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Japan vs South Africa was probably the most memorable competition of the league stageWith eight teams remaining as the 8th Rugby World Cup enters the quarterfinals, we list the best performers of the intial stage of the prestigious tournament.
#5 New Zealand
Its not that the world champions have not played well, just that by their own lofty standards they have been pretty patchy. They were under the pump for much of the game against Argentina before a late surge and the introduction of Sonny Bill Williams rescued them. Even against the likes of Georgia, Namibia and Tonga, their game was littered with unforced errors and sloppy play and they struggled. It wasn’t until the last half an hour of their last game, against Tonga, that they exhibited some of their traditional cutting-edge play scoring four tries in about 20 minutes as they shredded the Tongan defence. They will have to up their game in the knockouts if they are to become the first team to retain the Webb Ellis trophy.
The All Blacks have scored 25 tries in total averaging 43.50 points per game. They’ve had to make only about 88 tackles a match and had about a handling error per game.
#4 Wales
With the injury list and players missing, Warren Gatland has still managed to wring the best out of his Wales side to get them to the quarterfinals. With the backline completely battered and looking like a hospital’s casualty ward, the Wales frontline led by captain Sam Warburton has risen to the challenge. Dan Biggar has been the star of the show with his kicking, having scored half of Wales’ total points in the competition so far. They face the Springboks in what is a tough quarterfinal especially with their ranks being thinned out thanks to the injuries, but they will show the same heart as they’ve done all tournament and will be hoping that helps against the Boks.
Wales scored 11 tries averaging 27.75 points a game, making 109 tackles a match and just 2.25 handling errors a game.
#3 Ireland
The Irish had a relatively easy group and their only major test did come in their final game against France, a challenge that they managed to see off admirably. Despite injuries to Jonathan Sexton and Sean O’Connell, the replacements like Ian Madigan who came in made sure that the level of play did not drop. The Irish were also pretty consistent through the four matches and their clash against Argentina has all the makings of a great quarterfinal.
Ireland scored 16 tries averaging 33.50 points per game. They’ve made 114.50 tackles a match and have had just 1.75 handling errors per game.
#2 Argentina
The Pumas managed to overcome their opening loss against New Zealand to put together a strong showing in the remainder of their fixtures. So much so, that by the end of the pool matches, they looked the better, more assured team than the defending champions. Playing a very un-South American game at times with fast-paced rugby and sweeping moves, the Argentines, backed by their boisterous fans laid down a clear marker to the rest of the teams in the competition with their play and Ireland, who they face in the quarters, would be well aware to not take them lightly.
Argentina ran in 22 tries and averaged an impressive 44.75 points a game. They’ve made 109 tackles per match and had about 1.25 handling errors per game.
#1 Australia
Coming into the tournament on the back of winning The Rugby Championship, the Aussies were tipped to be amongst the favourites for the title. And with good reason.
The Wallabies lived up to that billing in the pool stage by staying perfect and emerging from their 'Pool of Death' in fine fashion, besting both England and Wales in the process.
Working supremely well as a team and breaking opposition attacks down with ruthless precision with the flanking combination of David Pocock and Michael Hooper, Australia were a cut above the rest. Fly-half Bernard Foley has been playing exceptionally well too. The way they eviscerated England and the defensive effort they put in against Wales with just 13 men on the pitch to prevent the Welsh from scoring a try just underlined why they are the team to beat on current form.
Australia have scored 17 tries and averaged 35.25 points a game. They’ve made 120.75 tackles a game and just 0.75 handling errors per game, showing how few mistakes they’ve actually made.
