Every World Cup there are big names that miss out – and this year is no different. We’ve selected a team of players that landed on the wrong side of the selection cull, and it makes for quite an XV.
Note – injured players weren’t considered, only those that would have been available for the tournament.
15. Israel Dagg (New Zealand)
Dagg suffered a severe loss of form last season, but at his best he is certainly one of the top fullbacks in the world. He has been improving recently, but hasn’t done enough in Hansen’s eyes and is the casualty of huge competitiveness in this area in New Zealand.
14. Charles Piutau (New Zealand)
Has he paid the price for announcing his defection to Ulster so early? Maybe. Piutau is undoubtedly brilliant, but as he won’t be available for New Zealand after the World Cup, they’ve opted to focus on others.
13. Manu Tuilagi (England)
Instalment one on England’s list of badboys – a list that is far too long. On his day Tuilagi is a uniquely world class player, but sadly his brilliance on the pitch is not matched between the ears, after his ‘assault’ on a police officer saw him banished from the England squad.
12. Christian Leali’ifano (Australia)
Australia have some blindingly brilliant midfield backs, and Leali’ifano – who has steered the Brumbies back to near the top of the Super Rugby table in recent years – misses out pretty much directly because of Matt Giteau’s recall from the wild.
11. Napolioni Nalaga (Fiji)
Anyone that has watched the Heineken/Champions Cup in the past few years will need no introduction to Nalaga, a man of extreme power and pace who is undoubtedly one of the best finishers around. Apparently Fiji’s depth in this area is such that he isn’t needed.
10. Danny Cipriani (England)
Unable to usurp Farrell or Ford for the fly-half jersey, or Brown or Goode for a fullback spot, one of England’s great wasted talents will be once again be left watching as his country do battle on the biggest stage.
9. Nic White (Australia)
There was utter bewilderment when White was left out of the Australia squad. Cheika opted only to take two specialist scrum-halves – but right now, White is the best they have and should be there.
1. Alex Corbisiero (England)
He will be fit for the tournament proper but niggling injuries have curtailed his game time in the warm-ups, and in a competitive area, he has paid the price.
2. Dylan Hartley (England)
Bone-headed, sure, and rightly banished after one too many brushes with a disciplinary panel, but there’s no doubt Hartley is one of the top all-round hookers in not just England, but the world.
3. Adam Jones (Wales)
Jones’ international exile is a thorny issue in Wales – his powers may well be on the wane, but with Samson Lee injured there’s no doubt his experience would have been invaluable in the Wales squad.
4. James Horwill (Australia)
Can feel rightly aggrieved to miss out after returning to some of his best form during the Rugby Championship. Perhaps unfairly pipped by two players just returned from Europe, Dean Mumm and Kane Douglas.
5. Jeremy Thrush (New Zealand)
Paid the price for New Zealand’s depth in the back-row, with Steve Hansen opting to take an extra player there and only three specialist locks – leaving Thrush on the outside looking in.
6. Marcell Coetzee (South Africa)
Coetzee, South Africa’s stand-out player on last year’s tour of the Northern Hemisphere, pays the price for the insane depth the Boks possess in the back-row. An ill-timed injury didn’t help.
7. Heinrich Brussouw (South Africa)
A real wizard at the breakdown, Brussouw’s relative lack of size has cost him in the land of giants that is South Africa’s back row.
8. Steffon Armitage (England)
Comfortable across the back-row, Armitage would have offered versatility and breakdown nous to England. But rules are rules and his presence in France means he won’t be gracing the World Cup.
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
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Don’t think Tuilagi punched anyone did he? My understand is that he pushed away a police offers as they attempted to arrest for being drunk and disorderly? Still classed as assaulting a police offer of course so minor detail in the grand scheme of things.
Hell of a team. If they were to collect together now to make a team, reckon they’d have a pretty good chance of getting out of most groups!
Beat me too it Jacob! Undoubtedly in the wrong, but no need to exaggerate. What is it with England stories, dwarf tossing never happened yet still repeated ad nauseum, how long before this incident becomes a full on rampage!
This team looks pretty good but I am not keen on either of your prop selections as both have been far from their best for over a year now
heres a selection of other props which could potentially fill the hole:
G.Cross (SCO)
S.Kishoff (SAF)
V.Koch (SAF)
J.Johnston (SAM) (injured)
J.Moody (NZL)
M.Diaz (ARG) (injured)
M.Moore (IRE)
T.Domingo (FRA)
Not that I want to infer any cynicism in SL’s decision to drop Manu from the wc, but is Manu even available for selection or is he still injured?
Last I heard from Leicester he had returned to light training but wouldn’t be match fit til October? (So no)
Seen a lot of these teams, none of which give a thought to Alex Dunbar. One of Scotland’s best players, touted as a future lion, ruptured his ACL before they played England in the Six Nations and hasn’t recovered in time.