KEY POINTS:
It takes 15 players working together to make a team, but some are so outstanding they're head and shoulders above the rest, writes David Leggat.
Fourie du Preez - South Africa
The game's most accomplished No 9. Two examples of what he means to the Springboks.
1)
He was the key figure as South Africa demolished England, his speed of thought and movement in setting up Juan Smith's try and his generalship running a smart, strong, confident operation.
2 He was missing when South Africa stumbled badly against Tonga and could even have been beaten. The authority he brings was missing and the result was not far off a catastrophe.
There are some decent halfbacks going round at the cup. This guy is top of the pops.
Jerry Collins - New Zealand
Let's clear this up first: he's played Italy and Portugal so far.
Bigger challenges lie ahead, but Collins was hugely impressive in both games, and what's more he appeared at times to be doing it in third gear.
He wasn't. That's not the bruising blindside's way, but there were moments when it all seemed too easy.
Reuben Thorne is nominally Collins' backup; Chris Masoe did a turn there against Scotland, mixing some strong work with his share of boo-boos along the way of a stuttering team display.
There are some positions offering a challenge for the selectors. No 6 is not one of them. Enough said.
Sebastian Chabal - France
When he came to New Zealand in mid-year he looked a one-trick pony. Overblown hair bear muttered the All Black diehards.
French coach Bernard Laporte has also never been that keen on the caveman from Valence, near Lyon.
But now he's been forced to change his thinking.
Chabal's irresistably ferocious charges may still hint as a one-shot artist, but what a shot.
He rhino'ed his way through the Namibian defence and has providede the stimulus to an improving French team.
He's also got that quality the French have always liked in their rugby players: charisma. Now the team, and the people, have someone to get behind.
Finau Maka - Tonga
You could also put their captain, Nili Latu, in this spot, but we've gone for the No 8 with the big hair and bigger heart.
Maka's work-rate against South Africa was remarkable. He has a Chabal-like quality about his work with the ball in hand, and is similarly Route One inclined.
If Maka puts in another towering performance against England early tomorrow, Tonga will be a giant stride closer to making the quarter-finals for the first time.
Agustin Pichot- Argentina
Another No 9, and a good 'un. It's often been wondered how good Pichot would be behind an All Black pack. It's futile speculation, of course, but you'd pick he would be even more dominant a figure than he is.
Pichot - long based in Europe, currently with Stade Francais, so this is his home patch - is a player his fellow Pumas listen to.
He cajoles the big forwards round the park, barking orders like a sheepdog rounding up the stragglers.
He's 33, with 67 caps. This is his third World Cup, and probably his last. If Argentina fulfil many expectations and reach the semifinals - or better - look for Pichot being the guiding light.
Stirling Mortlock - Australia
The Wallabies will be praying his partial shoulder dislocation is as minor as the powerful centre implies.
"I'm very confident that I'll be right for the quarter-final." Be absolutely certain John Connolly has his fingers crossed.
An argument can be made that Matt Giteau is the one Australian player they cannot replace, because he's different, fleet of foot, a tidy kicker who offers much to their plan.
Yes, another hard-running man can be found for Mortlock's spot - in the same way New Zealand replaced Sir Richard Hadlee with a succession of worthy, honest fast-medium men. A massive gamebreaker.
No Mortlock?
The Wallabies' hopes of a third Webb Ellis Cup will be gone.
Jonny Wilkinson - England
Okay, okay I hear the nay-sayers already.
But you cannot deny it: had Wilkinson been missing, instead of making his first bow in the cup, Samoa would probably have tipped the defending champions out last weekend.
Up stepped Wilkinson and contributed 24 points, and set up a try for wing Paul Sackey. His grubber kick through might have seemed entirely logical but this is England, who previously had been leaden of mind as well as foot.
If Tonga get offside with referee Alain Rolland, Wilkinson will hurt them.
He's not the Jonny of 2003 but England are a significantly harder team with him than without, so he's in this group.
