Autumn Internationals Team of the Week: Do you agree with our selection?
Rugby NewsSunday, 12 November 2017 at 10:35
Five Irish players make this week's Autumn Internationals Team of the Week after their stunning 38-3 win over the Springboks but who has made the team and who misses out.
Full-back: Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
Right place at the right time for the opening try against Samoa - his 17th for Scotland - and always seems to create something with the ball in hand. Made a couple of trademark breaks as they game went on, but still short of full fitness.
Wing: Waisake Naholo (New Zealand)
Highlanders fans are accustomed to seeing him on his feet and earning breakdown penalties, now he's doing it at the top level. His defusing of a threatening French raid halfway through the second half was big. Also scored a double.
Centre: Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)
Henshaw was again the defensive lynchpin for Ireland. Bailed Rob Kearney out when the kick through bounced through his hands, with his provincial team-mate covering the danger as South African runners bore down. A sublime offload in the first-half was a taste of perhaps more to come from Henshaw in the 13 jersey.
Centre: Soso Matiashvili (Georgia)
The centre scored a brace as Georgia secured an emphatic 54-22 victory over Canada on Saturday. However, it was his second try which was a piece of individual brilliance from the 24-year-old.
Wing: Andrew Conway (Ireland)
Looked at ease at the step-up in quality of opposition and was heavily involved in first half on the right wing. The second smallest man on the Irish team competed for everything in the air and got his just rewards in the first half with his first international try.
Fly-half: Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
The fly-half brought his Ireland tally up to 62pointsnt and gave another masterful performance, outclassing his opposite number Elton Janties in the box-kicking duel and controlling things from start until his exit shortly before full-time.
Scrum-half: Will Genia (Australia)
Australia's best. He got the Wallabies attack operating as well as it has all year while controlling the pace of play with some clever kicking at exactly the time it was required. Continuously kept the Wales line honest in sniffing out holes around the breakdown not only for himself but for his first phase runners as well. A superb performance summed up by the sublime assist for Coleman's try.
Prop: Mako Vunipola (England)
Hates training, according to Jones, but loves playing. Made the hard yards with some strong carries, kept on tackling and showed good hands, too. Excellent performance – certainly did not look in need of a rest.
Hooker: Stuart McInally (Scotland)
Impeccable with his throwing and a couple of trademark carries which led to two tries and a good run out. Did his chances of becoming the Scots first choice hooker no harm at all.
Prop: Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
The ‘Beast’ Tendei Mtawarira acknowledged in the build-up that the Wexford man is the best tighthead in the business in the northern hemisphere and he again locked down the Irish scrum. The Beast departed 15 minutes into the second half as Furlong continues to go from strength-to-strength.
Lock: Alun Wyn Jones (Wales)
A towering display by the Wales captain, who was outstanding in every aspect of the game for his team.
Lock: Adam Coleman (Australia)
Scored a try but it was his tireless work on either side of the ball that caught the eye. Led all bar Michael Hooper and Sean McMahon with 10 tackles and put his hand up for seven carries.
Flanker: Peter O'Mahony (Ireland)
Once again a blood (literally in the first half) and guts display and always alert at the breakdown. A number of carries had the South African line creaking before he left the field shortly into the second half.
Flanker: Sam Underhill (England)
Did everything asked of him on his first appearance at Twickenham and it was the quality just as much as the quantity of his tackles that impresses. One of the defensive leaders, so takes credit for how blunt the Pumas were in attack.
Number 8: Nathan Hughes (England)
Outrageous bit of juggling for the try which proved one of few occasions the crowd rose to their feet. Was outstanding in Argentina over the summer and continues to grow into the jersey.
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