Under the influence of Guinness

It was a week of some intriguing, not to mention significant, World Cup results. And it also shows in our weekly selection.

Loose forward probably the most contentious selections, although there was plenty of vigorous debate around other positions as well.

In the end we may have been swayed by the taste of Guinness, but Ireland provided the largest chunk of our team – five members in all. Next best was South Africa, with three, followed by New Zealand and Argentina (with two each), while Wales, France and Samoa (one each) made up the numbers.

Our Bubbling Under selection also reflects the past week’s results – the Springboks with five, Ireland, Samoa and Canada (with two each) – while France, Argentina, Georgia and Wales made up the numbers.

Only one player, from our first round of selections, made it this week – New Zealand winger Richard Kahui.

Team of the Week – Part Two:

15 – Lucas González Amorosino (Argentina):
A breathtaking performance – devastating on the counter-attack, ran great angles, swerving through gaps and generally shredding the defensive line at will. He certainly beat off some strong contenders – like Kurtley Beale, Pat Lambie and Paul Williams.
Bubbling under: Pat Lambie (South Africa).

14 – Shane Williams (Wales):
The Welsh wing again showed his mastery and game-breaking ability in a match where one moment of magic was always going to turn the encounter. It was not an easy decision.
Bubbling under: Vincent Clerc (France)

13 – Jaque Fourie (South Africa):
He still has plenty of detractors and despite strong competition form two of the World’s best – in Conrad Smith and Brian O’Driscoll, along with South African-born Canadian DTH van der Merwe – we opted for the Springbok. His strong defensive work and creative play won him our vote.
Bubbling under: DTH van der Merwe (Canada)

12 – Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand):
This was one of our most difficult decisions, as all three players had a huge influence on their respective games. We went for Nonu because of his abrasive play, which often made the Japanese defenders look like spectators.
Bubbling under: Frans Steyn (South Africa)

11 – Richard Kahui (New Zealand):
He has now firmly secured himself a starting spot and as a result the New Zealand backline may well feature four centres in the starting XV in key matches going forward.
Bubbling under: Alesana Tuilagi (Samoa)

10 – Santiago Fernández (Argentina):
With additional midweek matches the selection was more complicated, not to mention that competition was tough. However, Fernández showed good distribution skills and released his backline effectively.
Bubbling under: Morné Steyn (South Africa)

9 – Morgan Parra (France):
His snappy service to Francois Trinh-Duc and the manner in which he hassled Canada made him one of the French’s most valuable backs. He also kicked superbly at goal – including a late touchline conversion – and missed just one opportunity all night as he collected 23 points.
Bubbling under: Kahn Fotuali’i (Samoa)

8 – Jamie Heaslip (Ireland):
Another very tough call, but given the quality of the opposition and the significance of the result, the Irish eighthman just shaded our vote. Heaslip made good yards with the ball in hand and was a monster at the contact area.
Bubbling under: Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (Argentina)

7 – Sean O’Brien (Ireland):
Ireland have unearthed a superstar. Some really strong carries throughout the game and immense work at the breakdown. To think it was just his first RWC appearance.
Bubbling under: Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia)

6 – Heinrich Brüssow (South Africa):
He is regarded as a specialist fetcher (openside flank, ball poacher – whatever you like to call it), but Brüssow put his full array of skills on display. It started with a clever early break at the ruck and then a penalty turnover soon afterwards. Some really strong defensive work, producing the Boks’ highest tackle count and then that insane little chip for Frans Steyn’s try… which would have made most backs proud.
Bubbling under: Adam Kleeberger (Canada)

5 – Paul O’Connell (Ireland):
He was monumental for his team. Immense on defence, along with plenty of big carries and a tower of strength in the line-outs.
Bubbling under: Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)

4 – Danie Rossouw (South Africa):
He was exceptionally strong with the ball in hand – making close to 100 metres in his 12 runs – and some good work at the breakdown. He may have had a No.5 on his back, but he was so impressive that we simply had to find a spot for him.
Bubbling under: Donncha O’Callaghan (Ireland)

3 – Mike Ross (Ireland):
Another very tough call to make, but the manner in which Ireland dismantled the Australian scrum won him our vote… but by the narrowest of margins.
Bubbling under: Jannie du Plessis (South Africa)

2 – Mahonri Schwalger (Samoa):
As if playing two games in four days was not already a big enough test, he backed up against a very willing Welsh team and was at the forefront of many Samoan raids.
Bubbling under: Rory Best (Ireland)

1 – Cian Healy (Ireland):
Yes, his hard work in the set-pieces won his team a number of crucial penalties, but he was about so much more than just scrumming. He worked hard on defence and also won Ireland a penalty at the breakdown.
Bubbling under: Gurthrö Steenkamp (South Africa)

Our individual selections!

Tim Hancox XV: 15 Lucas González Amorosino (Argentina), 14 JP Pietersen (South Africa), 13 DTH van der Merwe (Canada), 12 Jamie Roberts (Wales), 11 Richard Kahui (New Zealand), 10 Santiago Fernández (Argentina), 9 Morgan Parra (France), 8 Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), 7 Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia), 6 Sean O’Brien (Ireland), 5 Alun Wyn Jones (Wales), 4 Danie Rossouw (South Africa), 3 David Kubriashvili (Georgia), 2 Mahonri Schwalger (Samoa), 1 Cian Healy (Ireland).

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Lucas González Amorosino (Argentina), 14 Vincent Clerc (France), 13 Conrad Smith (New Zealand), 12 Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand), 11 Richard Kahui (New Zealand), 10 Rhys Priestland (Wales), 9 Nicolás Vergallo (Argentina), 8 Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), 7 Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia), 6 Heinrich Brüssow (South Africa), 5 Paul O’Connell (Ireland), 4 Donncha O’Callaghan (Ireland), 3 Jannie du Plessis (South Africa), 2 Mario Ledesma (Argentina), 1 Cian Healy (Ireland).

Howard Kahn XV: 15 Lucas González Amorosino (Argentina), 14 Alesana Tuilagi (Samoa), 13 Jaque Fourie (South Africa), 12 Jamie Roberts (Wales), 11 Richard Kahui (New Zealand), 10 Santiago Fernández (Argentina), 9 Morgan Parra (France), 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (Argentina), 7 Sean O’Brien (Ireland), 6 Adam Kleeberger (Canada), 5 Paul O’Connell (Ireland), 4 Danie Rossouw (South Africa), 3 Jannie du Plessis (South Africa), 2 Mahonri Schwalger (Samoa), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (South Africa).

Len Kaplan XV: 15 Lucas González Amorosino (Argentina), 14 Chris Ashton (England), 13 Jaque Fourie (South Africa), 12 Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand), 11 Richard Kahui (New Zealand), 10 Santiago Fernández (Argentina), 9 Kahn Fotuali’i (Samoa), 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (Argentina), 7 Sean O’Brien (Ireland), 6 Jerome Kaino (New Zealand), 5 Paul O’Connell (Ireland), 4 Danie Rossouw (South Africa), 3 Adam Jones (Wales), 2 Mahonri Schwalger (Samoa), 1 Cian Healy (Ireland).

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Lucas González Amorosino (Argentina), 14 Tommy Bowe (Ireland), 13 Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland), 12 Frans Steyn (South Africa), 11 Richard Kahui (New Zealand), 10 Morné Steyn (South Africa), 9 Morgan Parra (France), 8 Juan Martín Fernández Lobbe (Argentina), 7 Sean O’Brien (Ireland), 6 Heinrich Brüssow (South Africa), 5 Paul O’Connell (Ireland), 4 John van der Giessen (United States), 3 Mike Ross (Ireland), 2 Rory Best (Ireland),
1 Gurthrö Steenkamp (South Africa).
 
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Lucas González Amorosino (Argentina), 14 Shane Williams (Wales), 13 DTH van der Merwe (Canada), 12 Frans Steyn (South Africa), 11 Richard Kahui (New Zealand), 10 Morné Steyn (South Africa), 9 Kahn Fotuali’i (Samoa), 8 Jamie Heaslip (Ireland), 7 Sean O’Brien (Ireland), 6 Adam Kleeberger (Canada), 5 Paul O’Connell (Ireland), 4 Danie Rossouw (South Africa), 3 Mike Ross (Ireland), 2 Mahonri Schwalger (Samoa), 1 Mike Macdonald (United States).

Previous selection(s):

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).