Top 5 backs missing out on the World Cup
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Top 5 backs missing out on the World Cup
With all 20 squads submitted for the World Cup, we take a look on the top 5 backs that are set to miss out playing in the tournament this year.
1. Israel Dagg - All Blacks
The Crusaders full back made his debut for the All Blacks in 2010 and has recorded 48 caps to date, scoring 15 tries in the process. He broke onto the world rugby scene with a stunning World Cup in 2011, scoring 5 tries and being named as one of the top 5 players in the world. At times Dagg has shown he can be unstoppable with his dazzling footwork and blistering speed but the last few seasons he has suffered with injuries and bad form, eventually losing his spot to Highlanders captain Ben Smith. It was seen as a suprise he was not selected due to his good form in the ITM cup and Naholo's injury but Steve Hansen has gone with the Highlanders winger instead. Will it be a decision he will regret?
2. Danny Cipriani - England
The elusive 10 is very unlucky to miss out on Stuart Lancaster's 31 man squad. After an impressive season with Sale Sharks, Cipriani was brought back into the England setup in 2015, with fans calling for him to start throughout. Cipriani has had a career of ups and down and his most recent incident involving him being arrested for drink driving probably helped sway Lancaster's mind. One thing England will miss is his flair, most recently against France when he came off the bench there is a good argument that he changed the game and was England's best player. A shame we won't see a player at the World Cup with such a great talent
3. Andrew Trimble - Ireland
Blighted by injury throughout his career it's a case of what might have been for Trimble in this World Cup. Having already represented Ireland at 2 World Cup's, it will be a huge blow and as a 30 year old he is running out of time. The ever reliable winger possess a huge amount of talent, with his power and pace giving many teams head aches when up against him. Has featured sporadically in the Ireland squad in recent years but when a good performance away to Wales in the warm-up's it was thought he'd done enough to make Joe Schmidt's 31. Ireland do have lots of talent in the back 3, with Dave Kearney, Keith Earls, Simon Zebo and Luke Fitzgerald all picked ahead of Trimble.
4. Mike Phillips - Wales
Phillips has been a key play for Wales throughout the years and was a key member of the winning 2013 Lions team. A bad spell at Bayonne has troubled him in recent years which has contributed for him losing his place in Wales' squad to Ospreys scrum-half Rhys Webb. Phillips is the most capped Welsh scrum-half of all time but could not force his way into Warren Gatland's 31 man squad, despite being a vital cog in the machine for Wales in recent times.
5. Lima Sopoaga - All Blacks
Sopoaga had a superb season with the Highlanders, being a key member in their 2015 Super Rugby winning side. The out-half made his debut in probably one of the hardest venues to play in Ellis Park and put in an outstanding performance as the All Blacks defeated the Springboks. Sopoaga doesn't seemed to get phased by much and is a very calm controlling 10. His kicking game is one of the best in the southern hemisphere but with the amount of quality ahead of him in the All Blacks squad it was always going to be a tough task.
