5 Heroes and 5 Zeros: Autumn Nations Series Week 2

Andy Farrell's men bounced back to winning form following their defeat to the All Blacks in Chicago. Then, Saturday's afternoon's fixture list spilled over to the Scottish capital, as New Zealand fought hammer and tong to overcome a resilient Scotland side. A 73rd minute match-winner from Damian McKenzie was the desive try secure the All Blacks back-to-back victories so far in November.

England then hosted Fiji at the Allianz Stadium, with Steve Borthwick's side picking up their ninth Test victory in a row. The South Pacific Islanders impressed with a valiant showing, yet the men with the red roses upon their chests triumphed in the 38-18 barnstormer. Next came the shock of the weekend, as Italy stunned Australia with a breathtaking 26-19 win over the Wallabies in Udine. Saturday was closed out by South Africa's thumping of France, as the Springboks flexed their muscles for a 32-17 win in Paris.

Sunday's standalone fixture witnessed Wales host Argentina, as a fiery Los Pumas outfit made short work of their opponents, upon Steve Tandy's first Wales home Test as head coach. Argentina ran rampant for the 52-28 win at the Principality Stadium, that re-set Wales' winning streak back to zero, after the men in red had ended their 18-match losing run upon their latest Summer tour of Japan.

The man of the hour for the All Blacks, who were in serious danger of suffering a history-making defeat to Scotland this past weekend in Edinburgh. Scotland had a full head of steam with a capacity crowd behind Gregor Townsend's side at Murrayfield, as the hosts searched for their first ever win over the All Blacks in a 120-year history of men's Test matches.

With the scores poised on a knife-edge at 17-17 and with just seven minutes left on the clock, McKenzie exploded off the bench to provide the finishing touches to a stunning All Blacks strike move. His score in the corner handed New Zealand a late foot-hold in the match, before a beautifully struck penalty took the match beyond all doubt for Scott Robertson's side. Undoubtedly the hero for the men in black that day.

There's no denying the fact that Ireland were slow to start their first home Test of the Autumn Series. After an underwhelming defeat to New Zealand to commence their campaign, Ireland returned home to Dublin yet lacked their regular vigour and consistency for the first 40-minutes against Japan. Eddie Jones' side held Andy Farrell's men to a 17-10 deficit at the break, yet a stand-out performance from Tommy O'Brien would help swing the momentum back towards the hosts throughout the second half.

O'Brien was unleashed upon the right wing for his home Ireland debut, having accrued three previous Test caps away to Georgia, Portugal and then in Chicago to face the All Blacks. The Leinster man was no stranger to the Aviva Stadium, yet took a real lift from the sea of green that roared every time he got his hands on the ball.

Ireland's best attacking option (along with a solid second half cameo from Sam Prendergast) took the fight to the Brave Blossoms, with a stunning breakaway score in the closing moments of the match optimising his efforts upon his maiden home cap. O'Brien was dutifully awarded the Player of the Match accolade, with a tide-turning second half outing that helped Ireland overcome a resiliant Japanese side that provided plenty of problems at the Aviva.

When Ben Earl puts in performances like he did against Fiji, the England team looks to get a real lift from his hard-hitting efforts. A battering ram upon both sides of the ball, Earl excelled for England on the defensive foot, as he racked up a tackle count of 15, as the Fijians struggled to break through the channel occupied by the Saracens stalwart. Earl shifted across from number eight to close out the match upon the openside flank, with a seamless move showcasing his adaptability across the back row.

Upon the front foot, Earl was a reliable attacking option for Steve Borthwick's side. Confident with his hands on the ball, Earl imposed himself in the early goings as a gain-line breaker, that caused the Fiji defenders to double-up on the British & Irish Lion for when he was next lining up to take on the ball.

This played into England's favour, as the Earl would be used as a decoy runner to open up space out wide, or even entrusted to ship a quick pop pass with his capable hands to unleash the outside backs. Top class on his day with a versatile skillset, you can see why Borthwick entrusts Earl to also do a job in the centres, as a cascading crash-baller with a playmaker's distribution.

A performance for the ages from Stephen Varney, as the Exeter Chiefs scrum-half played a pivotal role in Italy’s stunning 26-19 victory over Australia — the undeniable shock of the second weekend of the Autumn Series. The Azzurri delivered one of their greatest modern-day performances, and Varney was at the very heart of it with a relentless tempo set at the base of the back-line.

The livewire No.9 sparked Italy’s comeback with a razor-sharp break to create Louis Lynagh’s try, as the Australian-born wing and son of Wallabies great Michael Lynagh delivered the hammer blow to the men in gold. Varney dictated the tempo with poise and precision, as sniping runs around the fringes kept the Wallabies guessing.

Varney's rapid service and calm decision-making under pressure provided the platform for Italy’s abundance of attacking opportunities. It was, without question, Varney’s finest Test for his country, as the halfback produced a masterclass in control and instinct. This triumph feels like more than a one-off. Under the unflappable head coach Gonzalo Quesada, Italy’s rise is gathering genuine momentum, as the young Azzurri continue to build upon the hard lessons of their summer tour to South Africa.

Even in defeat, Sione Tuipulotu stood tall for Scotland, leading by example in their hard-fought loss to New Zealand at Murrayfield. The Glasgow Warriors centre carried with ferocity and intent, setting the tone as captain with a performance that embodied both grit and guile.

Tuipulotu’s direct running continually challenged the All Blacks’ defensive line. Like the aformentioned efforts of Ben Earl, Tuipulotu was a focal point for the New Zealand defenders, which created ample space for the flying back-three to attack. When Scotland needed composure, Tuipulotu offered a level head; when they needed bite, the midfielder delivered in spades. The centre's defensive work was just as influential against a star-studded All Blacks back-line, highlighted by a crucial turnover that stalled New Zealand’s momentum at a key moment.

It was a performance that blended power and precision, confirming Tuipulotu’s growing stature as one of the world's most complete midfield operators. In a losing cause, the captain’s effort shone through, with a burning beacon of leadership and attacking brilliance in the face of world-class opposition. An incredible effort from the British and Irish Lion.

A day to forget for Ben Thomas, whose costly errors overshadowed any bright moments in Wales’ tough outing against Argentina. The Cardiff Rugby centre’s decision-making deserted him at key moments, as a reckless forward pass, a needless yellow card for kicking Matera, and a disastrous intercepted pass all contributed to his side’s struggles.

Thomas had looked to cement the No. 12 jersey over the past six games, but this was a harsh reminder of how quickly momentum can slip away. The ten-minute sin bin for the Matera incident proved particularly costly, as the visitors capitalised twice during his absence.

His intercepted pass, which Prisciantelli gathered for a Pumas try compounded an afternoon of misfortune. While flashes of creativity and a bright link-up with Louis Rees-Zammit hinted at his potential, it was a match Thomas will want to erase from memory — a tough lesson in composure and timing at Test level.

A strong start undone by a costly lapse in judgement for Lood de Jager, as the South African lock was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle on French fullback Ramos. Having missed ten minutes earlier, as knock to the head warranted an off-field head injury assessment, de Jager’s afternoon went from industrious to disastrous in a matter of moments.

Before the sending off, he had been a force in the lineout, pinching a crucial French throw inside his own 22 and making solid defensive contributions. However, a reckless tackle, which was adjudged to have had excessive force and no attempt to wrap, left the referee with little choice other than brandishing the red card and handing de Jager his marching orders just before his teammates joined him in the changing room at the half-time break.

South Africa were left to cope with the impact of playing a man down, with the Springboks impressive in how they managed the disadvantage for the entirity of the second half. It was a frustrating outing for a player of his calibre, yet was a steady reminder that even the most reliable and tireless forwards can have their influence undone by a single moment of over-commitment.

It was uncharacteristically underwhelming outing for Alex Mitchell, as the England scrum-half struggled to assert his usual authority in the nine jersey. Whilst the Northampton Saints man tried to deliver quick service and some sharp box kicks, the halfback's decision-making and defensive lapses left openings that Fiji were only too happy to exploit.

Mitchell was easily stripped by Josua Tuisova for a stand-out error, before the Saints star then misjudged a pass out wide that failed to find an England teammate. The performance personified a day where things simply weren’t clicking for the hosts, and upon the poppy-clad milestone military match in November, this simply was not a performance that Mitchell would want to remember. Even a promising half-break in Fiji’s 22 ended with a misread pass, leaving England exposed on the blindside for the third Fijian try.

With treble-winning Bath scrum half Ben Spencer waiting in the wings, Mitchell’s position could be under pressure if performances like this persist in an England jersey. Solid at times, but far from the game-changing presence England fans and the coaching staff alike, have come to expect from their first-choice scrum-half. With the All Blacks coming to Twickenham this weekend, Mitchell will need a sharper outing against a higher calibre of opponent should he retain the jersey.

A frustrating afternoon for Leroy Carter, as the wing’s promising start to Test rugby hit a bump in a the road following an underwhelming outing against Scotland. The former New Zealand Sevens star was caught in a costly moment when a cynical trip on Darcy Graham earned him a yellow card, disrupting the All Blacks’ rhythm and momentum, to turn the tide to Scotland's favour throughout the first half.

Carter’s overall involvement was limited, as he achieved just four carries and two tackles in the match, leaving him with little impact and moments of note outside of his disciplinary lapse. Carter looked to be in some frustration as he stood perched upon the right wing. The flyer was underutilised, with All Blacks ball rarely making it's way to his touchline, as Carter was not ever truly unleashed against Gregor Townsend's side. For a player of such natural talent and game-breaking speed, it was a evening to forget.

A frustrating afternoon for Joseph Sua’alii, whose otherwise impressive attacking flair was overshadowed by a costly yellow card in Australia’s shocking loss to Italy. The Wallabies conceded a pivotal try during his ten-minute sin bin, in what was a definitive period that shifted momentum firmly in the Azzurri's favour and helped seal the shock result of the weekend.

Sua’alii’s issues didn’t end there. A clearance kick that went out on the full in the 47th minute, coupled with a high tackle on Paolo Garbisi in the 57th, compounded a difficult outing for the dual-code footballer. Despite his brief linebreak mid-way through the first half the former rugby league star spent more time away from the ball and even off the field than he, Joe Schmidt, or the Wallabies fans wanted.

While his talent with ball in hand remains undeniable, this was a match Sua’alii will want to erase from memory. It goes to show that even the most explosive players are vulnerable to the unpredictability of the Test stage, when discipline falters at the highest level.