The 2015 Rugby World Cup team of the tournament included Richie McCaw and rugby's ‘King of Cool’ - Ruck

The 2015 Rugby World Cup team of the tournament included Richie McCaw and rugby’s ‘King of Cool’

RUCK.co.uk take a look back through the history of the biggest rugby competition in the world.

The 2019 Rugby World Cup is just around the corner, so RUCK are trawling through the archives to relive past tournaments.

Today we are taking a look at the 2015 edition, won by New Zealand in England.


2015 RUGBY WORLD CUP

Hosts: England

Champions: New Zealand

Runners-up: Australia

Third place: South Africa

Fourth place: Argentina

Top scorer: Nicolas Sanchez (Argentina) – 97 points

Most tries: Julian Savea (New Zealand) – 8 tries


2015 RUGBY WORLD CUP TEAM OF THE TOURNAMENT

From Talking Rugby Union

Fullback: Ayumu Goromaru (Japan)

The Japanese full-back was exceptional for his side in every game he played at the RWC. Reliable under the high ball, a dangerous counter-attacker and excellent with the boot from both hand and tee, Goromaru was the standout player at his position over the last month and a half.

Winger: Santiago Cordero (Argentina)

It was almost a 50/50 call between Cordero and Nehe Milner-Skudder, but the 21-year-old Argentine was just a shade more reliable defensively and under the high ball than the Kiwi. The elusive footwork and speed of Cordero made him a star of this RWC and when Argentina are able to welcome back Manuel Montero, they will have quite the little and large double act on their wings.

Centre: Mark Bennett (Scotland)

Bennett recovered from a shoulder injury to make the RWC 2015 squad and has again proved a danger in the Scottish midfield in the tournament, scoring twice in the win over Japan and once against Australia

Centre: Ma’a Nonu (New Zealand) 

Nonu saved his best to last in this year’s tournament, turning it on to glorious effect in the final against Australia. Beyond his physical carrying, which is always dangerous, the distribution and kicking game of Nonu wrought havoc on almost every defence the imposing centre came up against.

Winger: DTH van der Merwe (Canada)

Van der Merwe was a shone through for the North Americans with a four-try haul coming from all angles of the field, despite coming bottom of Pool D. Obvious shout for Savea, Springboks star Bryan Habana has been revitalised this tournament but the Canuck just gets the nod with Argentina’s Juan Imhoff also in the frame.

CONTINUES ON PAGE 2