Best Players After Round Seven

TOP 5 FRONT ROWERS
Keven Mealamu (NZL) - 404
John Smit (SAF) - 308
Gurthro Steenkamp (SAF) - 264
Tony Woodcock (NZL) - 212
Saia Faingaa (AUS) - 168

There's no change among the front row, with Mealamu the best performer by a country mile. Steenkamp continues to impress, earning outstanding points for a prop.

TOP 5 LOCKS
Nathan Sharpe (AUS) - 273
Dean Mumm (AUS) - 228
Victor Matfield (SAF) - 220
Brad Thorn (NZL) - 199
Tom Donnelly (NZL) - 197

The Wallaby lock pairing dominate the top the five, with Sharpe pulling away at the top, but only thirty points separating second and fifth.

TOP 5 LOOSIES
Richard McCaw (NZL) - 395
Juan Smith (SAF) - 365
Kieran Read (NZL) - 328
Pierre Spies (SAF) - 296
David Pocock (AUS) - 274

McCaw is still King of the Hill, but Juan Smith is a powerful new entry in second. Pierre Spies is also make a late run, appearing in the top five for the first time in the competition. Old warriors Burger and Elsom drop out altogether.

TOP 5 HALVES
Daniel Carter (NZL) - 369
Will Genia (AUS) - 293
Morne Steyn (SAF) - 244
Piri Weepu (NZL) - 202
Quade Cooper (AUS) - 188

Daniel Carter's 2010 Tri-Nations is over but he's almost certainly done enough to claim the title of best performing half of the tournament. Elsewhere, it's the scrum-halves, Genia and Weepu, who continue to punch above their weight. And if Francois Hougaard was listed as a half rather than a back, then he'd be ranked in third place here, ahead of teammate Morne Steyn.

TOP 5 CENTRES
Ma'a Nonu (NZL) - 384
Matt Giteau (AUS) - 290
Conrad Smith (NZL) - 271
Jacque Fourie (SAF) - 249
Rene Ranger (NZL) - 235

Nonu has a healthy lead over Giteau at the top, while the chasing pack remain the same.

TOP 5 OUTSIDE BACKS
Mils Muliaina (NZL) - 385
James O'Connor (AUS) - 350
Drew Mitchell (AUS) - 323
Joe Rocokoco (NZL) - 258
Francois Hougaard (SAF) - 257

There's little change among the backs, as Muliaina continues to dominate. Ironically the first Springbok to appear in the top five outside backs in the entire tournament is playing at scrum-half...