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IN AN ERA DEFINED BY SENSATIONALISM AND EXAGGERATED MEDIA COVERAGE IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS, IT’S UNDENIABLE THAT SOME ATHLETES FIND THEMSELVES IN THE SPOTLIGHT, GARNERING MORE ATTENTION AND

ACCLAIM THAN THEIR ACTUAL PERFORMANCE MERITS. In the realm of sports, our loyalty to particular teams often leads us to champion their players with a fervor usually reserved for our closest

kin. __ However, in the interest of objectivity, we’ve set aside these allegiances to compile a list of the Rugby World Cup’s top five players who, according to fans, may have received more

accolades than their on-field contributions warrant. #1. MARCUS SMITH (ENGLAND) One fan wrote: “Tries to dazzle in attack to compensate for his fear of the tackle. That’s fine if England

were dominating the forward battle ensuring limitless ball for the backs. Sadly there aren’t so the rest of the backs are in effect defending with one short.” Another said: “he has potential

to be immense, but is still lacking in a lot of areas and as shown this 6n, isn’t as good at game managment as England’s other options. Also the media don’t help trying to turn him into the

next Cipriani.” A third commented: “e’s got the potential to be very good. But if you listened to the ITV/BBC commentators talking about him you’d think they were describing 2005 Carter and

he’s just nowhere near that” CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO -------------------------