Brendan Gallagher’s Team of the 2014 Rugby Championship

15 Joaquin Tuculet (Argentina) The exciting new Puma nudges it from Israel Folau who, although good, wasn’t quite the force of nature he was in the Super 15 for the Waratahs. Tuculet, along with Manuel Montero, has brought a new cutting edge to the once blunt Argentina attack.
14 Cornal HendRicks (South Africa) Possibly sacrilegious to leave Ben Smith out and really it’s the toss of a coin but, for a guy who started the season on the Sevens circuit, Cornal Hendricks made a huge impact in his first Rugby Championship. Predatory try-scorer who clearly possesses a big-match temperament.
13 Conrad Smith (New Zealand) Still “the man” in midfield. Never has his value been more evident than in the seven-day turnaround from New Zealand’s sub-par performance in Sydney, when the ABs escaped with a draw, to their supercharged 51-20 win on his return against the same opponents in Auckland the following week
12 Jean de Villiers (South Africa) De Villiers might have been slightly undercooked after injury coming into the Championship but his captaincy was hugely important yet again and he was firing on all four cylinder by the latter stages, especially in the Boks 28-10 win over Australia at Newlands.

11 Julian Savea (New Zealand) The player of the tournament in the view of most. Four tries and a danger who needed double or triple teaming every time he had possession. Steve Hansen reckons Savea is better than Jonah Lomu and 27 tries in 28 Tests more than backs that up statistically. Fast and strong but also very clever and skilful.
10 Nicolas Sanchez (Argentina) The best fly-half ever to represent ‘Unattached RFC’ although he has now joined Toulon. Good goal-kicker who finished as top points scorer with 52, impressed in all six games and attacked with a matador’s flourish. Nicks it from Aaron Cruden, Beauden Barrett with a late surge by Handre Pollard
9 Aaron Smith (New Zealand) Absolute linchpin for the All Blacks. Plays at lightning pace, fast accurate service, both a provider and strike runner. Head and shoulders above the other tournament scrum-halves and a key man for the All Blacks as they head towards the World Cup.
1 Marcos Ayerza (Argentina) The Pumas scrum was back with a vengeance and at the very heart of their all-round competitiveness, in fact it should have led to even bigger rewards. Ayerza has been the game’s best loose-head for a while and was in his pomp while still contributing around the park.
2 Adriaan Strauss (South Africa) Close call. Agustin Creevy was inspirational for the Pumas, the veteran Keven Mealamu did well for New Zealand when called upon but ultimately a straight choice between two Springboks, Adriaan Strauss and Bismark du Plessis. Strauss gets it on account of better lineout accuracy.
3 Ramiro Herrera (Argentina) The Argentinian scrum scarcely took a backward step throughout the tournament and although you can rightly praise the contributions of Owen Franks, for New Zealand, and James Slipper, for Australia, the plain fact is that the Castres prop was top dog at tight-head by some distance.
4 Brodie Retallick (New Zealand) Runs fellow Kiwi Julian Savea close for the Championship MVP award. Has displayed everything you want from a modern lock – very mobile, strong in the tight, great attitude, work rate, ferocity, dog. Reminds me of the young Martin Johnson. A legend in the making.

5 Victor Matfield (South Africa) Surprised a few by coming out of retirement but quickly settled to the requirements of Test rugby again. Plenty fit enough even at the age of 37, the fact remains that, in terms of being a lineout technician, Matfield is still the best. Plaudits for Sam Whitelock and Pumas lock Mariano Galarza.
6 Marcell Coetzee (South Africa) Almost too tight too call. The ageless Juan Manuel Leguizamon was outstanding in his three games for the Pumas while Jerome Kaino also enjoyed three fine games for the All Blacks. The unheralded Coetzee gets the nod from me though, unstinting graft where the going is toughest.
7 Richie McCaw (New Zealand) A straight fight between the All Black captain and Aussie counterpart Michael Hooper. Both scored three tries and led by example but I felt McCaw gathered pace and returned to his very best form as the tournament progressed. Hooper was understandably ‘hanging’ by the end.
8 Duane VermeUlen (South Africa) Does the nigh on impossible and shades it from the 2013 IRB player of the year Kieran Read. Vermeulen is a dynamic runner and blasts holes in the opposition defence but this season was also a growing lineout force and showed a more subtle side to a his game. Superb Championship from him.
*This article was first published in The Rugby Paper on October 12