Team of the Week: World Cup; Planet Rugby

After Ireland and Romania rounded off a busy week of action in the Rugby World Cup, we sat down to pick our Team of the Week.

Week Two's matches began back on Wednesday, giving us plenty to choose from, with Wales' huge win over England at Twickenham naturally grabbing the headlines.

It all kicks off again on Tuesday when Tonga face Namibia, so let's quickly get through our selection from the last few days of action.

Team of the Week

15 Simon Zebo (Ireland): Such a dangerous runner when he plays at full-back and Romania found that out the hard way on Sunday. He came so close to scoring the game's first try at Wembley but would go on to assist two scores whilst running over 100 metres with ball in hand. Ayumu Goromaru stood out again for Japan despite their big loss to Scotland.

14 JP Pietersen (South Africa): The Springbok winger was strong in defence and looked after the massive Alesana Tuilagi well all afternoon. While the flyer was perhaps lucky to escape yellow card after a silly challenge, his finishing skills were superb on the day as he ran in three tries for South Africa, with 83 metres and three clean breaks to his name. Mentions for Ireland's Tommy Bowe and Argentina's Santiago Cordero.

13 Mark Bennett (Scotland): It was a disappointing first half for the Scots but after the break they clicked into gear, with five tries seeing off the Eagles. Bennett was one of the key contributors to the Scottish recovery as he made five carries over the gainline and also scored twice earlier in the week against Japan. Solid.

12 Damien de Allende (South Africa): The burly centre gets the nod this week despite starting and only making it a handful of minutes into the second-half. The Stormers back asked consistent questions of the Samoan defence with six carries over the gain line and tackled his heart out. Gets in ahead of Wales' Jamie Roberts.

11 DTH van der Merwe (Canada): Outstanding once again for the Canadians as they gave Italy a real test in Leeds on Saturday. Van der Merwe offered himself as a willing runner throughout and deserved what was a brilliant score that saw him combine nicely with Ciaran Hearn.

10 Dan Biggar (Wales): One of many heroes wearing red at Twickenham on Saturday. Biggar showed that Wales can win big games even without Leigh Halfpenny as their kicker as he landed crucial kick after crucial kick. 23 points from the Welsh fly-half in a faultless showing. Owen Farrell also did well for England.

9 Fourie du Preez (South Africa): The South African veteran fired up the previously stagnant backline, with his service being just as crisp in the first minute as it was in the 73rd minute when he made way for Ruan Pienaar. The Springboks will need Du Preez’s superb rugby brain if they are going to go far at the tournament.

8 Taulupe Faletau (Wales): Wales’ surge in the second-half at Twickenham came partly down to Faletau moving up through the gears as he put in an outstanding display, making 12 tackles and a couple of turnovers. Never stops working at the base of the scrum. A mention for Japan’s Amanaki Mafi who was outstanding until he went off injured against Scotland.

7 Sean McMahon (Australia): The Wallabies had it fairly easy against Uruguay but McMahon stood out with his two tries off the back of the rolling maul and general great work around the field, including some carries on attack. 67 metres made is top work with the ball in hand and he was the top tackler with 13.

6 Dan Lydiate (Wales): Wales appeared divided when Lydiate was selected ahead of Justin Tipuric for Saturday’s crunch game at Twickenham, but Lydiate’s physicality was required and he was game’s top tackler with 15 hits. Never backs down.

5 Alun Wyn Jones (Wales): Having him fit for Saturday’s game was so important for Wales and the assured presence of Jones in the second-row helped them grind away at England until they took the lead late on. Made 13 tackles and made plenty of key carries. Leone Nakarawa was again impressive for Fiji in midweek while Victor Matfield was supreme at the lineout against Samoa.

4 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa): Despite Lood de Jager having a great game for the Boks in defeat to Japan, arguably the only standout performer, Etzebeth returned in Birmingham and worked well with Victor Matfield as he topped the carries and offload stats.

3 WP Nel (Scotland): The new Scotland prop saw action on Wednesday and Sunday for Vern Cotter’s side and he delivered, helping Scotland to boss the scrum against Japan before coming off the bench against the USA to score one of Scotland’s many second-half tries. Looks a great addition after qualifying through residency.

2 Tom Youngs (England): Youngs’ form for England has been scrutinised over the last year, and even more so after Dylan Hartley made himself unavailable, but Saturday was arguably his best game in a white shirt. With him on the field the lineout was slick.

1 Joe Marler (England): Despite drawing criticism for angling in at the scrum by those watching at home, you can only play what’s in front of you and Marler helped England dominate Wales in that part of the set-piece while he was on the park. Scott Sio went well against Uruguay too.

 Mozart said that De Allende was "tractoring" and worthless to the Springbok effort - so he must hate the above with a vengeance.  

 No ABs, Milner-Skudder could have been seleted IMO, ABs were playing their second string players so no surpise I guess. 
Couple of Boks made it but no Matfield  Strangely they rave about de Allende & even his defence that will get mixed reactions. Du Preez is credited with getting the Bok backline moving would Lambie have done better last week with Du Preez?

 clevermike
 
Status: Hall Of Fame 
Posts: 19520RE: Team of the Week: World Cup; Planet Rugby
September 28, 2015, 19:28:13

 Mozart said that De Allende was "tractoring" and worthless to the Springbok effort - so he must hate the above with a vengeance.  

JP Pietersen and FDP.............?

 Still I wasn't the guy who totally wrote of Schalk last week. That would be....uhmmm ...Pervie boy.

Mozart
Please stop talking tripe - I did not wrote off Burger at all.  I said he was a hard worker - but disappointing in losing ball possession 4 times - thus reducing his value to the team.  Not writing him off - and do you deny you use the words "tractoring leaving to nothing in the tests De Allende played in?

Yes I categorically deny writing "tractoring leaving to nothing". When you are an illiterate Perv, best to cut and paste.

 Typing error gave you an opening.  the word should be "leading" -  not "leaving".  Did you use the word "tractoring" in dealing with De Allende's performance?  YES or NO  

Yep slow paced runs where the feet keep moving, but the body...not so much. An average of 3.5 metres a carry. Jean averaged 4... Kriel averaged 5.4.

As I pointed out to you before, centres need to be involved in the try scoring effort...merely being hard to pull down doesnt cut any mustard. Not a bad outing and against Samoa particularly a big fella was useful. But nothing as good as the shils on 365 make out. 

 This guy started in 4 tests and came from the bench in one test and you queried why he has not yet scored a try?   
Let me tell you that you are talking absolute tripe in this case - and you are as ignorant about rugby as ever.  The fact that a player put the team on the front foot is important - even though you do not realise it.  The second try of Pietersen was a typical example where a try was scored as a result of De Allende's carrying the ball to within two meters of the try line and getting the ball back quickly. 
All de Allende's carries went over the gain line and put the team on the front foot thus disorganising the defense by causing opponents to use two of three tacklers causes major problems and making it easier for Du Preez and other players to carry the ball further forward through space created.   But that kind of thing is way over your head - so why bother to discuss it with you.  You have a slow tractoring mind iro rugby - as dense as a plank as well.

What a fucking joke imagine questioning the credentials of a centre who beat 7 defenders in one half and makes team of the week playing half a game - fucking clueless idiot 

 Dave
Thi is standard Mozart BS.  He went quiet when it transpired that in Super 15 - De Allende played in 16 matches.  In 9 of the 16 matches played he was picked as the 12 of the week.  That means nothing to him and DF - they always knows better than anybody else, 
 

Fucking clueless is the word