The Castres prop flirted with legality on more than one occasion in Romania’s defeat to France but he was the anchor of a very solid scrummaging effort.
Lazar was almost perpendicular to the rest of the scrum at times. World Rugby / Neil Treacy
World Rugby / Neil Treacy / Neil Treacy
2. Ross Ford (Scotland)
Scotland’s lineout was never in any trouble against Japan, and Ford was just as active in open play, putting in 15 tackles.
PA Wire / PA Images
PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images
3. Manasa Saulo (Fiji)
Saulo and the Fijian front row showed that their effort against England was no flash in the plan, and they gave the Wallabies pack plenty to think about on Wednesday.
GLYN KIRK
GLYN KIRK
4. Luke Romano (NZ)
Namibia captain Jacques Burger may have knocked Romano into ward four with a thumping first-half tackle, but it wasn’t enough to knock him out of our selection.
Christophe Ena
Christophe Ena
5. Bernard Le Roux (France)
Played out of position in the second row, Le Roux came in for plentiful praise from Philippe Saint-Andre after the win over Romania. “If we had 15 players like him yesterday, the match would have been easier,” the French coach said.
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PA Wire / PA Images
PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images
6. David Pocock (Australia)
Two tries and a man-of-the-match performance. A flying start by David Pocock.
World Rugby
World Rugby
7. John Hardie (Scotland)
If new boy Hardie keeps playing like he did against Japan, it won’t be long before he’s a fan favourite. After keeping this move alive with a brilliant scoop out the side door, he deservedly caught up with play in time to apply the finishing touch.
World Rugby
World Rugby
8. Amanaki Lelei Mafi (Japan)
Scored Japan’s try against Scotland and always looked to put the Cherry Blossoms on the front foot by running some great lines.
Clint Hughes
Clint Hughes
9. Morgan Parra (France)
His usual excellent self as he conducted the French orchestra.
World Rugby
World Rugby
10. Finn Russell (Scotland)
Made sure to celebrate a very happy 23rd birthday by burrowing over for a try in the win against Japan.
PA Wire / PA Images
PA Wire / PA Images / PA Images
11. Ayumu Goromaru (Japan)
This. Tackle.
World Rugby
World Rugby
12. Sonny Bill Williams (NZ)
If SBW keeps producing bits of skill like this, he’ll be a permanent fixture in our selection.
World Rugby
World Rugby
13. Mark Bennett (Scotland)
The outstanding Scottish player on his World Cup debut, Bennett ran in two tries against Japan.
Clint Hughes
Clint Hughes
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder (NZ)
After arriving at the World Cup with a fanfare, Milner-Skudder disappointed against Argentina, but he bounced back with two tries and the man of the match prize against Namibia on Thursday night.
AP / Press Association Images
AP / Press Association Images / Press Association Images
15. Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
Read the game as well as ever, and set up Bennett for a try with a lightning 40-yard break.
There are more Scots than All Blacks in our RWC Team of the Midweek
1. Mihai Lazar (Romania)
The Castres prop flirted with legality on more than one occasion in Romania’s defeat to France but he was the anchor of a very solid scrummaging effort.
2. Ross Ford (Scotland)
Scotland’s lineout was never in any trouble against Japan, and Ford was just as active in open play, putting in 15 tackles.
3. Manasa Saulo (Fiji)
Saulo and the Fijian front row showed that their effort against England was no flash in the plan, and they gave the Wallabies pack plenty to think about on Wednesday.
4. Luke Romano (NZ)
Namibia captain Jacques Burger may have knocked Romano into ward four with a thumping first-half tackle, but it wasn’t enough to knock him out of our selection.
5. Bernard Le Roux (France)
Played out of position in the second row, Le Roux came in for plentiful praise from Philippe Saint-Andre after the win over Romania. “If we had 15 players like him yesterday, the match would have been easier,” the French coach said.
6. David Pocock (Australia)
Two tries and a man-of-the-match performance. A flying start by David Pocock.
7. John Hardie (Scotland)
If new boy Hardie keeps playing like he did against Japan, it won’t be long before he’s a fan favourite. After keeping this move alive with a brilliant scoop out the side door, he deservedly caught up with play in time to apply the finishing touch.
8. Amanaki Lelei Mafi (Japan)
Scored Japan’s try against Scotland and always looked to put the Cherry Blossoms on the front foot by running some great lines.
9. Morgan Parra (France)
His usual excellent self as he conducted the French orchestra.
10. Finn Russell (Scotland)
Made sure to celebrate a very happy 23rd birthday by burrowing over for a try in the win against Japan.
11. Ayumu Goromaru (Japan)
This. Tackle.
12. Sonny Bill Williams (NZ)
If SBW keeps producing bits of skill like this, he’ll be a permanent fixture in our selection.
13. Mark Bennett (Scotland)
The outstanding Scottish player on his World Cup debut, Bennett ran in two tries against Japan.
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder (NZ)
After arriving at the World Cup with a fanfare, Milner-Skudder disappointed against Argentina, but he bounced back with two tries and the man of the match prize against Namibia on Thursday night.
15. Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
Read the game as well as ever, and set up Bennett for a try with a lightning 40-yard break.
– Niall Kelly and Sean Farrell
Originally published at 13.33
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Rugby World Cup rwc 15 RWC 2015 rwc team of the week standouts