Three Springboks make AFP’s 2015 Rugby World Cup XV, including its captain

From Agence France-Presse:

The eighth Rugby World Cup, which ended with New Zealand's stunning 34-17 win over Australia in a dramatic final at Twickenham on Saturday, has been acclaimed as the "biggest and best" yet.

Previously little-known names as well as established stars lit up a six-week festival of rugby, with that combination of the old and the new reflected in the team of the tournament as chosen by AFP Sport's multi-national band of World Cup reporters.

AFP's team of the 2015 World Cup

15: Ayumu Goromaru (JPN)

The native Japanese full-back symbolised the Cherry Blossoms' emergence and scored 24 points, including a superb try, in their shock 34-32 win over SouthAfrica.

14: Adam Ashley-Cooper (AUS)

Not a flashy player, the veteran wing was usually in the right place at the right time as he showed with a semi-final hat-trick of tries against Argentina.

13: Conrad Smith (NZL)

Proved yet again the enduring worth of a midfielder who knows how to give a pass and take one while never shirking defensive duty.

12: Ma'a Nonu (NZL)

The perfect foil for Smith, his strong, curving run for a try in the final is sure to go down as one of the all-time great scores.

11: Julian Savea (NZL)

The powerhouse wing's eight tries saw him equal the record for the most scored at a World Cup, previously shared by New Zealand's Jonah Lomu and SouthAfrica's Bryan Habana.

10: Dan Carter (NZL)

One of the all-time greats, the masterful fly-half bowed out of Test rugby with a near-perfect match in a final where his superb drop-goal gave the All Blacks breathing space just when they needed it.

9: Fourie du Preez (RSA, capt)

All but willed the Springboks to the last four with his drive and tactical kicking, the 2007 champion showed a neat burst of speed to score the decisive try in a quarter-final win over Wales.

8: David Pocock (AUS)

The boss of the breakdown, his immense value to Australia was never more apparent when, with the back-row injured, they only just scraped past Scotland in the quarter-finals.

7: Michael Hooper (AUS)

Few better in the battle for possession and a forceful presence in open play too.

6: Mamuka Gorgodze (GEO)

No-one better exemplified the physicality and passion of Georgia than their inspirational captain who powered over for a try in a 17-10 win over Tonga — just the Lelos' third victory at a World Cup.

5: Eben Etzebeth (RSA)

The 6ft 8in tall, 19-stone second row, who only turned 24 during the tournament, was not only a formidable figure at the line-out but made light of his sheer size with a huge tackle count.

4: Brodie Retallick (NZL)

Another imposing line-out figure and often a dangerous runner in open play, he has set the standard by which other locks are now judged.

3: Frans Malherbe (RSA)

The anchorman of the South African scrum and one of several young players set for a hugely promising Springbok future.

2: Agustin Creevy (ARG)

The ball-playing Argentina skipper and hooker came to embody the new expansive game now beloved of the once set-piece dominated Pumas.

1: Marcos Ayerza (ARG)

A fearsome presence in the scrum, the Leicester loosehead adapted well to Argentina's increasingly all-round approach.

Coach: Michael Cheika (AUS)

A year ago he inherited a Wallaby side riven by off-the-field problems, yet straightened them out to win the southern hemisphere Rugby Championship title and give them the self-belief to recover to within four points of one of the all-time great teams in the World Cup final before the All Blacks pulled clear.

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