Team of the Week: Rugby's Greatest Rivalry & International Tests - Just One All Black & Springbok Named

New Zealand eventually pulled away from the Stormers in Cape Town, but the hosts pushed the All Blacks far closer than many expected before the visitors secured a 38-21 victory. In Buenos Aires, meanwhile, Argentina made the Springboks work just as hard for their result, with South Africa eventually escaping with a 17-10 win.

For both giants, the results went in the record books as victories, but there were plenty of reasons to feel fortunate. Australia also had to survive a serious challenge from Japan, edging the Brave Blossoms 35-32 in Osaka in a contest that could easily have gone the other way. With so many standout individual performances across the weekend, here is our RUCK Team of the Week.

The Stormers’ attacking threat was at its most dangerous when Gelant had room to work. His quick feet and sharp changes of direction repeatedly created problems for the underwhelming All Blacks, while he also showed his defensive awareness by winning a crucial penalty against Anton Lienert-Brown. The full-back brought plenty of attacking ambition from the back, constantly looking to inject himself into the Stormers’ play and giving the hosts a genuine counter-attacking threat.

Jorgensen made sure Japan had plenty to worry about whenever Australia shifted the ball wide. The youngster was involved in two Wallabies tries, first creating Tom Wright’s score with a well-timed pass before adding one himself after half-time. His finishing was matched by an appetite for carrying, with Jorgensen covering 50 metres from eight runs. It was another glimpse of the explosive qualities that make him such an exciting option on the Australian wing.

Proctor brought plenty of defensive bite to the All Blacks midfield and was particularly effective at disrupting the Stormers around the breakdown. His willingness to compete for loose ball gave New Zealand an extra edge in the early exchanges, while his defensive positioning helped limit the hosts’ opportunities through midfield. The centre was forced off with a tour ending fractured shoulder blade after 45 minutes, but his contribution before then was enough to earn him a place in our XV.

Paisami took his opportunity in the Wallabies midfield and delivered one of his most influential performances in recent international rugby. His power was immediately evident, with a huge defensive collision followed by a break that helped put Harry Potter over for his try. He was involved again in the build-up to Tom Wright’s score and finished with 10 carries and 15 tackles. The inside centre provided Australia with the physical presence they needed out in the Far East.

Japan simply struggled to contain Potter once the winger found his magical rhythm. He burst through for an important first-half try and continued to threaten the Japanese defence whenever Australia gave him possession in space. Potter was especially effective with ball in hand, eventually finishing with a match-high 118 metres against the Brave Blossoms. His running forced Japan backwards throughout the afternoon and made him one of Australia’s most dangerous attacking weapons. Plenty of excitement around the flyer as the Wallabies begin the Les Kiss era.

Ahmed looked completely comfortable despite facing the immense challenge of directing the Stormers on debut against the All Blacks. The young fly-half displayed confidence with ball in hand, found the line when opportunities opened up and contributed 5 points with the boot. His second-half break was another highlight, showing he was willing to take the game to New Zealand rather than simply play conservatively upon his first crack at the helm. There was plenty here to suggest the Stormers have an exciting prospect on their hands, who could one day be orchestrating the Springboks back-line.

Saito rarely needed to take centre stage himself because his distribution did the talking. The experienced scrum-half repeatedly found the right pass to keep Japan's attack moving and finished with two assists for his teammates. His service from the base allowed the Brave Blossoms to play at speed and helped them build sustained pressure against Australia. Saito's control and accuracy were crucial to Japan's impressive attacking display and ensured the Wallabies were tested until the final whistle.

Wenger set the tone for Argentina with a performance that combined front-row power with impressive skill around the park. He immediately put the Springboks tight-head Thomas du Toit under pressure at scrum time before producing one of the game's smartest moments. Wenger found Benjamin Grondona with an offload in contact to help create Argentina's opening try. The prop also contributed eight carries and 15 tackles upon his 56 minute stint. Against the Springboks, Wenger looked every inch an international front-rower than his revered set-piece opponents.

Ruiz produced a colossal shift against the Springboks, combining precision at the lineout with an extraordinary defensive workload. The hooker was perfect from five attempts at the lineout in the opening half and had already made 15 tackles by the interval. He eventually finished with a remarkable 25 tackles before being replaced in the 65th minute. Against a South African pack renowned for its physicality, Ruiz refused to give an inch and was Argentina's standout performer.

Fouche made life uncomfortable for the All Blacks from the very first scrum. The Stormers prop brought enormous physicality to the set piece and was part of a front row that repeatedly challenged New Zealand's forwards. His defensive work was equally impressive, with a huge second-half collision helping force a turnover and swing momentum back towards the hosts. Fouche's performance was built around exactly the qualities you want from a tighthead: aggression, power and an appetite for confrontation.

Dearns was one of the reasons Japan were able to take Australia all the way to the wire. The lock dominated the aerial battle at lineout time, competed fiercely around the breakdown and showed surprising attacking ambition in open play. He saved one of his best moments for the closing stages, crossing the line himself as Japan continued to chase the Wallabies. Another commanding performance from a player who has rapidly become one of Japan's most important forwards.

Evans gave the Stormers exactly what they needed from their tight-five against an All Blacks pack boasting enormous Test experience. The lock was outstanding in the lineout, consistently securing possession and helping provide the platform for the hosts to attack. His influence was particularly important during the periods when the Stormers had New Zealand under pressure. Evans may not have had the headline moments of some of his teammates, but his work at set piece was fundamental to the Stormers' competitiveness.

Fourie rolled back the years with another typically combative performance against the All Blacks. The veteran forward was central to the Stormers' maul threat, powering over from a catch-and-drive to give the hosts a crucial score. He remained heavily involved after that, winning a key penalty and then turning provider for Senatla's try. Fourie's combination of physicality, experience and relentless nuisance value made him one of the Stormers' most influential players on the night.

If Australia were going to survive Japan's challenge, they needed players willing to do the dirty work, and McReight delivered exactly that. The openside was everywhere defensively, recording a game-high 21 tackles, while also finding a way over the line himself. His try came through sheer persistence near the Japanese line, with the flanker refusing to be stopped. McReight's relentless work rate helped Australia weather some serious pressure and ultimately escape with the victory.

Hanekom was immense in Buenos Aires and emerged as one of the Springboks’ most influential players in a bruising encounter. He carried with authority, competed aggressively at the breakdown and produced the kind of close-range finish that has become a trademark of his game. His try came after South Africa established dominance at scrum time, while his overall numbers were outstanding: 13 carries for 82 metres. Against a fired-up Argentina, Hanekom delivered an all-action performance.