This was published 10 years ago
Freaks of the Rugby World Cup
Devin Toner
Ireland lock Devin Toner is the tallest player at the tournament at 208cm. (AAP)
Fumiaki Tanaka
In a game where size is key, Japan scrumhalf Fumiaki Tanaka bucks the trend. Weighing in at just 72kg and measuring in at 166cm, the Highlanders No.9 is one of the smallest players at the RWC and is dwarfed by the giants of the modern game. (AFP)
Will Skelton
One of those giants is Australia's Will Skelton. The Wallabies second-rower is a monstrous 140kg in a 204cm frame. (Getty)
Uini Atonio
Skelton is not the heaviest player at the tournament, that title belongs to France's New Zealand-born prop Uini Atonio who tips, or should that be breaks, the scales at 152kg. The 25-year-old of Samoan heritage is tall for the tighthead position at 197cm. (AFP)
Mathieu Bastareaud
There's no shortage of size in the Les Bleus with blockbusting outside centre Mathieu Bastareaud weighing a remarkable 120kg. As a back, he's quick, no doubt giving opposition midfield backs at the tournament sleepless nights. (AAP)
Nemani Nadolo
Remarkably, Bastareaud is dwarfed by Nemani Nadolo, the gigantic 130kg, 1.95m Fijian winger who spent time playing Shute Shield in Sydney. (AAP)
Victor Matfield
Toner's huge frame will come in handy when he faces masters of the lineout like Springbok Victor Matfield. The 38-year-old veteran of 123 Tests is one of the oldest players at the RWC. (AAP)
Vasil Lobzhanidze
At the other end of the scale, Georgian scrumhalf Vasil Lobzhanidze, who doesn't turn 19 until the knockout stages, is the youngest player ever at a Rugby World Cup.
Takudzwa Ngwenya
As to who is the fastest, teams are notoriously secretive about releasing such information. However, USA winger Takudzwa Ngwenya probably has a strong claim to be the quickest player at the RWC. The Zimbabwe-born flyer, who plays in France, once ran a 10.5 over the 100m and famously scored a try against the Springboks in 2007 where he outpaced Bryan Habana.
