15. Ayumu Goromaru (Japan)
Mike Brown was the best player on the park for England against Fiji, but that was an average game. Goromaru was the best on the park in an absolute stunner, contributing 24 points – including a smartly taken try – to a Japanese win that will never, ever be forgotten. Mention also for Tim Nanai-Williams of Samoa.

14. Ben Smith (New Zealand)
Ok so this is cheating slightly as Smith played 49 minutes at fullback before switching to the wing, but it was a quiet weekend for wingers. The safest pair of hands in New Zealand had a fine if understated game, doing everything that he had to do with consummate ease – something which cannot be said for all of those around him.

13. Jared Payne (Ireland)
Cory Allen bagged a hattrick but some of his distribution was shockingly below par for an international centre. Payne put in his most consummate performance to date in the Ireland 13 shirt, scoring a try to cap a performance that showed some delightful touches elsewhere.

12. Harumichi Tatekawa (Japan)
Jean de Villiers may have lost a few pounds, but not many have made the Springbok legend look as underpowered as Tatekawa did in Brighton. One of the stars of their incredible win, the powerful centre was brilliant both in the tackle and the carry.

11. Hallam Amos (Wales)
Despite the scoreline, Wales were far from excellent in their win over Uruguay. It was another positive outing for Hallam Amos, however, who always looked dangerous on the ball and finished with a try and assist for his efforts. Must start ahead of Cuthbert against England.

10. Jonathan Sexton (Ireland)
Given an armchair ride by his pack, this was vintage Sexton, always making the right decisions, kicking out of hand well and setting his backs free when the opportunity arose. Also crossed for a rare try of his own.

9. Aaron Smith (New Zealand)
When Smith plays at his best he is on another level to any other scrum-half in World Rugby. He took a while to warm-up against Argentina, but in the second half he showed how good he could be with a smartly-taken try and snappy service putting the All Blacks on the front foot.

1. Zak Taulafo (Samoa)
It wasn’t always pretty from Samoa in their win over the USA, but the foundations were very much set up front at the set piece, where the scrum was hugely dominant. Former Wasps prop Taulafo was key to that, and also played a full 80 – not something that happens often for a prop. A massive effort.

2. Agustin Creevy (Argentina)
For 60 minutes, Argentina looked like they might, just might, come up with a shock to match Japan’s win over South Africa by beating the All Blacks. They didn’t, but captain Creevy was as passionate as ever, leading his side in a highly impressive performance that sets them up well for the tournament.

3. Rabah Slimani (France)
The scrum was a huge source of points for France on Saturday night as Michalak benefitted from the pack’s set-piece dominance. Slimani was the cornerstone, and also finished his try brilliantly, charging through to collect a grubber and dot down.

4. Iain Henderson (Ireland)
Another gargantuan performance from Henderson, who must surely have played himself into the team for the bigger games now. Scored a try, completed a whopping 19 tackles and generally seemed to be everywhere.

5. Giorgi Nemsadze (Georgia)
It was completely overshadowed by the Japan result, but Georgia’s win over Tonga shouldn’t be ignored. It was a huge win for the Lelos, and Nemsadze was the pick of their players, the giant lock finishing with an astonishing 23 tackles, second only to Gorgodze.

6. Michael Leitch (Japan)
Even after playing a part in several successful Super Rugby campaigns with the Chiefs, this must have been his proudest moment in rugby. An inspirational leader, he topped his side’s tackling stats with 17.

7. Jack Lam (Samoa)
Bristolians know how good he is – now so do plenty more people. Rampaging runs up the middle and some soaring leaps at the line-out made this a fine outing for the Samoan flanker.

8. Louis Picamoles (France)
France’s win was comfortable but it was not a particularly easy on the eye performance – save for Picamoles, who combined power with some gorgeously delicate handling to look several cuts above anyone else on the pitch on Saturday evening. A quick mention for Georgia’s Mamuka Gorgodze, who was superb in leading his side to an unlikely win.

By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images