Brendan Gallagher’s World Cup departed XV

15: Ayumu Goromaru (Japan): Sensational player in attack and defence and the team’s goal-kicker to boot. Burst on the scene over a decade ago when he was tipped to become Japan’s player of genuine world class. Strangely lost his way at one stage, so much so that he didn’t even make the squad four years ago. Heaven knows why not. Will be a contender for the Tournament XV as well.
14: Telusa Veainu (Tonga): Great gas, quick feet, brilliant array of off-loads and a nose for the line, Veainu is a richly talented individual, so much so that American Football scouts have reportedly been tracking him at RWC2015. New Zealand born, he played for New Zealand U20 before switching to the land of his parents.
13: Cairan Hearne (Canada): Big solid unit  – 6ft 3inches, 220lb – from Labrador who unsurprisingly is formidable in defence but courtesy of long service with the Canada Sevens also very adept with ball in hand. Has played all his club fifteens career domestically in Canada which is possibly a shame, who know what he might have achieved with a big European club.
12: Levani Botia (Fiji): Quite why Fiji waited until the Wales match to start Botia remains a mystery although it was probably in deference to older campaigners Vereniki Goneva and Gabrielle Lovobalavu. Botia, a former Fiji Sevens star who has made a big impact in the T14 with La Rochelle, was their form centre in the Pacific Nations comp and Fiji should have started with him.
11: DTH Van der Merve (Canada, above): The muscular, elusive Canada wing departs with the distinction of having scored a try in all four pool games. Looked dangerous whenever in possession and must be a contender for the Tournament XV as well. Has recently moved from Glasgow to Scarlets so a treat awaits for fans at Parc Y Scarlets this season.
10 Ben Volavola (Fiji): Can be a bit loose and high risk but  when he chooses to cut loose Volavola is some player and actually when he’s got time on the ball he is a very decent kicker out of hand. Still young and it’s easy to see why the Crusaders fancy he might develop into the long term successor to Dan Carter. Another product of the Fiji Sevens team.
9: Fumiaki Tanaka (Japan): Brilliant pocket rocket of a scrum-half who would grace any team in the world. The smallest player at the World Cup – 5ft 5inchs and 72kg – his incredible speed and agility help set the tempo which made Japan so formidable and exciting to watch. Now 30 can he make it through to RWC2019 in his homeland?
1: Campese Ma’afu (Fiji): One of the great mysteries and delights of the World Cup is how the Fiji front three morphed into the Pontypool front row, a credit to much work behind the scenes. Ma’afu was at the heart of that although cruelly he will probably be best remembered as the recipient of a hugely undeserved yellow card from JP Doyle against Uruguay.
2: Sunia Koto (Fiji): Another key member of the revamped Fiji front row that gave England, Wales and Australia a pile of grief and destroyed Uruguay. Koto was also a lively presence around the field. Has been playing international rugby for 11 seasons, this was his third and probably last World Cup. Went out on a high.
3: Mihai Lazar (Romania): Tempting to put one of the posse of fine Georgian props who the Lelos seemed to rotate freely, but for the second World Cup in a row the Castres prop was an absolute rock for the Oaks ensuring that even on days they were struggling elsewhere they always had a solid scrum.
4: Jamie Cudmore (Canada): His fitness was in doubt prior to the tournament as he battled a concussion injury but ultimately all was well and the Clermont man worked like a Trojan in a Canadian pack that unusually struggled for a bit for muscle and bulk. And he behaved himself ensuring Canada got a full shift out of him for every game.
5: Leone Nakarawa (Fiji, top): The lanky Glasgow Warriors lock was quiet against England but superb in Fiji’s remaining three games. It is his wondrous Sevens style running and off-loading that attract the headlines but he also gives Fiji real presence in the line-out and is surprisingly strong, playing his part in the much improved Fijian scrum.
6: Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia, above): The man mountain from Georgia had a fine and influential tournament. Undoubted MOM in their win over Tonga, playing well when he was yellow carded against Scotland and voted by the fans as MOM against New Zealand much to his evident joy. Romania’s Valentin Ursaches was another tough guyin the back-row who deserves singling out.
7: Michael Leitch (Japan): The Japanese captain is a phenomenal workhorse and the cleverest of footballers to boot while also managing to be a reliable source of line-out ball. His extensive Super rugby experience illuminates everything he does. When he plays well Japan play well. When he is exhausted – as for the Scotland game – Japan dip noticeably.
8: Ronaldo Bothma (Namibia): Namibia must brace themselves for life without the great Jacques Burger… but luckily this terrific bullocking backrower from the Sharks has stepped forward to fill the breach. Huge tackler, strong runner and blessed with the same indomitable spirit as Burger. A very decent kick on him as well. Class act.