2011: Chris Ashton
A less than stellar tournament for England. But Ashton finished as the tournament’s joint-leading try-scorer with six. He’d go onto win 44 caps, scoring 20 tries.
2015: Joe Launchbury
This tournament wasn’t great for anyone, but the Wasps second-row probably clinches it. He followed up his big display against Australia with another dominant display against an Uruguay pack that struggled to contain him both as a carrier and line-out presence. Showed he had a big future and has delivered since.