The pool stage at the 2015 Rugby World Cup has, without doubt, been the best one yet.
Statistics prove that the scorelines between the big boys and the minnows are closer than ever before, which obviously includes Japan's astonishing win over South Africa in Brighton.
In this recap, we look at the forwards who have stood out for the Tier Two nations at this World Cup, possibly putting themselves in the shop window for a big money contract.
Renowned back-row warriors increase their popularity
A large number of the Tier Two nations are led by incredible back-row forwards, who are widely known for their performances in the big leagues.
The heartbeat of the Namibian team, Jacques Burger is instantly recognisable to English fans after his years of service with Saracens and even injury could not stop him from making an imprint on this tournament.
His brace of tries in the win over Tonga left his team just short of their first World Cup win, but he still made his presence felt on that Tuesday afternoon in Exeter.
Other tremendous leaders at this World Cup included Japan's Michael Leitch, who is the leading tackler and carrier at the competition so far, as well as Romanian ace Mihai Macovei who single-handedly inspired his nation's win over Canada.
Leitch is a star of Super Rugby with the Chiefs franchise, whilst Macovei has enjoyed his last four seasons in France, where he has brushed shoulders with Georgian giant Mamuka Gorgodze.
After stealing the show four years ago when Georgia made their first real impression at a World Cup, this time around it was even bigger for the man nicknamed Gorgodzilla.
The Lelos captain was astonishingly good in all four of his sides matches, picking up a man-of-the-match award in the defeat against New Zealand, whilst crashing over for tries against Namibia and Tonga in winning-efforts.
Other back-row captains worthy of a mention include Tonga's tackling machine Nili Latu who has hinted of international retirement, as well as Fiji's Akapusi Qera who continues to churn out excellent performances at World Cup's.
Back-rowers ready to emerge
The six captains mentioned above are all playing in the biggest leagues in club rugby, and there are a number of players who should soon join them if they haven't already.
Jacques Burger's Namibian teammate Renaldo Bothma made a huge impact at this World Cup, before being banned for the final group game.
One of the Sharks best players in last season's Super Rugby season, Bothma took that form forward to the World Cup, where he wreaked havoc against Pool C opponents with his big hits and robus carrying.
Tonga' Jack Ram will almost certainly be adding to his single appearance for Super Rugby's Auckland Blues if his performance against Namibia at this World Cup was anything to go by.
Carries, tackles, turnovers and tries, his 80 minutes of work had it all in Tonga's lone victory at this World Cup.
Japanese rugby should concentrate a large amount of their 2019 World Cup squad around number-eight Amanaki Mafi.
The 25-year-old was the best player on the pitch in the Brave Blossoms defeat to Scotland before leaving the field through injury, and again in his sides victory over the USA, where he scored in either game.
Barnstorming runs and monster hits were behind Mafi's standout performances, and with the number-eight currently plying his trade in the Japanese premier division, a big-money move to a club in France or England could well be on the cards.
Others deserving of a mention include American openside Andrew Durutalo who comes from a sevens background, as well as Georgian colossal Viktor Kolelishvili.
Engine room warriors
One second-rower in particular stood out in the pool stages, and would make many teams-of-the-tournament at this stage.
Fijian Leone Nakarawa was quiet in the opening defeat to England before coming into his own against Wales and Australia, topping it off with an incredible 80 minutes in the victory over Uruguay.
He can lay claim to being the forward-equivalent of Sonny-Bill Williams when it comes to offloading, with the Glasgow Warrior using his 6ft6 frame to full effect.
He sits second in the turnover statistics with nine snaffles from four games, just one behind David Pocock who is the best breakdown nuisance of his generation.
Nakarawa's partner in crime Tevita Cavubati looks like an excellent piece of business by Premiership side Worcester, who reportedly pulled out of a deal to sign another of the World Cup's standout beanpoles.
Tijuee Uanivi was the best lineout forward in the group stage, as well as being a menace around the field with some smart carrying which has caught the eye of many scouts after his deal with the Warriors fell-through.
Ferocious Front-Rowers
Scrum-time used to be an area where the minnows struggled against their more-drilled opponents, yet that is no longer the case if the past month is anything to go by.
Fiji's trio of Sunia Koto, Campese Ma'afu and Manasa Saulo anchored the best scrum in Pool A, which included clashes with the might of England, Wales and Australia.
They took the Welsh apart at the Millennium Stadium, as well as giving England all manor of problems on opening night.
Ma'afu and Koto are both pretty experienced at the international level, but it was Saulo who really made a name for himself.
Part of the Timisoara Saracens club in Romania, who are affiliated with the English Premiership side, it may not be long before Saulo is playing on English pitches once more after some brilliant World Cup performances.
Another Saracens prop who proved his effectiveness at scrum-time was American rookie Titi Lamositle, who at the age of 20 looks like a star of the future.
On the opposite-end of the experience spectrum is Romania's Mihai Lazar, who passed 50 international appearances during the tournament after a number of years in France's Top 14 competition.
This is the second straight World Cup where Lazar has made an impression, thanks to the help of former teammate and now forward coach Marius Tincu.
Experience has always been key up front, and a pair of wiley veterans in Soane Tonga'uiha (Tonga) and Census Johnston (Samoa) lived up to their big name status and were amongst the best props of the pool stage.
There is no better place to end, than with a pair of players from the Tier Two's standout team at this World Cup.
The speed at which Japan recycled ball from the scrum was the best in the competition and laid the platform for many of their sparkling backs to impress.
Alongside being a hooking sensation, Shota Horie nailed all but one of his lineouts at the World Cup, with his tighthead Hiroshi Yamashita recieving most of the acclaim for the tournament's most statistically successful scrum.