4.James Ryan

The workhorse who never seems to have a bad game. The Leinster lock is at his first World Cup but continues to rise to every occasion put in front of him. His second-row pairing with Iain Henderson is starting to bear fruit as well, and after a stunning showing last year in downing the All Blacks, Ryan will be looking to repeat the dose this weekend.

5.Josh Navidi

You could pick any of the Welsh back row here, for they all have been superb out here in Japan. But Navidi gets the nod for his understated brilliance, and most of all his versatility. He can play anywhere across the back row and his close-quarter strength at the breakdown is one of the building blocks of Warren Gatland’s gameplan.

6.Johnny Sexton

Injuries may have hampered him in the middle but Sexton started and finished the pool stage like the man of old. His form in 2019 had previously been patchy, but he looks to be hitting top gear when it counts. Quite simply, Ireland are twice the side when he is in it.

7.Jordan Larmour

Still not quite Joe Schmidt’s preferred pick at full-back with the ever-reliable Rob Kearney in the way. But Larmour has taken his chances when granted them, and continues to dazzle. His stunning sidestep is almost taken for granted at this point, but his all-round game management continues to improve, including that rain-soaked Scotland win on the first weekend of the tournament.

8.Jamie Ritchie

Scotland might be heading home, but in Jamie Ritchie they have one of the best back rowers in the pool stages. The Edinburgh man only got his chance when Hamish Watson went down injured, but boy did he take it. Even in a losing cause against Japan, Ritchie was a turnover and tackling machine. Edinburgh will expect more of the same this season.