italian & Co. The devout Euan Murray was missed by the Scots against Argentina, but luckily the clash with England wasn’t on a Sunday and he smashed Matt Stevens in the scrums.
Bubbling under: Euan Murray (Scotland)

2 – Marius Tincu (Romania):
A very good player and one of the best in the Romanian side, while also being an outstanding leader on the field. Like most good hookers he borders on naughtiness and gave the most heart-felt post match interviews emphasising how much he loved every second of the games. Japan’s Shota Horie was another really good player and while some of his tight player wasn’t quite up to scratch, with ball in hand he cross the advantage line and showed off some great skills.
Bubbling under: Shota Horie (Japan)

1 – Mike MacDonald (USA):
The tough American scrummed the life out of the Russians, and can run, tackle and do everything required of a good prop. Salvatore Perugini is another in the same mould as MacDonald and is a real handful for opposing tightheads.
Bubbling under: Salvatore Perugini (Italy)

By Timmy Hancox

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