So in light of this, it seems totally appropriated to select a Tier Two All Stars fifteen based on Rugby World Cup pool play performances with a very simple (like the bloke picking the side) selection criteria -non-Rugby Championship and non-Six Nations players only eligible for inclusion.
1 Soane Tonga'huia (Tonga) - scrummed his backside off and was prominent around the park with some very deft touches.
2 Shota Horie (Japan) - in a scrum that was under a fair bit of pressure, his ability to get a quick strike, thus getting the ball to his number eight and out of the scrum at pace was superb; industrious around the track like always - special mention though for Namibian hooker and tournaments leading tackler Torsten Van Jaarsveld.
3 Levan Chilachava (Georgia) - gave Wyatt Crockett amongst others a serious work out at scrum time and seem to derive great pleasure in removing bodies from the breakdown.
4 Tjiuee Uanivi (Namibia) - needs to put at least another 8 or so kilograms of muscle on his current 108kg frame, but his work in the air and around the field was super impressive.
5 Leone Nakarawa (Fiji) - watching this big man "do what he do" was one of the best parts of pool play. Outstanding athleticism and wonderful in open play, his work in the tight wasn't bad either when he was required to stick around that area. When Sonny Bill Williams calls you the "Offload Master" you got to be doing it well.
6 Michael Lietch - captain (Japan) - the first name written down; a total no-brainer. For me, it's a toss-up between Leitich and David Pocock for my player of pool play. Unrelenting, uncompromising and undeniable determination to lead with his body, as evident tournament leading 58 carries, 35 of those over the gain line (also tournament leading) saw his team followed him to the end.
7 Akapusi Qera (Fiji) - lost amongst all the razzle dazzle was Qera unquenchable thirst for work. The team's leading tackler, 2nd most turnovers and omnipresent in support, Qera was more than a much for some vaunted opposition in a pool stacked with high class loose forwards.
8 Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia) - he's a big man who knows how to use his body to its best effect and a work rate that belies his afore mentioned size; not a bad captain either.
9 Kahn Fotuali'I (Samoa) - even as bad as Samoa was during those matches with South Africa and Japan in particular, Fotuali'I stood out like world class halfback he is and has been for the last five years. His efforts make those of some of his team-mates all the more galling.
10 Kosei Ono (Japan) - the former Christchurch Boys High School old boy steered his team around the park to three excellent wins with great aplomb. Hope the Sunwolves have signed him so we can witness some further development that Super Rugby would surely give him.
11 Nemani Nadolo (Fiji) - more by default truth be told. Not much to choose from in this position and Nadolo was the pick of the bunch, though in his defence he was ridiculously over-hyped by the British media, which was obviously not of his doing.
12 Lepani Botia (Fiji) - formed a lovely combination with Goneva that was as invigorating on attack as it was strong and efficient on defence, nullifying some very good midfield opposition as well as testing their own defensive qualities.
13 Vereniki Goneva (Fiji) - this was a tough one and I've switched back and forth between the Fijian and Georgia's Davit Kacharava, who deserves a mention, at least four times now. Just felt that whilst Kacharava was defensively better, Goneva's greater attacking input outweighed the only slight defensive difference between the two.
14 DTH van der Merwe (Canada) - a try in each game; most metres made in pool phase (389 metres) a constant threat with ball in hand while his positional play was very good as was his man on man defence.
15 Ayumu Goromaru (Japan) - the magnificent try saving tackle on Scotland winger Tommy Seymour warranted inclusion on its own accord but by crikey, this lad does everything really, really well including goal kicks - second name written down after Michael Leitch.
NIGEL YALDEN IS RADIO SPORTS RUGBY EDITOR AT RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015
