CENTRES
Honourable Mentions: Waisea Nayacalevu (Fiji), Manu Tuilagi (England), Jordie Barrett (New Zealand)
13. Bundee Aki (Ireland)
12. Damien de Allende (South Africa)
Despite once again crashing out with his Ireland teammates at the Quarter-Final stage, Bundee Aki was the first name on our team-sheet. Had Andy Farrell’s side progressed further than their cursed final eight for the first time, we would have likely seen Aki take the World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year Award from Ardie Savea last night. Aki was brilliant in every performance for Ireland, comfortably running out an 8/10 showing in each of his five World Cup appearances.
Aki ended his tournament with five tries in five matches, a stunning record which seeds him at third overall in the try-scoring charts. Aki is the only player in the top five try-scorers to play outside of the back-three, and also represented a nation that didn’t play in the semi-finals, final, or bronze medal match. Aki began his World Cup campaign with two tries against Romania, in a dominant Man of the Match outing. The Connacht man followed this up with another brace the following weekend, as he ran roughshod on Tonga in Pool B.
Aki was a key man in Farrell’s side that triumphed over South Africa, and cruised to victory over Scotland. The 33-year-old was never substituted, running out a full 80 minutes in each appearance. The centre scored his last try in Ireland’s losing effort, as Auckland-born Aki lost against his birth-place of New Zealand. Partnering up in the midfield with the Ireland centre is South Africa’s Damien de Allende, who had rose to the occasion, in the injury absence of long-time partner Lukhanyo Am.
De Allende adapted well to the new midfield axis with Jesse Kriel, and bossed the centre channels to take the Springboks over the gain-line time and again. He was an instrumental pivot in the World Cup winning side, and like Aki, did not miss a single minute of game time, in each of his five appearances.
De Allende scored one try at the tournament, yet what a key score it was for the Springboks. The Munster centre started and finished his 17th minute try against France, to put his side back in-front during the relentless start to the Quarter-Final. De Allende gathered a loose ball and powered through the France line before being halted close to the try-line. The Springboks reset their phases, with the centre battling through to score from close range.
HALFBACKS
Honourable Mentions: Richie Mo’unga (New Zealand), Johnny Sexton (Ireland), Gareth Davies (Wales), Matthieu Jalibert (France)
10. Handre Pollard (South Africa)
9. Aaron Smith (New Zealand)
It speaks volumes of a player’s impact upon a Rugby World Cup competition, to take a starting spot in the team of the tournament after not being initially named in the 33-man squad. This is exactly what happened with Handre Pollard, as a calf problem side-lined the Leicester Tigers man for the early pool stages. Pollard was later brought into the fray, as a spot opened up following the injury to hooker Malcolm Marx. Springboks fans were delighted to see Pollard back in the fold, after Manie Libbok’s goal-kicking came under heavy scrutiny.
Pollard promptly returned to the squad for the pool stage win over Tonga, and played a vital role off the bench, to claw the Springboks passed France in the quarter-finals. As a matter of fact, Pollard’s sharpshooting from the tee was so pivotal to the Springboks winning the Rugby World Cup, it could be argued that they would not have won back-to-back titles without the fly half. Pollard slotted the all important match winning penalties against France (29-28), England (16-15) and New Zealand (12-11), as the Springboks won each of their knock-out stage matches by only one point.
So, despite not playing in every single match, or running out for a marathon amount of minutes in gold and green, Pollard earns his spot for his history making goal-kicking in France. The halfback was also entrusted to lead the line for the full 80 minutes in the Rugby World Cup Final, and slotted four penalties against the All Blacks, for each of South Africa’s 12 points in Paris. Coupling Pollard is Aaron Smith, who had to settle for silver medals, in his All Blacks farewell last Saturday.
Smith wrapped up his 11-year career in a black jersey at the 2023 Rugby World Cup, and despite coming out on the loosing side in the final, was at his undeniable best throughout. Smith missed just one match for the All Blacks, as he earned a well-deserved break in the walkover against Uruguay. The legendary Highlander ended the pool stages in emphatic fashion, as he scored a hat-trick against Italy to mark the All Blacks intentions on World Cup glory. Smith’s side was overlooked by fans and pundits alike against Ireland, yet the All Blacks reminded full well, as to why you should never bet against them.
The scrum-half was at his very best against Ireland, as he distributed quick-ball at a rate of knots that tore through Andy Farrell’s side. After felling the monstrous men from the Emerald Isle, Smith enjoyed his penultimate All Blacks appearance, and scored a stunning solo effort in the landslide win over Argentina. Despite being unable to add a second Rugby World Cup winners medal to his collection, Smith retires form international duties as arguably the greatest ever New Zealand scrum-half, after another fantastic World Cup campaign. Leading the haka with a tear in his eye, the All Blacks will forever remember the icon of Aaron Smith.