Player of the tournament?
 

Past winners:

1987 - Michael Jones (flanker)
1991 - David Campese (winger)
1995 - Jonah Lomu (winger)
1999 - Tim Horan (second five)
2003 - Jonny Wilkinson (first five)

My gut feeling -- Daniel Carter.

oh gee I hope you're right mate

Carter ought to come right.

I think his current form has a lot to do with the fact that Henry keeps changing the half-back and second five, and the ankle he rolled against France seems to have spooked him a bit.

hope so mate...he's too good to be playing the way he is

Matt Giteu...

Honestly it will be some South African after they win it, most likely.

McCaw or Burger would be the most likely for mine, although Chris Latham could be a dark horse as he's now (apparently) playing again in the Oz domestic stuff.

Carter seems to have lost form at the worst possible time.

Latham played some club rugby for Gold Coast (i think) two weeks ago in Queensland. There was talk he might comeback for the last Tri Nations match, if Australia have a chance at the title.

Would be nice if O'Driscoll or one of Irelands second row supremos won it, but it's doubtful.

McCaw for me.

Well, I'd like to say Dan Carter but he seems to have lost it at the worst time. Hopefully he'll come good by the time the world cup comes.

So, for the moment I'm have to either go with Mccaw or Burger.

If Australia go well Giteau would have a very good chance, as does George Smith. Latham may well find form, but who knows how he will go playing internationals again.

McCaw is a good player but could suffer from the number of penalties hes going to draw. That said i think its about time that another forward won the award and he will certainly be up there.

If South Africa do well in the world cup Schalk Burger is the one player you'd expect to be up there, since he's featured so prominantly in most good things I've seen the Springboks do this year. Just a colossus on the field.

If New Zealand do well, and they will, then it's McCaw and Carter of course... I'd lean towards McCaw since he's an annoying rash while Carter hasn't been in great form lately.

If Ireland do well I'm leaning towards D'Arcy although I'd mark out big time if O'Driscoll had a big world cup. Two of the best centres in the world!

I can't envision Australia doing well unless Sterling Mortlock is at his commanding best. Just no way I can see Australia doing well without him being awesome... they have class players like Latham and Giteau, but Mortlock'll be the x-factor.

My pick: Schalk Burger

If Ireland are to do well i expect Paul O'Connoll or Gordan Darcy to get it.
So one of those for me.

Darcy will have to play better than he did for 2005 Lions tour of NZ. Biggest disappointment for me

Mortlock, we'll win it on the back of him

:@