Team of the Week: World Cup; Planet Rugby

We've said goodbye to 12 teams as eight prepare to do battle in the quarter-finals, starting at Twickenham on Saturday afternoon when South Africa face Wales.

It's been a thrilling group stage but before we get stuck into the knockouts, let's focus on who stood out in a week that saw big wins for Australia, Ireland and Romania.

Rugby World Cup Team of the Week:

15 Rob Kearney (Ireland): He was fired up on Sunday. Kearney led from the back so to speak as the number fifteen was committed in everything he did against the French. Scoring the match's first try, Kearney also ran well and positionally was excellent as always. Elsewhere it was another strong performance from Japan full-back Ayumu Goromaru and the free-running Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino of Argentina.

14 Nehe Milner-Skudder (New Zealand): First off a mention for Argentina wing Matias Moroni, who was outstanding against Namibia. Out of position from his usual centre spot, Moroni was electric with ball in hand but could not see off Milner-Skudder, who scored a brace of tries against Tonga on Friday. That performance nailed down his position ahead of Waisake Naholo for the quarter-final. It's deserved.

13 Tevita Kuridrani (Australia): Like many of the Wallabies on Saturday, it was their defensive work that topped what they could muster with ball in hand. Kuridrani gave opposite number George North few chances to run and that is why he beats England's Henry Slade.

12 Robbie Henshaw (Ireland): Outstanding against France. Henshaw is just 22 but played like he had been in the international game for years on Sunday. He made the most running metres for Ireland and was also good defensively to see of Samoa and Fiji's Rey Lee-Lo and Lepani Botia, who were both excellent against Scotland and Uruguay respectively. Georgia's Merab Sharikadze was also a stand-out.

11 Bryan Habana (South Africa): England winger Jack Nowell grabbed a hat-trick against Uruguay as he sent a message to the selectors but for Habana's own treble against USA, we go for the Bok. He's now level with Jonah Lomu for RWC tries and will no doubt be kicking himself for dropping a ball that would have sent him top. Habana would have to settle for the three scores and will hope for more against Wales.

10 Ian Madigan (Ireland): There was plenty of worried faces when Jonathan Sexton left the field in Cardiff but what a performance from his replacement: Madigan came on and swiftly slotted a penalty to settle any nerves and then went from strength to strength against France, beating Samoa fly-half Tusi Pisi to this jersey. Pisi, like his team against Scotland, was unlucky not to sign off the pools with a win.

9 Greig Laidlaw (Scotland): Arguably his best performance in a Scotland jersey to date, although he will hope to top it against Australia this coming weekend. Laidlaw was superb as skipper against a much-improved Samoa side, scoring 26 points via a try and eight kicks.

8 Mihai Macovei (Romania): Suspended for Sunday's final match with Italy, it was thanks to Macovei's heroics that the Oaks completed that crazy comeback against Canada last Tuesday. Macovei's two tries in the second-half helped set up Florin Vlaicu for the winning kick and some special scenes after the final whistle. A mention for England's Nick Easter - now the oldest player in Test rugby history at 37 to score a hat-trick.

7 Sean O'Brien (Ireland): As Ireland's other talismen went off with injuries O'Brien raised his game, seemingly everywhere in the second-half against France in a memorable performance. O'Brien's 12 carries over the gainline and three turnovers were massive and he relished the physical contest up against France's back-row. Gets in ahead of Samoa's impressive flanker Jack Lam and Thierry Dusautoir, who racked up 21 tackles in Cardiff, and also Namibia's Wian Conradie for his 24 hits against Argentina.

6 Scott Fardy (Australia): The Wallabies' unsung hero was at it again at Twickenham, proving he's no slouch either when it comes to pilfering opposition ball. Had to work even harder when the Wallabies went down to 13 but responded with 13 tackles to go with a couple of crucial turnovers. Holds off Japan's Michael Leitch for this spot after another great outing for the Brave Blossoms' skipper.

5 Kane Douglas (Australia): Yet again excelled in the Wallaby second-row, using all of his 202cm, 123kg frame to good effect when Australia were on the ropes. Douglas was the top tackler at Twickenham on Saturday with 15 and he has quickly become an essential part of their improving forward pack. Wins the spot ahead of the great Alun Wyn Jones of Wales, who was colossal as ever, and the insane Leone Nakarawa.

4 Luke Charteris (Wales): Arguably playing his best rugby ever at this level. Australia's maul has destroyed teams this year but with the Racing 92 giant in there to disrupt, the Wallabies never got going. It wasn't enough for the win, but he showed how effective he can be for Wales. A mention for Valentin Poplaran of Romania.

3 Sekope Kepu (Australia): Only 50 minutes action at Twickenham but more good work yet again at the scrum from Kepu as he was given a sterner test than expected from Paul James. Fronted up to the challenge and has been the star tighthead of the competition so far.

2 Julian Montoya (Argentina): First there was Ledesma, now Creevy, and the future? Step forward Julian Montoya. No Argentina player carried better than Montoya in their big win over Namibia on Sunday, with the hooker crossing the gainline eight times. We'll be keeping tabs on the exciting 21-year-old, who has already won 13 caps. Uruguay's Carlos Arbeloya gets a mention.

1 Mihai Lazar (Romania): Another star from Romania's win on Wednesday, the 30-year-old Castres prop helped destroy Canada's scrum to win those vital few penalties for his side as they ended their eight-year wait for a World Cup victory. Mako Vunipola did well for England too in Manchester.

 ABs still under the radar Other teams have peeked too soon IMO, lol

Hmm, four 12's ahead of De Allende? No Kriel? Neither of them for 3 weeks in a row? How is that possible, them being the best midfield in world rugby and all 

 Pakie, like I said before, they have lots to learn yet...if they ever will, but it wasn't as if our games were conducive for centers to shine. Even against USA, they received very little of the lots of possession SA had. Not an excuse, just an observation. Habana got lucky to be included playing in a one-sided afair.

Pakie who the fuck would you choose at centre then old wise one?
This should be a laugh 

Kirchner and De Jongh. Pure class.

Well it's nice to see some observers recognizing the value of Habana. He does so many important things  in a game. I also agree with the selection of young Robbie Henshaw. Much is made of our young centres....Henshaw looks comfortably ahead of either in terms of his current contributions. 

 This is another classic from Mozart - a real chance to try and get at our centers.  Fact is Henshaw beat one of Mozart's previous heroes - Bastareaud - the slow and fat center of France - twice through line breaks and is then put on a pedestal.   Henshaw is good and a promising prospect - but shined against a player fitting into Mozart's requirements for center -  they must be fat, slow and clueless to be his choice.        

 Henshaw was playing against Fofana.  Jeez you are clueless.

CBastareaud0/000/1/42000310/20/010/0CFofana0/002/3/425010110/10/000/0
CEarls0/001/5/83301019/20/000/0CHenshaw0/003/4/177314107/00/000/0

Oh what bullshit Henshaw has done nothing of note to date, had a good game but to say he is ahead of our two is just pathetic....why are you so fucking anti anything SA'n huh......its pathetic.
What the hell did Kurandrani do to merit selection.....what crap. Good player who has done nothing all WC  

Pakie why not man up and tell us who should be our centres little man as you keep bashing our current two
Put your money where your mouth is or do us a favour and shut up

 Our centres have acheived nothing at the WC other than Kriel losing the Japanese game...Henshaw was a big factor in the Irish win. And look at those tackle stats...7/0 ....what Allende wouldn't give for similar numbers.

DA and Kriel have made more clean breaks and beaten more defenders than most....ooh wow Henshaw had a clean tackle sheet, is that always going to be the case?
Look Henshaw is a good player but I can assure you DA is far better

Already did a few days ago Dave when CC asked me. With what's currently on tour, Damian and Jan. The rest we have at our disposal back home are a bunch of decent but untested provincial players. Who knows which of them will make it at test level. Kriel is a good strike runner, but that alone doesn't make a good 13.

 Huge mistake not bringing Frans to the WC. For the rest we have no test quality centres. Allende is a decent attacking player...Kriel appears to need lots of space. Both are frozen in defence, much as JJ was.
Vorster, Mapoe, Odendaal, Stepfontein are not top talents. They will have their moments in the S15...but never survive for a test career.
We have almost no new centres or wings. Ironically flyhalf seems to be our best served position.

That is ridiculous....what more does Kriel have to do....what short memories you have....he was outstanding in the RC in a poor Bok side, has been pretty handy this WC and you want to play Serf at 13 I presume when its clear that he is not a 13, just like Jean never was. You need pace at 13, Serf is not a speedster.
I really do not begin to comprehend how question marks can be raised against DA and Kriel as a combo.......the Jap miss by Kriel and all of a sudden he cant defend.
The way some observers define players based on one or two incidents is just amazing.....take Moz for instance, telling us Koch is no test tighthead because he was on the receiving end of some suspect Argie scrummaging. 
Two class young centres emerge on the world stage during the RC, with the rugby world waxing lyrical about them and a few weeks later we have people questioning their credentials......bloody hell one would swear they had been poor this WC......just go look how many defenders the pair have beaten......go compare their stats to the rest of the centres in the WC and you might just be in for a surprise.
Show some bloody faith man......this anti our young talent is sickening......its pathetic how some find so much favour in players that were great 5 years ago and they wonder why we keep coming second these days.

 Koch is no test tighthead, because he had exactly the same problems against better props in the S15. The test result simply confirmed an existing hypothesis.

The fact that there is a lot of hype about Allende and Kriel means what....we have to go along like sheep? They have done nothing of substance through the whole Pool phase. The chances of them showing up in the knockouts is depressingly low.

That's being realistic.

Rubbish, Koch was good throughout the s15
Kriel and DA have beaten more defenders than most in the WC......the mark of a centre.
My guess is that DA has a better strike rate than any other centre in the WC

Just as I thought......had a look on the WC site......the only noteworthy centre to feature in the clean breaks stats is Kriel in 11th position with 6 clean breaks.
They do not have a defenders beaten stat......where DA would definitely feature  

 You obviously believe that....I don't. Time will tell.

Dave, you need a 13 who can read play and be proactive in making the right decisions. We don't have smart young players and our centre stock - traditionally our weak spot - is weaker than ever. 

I dont believe it I know it......just like I know Malherbe, Marcel and Coenie are the real deals....its a case of working out which two are going to tie the position down.
Add young Wilco Louw of WP as another great tighthead prospect.
Lets just hope our next Bok coach is one of substance who will pick players on merit
You cant go wrong with the likes of:
1. Kitshoff / Nyakane / du Toit / Kebble / Schoeman
2. Bismark / Strauss / Marx
3. Marcel / Malherbe / Coenie / Koch / Louw

Bullshit, Fourie only learnt that art late in his career much like Jean did......Fourie strength was his ability to slip tackles and run good lines.....something Kriel already has......but what sets him apart from Fourie is his speed and wonderful feet.
Kriel will create something from nothing with those dancing feet and speed. JJ had it but JJ lacked the hard edge.....Kriel has that.
Kriel at the same age as Fourie, is twice the player only because he has far better attacking and creative attributes and you just cant beat speed to set a 13 apart.
With DA to create space through a combination of skill and physicality and with Kriel to run off that creativity, we cant go wrong. Add Serf to the equation once he has had time back in the game and we are sorted at centre. Not to mention the impressive Vorster.
Your 13 is less of a decision maker than your 12....12 is the most important position in the backline......your 13 needs to feed off the creativity of your 12.....his decision making centres around his understanding of his inside partner......that comes with time together, which is exactly what we should be doing with DA and Kriel....its called investment.
These two have shown amazing potential as a pair.......time together will make them lethal as a pair

 Mozart
I was following Henshaw's performances in 6 Nations as well.   He was not as sound defensively as you make him out to be and his attacking play was also not consi stently as good as it was on Saturday.
The use as one match as career-defining is horse-shyte - but that is your style.   Incidentally Henshaw played for Wales since 2013 and has always played at 12  He has about double the number of test caps as De Allende and looks on average good - but as I said one test is not the norm to determine career prospects.  .