Rugby World Cup Team of the week: 10 countries represented
Rugby NewsSunday, 08 October 2023 at 22:41
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.
Have you planned where you’ll be watching next weekend’s quarter-finals? Make a Greene King pub your Rugby Rendezvous.
Watch the big games on the big screens they deserve. Enjoy having great food and drink on tap. Take your pick of juicy match-ups with all the home nations, global giants, and 15-a-side superstars ready to ruck.
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)
#10. Lima Sopoaga (Samoa)
Rugby Pass wrote: "Put a rudimentary penalty miss early on behind him to consistently threaten England’s defence in a variety of ways, be it sniping runs himself or his fruitful cross-field kicks. The latter set up a sensational Ah-Wong try, but that was not the only occasion his kicks troubled his opponents. The ex All Black was too much for England to handle on plenty of occasions. Had a minute spell where he won a penalty at the breakdown on his line off the back of an England maul only to miss touch, but that should not deter from a brilliant performance."
Honourable mentions: Johnny Sexton (Ireland), Matthieu Jalibert (France)
#9. Danny Care (England)
Rugby Pass wrote: "Only given 14 minutes but he was the perfect sub to exploit a Samoa defence being a yellow card player down. Scored the crucial try and then put in that excellent try-saving tackle with 75 seconds remaining."
Honourable mentions: Jonathan Taumateine (Samoa), Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
#1. Andrew Porter (Ireland)
Telegraph wrote: "Brilliant turnover got arguably the biggest cheer of first half. Reverse pass to referee Nic Berry caught everyone out."
BALLS wrote: "Simply outstanding in defence. Got through an incredible amount of work with 13 tackles in his 48 minutes on the pitch. "
#2. Julian Montoya (Argentina
Planet Rugby wrote: "he captain was inspirational yet again for Los Pumas on both sides of the ball including 14 tackles, a turnover and 12 carries in a ridiculously busy outing. He bleeds the blue and white of Argentina and he will be critical in the knockouts."
Honourable mentions: Peato Mauvaka (France), Codie Taylor (New Zealand)
#3. Tomas Francis (Wales)
Wales Online wrote: "Helped Wales gain the upper hand at the scrum, while he made nine tackles, putting in a decent shift around the park. Topped off a solid performance with a rare try for his country."
#4. Ollie Chessum (England)
Rugby Pass wrote: "Ripped in the contact early doors, which suggested it would be a tough day for England, but he was soon racing in to score from the 22 off a Tuilagi pass. Denied a second try 14 minutes into the second half, but his work rate was crucial to England avoiding an embarrassing defeat."
Planet Rugby wrote: "Very nearly scored a brace of tries but managed one at least as he stretched his legs down the touchline. He was effective in those wider channels and in the line-outs. One feels he is a big player for this team."
#5.Jose Madeira (Portugal)
#6. Peter O'Mahony (Ireland)
Telegraph wrote: "Ireland’s disruptor-in-chief. Turned over an early Scotland lineout. Nearly put Hansen over. Looked like he might lamp ref after he butchered an Ireland try-scoring opportunity."
BALLS wrote: "On the occasion of his 100th cap, he put in a performance to remember. His lineout defence & attack was outstanding. Involved in all of Ireland’s good attacking play in the 1st half."
RTE wrote: "Combative outing for the centurion and almost broke free for a try in the first half. Was to the fore defending his team-mates during the pushing and shoving at the start of the second half as Scotland lost their temper. He didn’t. Two crucial lineout steals when the game was in the mix. Never took a backward step. Special night for a special player."
Honourable mentions: Theo McFarland (Samoa), David Wallis (Portugal)
#7. Nicolás Martins (Portugal)
Honourable mention: Charles Ollivon (France), Josh van der Flier (Ireland), Tommy Reffell (Wales)
#8. Gregory Alldritt (France)
Rugby Pass wrote: "The man with the infinite engine. Constantly trucked the ball up with intent, making the most carries of any player on the field, and eventually finished as France’s top tackler with 15 to his name. Earned one breakdown penalty at the beginning of the second quarter."
Planet Rugby wrote: "More than a willing carrier with a whopping 20 racked up on the night while he also topped his team’s tackle count with 15. He just never stops for Les Bleus and won the Player of the Match award ahead of Penaud and Jalibert."
Honourable mentions: Caelan Doris (Ireland)
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