Rugby World Cup 2011: The Dream Team XV v the Haunted Select

The Dream Team...:

15.Israel Dagg (NZ)

The electrifying heir to Christian Cullen

14. George North (WAL)

Unstoppable Welsh teenage sensation

13. Ma’a Nonu (NZ)

He scores, he creates, he makes the right decisions all of the time

12. Jamie Roberts (WAL)

Immensely powerful with the heart of a Lion

11. Vincent Clerc (FRA)

Rose above French mediocrity to continually show his ruthless side

10. Rhys Priestland (WAL)

Missed important kicks but played majestically at times

9. Mike Phillips (WAL)

Forget Will Genia, the Welshman is the best No.9 on the planet

1. Gethin Jenkins (WAL)

A modern-day great as prop and as a leader of men

2. Mario Ledesma (ARG)

Still playing like a 20-something at the grand old age of 38, a freak

3. Nicolas Mas (NZ)

Best in his position in the world – and proved it

4. Luke Charteris (WAL)

Fantastic consistency, his level rarely dipping below the extraordinary

5. Paul O’Connell (IRE)

Under-cooked before the tournament, roaring hot during it

6. Jerome Kaino (NZ)

Arguably the player of the entire World Cup. Truly phenomenal

7. Richie McCaw (NZ)

Troubled by injury, but put the pretenders in their place, Pocock included

8. Mamuka Gorgodze (GEO)

The Georgian came with a big reputation and showed he’s world class

...and the Haunted Select:

15.Chris Paterson (SCO)

Admirable, but will never forget that missed tackle against Argentina

14. Zac Guildford (NZ)

Admits drink problem, scores four tries against Canada – and then dumped

13. Brian O’Driscoll (IRE)

Shoulder injury limited him. Is this the end for the great man?

12. Mike Tindall (ENG)

Set a fine example – to womanising booze-hounds everywhere.

11. Bryan Habana (SA)

Looked a poor relation to the marvel we saw four years ago

10. Quade Cooper (AUS)

Supposedly world-class, but stratospherically awful

9. Ben Youngs (ENG)

Thinks a lot of himself. He should think again

1. Matt Stevens (ENG)

A penalty machine for the opposition. Nowhere near this level

2. Dylan Hartley (ENG)

Good at intimidating female hotel workers, but largely hopeless otherwise

3. Ben Alexander (AUS)

Wallaby suffered a mortifying night against Cian Healy’s Ireland

4. Al Kellock (SCO)

The captain was dropped from the 22 for two games and never got going

5. Courtney Lawes (ENG)

Two-game ban and a whole lot of mediocrity from a normally fine player

6. Rocky Elsom (AUS)

Didn’t exist in the big one against the All Blacks

7. Lewis Moody (ENG)

Captain? Of the Titanic, maybe

8. James Haskell (ENG)

See Dylan Hartley