A stunning Rugby World Cup in France drew to a gripping conclusion in France at the end of last month, with South Africa battling to successfully defend the title that they won four years prior in Japan.
New Zealand were the unfortunate nation to lose the dramatic final, while England defied all expectations to finish third overall following an entertaining playoff against Argentina.
So, who were some of the standout players at the World Cup this year who played key roles in the success achieved by their team throughout the tournament? And who are the ones who got more points in the fantasy rugby game by OVAL3?
Eben Etzebeth
You’d be hard-pressed to find a player that epitomised what South Africa was all about at the World Cup than Eben Etzebeth. He was the player who often stood up to be counter when the Springboks were under intense pressure, and that was no greater than in their gripping quarterfinal showdown against France, as he scored the match-winning try in Paris.
The 32-year-old played six times at the most recent edition of the World Cup, making 39 metres, and 51 tackles. His tackle success rate ranked among the best in the tournament, as he was successful at 79%.
While more players may have been more eye-catching at the World Cup, there were few that were more influential.
Richie Mo’unga
One of the unluckiest losers in a New Zealand shirt following the World Cup final was Richie Mo’unga. The number ten was excellent throughout the tournament for the All Blacks, and while things didn’t exactly go to plan in the final, he will be a star that the team will be built around for future editions of the competition as New Zealand look to once again reach the promised land.
The 29-year-old played seven times at the World Cup in France, scoring an impressive 56 points and one try. He made a staggering 352 metres for the All Blacks at the tournament and made a commendable 28 tackles and 129 passes. Mo’unga will likely still be dealing with his final heartbreak, but he appears to be the kind of character who will use it as inspiration for the next tournament in four years.
Siya Kolisi
Every great team needs a leader that can take his side to the next level when the pressure is on. Siya Kolisi will undeniably go down as one of the greatest captains in the history of rugby, as he has the ability to drag his side through tricky and testing moments. That was none more evident than in the final, as he was among the first of the Springboks to stand up and be counted when New Zealand were applying pressure.
Kolisi played in six matches at the World Cup, and averaged a solid tackle success rate of 86%. He only made two handling errors throughout the tournament, and made an impressive 52 metres. While there were likely more influential performers on the field, it could be argued that South Africa likely wouldn’t have won the World Cup if it wasn’t for the fact that they were led into battle by Kolisi.
Bundee Aki
Ireland’s World Cup hoodoo continued in France, as they were narrowly edged out in the quarterfinal stage by New Zealand in a thrilling contest. However, Bundee Aki was one of the standout performers for the Irish at the tournament this year, and he was regularly at the heart of everything positive that the nation did on the field.
The 33-year-old centre played five matches at the World Cup this year, and scored an impressive 25 points. His influence on Ireland’s gameplan was clear to see, as he scored an impressive five tries at the tournament this year. He boasted a tackle success rate of 79%, and made 447 metres for his team from 44 carries on the field. Aki will once again be a key figure in Ireland’s Six Nations defence next year.
Nicolas Martins
The top stars don’t need to play for the most successful nations at the World Cup, and that was evident by the fact that Nicolas Martins was one of the breakthrough talents at the competition this year. Portugal were one of the most exciting nations to watch at the World Cup, and their win over Fiji in the pool stage will live long in the memory. However, Martins and his dynamic abilities were at the forefront of their performances on the field.
The 24-year-old played four times at the World Cup this year, scoring five points and recording one try. He carried the ball an impressive 196 metres, and made a formidable 63 tackles, 29 passes, and 28 runs. Given his high-quality performances on the field, it’s likely that he won’t be playing in the second tier for French rugby for much longer based on his World Cup exploits.
