Brendan Gallagher’s RWC absent friends XV

15 Israel Dagg (NZ)
Arguably the star of the tournament four years ago, certainly a key player with five tries and a series of performances that projected him into everybody’s Tournament XV. Injuries have subsequently taken their toll along with the emergence of the exceptional Ben Smith. European player of the year Nick Abendanon is another who could have ignited the tournament if selected.
14 Christian Wade (ENG)
Didn’t even make the England long squad which left many bemused because Wade can – and frequently does – scored tries beyond the scope of all but a handful of   players in the world. Would be the star performer for many other nations. New Zealand’s Charles Piutau is another who can count himself unlucky, especially after a stunning MOM performance in the All Blacks victory over South Africa at Ellis Park.
13 Jonathan Davies (WAL)
Big loss for Wales and the tournament. Terrific outside centre who was enjoying a storming end of the season with Clermont when he ruptured his ACL. Horrible timing but young enough to star at RWC2019. Ireland‘s Gordon D’Arcy would have been hoping to make it through to another tournament but at the age of 35 was battling the march of time.
12 Manu Tuilagi (ENG)
Tuilagi was possibly struggling to make the England squad anyway after a depressing season on the sidelines with a complicated groin injury but sealed his own fate with his high profile altercation with a Leicester taxi driver and the Police officers attending. Will be missed though.
11 Manuel Mantero (ARG)
Exciting powerhouse wing who was threatening to give Argentina a different dimension out wide but ruptured an ACL in June and that, alas, was curtain. Still young so will hopefully feature at RWC2019. Meanwhile Premiership fans can only scratch their heads at the absence from Samoa‘s squad of Newcastle powerhouse Sinoti Sinoti.
10 Danny Cipriani (ENG)
Has behaved himself, trained hard and made a purse out of a sow’s ear during his pitifully short but eye-catching cameos off the bench. Ultimately he was never given a proper chance, so a player who could have contributed mightily to England misses out altogether.
9 Nic White (AUS)
Very unlucky.  Consummate match winner for Australia against the All Blacks less than a month ago when he came on to score and convert the winning try but misses out to Will Genia who is coming back from a knee injury that required surgery.
1 Alex Corbisiero (ENG)
Outstanding Lion two years ago but since injuries have been cruel – knee, shoulder and latterly sciatica – and the truth is Stuart Lancaster had little choice in not picking him. Might be match fit in a month’s time but couldn’t take the risk.
2 Richard Hibbard (WAL)
Not necessarily first choice but it was very difficult to envisage a Wales 23 without the 2013 Lion. Probably did his cause no good by testing his fitness for Gloucester in a Premiership match between Six Nations games last season.
3 Adam Jones (WAL)
His absence was signposted from the moment he was omitted from Wales’ Six Nations squad and could yet come back to haunt Wales. Was looking very fit and determined when I clocked him at Quins’ pre-season training recently.
4 James Horwill (AUS)
Captained Australia to third place at RWC2011, captained the Aussies in the Lions Test series two years later and looked set to play at RWC2015 …until Michael Cheika announced his squad and his name wasn’t there. Big call.
5 Rodrigo Capo Ortega (URU)
With no less than 14 years of T14 experience with Castres not to mention a World Cup campaign in 2003, Uruguay were relying heavily on the big lock before he withdrew his services in June citing the need to be with his wife who is expecting a baby.
6 Marcell Coetzee (SA)
A hell of a good player to miss out with the ability to play blindside and openside but a niggling knee problem has been troubling the Shark, worsened during the Boks defeat at home to the Pumas, and he’s been struggling since.
7 Steffon Armitage (ENG)
European player of the year in 2014 and claimed a third consecutive European Cup winners medal with Toulon this season. Had been rejected by England when he took a risk and joined Toulon where First XV rugby was frankly a bit of a long shot. Ambition has not been rewarded.
8 Pierre Spies (SA)
Can look a world beater on his day but has fallen down the pecking order after 18 months of injury problems with bicep ruptures that required surgery. Also missed out in 2007 when he was unable to play in France after suffering with clots on his lungs.
Bench: Matias Dias (Arg), Dylan Hartley (Eng), James Johnston (Sam), Marco Bortolami (Ita), Heinrich Brussow (SA), Joe Simpson (Eng), James Hook (Wal), Sinoti Sinoti (Sam)