Autumn Internationals Team of the Week: Do you agree with our picks?
Rugby NewsSunday, 25 November 2018 at 09:19
Players from seven countries make this week’s Autumn Internationals Team of the Week after a sensational weekend of games but who has made the team and who misses out.
Fullback: Damian McKenzie (New Zealand)
McKenzie flourished and helped open up the game from fullback. Outrun only by Barrett with 136 metres, McKenzie scored three tries and made two line breaks with five defenders beaten. Simply made things happen for the All Blacks. A good note to end his campaign.
Winger: Jordie Barrett (New Zealand)
Might be in for a few more shifts on the wing after bagging four tries. Showed off an array of skills in doing so. Most impressive may have been claiming his brother’s cross-field kick on the stroke of halftime.
Centre: Garry Ringrose (Ireland)
Time on the ball is a precious commodity. Time in defence is another thing altogether. Makes reads others can only dream of comprehending. Content to ‘support’ those with more on the line. Magical in setting up Conway’s hat-trick. A class above.
Centre: Owen Farrell (England)
Time and time again he is at the centre of everything England do, right and wrong. Missed one penalty that hit the upright but it was his tackle on Rodda that caused the biggest moment of controversy as he appeared to hit the lock with a shoulder charge on the try line. Bagged a try of his own thanks to smart work from George Ford and Manu Tuilagi late on.
Winger: Andrew Conway (Ireland)
The counter, link and finish for his first try delivered on his promise not to wait for the game to come to him. He stayed wide for his second, made all the difference for Conan’s and claimed a hat-trick.
Fly-half: Ben Volavola (Fiji)
The fly-halves three penalties handed Fiji their first ever win over France with a surprise 21-14 victory at the Stade de France in Paris.
Scrum-half: Greig Laidlaw (Scotland)
Kicked well against Argentina as is to be expected from him and marshalled forwards well in what was a very close contest. Never has a bad game.
Prop: Ben Moon (England)
The Exeter Chief has solved England’s loosehead crisis this autumn and will be reliable cover for Mako Vunipola come the Six Nations. Another solid afternoon’s work.
Hooker: Dane Coles (New Zealand)
He was back to his attacking best against Italy. Made an immediate impact by sidestepping Italian wing Luca Sperandio and finding a pair of looping teammates to set up the opening try. Showed other impressive flashes as a carrier and was close to impeccable at lineout time.
Prop: Kyle Sinckler (England)
A real force in the loose, showing his strength with a number of charges and played a big role in a dominant English scrum. England’s best tight-head this month.
Lock: Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
Time on the ball is a precious commodity. Time in defence is another thing altogether. Makes reads others can only dream of comprehending. Content to ‘support’ those with more on the line. Magical in setting up Conway’s hat-trick. A class above.
Lock: Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
The skipper carried strongly during the opening 40 minutes and got under the skin of the Springboks with his unwillingness to back down during heated confrontations.
Flanker: Ellis Jenkins (Wales)
What a warrior! Only started because of blindside flanker Dan Lydiate's late withdrawal and was immense during the first half with his work at the breakdown, his try-saving heroics and try-creating dummy. And he carried out No.8 duties after Ross Moriarty departed early on. Such a shame to see him injured at the end.
Flanker: Justin Tipuric (Wales)
Employed on tackling duties and didn't see him too much in the open exchanges until he won a vital penalty which Biggar nailed from near a touchline after chasing a kick in the 67th minute.
Number 8: Mark Wilson (England)
The tough Newcastle back-rower has been a real bonus this autumn, filling a large Billy Vunipola/Nathan Hughes hole so effectively that it will be difficult to leave him out in the Six Nations.
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