And then there were eight

As the World Cup gets serious, the Herald's rugby writers take time out for a bit of fun. But ... only three All Blacks? Still, it's not all bad. No Aussies.

The Departed XV

Ignacio Corleto (Argentina)

Rupeni Caucaunibuca (Fiji)

Andrea Masi (Italy)

Seru Rabeni (Fiji)

Daisuke Ohata (Japan)

Earl Va'a (Samoa)

Hakkies Husselmann (Namibia)

Semo Setiti (capt, Samoa)

Maurie Fa'asavalu (Samoa)

Kort Schubert (US)

Ifereimi Rawaqa (Fiji)

Santiago Dellape (Italy)

Goderdze Schvelidze (Georgia)

Aaron Abrams (Canada)

Petru Balan (Romania)


The Survivors XV

Mils Mulaiana (New Zealand)

Doug Howlett (New Zealand)

Brian O'Driscoll (Ireland)

Tony Marsh (France)

Joe Rokocoko (New Zealand)

Frederic Michalak (France)

Bryan Redpath (Scotland)

Simon Taylor (Scotland)

Joe van Niekerk (South Africa)

Serge Betsen (France)

Paul O'Connell (Ireland)

Martin Johnson (capt, England)

Faan Rautenbach (South Africa)

Steve Thompson (England)

Jean-Jacques Crenca (France)



As the serious World Cup contenders - well, the five of them plus Wales, Scotland and Ireland - settle down to the business end of the tournament, 12 other teams have headed home, leaving memories good and bad of their time in the Lucky Country.

How should we remember them?

Some, such as Samoa, Fiji and Japan, had thrilling moments.

Samoa produced the greatest losing performance of the eliminated teams, full of spirit and skill against England.

Argentina, a decent, combative team, were in the toughest of the four pools and missed out to Australia and Ireland.

Something was wrong with the draw as the Pumas would be a tougher proposition for Australia tomorrow night than the Scots.

For others, the cup was about being there.

Uruguay's win over Georgia was their cup final. Ditto Romania's victory over poor old Namibia.

So who caught the eye? Who among this gang of 12 warrants selection in a Departed XV?

And what about the eight survivors? Who has put their hand up with outstanding pool play form?

Herald cup reporters Wynne Gray, Chris Rattue and David Leggat put their heads together, brushed the fleas away and in the great democratic way selection panels work, made their picks ...

THE DEPARTED XV

* Fullback

Not many candidates, but Ignacio Corleto, fast and strong on the counterattack, gets the nod. Honourable mention: Samoa's Tanner Vili.

* Wings

Fiji's Rupeni Caucaunibuca, when he wasn't swatting Frenchmen and Scots, was electrifying. He'd probably have been in the other team on this page but for those last two minutes against Scotland. The other spot goes to a Japanese flier. Any of Toru Kurihara, Daisuke Ohata or Hirotoki Onozawa would do us. We'll plump for the electric Ohata.

* Midfield

Italian Andrea Masi to team with Fiji's Seru Rabeni in a muscular combination. Any opposition won't want faint hearts against this pair.

* First five-eighth

Samoa's Earl Va'a, the smallest man at the cup. Honourable mentions: Mike Hercus of the United States, Pierre Hola of Tonga and Fiji's Nicky Little.

* Halfback

A toss up: Alessandro Troncon of Italy, Namibia's Super 12 player Hakkies Husselman and Pumas captain Agustin Pichot. In the interests of getting a United Nations feel, we'll go for Husselman by a head..

* No 8

With acknowledgements to Fiji's gallant Alifereti Doviverata, this is relatively easy: Semo Setiti, who played superbly and led with pride and dignity.

* Flankers

The tireless Maurie Fa'asavalu of Samoa gets one spot, American Kort Schubert the other.

* Locks

A tricky call. Leo Lafaiali'I and Opeta Palepoi had strong claims, the Georgian tight five were usually powerful and tried desperately hard, but we've settled on Italy's lineout man, Argentine-born Santiago Dellape and Fiji's Ifereimi Rawaqa.

* Props

Romania's Petru Balan, a giant slab with a bowling-ball head, whose slamming tackle on Brian O'Driscoll almost shipped him back to Dublin. Second only in ferocious hits to Brian Lima's thunderous hit on Derick Hougaard. And, by way of tribute to the gallant Georgians, Goderdze Schvelidze.

* Hooker

Fiji's Greg Smith was influential, but we liked the look of Canada's Aaron Abrams.

THE SURVIVORS XV

* Fullback

Mils Mulaiana, because no one has been better.

* Wings

Doug Howlett, strong and reliable, and Joe Rokocoko. After whistling past the Welsh twice, Jolting Joe barely touched the ball. Strange.

* Midfield

Brian O'Driscoll, world class, end of story, and Tony Marsh, who has shown why French coach Bernard Laporte was so keen to have him fit for the cup.

* First five-eighth

Easy. Frederic Michalak of France. A matchwinner close to the Jonny Wilkinson class.

* Halfback

Justin Marshall was good against Wales at a time the game seemed to be in danger of going seriously pear-shaped. But to ignite our backline we've gone for the best passer - and he's a good player too - in Scottish captain Bryan Redpath.

* No 8

Imanol Harinordoquy, of France, and Scotland's Simon Taylor have taken our eye. Taylor gets it, by a whisker.

* Flankers

Although he's gone for six months - and remember this team doesn't have a game in that time - Springbok Joe van Niekerk and Frenchman Serge Betsen. Van Niekerk was brilliant, Betsen is invariably very good. Honourable mention: Wales' fast-rising Jonathan Thomas, for his eye-catching performance against the All Blacks.

* Locks

Several candidates. Brad Thorn, young Frenchman Jerome Thion and Springbok giant Victor Matfield go close. But we'll plump for Ireland's Paul O'Connell and England captain Martin Johnson, both of whom, to coin a euphemism, put themselves about.

* Props

South Africa's scrummaging rock Faan Rautenbach and Frenchman Jean-Jacques Crenca get the job. And with ...

* Hooker

England's giant Steve Thompson, marginally ahead of Ireland's captain Keith Wood, this front row will be bettered by no one at scrum time.

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