Rugby World Cup 2019: Team of round one, featuring Kotaro Matsushima, Beauden Barrett and Manu Tuilagi
The Independent picks is best XV from the opening eight fixtures at the Rugby World Cup
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Your support makes all the difference.With the first round of Rugby World Cup fixtures in the bag, who has stood out in Japan to warrant a place in our team of the week?
There were impressive wins for New Zealand, Ireland and France, while hosts Japan got off to a winning start in the tournament opener against Russia.
Both England and Wales also made winning starts, though Eddie Jones’s side were far from impressive as they struggled to a bonus-point victory over Tonga while Wales saw a dominant first-half display over Georgia unravel in the second half as the opposition mounted a strong fightback.
Elsewhere there have been victories for Italy and Australia, though also impressive displays in defeat by South Africa, Fiji and Tonga.
As the first round of games wrapped up with Wales’s win on Monday, the first team of the round could be pencilled in – but the question is who stood out from the rest in each position?
Click on the gallery below to find out.
The next round ends following Australia vs Wales on Sunday night.
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