Tier 2 World XV 2015

A World XV of players from outside 'Tier 1' nations following the year of 2015.

1. Misha Nariashvili (Georgia)
Still only 25 years old, Nariashvili already has amassed a huge amount of experience, with 90 senior appearances with Montpellier and 32 caps for Georgia to his name. Over the past two years he has progressed dramatically into one of the strongest loosehead props in the Top 14, and cemented himself as first choice with Georgia after Vasil Kakovin broke down with injuries. Had the best season of his career in 2014/15 and was named by Rugbyrama as the second best in his position in the Top 14.

2. Shota Horie (Japan)
After sitting out 6 months with neck surgery, Horie made a good return for Japan this year. Despite a notable weakness in terms of power and collisions, and not being the most robust of hookers, Horie makes up for it with very high amount of agility, speed and skill with ball in hand twinned with a strong work rate, but most importantly of superb accuracy at set piece. With Horie at hooker, Japan have won 83 of their past 84 scrums in internationals against top 20 sides, and also operated at over 90% at lineout, which is by far the most precise of any Tier 2 nation. A clear selection for this side.

3. Levan Chilachava (Georgia)
As a refugee from Abkhazia, Chilachava through rugby has risen from adversity and now holds a starting place in the best team in Europe. After starting last season as third choice, he pushed out Martin Castrogiovanni to the sidelines, and later in the season was given the backing by Toulon to succeed Carl Hayman at tighthead with a long term 4 year contract. Has made telling differences at scrum in big games for both club and country including in Champions Cup semi finals or the World Cup match against Tonga. Also even managed to become a useful jackal at the breakdown recently too.

4. Samu Manoa (USA)
Mostly used at number 8 by Northampton and USA this year, but since moving to Toulon now playing back in his original position of lock and has immediately made an impression for them. Known for his formidable gainline presence both in attack and defence, Manoa didn't manage to inspire the Eagles to a strong World Cup, but is still one of the strongest players in USA rugby history and has performed at a high level in Europe for some time now.

5. Leone Nakarawa (Fiji)
The unique lock forward came into his own in his second season at Glasgow, where his long arms waving about for offloads creating space for teammates has become a familiar sight, and produced a standout match defining performance in the Pro12 final against Munster. Not just a one trick pony though, Nakarawa also has shone as a ball carrier and a spring heeled jumper. He continued his form with Glasgow into Fiji colours where he was one of the best in the PNC, put in some good showings at the World Cup, and was voted by his peers Pacific Island player of the year.

6. Michael Leitch (Japan)
Led Japan to their greatest World Cup campaign and established himself as one his country's best ever players. A hard working player with a strong engine, Leitch made more carries over the gainline than any other during the pool stage of the World Cup, as well as hitting his fair share of rucks and tackles. That rounded off a great year for Leitch, who finally got his chance to play Super Rugby for the Chiefs after a broken arm, followed by broken leg prevented him from doing so in 2013, and became a regular starter for them and won an award as best newcomer to the team.

7. Jack Lam (Samoa)
One of Samoa's best players since making his debut in 2013, an all round player who is a menace at the breakdown, but also is a highly explosive and quick player with ball in hand. Since moving to Bristol from the Hurricanes, Lam has unfortunately got stuck in the Championship when he is clearly a player of a higher level and been scoring heaps of tries in that division. The decision to bench him against Japan was one of the most bizarre of the World Cup, but he remains a quality player, and one that will play a leading role for Samoa over the next few years.

8. Mamuka Gorgodze (Georgia)
Had a difficult and injury ridden first season with Toulon, but when he returned to Georgian colours he regained fitness and put in some mammoth displays for his country, particularly in the opening win over Tonga, both in himself but his leadership of the group was also noted by his coach. Continued his trend of always performing hugely when at a World Cup, Gorgodze now has 4 man of the match awards in the past two tournaments, and now taken that form back to Toulon where he was monstrous in their recent big away win at Clermont and now first choice for them.

9. Kahn Fotuali'i (Samoa)
Now aged 33, Fotuali'i is now a veteran but still effective operator for Samoa and Northampton. A clever, skilful scrum half who can control a game, but also uniquely physical for his position as well and can hit hard in defence. A leader of the side it was a bit of a surprise he wasn't made captain, although he was captain for the final match of the World Cup. Unlike fly half, there are numerous different options to pick from at 9 for a Tier 2 XV depending on what style of scrum half you want, with others like for instance the energetic Nikola Matawalu.

10. Felipe Berchesi (Uruguay)
Fly half has long been a difficult position for all Tier 2 teams, for a number of reasons, and it's very hard for 10 from outside an established nation to get a pro contract. Despite playing for a nation right towards the bottom end of those at the World Cup, Berchesi has been an exception, working his way up through the French leagues, and now first choice with Carcassonne who he's helped lift from the relegation zone with 4 wins from 5 since joining. An outstanding goal kicker with good range puts him into this side, also a brave defender with over 90% tackle success at the World Cup.

11. Nemani Nadolo (Fiji)
His try scoring record wasn't quite as prolific as 2014, but still impressive nonetheless especially in Super Rugby with the Crusaders where he backed up his first season. Overall since being rejected by the Waratahs and after his ill fated season in Europe with Bourgoin and Exeter in 2010/11, Nadolo has scored 97 tries in 93 matches in all competitions and was talked about as a marked man at the World Cup. Didn't play as much as he would have hoped for Fiji this year, with injury in the PNC and suspension for the crucial Wales match, but still a clear pick for this team.

12. Levani Botia (Fiji)
A 7s specialist up until moving to La Rochelle in early 2014, Botia is now shining in the full code. Had early problems, especially in regards to some loose tackling (5 yellows and a red card last season), and losing the ball in contact. But this season has tidied up his play, became first choice for Fiji at the World Cup, and has followed that up with a monstrous run of form with La Rochelle. Nicknamed in France the 'tronc d'arbre', Botia is surely one of the most powerfully explosive centres currently playing in Europe, dominating both attacking and defensive collisions.

13. George Pisi (Samoa)
We didn't see a huge amount of Pisi at the World Cup as he came into it injured. The final game against Scotland was the only one he started for Samoa all year. However he's consistently been one of the top outside centres in the Premiership for several years with Northampton, and comfortably the most accomplished player in this position from Tier 2 nations and makes this team on that basis. The player who stood in for him for Samoa, Paul Perez, also did a pretty good job himself, and could also make this team if based on solely national team performance this year.

14. DTH van der Merwe (Canada)
After 2014 was marred by a shoulder injury, 2015 has been the most prolific of Van der Merwe's career to date, with a total of 20 tries in 26 matches for Canada, Glasgow and most recently Scarlets. That of course included a try in each World Cup pool match (first player from a Tier 2 nation to achieve that), a hat trick vs Montpellier in the Champions Cup, match winning try in the Pro12 semi final plus one in the final. Van der Merwe is a brilliant finisher and been on a hot streak this year, and now is closing in on a number of try related all time Canadian records.

15. Telusa Veainu (Tonga)
After winning the 2010 JWC with New Zealand where he scored a hat trick in the final, Veainu never really made it in Super Rugby with just 3 starts in 5 seasons with 3 different teams, despite faring better at ITM Cup level where he had an impressive strike rate of 28 tries in 45 games. Since he committed to Tonga in the summer though, his talent has shone through as a hugely exciting attacking threat from the back three with a superb ability to beat defenders. Has been one of the signings of the season so far for Leicester, where he's already made an impact and become popular.