BACK ROW
6. Michael Leitch (Japan)
7. Sione Havili Talitui (Tonga)
8. Viliame Mata (Fiji)
Starting off the back-row is Japan captain Michael Leitch. Despite not seeing his side progress into the knock-out stages, Leitch never stopped fighting for Japan, and consistently ran out performances that the Brave Blossoms fans admired. With 62 tackles, Leitch comes in at fourth highest in the overall tackle charts, and having played all but six minutes in the pool stages, he’s undeniably amongst the hardest workers.
Leitch also presented his abilities in attack, as he scored two tries for Japan in the pool stages. The flanker corssed over to score in the dominant win against Chile, and added an important try in the triumph over Samoa. Leitch is joined in the back-row by two of his Pacific Nations Cup rivals, with Sione Havili Talitui taking the number seven jersey. The Tongan flanker made more tackles out of any player throughout the pool stages, with a staggering effort of 69 tackles in just four matches.
Similarly to Leitch, Talitui played all but eleven minutes of the pool stages, and was a key player in Tonga’s win over Romania to close out last weekend’s action. Finishing off the starting XV is Fijian number eight Villiame Mata. He gets the nod for his impressive power and stamina around the park, as the best ball-carrying forward of the pool stages.
Mata made 44 carries in total, which stands as the best effort by any forward, and the fourth highest overall. Despite not scoring a try in the competition yet, Mata has been a key figure in the Fijian side, with a prominent feature in the win over the Wallabies. England fans will need to be weary of Mata’s talents ahead of the quarter-final show-down this weekend.
REPLACEMENTS
16. Ronan Kelleher (Ireland)
17. Andrew Porter (Ireland)
18. Tomas Francis (Wales)
19. Charles Ollivon (France)
20. Antoine Dupont (France)
21. George Ford (England)
22. Will Jordan (New Zealand)
23. Damien McKenzie (New Zealand)