The All Blacks edge it... again

New Zealand added another accolade to the Webb Ellis Cup – again edging their rivals in our famous Team of the Tournament.

Having beaten France 8-7 in a pulsating World Cup Final on Sunday, we felt a number of All Blacks were consistently the most impressive performers at the tournament – naming five of them in our starting XV and another five in our bubbling under selection.

The Kiwis edged Wales, South Africa (both three), Australia and France (two each) with members of the starting XV.

Apart from the five All Blacks, France (four), Australia, South Africa and Wales (two each) make up the Bubbling Under selection.

Team of the Tournament:

15 – Israel Dagg (New Zealand):
He set the tone for a wonderful tournament when he scored the first try of the World Cup in the first half of the opening game, and added a second before half-time against Tonga. He further put his stamp on the tournament when he scored the third try against France during a pool match in which the All Blacks blew Les Blues away. And it was not just his attacking ability, he was a rock in the last line.
Bubbling under: Kurtley Beale (Australia)

14 – James O’Connor (Australia):
Despite his versatility – Publicly stating: “I feel more comfortable at No.12 as a second ball player” – he was in sublime form on the wing for the Wallabies. He may have had limited opportunities in the latter stages of the tournament, but his goalkicking was also critical to the Wallaby cause.
Bubbling under: Vincent Clerc (France)

13 – Conrad Smith (New Zealand):
We may not have seen as much of his elusive running in this tournament, but there was enough of his die-hard tackling, as well as his guile and accuracy in his distribution, to have won him our vote.
Bubbling under: Aurélien Rougerie (France)

12 – Jamie Roberts (Wales):
He showed his value as one of the tournament’s premier inside centres in the brutal 16-17 loss to South Africa in his country’s opening match of the World Cup and then put his mark on the tournament with two sublime tries against Fiji. Against Ireland in the quarterfinals he again showed his class in a match where his opponents were Gordon D’Arcy and Brian O’Driscoll (his B&I Lions teammates). Wales won convincingly 22-10.
Bubbling under: Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand)

11 – Digby Ioane (Australia):
His tournament appearances may have been limited by a fractured thumb, but not only did he return after just three weeks (they said the lay-off should be six weeks), but once on the field he showed all the class that made him such a star during the Reds’ victorious Super Rugby season.
Bubbling under: Richard Kahui (New Zealand)

10 – Rhys Priestland (Wales):
Despite having made his Test debut in the Six Nations in February, he showed remarkable maturity and was one of several young Welsh players who showed that the game is well and truly healthy in the land of the Red Dragons.
Bubbling under: Dan Carter (New Zealand)

9 – Mike Phillips (Wales):
After being suspended from Wales’ pre-World Cup training squad in June, following a late-night incident in Cardiff, he redeemed himself with some quality performances behind a willing Welsh pack.
Bubbling under: Francois Hougaard (South Africa)

8 – Imanol Harinordoquy (France):
He was critical to the French cause as they bounced back from shocking form in the pool stages (the first team to lose twice and still reach the World Cup Final) and then come within one point from claiming the ultimate prize. We bet he would gladly exchange his two Top 14 titles and five Six Nations victories (2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2010 – including three Grand Slams in 2002, 2004, 2010) for a chance to hold the Webb Ellis Cup.
Bubbling under: Toby Faletau (Wales)

7 – Richie McCaw (New Zealand):
He gave new meaning to the phrase: “Putting your body on the line.” Battling through the pain barrier (he often could not walk the day after a match), he produced one of his most accomplished performances in the RWC Final – including two try-saving (which were also match-saving) tackles.
Bubbling under: Sam Warburton (Wales)

6 – Jerome Kaino (New Zealand):
It is not a surprise he is one of the four nominations for the IRB Player of the Year awards – having set the tone when he scored his first World Cup try in the opening match against Tonga. He then went on to score three more – the most tries of any forward.
Bubbling under: Thierry Dusautoir (France)

5 – Victor Matfield (South Africa):
It was a close call, with plenty of heated debate, but the veteran Springbok bowed out in the most emphatic fashion by stamping his authority on the tournament. The Boks WILL miss him!
Bubbling under: James Horwill (Australia)

4 – Brad Thorn (New Zealand):
Truly the muscle of the All Blacks – a traditional lock in every sense. Thorn bowed out on a fitting note, when he helped the All Blacks end a 24-year drought by beating France 8-7 in the RWC Final. He WILL be missed… and not just in rugby union!
Bubbling under: Danie Rossouw (South Africa)

3 – Nicolas Mas (France):
His true value was only felt when he was ruled out with a hamstring injury for the pool clash against the All Blacks. His return restored France’s dominance in the scrums, as he so aptly demonstrated in the final.
Bubbling under: Owen Franks (New Zealand)

2 – Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa):
Long before the tournament there was a clamour for him to start ahead of Springbok captain John Smit. And his appearances off the bench confirmed that he was the best hooker in the world – by some distance.
Bubbling under: William Servat (France)

1 – Gurthrö Steenkamp (South Africa):
Another veteran that will be sadly missed by the Boks. It is such a pity his career was so often interrupted by injuries, but in New Zealand he showed why he won the 2010 South African Player of the Year award.
Bubbling under: Tony Woodcock (New Zealand)

Our individual selections!

Leonard Kaplan XV: 15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 James O’Connor (Australia), 13 Conrad Smith (New Zealand), 12 Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand), 11 Digby Ioane (Australia), 10 Rhys Priestland (Wales), 9 Mike Phillips (Wales), 8 Imanol Harinordoquy (France), 7 Richie McCaw (New Zealand), 6 Thierry Dusautoir (France), 5 Lionel Nallet (France), 4 Brad Thorn (New Zealand), 3 Nicolas Mas (France), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 1 Tony Woodcock (New Zealand).

Tim Hancox XV: 15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 James O’Connor (Australia), 13 Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand), 12 Jamie Roberts (Wales), 11 Richard Kahui (New Zealand), 10 Rhys Priestland (Wales), 9 Mike Phillips (Wales), 8 Imanol Harinordoquy (France), 7 Thierry Dusautoir (France), 6 Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), 5 Luke Charteris (Wales), 4 Brad Thorn (New Zealand), 3 Owen Franks (New Zealand), 2 William Servat (France), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (South Africa).

Howard Kahn XV: 15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 Vincent Clerc (France), 13 Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand), 12 Jamie Roberts (Wales), 11 Richard Kahui (New Zealand), 10 Dan Carter (New Zealand), 9 Mike Phillips (Wales), 8 Imanol Harinordoquy (France), 7 Sam Warburton (Wales), 6 Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), 5 Victor Matfield (South Africa), 4 Brad Thorn (New Zealand), 3 Martin Castrogiovanni (Italy), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (South Africa).

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 James O’Connor (Australia), 13 Conrad Smith (New Zealand), 12 Berrick Barnes (Australia), 11 Shane Williams (Wales), 10 Dan Carter (New Zealand), 9 Kahn Fotuali’i (Samoa), 8 Sergio Parisse (Italy), 7 Richie McCaw (New Zealand), 6 Thierry Dusautoir (France), 5 James Horwill (Australia), 4 Brad Thorn (New Zealand), 3 Owen Franks (New Zealand), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (South Africa).

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Kurtley Beale (Australia), 14 George North (Wales), 13 Aurélien Rougerie (France), 12 Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand), 11 Digby Ioane (Australia), 10 Rhys Priestland (Wales), 9 Francois Hougaard (South Africa), 8 Toby Faletau (Wales), 7 Richie McCaw (New Zealand), 6 Heinrich Brüssow (South Africa), 5 Victor Matfield (South Africa), 4 Brad Thorn (New Zealand), 3 Nicolas Mas (France), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 1 Tony Woodcock (New Zealand).

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 Tommy Bowe (Ireland), 13 Conrad Smith (New Zealand), 12 Jamie Roberts (Wales), 11 Digby Ioane (Australia), 10 Rhys Priestland (Wales), 9 Piri Weepu (New Zealand), 8 Imanol Harinordoquy (France), 7 David Pocock (Australia), 6 Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), 5 James Horwill (Australia), 4 Brad Thorn (New Zealand), 3 Nicolas Mas (France), 2 Keven Mealamu (New Zealand), 1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales).