With the summer tours in full motion, all attention was on a number of exciting Test matches on Saturday, which included victories for Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Wales.
The top performers from an incredible weekend of rugby are below!
Fullback: Willie le Roux (South Africa)
Was visibly frustrated with their early struggles, but took his try with a beautiful run that Wasps fans will have found very familiar. Nice pass to release Nkosi for his second, and started to take control of the game as the Springboks pulled away from England.
Winger: S’busiso Nkosi (South Africa)
Very dangerous on attack – great grubber to score his first try. Also a great run to collect inside pass for his second try. A very exciting player.
Outside-centre: Kurtley Beale (Australia)
We''ve swapped him to 13 to accommodate both Beale and Parkes. Set up an ultimately disallowed try and provided the spark in attack throughout the game. Looks to be back to some of his best Test footy, and just at the right time too.
Inside-centre: Hadleigh Parkes (Wales)
Does he ever make a mistake? Everything he turned his hand to against Argentina, he did so well. Can take the direct route, as he showed when sitting down the hulking Marcos Kremer, or the elusive one, spinning out of tackles and he can let the ball do the work too. Also so effective in defence, as with the tackle and strip which earned a penalty that extended Wales’ half-time lead to 17-3. The man is Wales' glue.
Winger: Dane Haylett-Petty (Australia)
Haylett-Petty hasn’t played a Test since last year’s second Bledisloe and though he’s had a mixed Super Rugby season, he showed why the Wallabies have so much faith in him. Was impeccable under the high ball and held up a certain Ireland try.
Fly-half: Ben Volavola (Fiji)
The number 10 put in a masterful performance, scoring a try and kicking two conversions, as he helped his side to a 24-22 victory over Samoa in the Pacific Nations Cup in Suva on Saturday. You can see why Racing 92 have signed him up.
Scrum-half: Faf de Klerk (South Africa)
A brilliant return to test rugby as he got the Springboks up and running with their first try. Quickened the pace with tap penalties that caught England on the back foot. Proved his worth to South African rugby and my how they’ve missed him.
Loosehead-prop: Rob Evans (Wales)
Drafted in as a late replacement for the injured Wyn Jones, he had a fine game. Earned a penalty at the first scrum and did a superb piece of work in defence to deny Marcos Kremer a try as he managed to get underneath the big flanker. Made 11 tackles in 54 minutes on the field which isn’t too shabby for a prop.
Hooker: George Turner (Scotland)
The hooker’s hat-trick was the stand-out achievement of the evening in the Commonwealth Stadium, symbolising the superiority of the Scotland maul over the Canadians. A masterful performance from the 25-year-old on his third test.
Tighthead-prop: Taniela Tupou (Australia)
An anchor in the scrum. Kepu made nine tackles against Ireland and won a turnover as well. Proving to be one of Australia’s most reliable Test players.
Lock: Scott Barrett (New Zealand)
Fine showing in his chance in place of Brodie Retallick against France. A beast at the lineout, including an early steal. Great break and offload to brother Jordie to set up fellow brother Beauden's try.
Lock: James Ryan (Ireland)
The second-row was left nursing the irony of having arguably his finest Irish performance in what proved to be his first defeat as a professional rugby player against the Wallabies. Made a monster turnover in the first-half look frighteningly easy and worked himself into the ground: six carries and a massive 16 tackles.
Flanker: David Pocock (Australia)
How good was it to see Pocock back in Test rugby? Whatever your thoughts might be about his sabbatical, you can’t argue with his form when he is in the Wallabies fold. He finished with 12 tackles, four turnovers and the match-winning try. Absolute star.
Flanker: James Davies (Wales)
Needed a big performance after Ellis Jenkins’ display last week and he produced it. Won three penalties over the ball, including a superb piece of turnover work on his own line in the first half, and provided classic openside support to touch down out wide, while making an impressive 17 tackles in all to earn the official Man of the Match award.
Number 8: Amanaki Mafi (Japan)
The powerful number 8 scored a try as the Brave Blossoms as they floored Six Nations side Italy 34-17 on Saturday in the first game of their two-match rugby series.
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