Rugby World Cup team of the week - round 1

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    After a thrilling opening week of Rugby World Cup action that included some outstading individual displays, Andrew Binner looks at the best performers in each position. Do you agree? Tweet us your thoughts using #360Rugby.

    1 – Sakaria Taulafo (Samoa)
    The Stade Francais prop was the cornerstone of a rock solid scrum and his performance was a rare highlight in what was a rather dull encounter between Samoa and USA. Taulafo’s natural fitness sets him apart from other front-row forwards and his srummaging actually improved as the game went on.

    2 – Agustin Creevy (Argentina)
    After giving the All Blacks a tough month in the Rugby Championship, New Zealand were well aware of the destructive Pumas captain, but could do little to contain his bulldozing runs once again. His passion and leadership was central to Argentina’s cause as they looked like causing another major upset until the world champions pulled away at the death.

    3 – Campese Ma’afu (Fiji)
    The French-based prop made a serious impression on England as the Fijian’s dominated several scrums. Ma’afu proved he has more prowess than just a scrummaging machine though, winning a turnover on Courtney Lawes with remarkable ease.4 – Iain Henderson (Ireland)
    The Irish may have found a natural successor to fill Paul O’Connell’s boots after the World Cup in Ulster lock Henderson. He got through a mountain of work in defence and even showed he has an eye for the line with a well-taken try.

    5 – Giorgi Nemsadze (Georgia)
    Georgia’s victory over Tonga went slightly under the radar after Japan’s shock win but the power of the Europeans’ pack was difficult to ignore. Nemsadze ran the scrum and line-out like a well-oiled machine and provided plenty of grunt in defence with 23 tackles. 

    6 – Michael Leitch (Japan)
    The Fijian-born captain of Japan worked tirelessly with ball in hand to put his team on the front foot while he topped the tackling charts with a mammoth 17 hits. The flanker must take a large amount of responsibility for inspiring his team to never give up and even conducted the post-match press conference in perfect Japanese when called upon.

    7 – Sam Cane (New Zealand)
    On what was a difficult day at the office, Sam Cane’s second-half cameo gave his team the lift they needed to secure an opening win in the face of a water-tight Argentinean defence. Cane’s performance has been rewarded with the captain’s armband for the All Blacks’ next match against Namibia.

    8 – Louis Picamoles (France)
    A powerful display from the Toulouse number eight showed France what they had been missing in his injury-enforced absence last season. In a game that was not pretty to watch, Picamoles demonstrated sublime handling skills for such a big man and was the stand-out forward on the pitch by some distance.

    9 – Fumiaki Tanaka (Japan)
    It was a close-call at nine with Japan’s man of the match just edging out New Zealand’s Aaron Smith due to the significance of the occasion. The diminutive scrum-half provided a seamless link between forwards and backs while using all of his Super Rugby experience to relieve pressure at the back when it was needed.

    10 – Freddie Michalak (France)
    A controversial selection before the World Cup, Michalak justified his inclusion with a vintage opening display that was equal part creativity and control. The Toulon fly-half marshaled his forwards around the pitch superbly and his passing verged on the sublime. Punished all but two of Italy’s infringements with a solid kicking display

    11 – Nemani Nadolo (Fiji)
    The gargantuan winger was given an early wakeup call when Anthony Watson out leaped him to put the Pacific Islanders under pressure. But once the Canterbury Crusader got his hands on the ball it was a case of damage limitation for the English defence as he cannoned towards the host’s try line on several occasions, eventually out jumping Watson for a try. 

    12 – Harumichi Tatekawa (Japan)
    Tasked with marking the Springbok captain Tatekawa could have been forgiven for missing the odd tackle. However, the Kubota Spears centre totally dominated de Villiers for the full 80 and his courageous performance encapsulated his team’s spirit.

    13 – Cory Allen (Wales)
    It looks as if hat-trick hero Cory Allen’s World Cup is over after sustaining a hamstring injury in Wales’ rout of Uruguay. What a pity for a player that was combining with fly-half Rhys Priestland to devastating effect and was the arrow-head of the Welsh attack in midfield.

    14 – Hallam Amos (Wales)
    Dragons wing Amos Finally got his chance to shine in a Welsh shirt after living in the shadows of Alex Cuthbert, George North and Liam Williams and took it with aplomb. Amos caused Uruguay no end of problems with surging runs and was rewarded with a try which should see him start against England.

    15 – Ayumu Goromaru (Japan)
    A metronomic boot combined with rock-solid defence make the Japanese full-back an easy selection. He punished every Springbok mistake and his vital try took his impressive points tally to 24 on a day that his country will never forget.

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