8. Kieran Read (New Zealand). Given the amount of work New Zealand’s captain gets through in defence, he should not be allowed to be as skillful as he is in attack. Fourteen tackles, none missed – and a try assist, too. AFP
15. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand). Stole the player of the match award from Aaron Smith, but he was still top class as New Zealand made easy work of their occasional recent tormentors Ireland. AFP
14. Makazole Mapimpi (South Africa). His two tries book-ended one by Faf de Klerk as the Springboks played the role of the Grinch in Japan. He could have had another, too, but butchered a good chance with the line in sight. EPA
13. Henry Slade (England). Justified his elevation to the starting XV in front of George Ford with a key intervention that gave England breathing room against Australia. His interception and kick set up Jonny May’s second. AFP
12. Damian De Allende (South Africa). Japan knew they were in for a tough night when the Springboks defence swarmed them in the opening exchanges. De Allende set the tone. Over the 80 minutes, he made 14 tackles. AFP
11. Jonny May (England). Touched the ball three times in the first half against Australia, and scored two tries that gave England a lead they never looked like relinquishing. Could hardly be more clinical. EPA
10. Owen Farrell (England). Was uncharacteristically errant with the boot in pool play. When it started to matter in knockout play, he was perfect. Plus his pass for Kyle Sinckler’s try was silky. EPA
9. Aaron Smith (New Zealand). The smallest player on the field, yet towered above everyone else with two tries as New Zealand dominated Ireland. Who knows how he was overlooked for the player of the match award. AFP
1. Joe Moody (New Zealand). It might not be his primary role, but Moody was even good with ball in hand against the Irish, making one telling run in his own 22, and one in attack, too. AFP
2. Malcolm Marx (South Africa). He only came on in the 37th minute when Mbongeni Mbonambi limped off. How can a player of Marx’s class be on the bench? His effort characterised the Boks’ set-piece dominance. AFP
3. Kyle Sinckler (England). Tom Curry was the official player of the match against Australia, but Sinckler won the online vote of England fans. Scored a try, and made a vital steal near his own tryline to stub out the Wallabies. AFP
4. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales). Wales were short of their best in beating 14-man France, but their captain never lets his standards drop. Wales missed 18 tackles in the first half. Jones made all 15 of his in the match. AFP
5. Lood de Jager (South Africa). The power of South Africa trumped the pace of the effervescent host nation. Japan found South Africa’s scrum and rolling maul too tough to defend, with De Jager to the fore. AFP
6. Aaron Wainwright (Wales). Made 64 metres with ball in hand – only Liam Williams managed more for Wales. Scored an opportunist try. And he has a jaw of stone. He barely fussed when chinned by Sebastien Vahaamahina. EPA
7. Tom Curry (England). Just edges out the other half of his “Kamikaze Kids” partnership, Sam Underhill, on account of the tackle on Reece Hodge that sent the Wallabies winger reeling. Reuters
8. Kieran Read (New Zealand). Given the amount of work New Zealand’s captain gets through in defence, he should not be allowed to be as skillful as he is in attack. Fourteen tackles, none missed – and a try assist, too. AFP
15. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand). Stole the player of the match award from Aaron Smith, but he was still top class as New Zealand made easy work of their occasional recent tormentors Ireland. AFP
14. Makazole Mapimpi (South Africa). His two tries book-ended one by Faf de Klerk as the Springboks played the role of the Grinch in Japan. He could have had another, too, but butchered a good chance with the line in sight. EPA
13. Henry Slade (England). Justified his elevation to the starting XV in front of George Ford with a key intervention that gave England breathing room against Australia. His interception and kick set up Jonny May’s second. AFP
12. Damian De Allende (South Africa). Japan knew they were in for a tough night when the Springboks defence swarmed them in the opening exchanges. De Allende set the tone. Over the 80 minutes, he made 14 tackles. AFP
11. Jonny May (England). Touched the ball three times in the first half against Australia, and scored two tries that gave England a lead they never looked like relinquishing. Could hardly be more clinical. EPA
10. Owen Farrell (England). Was uncharacteristically errant with the boot in pool play. When it started to matter in knockout play, he was perfect. Plus his pass for Kyle Sinckler’s try was silky. EPA
9. Aaron Smith (New Zealand). The smallest player on the field, yet towered above everyone else with two tries as New Zealand dominated Ireland. Who knows how he was overlooked for the player of the match award. AFP
1. Joe Moody (New Zealand). It might not be his primary role, but Moody was even good with ball in hand against the Irish, making one telling run in his own 22, and one in attack, too. AFP
2. Malcolm Marx (South Africa). He only came on in the 37th minute when Mbongeni Mbonambi limped off. How can a player of Marx’s class be on the bench? His effort characterised the Boks’ set-piece dominance. AFP
3. Kyle Sinckler (England). Tom Curry was the official player of the match against Australia, but Sinckler won the online vote of England fans. Scored a try, and made a vital steal near his own tryline to stub out the Wallabies. AFP
4. Alun Wyn Jones (Wales). Wales were short of their best in beating 14-man France, but their captain never lets his standards drop. Wales missed 18 tackles in the first half. Jones made all 15 of his in the match. AFP
5. Lood de Jager (South Africa). The power of South Africa trumped the pace of the effervescent host nation. Japan found South Africa’s scrum and rolling maul too tough to defend, with De Jager to the fore. AFP
6. Aaron Wainwright (Wales). Made 64 metres with ball in hand – only Liam Williams managed more for Wales. Scored an opportunist try. And he has a jaw of stone. He barely fussed when chinned by Sebastien Vahaamahina. EPA
7. Tom Curry (England). Just edges out the other half of his “Kamikaze Kids” partnership, Sam Underhill, on account of the tackle on Reece Hodge that sent the Wallabies winger reeling. Reuters
8. Kieran Read (New Zealand). Given the amount of work New Zealand’s captain gets through in defence, he should not be allowed to be as skillful as he is in attack. Fourteen tackles, none missed – and a try assist, too. AFP
Beauden Barrett top class, Jonny May clinical: Rugby World Cup 2019 team of the week
Our selection of the standout players from the quarter-finals has five Englishmen, four apiece from South Africa and New Zealand, as well as two from Wales
