Now that everyone’s cooled off after the final round of the Rugby World Cup group stage, here’s our Team of the Week.
There are three Portuguese players in the line-up with England, Ireland Wales each having two players, while the rest of the team has a healthy spread of nations.
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Rugby World Cup Team of the week
#15. Damian McKenzie (New Zealand)
Planet Rugby wrote: “Man-of-the-match and for good reason, as he masterminded Uruguay’s demise. He linked up wonderfully with Richie Mo’unga and Will Jordan, scored a brace, assisted another and knocked over two conversions. He picked open Los Teros’ defence with relative ease and had several plays that led to tries, including the incredible one-handed pass keeping the ball in play.”
New Zealand Herald wrote: “The key cog for the majority of the All Blacks’ attack. Scored a double and put plenty of players through the line. A steady balance between having the pill in hand and putting boot to ball. There was a piece of magic from the Mooloo man in the 33rd minute, putting a grubber through from halfway, retrieving the ball with one hand and flicking it inside to Will Jordan for the score. Made 105 metres, while beating four defenders. Handy from the tee too, converting three from three.”
Honourable mentions: Liam Williams (Wales), Hugo Keenan (Ireland), Juan Cruz Mallia (Argentina), Charles Piutau (Tonga)
#14. Louis Rees-Zammit (Wales)
Wales Online wrote: “The 22-year-old is pure stardust with his hat-trick of tries digging Wales out of an almighty hole in Nantes. Rees-Zammit is more than a highlights reel player with the 22-year-old putting in a huge shift off the ball. The challenge for Wales is working out a way of getting him into the game more often. A class act.”
Planet Rugby wrote: “Didn’t have a great deal of ball to work with until a gift of a try that was a walk-in changed that as he went on to finish with three scores on the day. The injection of pace he provides is second to none and Rees-Zammit certainly enjoyed what came his way in the second half.”
Honourable mention: Will Jordan (New Zealand), Nigel Ah-Wong (Samoa), Damien Penaud (France)
#13. George Moala (Tonga)
TNT Sports wrote: “He clearly led all-comers with 160 metres gained and was an indomitable force throughout the match beating opposing defenders on 12 occasions. The former All Black dovetailed perfectly with Salesi Pilatau with each offloading to the other and baffling opposing defenders. Suspension kept him out of the first three games but he made his mark on the tournament on Sunday.”
#12. Bundee Aki (Ireland)
Telegraph wrote: “The tournament’s in-form centre made life hell for Jones and Tuipulotu, sucking them in and offloading with aplomb. Rampant.”
BALLS wrote: “Superb offload to set up Ringrose’s offload before Keenan’s 1st try. Ended most of Scotland’s attack with some excellent defence. Made a massive 11 tackles.”
Honourable mentions: Santiago Chocobares (Argentina)
#11. Rodrigo Marta (Portugal)
Honourbale mentions: Mateo Carreras (Argentina)