The Rugby World Cup commences tomorrow September 9 with the All Blacks vs Tonga match. The flood gates will open for all the 20 team games with 600 players in four pools of five teams each playing to win the final on October 23 at Eden Park.

This means that of the 600 RWC players and then some — who are on standby around the world to slot into the injury-ravaged sides — there are many candidates that could be selected as player of the Rugby World Cup tournament.

Here is a shortlist by Steve McMorran of the 10 players to watch out for. No Sonny Bill Williams, no Jonny Wilkinson and no Morne Steyn, who are all match winners.

There are definitely going to be shining stars that see this platform as a means to increase their net asset player value for the next four years and behind the players will come the blood-shedding of the Rugby World Cup coaches.

There is much at stake and the lobbying and jockeying to defend the 2011 title at Twickenham in 2015 has begun.

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  • Tony led the change in corporate identity of South African Airways from the airline of the old South Africa to the flag carrier of the new South Africa. Before that he was a competitive provincial sportsmen in swimming, diving, waterpolo, lifesaving and white water rafting. Rugby was played at Bishops, NW Cape, Maties, van der Stel, UCT, Hamiltons and False Bay. Tony singularly authored the blueprint for the establishment of Soccer City Stadium for the PSL which in 2010 hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the FIFA World Cup and the Finals of the soccer showpiece. He was past CEO of the Southern & Eastern Cape Super 14 Rugby franchise, the Southern Spears and now CEO of the Super 20 Rugby World Series.

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Tony McKeever

Tony led the change in corporate identity of South African Airways from the airline of the old South Africa to the flag carrier of the new South Africa. Before that he was a competitive provincial sportsmen...

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