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The Best Players That Won't Be Playing At RWC 2015

The Best Players That Won't Be Playing At RWC 2015
Conor O'Leary
By Conor O'Leary
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Now that all of the squads for the Rugby World Cup have been announced, there is a huge amount of excitement for 99% of the rugby community.

For those 1%, it's a sad time. These are the players who have been overlooked for the tournament. There are some World Class players in here too. Test Lions have been omitted, national captains have fallen and thrilling youngsters rejected in favour of alternate options.

While some players are ruled out due to injury (Aaron Cruden, Manuel Montero)- where possible a non-injured player has been included ahead of them.

Here is a XV of the best players that won't be showcasing their talents at the Rugby World Cup 2015.

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15. Charles Piutau (New Zealand)

Ulster bound Piutau was considered the most unlucky of all the New Zealand backs to be overlooked. The talented outside back is comfortable from outside centre out, but it most comfortable at his natural position of fullback.

His unfortuate injuries this season, combined with his impending move up North probably counted against him when the likes of Waisake Naholo and Nehe Milner-Skudder arrived on the scene.

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14. Cory Jane (New Zealand)

The veteran winger has been considered world class for a long time, but unfortunate injuries disrupted his season. He got back in time to dazzle for Wellington in the ITM Cup, but his exclusion probably signals the end of his international career.
13. Samu Kerevi (Australia)

Samu Kerevi isn't as highly known as the rest of this team but he will be. Think of him as a 'Mathieu Bastareaud lite' in that while he's a unit - he's got more subtlety to his game but can carry the opposition would-be tacklers over the line with you.
12. Jan Serfontein (South Africa)

The Junior World Player of the Year in 2012 had a remarkable rise to senior international rugby in 2013, earning 20 caps in his first two years in these ranks.

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But the emergence of Damien De Allende and 21-year-old Jesse Kriel after Serfontein's injury in Super Rugby looks to have cost him his place, especially after captain Jean de Villiers recovered from an horrific knee injury.
11. Andrew Trimble (Ireland)

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We aren't sure if Irish rugby fans are over the fact that the flying Derry winger Andrew Trimble isn't in the Ireland squad. But realistically given the depth available to Schmidt, no matter who was left out, this spot could have been reserved for an Irish winger.
10. Francois Trinh-Duc (France)

Such is the bizarre treatment of Francois Trinh-Duc in France, that when the Top 14 season kicked off last week - Trinh-Duc got a massive response when he came on for Montpeiller in their away game against Pau - from both fans.

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If he wasn't involved in a strange French four years, then he might be lauded by all. Instead he finds himself in the international wilderness.
9. Nic White (Australia)

Michael Cheika made the (previously) unorthodox decision to bring just two scrumhalves in his squad, thus denying the hero that won them the Rugby Championship with a stellar performance against New Zealand a place at the World Cup.
1. Alex Corbisiero (England)

That the entire starting front row for the final 2013 Lions test aren't going to the World Cup is nothing short of astonishing. Granted, Corbisiero isn't travelling due to injury, but a lack of alternatives means that he is included in this team.
2. Richard Hibbard (Wales)

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Hibbard was a stunning cut from the Welsh squad even before the final squad was announced. That Gatland went on to risk only having two hookers in the squad makes it even stranger.
3. Adam Jones (Wales)

This was obviously flagged well in advance, but the disposed tighthead prop is still playing rugby, and with the concerns over Samson Lee's fitness - it's mind-boggling that he hasn't been called back up.
4. Jeremy Thrush (New Zealand)

Probably the least amount of competition compared to others. Thrush had a massive Super Rugby season, and was a big reason why the Hurricanes finished the regular season as league leaders before falling in the final. Unlucky to miss out when New Zealand only picked three locks.
5. James Horwill (Australia)

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It's been quite a downfall for Horwill. Two years ago he was the inspirational captain that lifted Australia to the second test against the Lions. Now he's indispensable to the point that such a concerted effort was made to bring Kane Douglas back to Australia.
6. Marcell Coetzee (South Africa)

In the midst of a fierce debate over the amount of non-whites in the World Cup squad, it's telling that the entire nation is baffled that Marcell Coetzee was left out. The talented young back rower is destined to dominate on the world stage, and it's only a matter of time before his name is more widely known on these shores.
7. Steffon Armitage (England)

There was a year long movement in English media and fans in an attempt to bring Steffon Armitage back to the Premiership to make him eligible for the national team.

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Lancaster stuck it out though, and probably the best English player will be dominating in the Top 14 whilst the rest of the England team attempt to better David Pocock, Michael Hooper, Justin Tipuric, and Sam Warburton at the breakdown.
8. Todd Clever (USA)

One of the few iconic US rugby players was dropped by the team ahead of the Pacific Nations Cup this summer. It seems bizarre that his shaggy hair won't be battering into Springboks, Scottish, or Japanese players in a few weeks.

Replacements:
16. Dylan Hartley (England)
17. Steven Kitshoff (South Africa)
18. Marty Moore (Ireland)
19. Luke Jones (Australia)
20. Rhys Ruddock (Ireland)
21. Mike Phillips (Wales) 
22. Lima Sopoaga (New Zealand)
23. Israel Dagg (New Zealand)
See Also: The Ultimate RWC Jersey Rankings
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