Hookers

One of last season's surprise successes, he's regarded as a good scrummager and the scrums do seem stronger when he's there. Darts have been accurate, and technically he's a very proficient tackler. Looks like he might hold on to the starting number-two jersey in the big ones.

Though quicker and a more dynamic ball carrier than Best, he has been denied, by a combination of injury and fate, a run of meaningful games since bursting onto the scene two seasons ago. Not, of late, as good a tackler as Best and will need a big one to be more than an impact replacement in the crunch games.

Given his career-threatening neck injury and the drugs case that also wrongly threatened his career, for Sheahan to reach the Coupe du Monde is arguably the most heartwarming story of any in the squad. Dependable, hard-working and resilient professional.