2007 World Cup Team of the Tournament

15. Jason Robinson (England) Robinson confirmed his place in the pantheon of England greats despite suffering two injuries during the tournament. 14. Vilimoni Delasau (Fiji) Scored one of the tournament’s outstanding tries in Fiji’s win over Wales and was impossible to tie down. 13. Jaque Fourie (South Africa) The hard-running centre backed up his fighting talk with a series of dominant performances in the Springboks midfield. 12. Felipe Contepomi (Argentina) Justified his nomination for the IRB’s player of the year award, bringing experience and class to the Pumas midfield. 11. Bryan Habana (South Africa) Equalled Jonah Lomu’s World Cup record with eight tries in the tournament and proved he is the world’s most lethal winger. 10. Juan-Martin Hernandez (Argentina) Hailed as the ’Maradona’ of the rugby world as he guided Argentina to their greatest ever World Cup performance. 9. Fourie du Preez (South Africa) Ripped England to shreds in the 36-0 pool win and set the standard for scrum-halves around the world. 1. Andrew Sheridan (England) The Sale tight-head demolished the Australia pack in the quarter-final and consistently earned England the edge up front. 2. John Smit (South Africa, capt) Skippered the Springboks to their first World Cup triumph since 1995. A natural leader, who never flinched an inch in the heat of battle. 3. Pieter de Villiers (France) The French tighthead was one of the few props not to be demolished by Sheridan when he crossed his path during the Sale player’s World Cup wrecking spree. 4. Simon Shaw (England) Waited 12 years to get his chance in a World Cup, and he put heart and soul into a series of stamina-sapping displays. 5. Victor Matfield (South Africa) South Africa’s lineout master was man-of-the-match in the World Cup final, and just for good measure pulled off a try-saving tackle on England centre Mathew Tait. The world’s best lock since John Eales. 6. Jerry Collins (New Zealand) No one did more than Collins to try to keep New Zealand’s campaign on track. Unlike a few of his colleagues, he did not go missing during the quarter-final defeat against France. 7. Juan Smith (South Africa) South Africa’s tough-tackling openside proved a nightmare for any opponent to play against. Aggressive and technically brilliant. 8. Finau Maka (Tonga) The Toulouse number eight was a star performer in the Tonga pack that made life distinctly uncomfortable for pool stage opponents South Africa and England.

Six Boks and another South African playing for France. One All Black! This team from Wales Online.....how long will we have to wait for that picture again?

Down memory lane again.   That counts for nothing really at this stage.   What I wrote is the impressions reflected in the main by Dan Retief when the various matches  were replayed oin local TV.
Pity Matfield did not stick with his 2011 decision to retire.   He tried to make a comeback in 2014 - but was not 10% of the player he used to be.   Fact is he ruined his reputation by that comeback.    Players should know what happens in the case of such comebacks and do not try and play when they are over the hill - it never works out.        

Dan Retief. The new Messiah.

But his words can’t be reproduced.....we have to rely on Tokkie’s integrity......a very scarce commodity.