Team of the Week: Lions Tour & Summer Tests

The touring parties of England, Scotland and France all wrapped up their respective campaigns, with the long trips home now underway for the Northern Hemisphere nations.

The Lions are currently putting together the final preparations for their last mid-week tour match, as they take on the First Nations & Pasifika XV tomorrow in Melbourne. Andy Farrell's side took home the spoils of the opening Test of their series against Australia this past weekend, with a solid 27-19 victory setting the tone for the two subsequent matches to follow.

Across the world, England enjoyed a one-sided win over the United States, albeit after the match was delayed due to a thunderstorm across Washington DC ahead of kick-off. Steve Borthwick's men return home undefeated from their cross-continental tour of the Americas, having previously enjoyed back-to-back victories over an impressive Argentina side. The All Blacks also ended the Summer unbeaten, with a third consecutive Test triumph secured over Fabien Galthie's inexperienced France side.

Scotland closed out their island-hopping tour of the South Pacific, with an emphatic victory over Samoa in Auckland's Eden Park. Gregor Townsend's side tore it up in the spiritual home of the All Blacks, with the win made all the more impressive as multiple stars had yo-yoed in and out of the squad to help out the Lions training effort in Australia.

RUCK Reporter Harrison Clifford was impressed by the Sale Sharks man, who ran out for his Test debut against the United States: "Great in the role of fullback. His kicking game and high-ball control were brilliant. For a first-cap performance, anyone would be happy if it was their 100th cap. A masterclass which Borthwick should be taking note of for future fixtures post Lions campaign."

A stand-out performer from a well-beaten Australia side, that will be out for revenge in this Saturday's 2nd Test. Max Jorgensen showcased once again why he is highly regarded across Australia, with the 20-year-old continuing to make a name for himself after a break-out in the 2024 Autumn Nations Series.

After being fended to the deck by a rampaging James Lowe, Jorgensen made a try-saving tackle upon Huw Jones to cancel out the Scotsman's first half try. The Wallaby would shine in the air, and win a crucial kick-chase against Hugo Keenan, before skipping past Finn Russell to bag a try of his own in the 2nd half.

After a slow start from the All Blacks in their third Test against France, Jordie Barrett was flung into the mix to inject a bolt of energy into the back-line. The midfielder was other-worldly in his run-out, with an incredible try saving tackle kicking off his involvement. Barrett provided the assist to Brodie McAlister's try, and contibuted an array of line-breaking touches that tore through the French defence. Barrett was a real pendulum swinger, when it looked like Les Bleus were on to snatch a consolation victory.

A tackle machine in the Scottish midfield, Stafford McDowall's shoulder's must now be the black and blue of his nations jersey after an arduous defensive effort against Samoa. McDowall did not hesitate to put his body on the line, and stepped up to fill the Scottish centre spot whilst both Huw Jones & Sione Tuipulotu starred in the red of the Lions. McDowall also showcased his footballing ability with a well-waited grubber to set up his midfield partner Rory Hutchinson's 12th minute try.

We stick with Scotland for our next entry, and also throw another Sale Sharks man into our Team of the Week's back-three. With Darcy Graham unavailable following his call-up to the British & Irish Lions camp, the door flung open to Arron Reed. The wing made good on his opportunity in the tartan jersey, with a blistering performance along the touch-line.

Reed broke the gain-line more than any player out in Auckland, and capped off his day with a nice try upon the half-hour mark. Reed excelled defensively to boot, as he worked seamlessly with the two Kyles, Steyn and Rowe, in the Scottish back-field.

Once again we keep it Scottish with our Team of the Week, as Finn Russell was at his brilliant best for the Lions in the opening Test victory. The Bath man was complimented by his all-Scots midfield, with Huw Jones and Sione Tuipulotu on hand with a telepathic connection to their 10. Russell's floated pass for Tuipulotu's try will surely be replayed time and again throughout the tour, with the Lions attack taking a notable dip in furosity once Russell was withdrawn from the helm.

An honourable mention is certainly in store to Jamison Gibson-Park of the Lions, yet Springboks nine Grant Williams was equally as excellent as his side dismantled Georgia this past weekend. Williams ran the show in the Mbombela Stadium, with Georgia constantly on the back-foot following a tricky snipe or change of direction. It was one-way traffic in favour of Rassie Erasamus' side, with Williams at the heart of the attacking onslaught against an overwhelmed Georgian outfit.

It's rare to see a loose-head prop singled out as the busiest tackler within any side, never mind starring in the set-up of an All Blacks test match. Ethan de Groot was all over the park as France tried their best to bring a sole victory back from the tour, with chop tackles the order of the day for the Highlanders man.

De Groot coupled this with a solid effort at scrum-time, with the French pack set spinning on the dial for repeated set-piece penalties.

This man is in the form of his life, and he is only 26-years-old. Dan Sheehan was once again brilliant for the British & Irish Lions, with his status as a nailed on starter for the Test match series solidified after a starring performance in the opening clash with the Wallabies. Sheehan impressed in defense with his customary chop tackles, whilst keeping a calm head to distribute inch-perfect line-out ball. The Leinster and Ireland hooker capped off his day with a well-taken try in the corner, for another steller outing in red.

Coming into the opening Test of the series, the British & Irish Lions had enjoyed a flawless record at the scrum. Andy Farrell's side had not given away a single penalty against any of their previous opponents upon Aussie soil, yet Allan Alaalatoa ended that streak after just 13 minutes in Brisbane.

Alaalatoa up-ended Ellis Genge to curtail the Lions scrum effort, and would repeatedly hinder the Bristol prop when packing down in the head-to-head. Alongside back row Fraser McReight, Alaalatoa was the Wallabies' stand-out forward, and looks set for a big series to come across Melbourne and Sydney.

Things went from bad to worse for Georgia, as they began to faulter throughout the second half. In a move which almost seemed unfair, Rassie Erasmus then deployed arguably the best lock in the world to cause chaos against Los Lelos. Snyman exploded into the match, with a stand-out off-load coming in the lead up to Kurt-Lee Arndse's try. Snyman feels like a cheat-code at this point for the Springboks, with brutal carries sending even the sturdiest Georgian forward backwards. Couple this with his unique offloading ability to keep the ball alive and dangerous, Snyman looks unplayable in green and gold.

Starting in the engine room alongside veteran Springboks lock Eben Etzebeth, it took a considerable shift for Ruan Nortje to step out from the shadow of the titantic South African second row. However, Nortje's performance was a real statement-maker ahead of the Autumn Series, with thunderous hits piecing together a personal highlights reel. Nortje drew a target on the back of Georgian scrum half Vasil Lobzhanidze, with repeated shots from the lock slowing down the ball distribution at the breakdown.

What a phenomenal performance from Tadhg Beirne. The Player of the Match had the perfect start in Brisbane, with a steal over the breakdown at the first ruck to solidify his inclusion after just 30 seconds. A brilliant effort from the Munster man who was a stand-out performer in the first half, with countless hits, carries and clear outs optimising his tireless work rate.

One of the best players on the pitch for the Lions, who stepped up and erased the question marks around his positional change from lock to the back row, with Jac Morgan scrubbed from the Test squad. His 50th-minute hit was a wincing one, as Beirne disrupted the Wallabies for a lost ball in contact. The back row then turned the ball over in the maul three minutes later, as Australia drove for the line.

Surging carries from the Sale Sharks man, who would not be denied his first Lions try at the 36th minute. Curry was brilliant upon the flank, with a work-horse partnership established with Tadhg Beirne set to continue for the remainder of the Test series. Curry found himself in hot water for an aerial hit on Tom Lynagh, yet a linient referee disregarded the need for the sin bin.

Curry answered his critics who queried his Test inclusion ahead of Josh van der Flier and Henry Pollock, with a key involvement early in the second half. Curry collected the ball at the back of the line-out with a fine act of juggling, before then sending the assisting pass to Dan Sheehan for a try. 8 carries, 11 tackles and a try, a great effort — although he was shown to be favouring an injured arm after exiting the pitch.

After an underwhelming first 40 minutes by Ardie Savea's immense standards, the back row turned his fortunes around with an incredible outing that all-but won the match for the All Blacks. Savea emerged like a new man from the FMG Stadium tunnel, to be the wonder in Waikato when his side needed him most.

Dominant over the gain-line, French players were sent back-peddling in his wake, or simply dropped to the deck as the Moana Pasifika man built a full head of steam. Stand-out at the breakdown and imposing at the set-piece, Savea was instrumental in the All Blacks' triumph, even whilst Jordie Barrett took the headlines from the bench.