This is one of those tasks in which there aren’t a whole lot of wrong answers.
Australia and New Zealand will meet in the Rugby World Cup final and few observers would argue the notion that the top two teams in the sport are those battling it out for the Webb Ellis Trophy.
The job of picking a combined XV from the two star-studded line-ups is, therefore, one where many of the positions are decided by the finest of margins. To be honest, you could probably go the other way on a dozen or so of these selections and not get that much argument.
1. Scott Sio (Aus)
The loosehead prop missed the semi-final win against Argentina with an elbow injury but is back in training and primed for a recall to the front-row. The way the Aussie scrum creaked against the Pumas, Michael Cheika’s side will need him to be fully fit.
2. Stephen Moore (Aus)
A tough call against Dane Coles, but Moore’s leadership of the Wallabies has been exceptional.
3. Owen Franks (NZ)
The solid scrummager is the rock of the All Black setpiece.
4. Brodie Retallick (NZ)
5. Sam Whitelock (NZ)
Kane Douglas’s performances make him a live contender for a place in the second row, but we just can’t break up the partnership of 2014 World Player of the Year Retallick (pictured) and the imposing Whitelock, as they dominated at the lineout throughout the competition and offered tough tackling and hard carrying in the loose.
6. Scott Fardy (Aus)
This was probably the closest call of the lot. Jerome Kaino remains one of New Zealand’s most reliable performers on the ground, in the tackle and hitting the gainline, but we’ve given Fardy the nod after he capped a remarkable tournament with a brilliantly physical semi-final display against the Pumas that included 16 tackles.
7. Richie McCaw (NZ)
His flouting of the laws of the breakdown and his badgering of referees mean he is not to everybody’s taste, but you simply cannot argue with the impact he still has on the game.
8. David Pocock (Aus)
On the shortest of short lists for player of the tournament, Pocock wears the scars of his work at the breakdown with pride. Wearing the number eight, the former openside shares the groundwork with back-row buds Fardy and Michael Hooper, a combination that will give McCaw and opposite number Kieran Read all they can handle as he looks to add to his tournament haul of 14 turnovers.
9. Aaron Smith (NZ)
Sorry Will Genia, but the younger man gets the edge here after handling the difficult conditions during the semi-final against South Africa with aplomb.
10. Dan Carter (NZ)
Bernard Foley has been ripping teams apart in this World Cup and showed his bottle to kick the controversial penalty to defeat Scotland having had previously had a day to forget with the boot, but we still can’t pick against the legend Carter, who is still pulling the strings for that fabulous Kiwi backline at the age of 33 and could finally get the World Cup victory he missed out on through injury in 2011.
11. Julian Savea (NZ)
The wing has done his best impression of Jonah Lomu over the past six weeks, skittling defenders en route to equalling the great man’s record of eight tries in the tournament with the final to come.
12. Matt Giteau (Aus)
The veteran savvy of Giteau edges the power game of Ma’a Nonu at inside centre. Gives the Aussies a vital second playmaking option outside Foley and has gotten more influential as the tournament has progressed –Â his pass for Adam Ashley-Cooper’s second try against the Pumas was a thing of beauty.
13. Conrad Smith (NZ)
Another old hand using his smarts to make up for the gradual deterioration in his physical gifts. Remains an excellent decision-maker and his ability to pick a pass is key to New Zealand’s attack.
14. Adam Ashley-Cooper (Aus)
Consistent as ever, does Ashley-Cooper ever have an off day? Still a deadly finisher as his hat-trick against Argentina demonstrated, but arguably an even better defender, playing a key role in that incredible 13-man stand against Wales in the pool stage. Nehe Milner-Skudder’s thrilling running has to play second fiddle here.
15. Ben Smith (NZ)
Israel Folau is one of our favourite players in world rugby, but few can argue he has been short of his best in this tournament. Smith, on the other hand, has been the model of consistency, in defence, attack and the air, for New Zealand.
