With the Coupe du Monde nearly on us I thought I would put together my top 5 players who I think will have a big influence on taking their sides to the (near) end of the tournament. Sometimes 1 or 2 players from a team garner all the attention (Mr SBW) because we all know the media just want to sell their product and don't care about balanced stories so some of these other players don't get the recognition that they deserve. But we love you just the same. Note: in no particular order.

Australia - Radiko Samo

All great teams have a great back row and this years Cup will be no exception. Look at NZ (McCaw, Kaino, Read), S.Africa (Spiers, Burger, Brussouw) or France (Dusautoir, Harinordoquy and that other fella). Australia has managed to live off Pocock and a sometimes firing Elsom for a couple of years but now have a genuine match winner at #8. And the other great thing is that if he drives the team bus to the ground he can park nice and close in the pensioner parking spots.

France - Francois Trinh-Duc

We all know and love the French flair, unpredictability and annoying habit of beating the All Blacks (not really) but they've often struggled to find a way of matching their strong pack with some exciting outside backs. Hasn't helped that they continue to pick Damien Traille (doesn't rhyme with braille unless you come from outside France, but would be kind of ironic if it did). But Trinh-Duc, who still needs a signed slip from his parents to travel to away games, has shown the ability to set the outsides up and control the game.

The UN - Courtnay Lawes

I'm sure this guy must come from the South Pacific. Dark skin, covered in Polynesian tattoos…and he plays like it too. Strong in the tackle he's also all round the park helping the UN (or England if you prefer) look more like a real rugby team and not like a soccer team (ie 10 men playing up front and 1 at the back to clean up). If the UN are going to continue their much improved 13 man rugby (cause lets not get carried away and gloss over the fact that their centres don’t know what a rugby ball is for) then they will need Lawes. At a pinch he could slot into #12 and be a better distributer than Tindall.

Samoa - Kahn Fotuali'i

Could have been an All Black? Thank God he went with Samoa and he will be huge in curbing their over-exuberance at times and adding some structure to what will be an exciting game plan. He has a good all round game, a strong passer and natural runner (NZ take note, it is possible to have a half-back who can do it all). Next to Will Genia he will be the best #9 at the Cup and fingers crossed we can see Manu Samoa toppling a few teams on the way to the quarters. But not into the semi's cause that would upset my BRFC match predictions.

Wales - Sam Warburton

Was tempted to go with James Hook here as if it means keeping Stephen Jones out of the team that's got to increase Wales' chances of doing well. But then I realised that they are a Northern hemisphere team that likes to play with the ball therefore it stands to reason that they will need someone to fetch for them and this kid is very good. Just look at the game he had against England. Wales are my pick for the anti-anti-dark horse trophy, or, the team that should do well as a power of the game, but has played poorly for a couple of seasons, but in a twist are actually looking ok and could play well…still with me? I had to fit them in here anyway otherwise I would never hear the end of it from Milk-boy and I'm definitely NOT talking about Gav @#$% Henson!!!

So to round up, there will be some exciting new players and some not so new. Will be a great tourny, can't wait! My place for the NZ-Tonga slug-fest if you are keen.