We've still got to play the 3rd vs 4th playoff, but given that we're now out of the running to bring back Bill, I think it's time for some analysis of our RWC players.
1. Sekope Kepu - decent RWC. Started slowly but got better with each game. Had easily his best game against South Africa. Shame he got injured in the semi.
2. Stephen Moore - didn't live up to his high standards of 2010/11. Missed the Irish game, had an average game against South Africa and was only a little better against the ABs. A poor RWC by his standards. Needed to be one of our best but wasn't.
3. Ben Alexander - Pretty good overall. I'd say he was our best front rower overall. Tackling wasn't always the best, but he worked hard and his scrummaging was reasonable.
4. Dan Vickerman - good RWC. He had an excellent game against South Africa and one of our best forwards against the ABs. One of the few to really muscle up. Struggled against Ireland and gave away too many penalties, but overall was one of our best forwards.
5. James Horwill - decent. He worked tirelessly against the Springboks and was decent against the ABs, but was a letdown as captain against Ireland. He could be a great Wallaby captain yet, but he certainly isn't John Eales yet.
6. Rocky Elsom - had a pretty good RWC. His best game was against South Africa, but he worked very hard all cup and was amongst our best forwards. Tried hard but never really dominated his opposite number.
7. David Pocock - our best player. Outstanding against South Africa, almost single handedly winning the game and was strong against the ABs. We missed him against Ireland and his omission really showed his value to our team.
8. Radike Samo - average by his standards. Never back to his Suncorp form against the ABs. Had a standout game against the Springboks but unfortuantely that was by far and away his best performance.
9. Will Genia - very poor RWC. Went into the tournament as arguably the best halfback in the world and was nowhere close. Box kicking was particularly poor. Shouldn't have played 80 minutes as often as he did.
10 Quade Cooper - very poor RWC. Went into the cup promising a lot but delivered little. Way too many unforced errors and poor decisions. The occasion got he better of him.
11. Digby Ioane - injured in the first game but was excellent against Italy, came back with a reasonable game against South Africa and was probably our best player against the ABs.
12. Pat McCabe - You've got to take your hat off to him. Put in a tremendous effort with a bung shoulder. Has completely destroyed himself and hopefully it won't backfire against him for his career ahead. Didn't offer a lot in attack but defended brilliantly and played with the heart that many of his teammates could learn from.
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper - Moderate. He defended well against the Springboks but never really shone. Didn't really provide much from fullback against the ABs and struggled under the high ball throughout the cup.
14. James O'Connor - had a strong RWC. Coming in under the controversy of missing the team selection, he was good at every opportunity. Won us the quarter final with a pressure kick and was one of our better players in the semi final. Tried hard all cup.
15. Kurtley Beale - was reasonable without being great. Struggling to find his way having to play wing in defence because of Cooper, he hasn't really been able to utilise his skills. Unlucky to miss the semi through injury. Hopefully he'll be around in four years time to make amends.
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau - started slowly but got better. Poor against Ireland but got better with every run. Did a pretty good job off the bench for Moore. Still not back to his high impact style that previously saw him as the best hooker in Australia.
17 James Slipper - pretty good RWC. Got better with each run and showed good mobility around the field. Scrummaging was on par with the other props.
18. Nathan Sharpe - limited opportunities. Shame he didn't get a chance against the ABs but made plenty of tackles off the bench against South Africa. His lineout work wasn't as great as usual.
19. Ben McCalman - decent. Was asked to play 7 a couple of times which I think showed how good Pocock is more than it showed that McCalman wasn't good. Decent games off the bench against both SA and NZ.
20. Rob Simmons - limited opportunities. Showed poor hands in the rain. Decent off the bench against the ABs and will hopefully be better for the run. Definitely a player of the future.
21. Luke Burgess - very limited opportunities. Looked great every chance he had. Should have had 20 minutes against the ABs to show his wares, particularly as Genia was poor.
22. Berrick Barnes - had a strong RWC. Made an impact with every opportunity he had. Our backline looked far more organised and our kicking game improved. Unlucky never to start a game. If he stays fit in 2012 he is a certain starting XV player.
23. Salesi Ma'afu - very limited opportunity. Looked alright in the chances he was given. Scored a meat pie as well as surely eating many.
24. Rob Horne - unlucky to get injured against the USA. Had a superb half before that. Looked decent against the ABs and made plenty of tackles. Needs to stay fit for a season to show how good he is. Until then he is just a player who offers a lot but never gets an opportunity to show it.
25. Anthony Fainga'a - moderate. Didn't have a lot of opportunities and probably didn't excell when he had those opportunities. Missed too many tackles against the ABs which must be his bread and butter. Needs to offer more in his game.
26. Drew Mitchell - frightfully unlucky getting injured. Looked great when we saw him. Could have easily been in our finals 22 if he hadn't done a hammy.
27. Wycliff Palu - got better with each run and was actually looking pretty good before doing a hammy. Injuries have plagued him in the last two seasons and he needs to change that going forward if he wants to remain a Wallaby.
28. Nick Phipps - minimal opportunity and that was on the wing against Russia. Hopefully learnt plenty from the experience.
29. Scott Higginbotham - started the RWC vying for the 6 jersey but finished outside of the 22. Like a slippery football, he failed to grasp his opportunities. Yet to show that he is more than just a good S15 player.
30. Saia Fainga'a - very limited opportunities. Didn't do anything to suggest that he should be ahead of a recovering TPN.
31. Lachie Turner - did not play.
32. Matt Hodgson - did not play.
1. Sekope Kepu - decent RWC. Started slowly but got better with each game. Had easily his best game against South Africa. Shame he got injured in the semi.
2. Stephen Moore - didn't live up to his high standards of 2010/11. Missed the Irish game, had an average game against South Africa and was only a little better against the ABs. A poor RWC by his standards. Needed to be one of our best but wasn't.
3. Ben Alexander - Pretty good overall. I'd say he was our best front rower overall. Tackling wasn't always the best, but he worked hard and his scrummaging was reasonable.
4. Dan Vickerman - good RWC. He had an excellent game against South Africa and one of our best forwards against the ABs. One of the few to really muscle up. Struggled against Ireland and gave away too many penalties, but overall was one of our best forwards.
5. James Horwill - decent. He worked tirelessly against the Springboks and was decent against the ABs, but was a letdown as captain against Ireland. He could be a great Wallaby captain yet, but he certainly isn't John Eales yet.
6. Rocky Elsom - had a pretty good RWC. His best game was against South Africa, but he worked very hard all cup and was amongst our best forwards. Tried hard but never really dominated his opposite number.
7. David Pocock - our best player. Outstanding against South Africa, almost single handedly winning the game and was strong against the ABs. We missed him against Ireland and his omission really showed his value to our team.
8. Radike Samo - average by his standards. Never back to his Suncorp form against the ABs. Had a standout game against the Springboks but unfortuantely that was by far and away his best performance.
9. Will Genia - very poor RWC. Went into the tournament as arguably the best halfback in the world and was nowhere close. Box kicking was particularly poor. Shouldn't have played 80 minutes as often as he did.
10 Quade Cooper - very poor RWC. Went into the cup promising a lot but delivered little. Way too many unforced errors and poor decisions. The occasion got he better of him.
11. Digby Ioane - injured in the first game but was excellent against Italy, came back with a reasonable game against South Africa and was probably our best player against the ABs.
12. Pat McCabe - You've got to take your hat off to him. Put in a tremendous effort with a bung shoulder. Has completely destroyed himself and hopefully it won't backfire against him for his career ahead. Didn't offer a lot in attack but defended brilliantly and played with the heart that many of his teammates could learn from.
13. Adam Ashley-Cooper - Moderate. He defended well against the Springboks but never really shone. Didn't really provide much from fullback against the ABs and struggled under the high ball throughout the cup.
14. James O'Connor - had a strong RWC. Coming in under the controversy of missing the team selection, he was good at every opportunity. Won us the quarter final with a pressure kick and was one of our better players in the semi final. Tried hard all cup.
15. Kurtley Beale - was reasonable without being great. Struggling to find his way having to play wing in defence because of Cooper, he hasn't really been able to utilise his skills. Unlucky to miss the semi through injury. Hopefully he'll be around in four years time to make amends.
16. Tatafu Polota-Nau - started slowly but got better. Poor against Ireland but got better with every run. Did a pretty good job off the bench for Moore. Still not back to his high impact style that previously saw him as the best hooker in Australia.
17 James Slipper - pretty good RWC. Got better with each run and showed good mobility around the field. Scrummaging was on par with the other props.
18. Nathan Sharpe - limited opportunities. Shame he didn't get a chance against the ABs but made plenty of tackles off the bench against South Africa. His lineout work wasn't as great as usual.
19. Ben McCalman - decent. Was asked to play 7 a couple of times which I think showed how good Pocock is more than it showed that McCalman wasn't good. Decent games off the bench against both SA and NZ.
20. Rob Simmons - limited opportunities. Showed poor hands in the rain. Decent off the bench against the ABs and will hopefully be better for the run. Definitely a player of the future.
21. Luke Burgess - very limited opportunities. Looked great every chance he had. Should have had 20 minutes against the ABs to show his wares, particularly as Genia was poor.
22. Berrick Barnes - had a strong RWC. Made an impact with every opportunity he had. Our backline looked far more organised and our kicking game improved. Unlucky never to start a game. If he stays fit in 2012 he is a certain starting XV player.
23. Salesi Ma'afu - very limited opportunity. Looked alright in the chances he was given. Scored a meat pie as well as surely eating many.
24. Rob Horne - unlucky to get injured against the USA. Had a superb half before that. Looked decent against the ABs and made plenty of tackles. Needs to stay fit for a season to show how good he is. Until then he is just a player who offers a lot but never gets an opportunity to show it.
25. Anthony Fainga'a - moderate. Didn't have a lot of opportunities and probably didn't excell when he had those opportunities. Missed too many tackles against the ABs which must be his bread and butter. Needs to offer more in his game.
26. Drew Mitchell - frightfully unlucky getting injured. Looked great when we saw him. Could have easily been in our finals 22 if he hadn't done a hammy.
27. Wycliff Palu - got better with each run and was actually looking pretty good before doing a hammy. Injuries have plagued him in the last two seasons and he needs to change that going forward if he wants to remain a Wallaby.
28. Nick Phipps - minimal opportunity and that was on the wing against Russia. Hopefully learnt plenty from the experience.
29. Scott Higginbotham - started the RWC vying for the 6 jersey but finished outside of the 22. Like a slippery football, he failed to grasp his opportunities. Yet to show that he is more than just a good S15 player.
30. Saia Fainga'a - very limited opportunities. Didn't do anything to suggest that he should be ahead of a recovering TPN.
31. Lachie Turner - did not play.
32. Matt Hodgson - did not play.
