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Team of the Month: The rose is blooming

And, along with that other inform Northern Hemisphere team Ireland, they dominate rugby365's famous monthly selection.

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There are five English players and four Irishmen in our first-choice selection.

New Zealand are also well represented, with three starters – including World Rugby's Player of the Year Beauden Barrett.

Australia (two) and France (one) complete the team.

There is plenty reward for the All Blacks in our back-up squad, with six Kiwis bubbling under.

Ireland (four), England (two), Italy, Argentina and Australia (one each) make up the numbers.

Team of the Month – November:

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15 – Rob Kearney (Ireland):

He was central to Ireland's newfound attacking form, as well as a rock in the last line of defence.

Bubbling under: Mike Brown (England)

14 – Dane Haylett-Petty (Australia):

One of the new breed of Wallabies that could benefit Australia in the long-run.

Bubbling under: Israel Dagg (New Zealand)

13 – Jonathan Joseph (England):

It is going to take a serious injury to dislodge him from the England outside position.

Bubbling under: Malakai Fekitoa (New Zealand)

12 – Wesley Fofana (France):

The creative force behind the new-found French flair.

Bubbling under: Gary Ringrose (Ireland)

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11 – Jonny May (England):

There will be strong arguments for a number of others – including Liam Williams and Julian Savea. We debated long and hard, before a split vote gave it to May – based on his greater consistency.

Bubbling under: Julian Savea (New Zealand)

10 – Beauden Barrett (New Zealand):

The best, by the proverbial country mile.

Bubbling under: George Ford (England)

9 – Ben Youngs (England):

Another position where the debate was rather lively, but Youngs became progressively better throughout the month and certainly finished stringer than Conor Murray and Greig Laidlaw.

Bubbling under: Conor Murray (Ireland)

8 – Billy Vunipola (England):

The battering ram that always got his team on the front foot.

Bubbling under: Sergio Parisse (Italy)

7 – Michael Hooper (Australia):

The workhorse of the Wallaby team, often doing the dirty work while others look flash.

Bubbling under: Ardie Savea (New Zealand)

6 – Christiaan Stander (Ireland):

South Africa's brains trust must regret letting him go every time they see him on the field. Ireland's biggest scoop in the last decade.

Bubbling under: Josh van der Flier (Ireland)

5 – Devon Toner (Ireland):

The one lock that can challenge the dominance of the New Zealand second row powerhouses Saw Whitelock and Brodie Retallick.

Bubbling under: Sam Whitelock (New Zealand)

4 – Brodie Retallick (New Zealand):

The rock of the All Black pack.

Bubbling under: Guido Petti (Argentina)

3 – Tadhg Furlong (Ireland):

One of the most improved forwards of the year.

Bubbling under: Charlie Faumuina (New Zealand)

2 – Dan Coles (New Zealand):

His mix of skill, physicality and workrate is what makes him stand out above the rest.

Bubbling under: Stephen Moore (Australia)

1 – Mako Vunipola (England):

A monster in the scrums, a monster with the ball in hand and a monster on defence.

Bubbling under: Jack McGrath (Ireland)

Our individual selections:

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Liam Williams, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Christiaan Stander, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Mako Vunipola.

Tauriq Ebrahim XV: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Israel Dagg, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Greig Laidlaw, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Ardie Savea, 6 Josh van der Flier, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dan Coles, 1 Mako Vunipola.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Rob Kearney, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Jonathan Joseph, 12 Garry Ringrose, 11 Jonny May, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Billy Vunipola, 7 Josh van der Flier, 6 Christiaan Stander, 5 Devon Toner, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Rory Best, 1 Mako Vunipola.

Our weekly selections:

Team of the Week – November, Week Four: 15 Mike Brown (England), 14 Dane Haylett-Petty (Australia), 13 Jonathan Davies (Wales), 12 Garry Ringrose (Ireland), 11 Virimi Vakatawa (France), 10 Beauden Barrett (New Zealand), 9 Conor Murray (Ireland), 8 Ross Moriarty (Wales), 7 Justin Tipuric (Wales), 6 Christiaan Stander (Ireland), 5 Sam Whitelock (New Zealand), 4 Guido Petti (Argentina), 3 Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 2 Dane Coles (New Zealand), 1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales).

Team of the Week – November, Week Three: 15 Ben Smith (New Zealand), 14 Noa Nakaitaci (France), 13 Malakai Fekitoa (New Zealand), 12 Wesley Fofana (France), 11 Julian Savea (New Zealand), 10 Beauden Barrett (New Zealand), 9 Conor Murray(Ireland), 8 Sergio Parisse (Italy), 7 David Pocock (Australia), 6 Josh van der Flier (Ireland), 5 Devin Toner (Ireland), 4 Brodie Retallick (New Zealand), 3 Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 2 Dane Coles (New Zealand), 1 Mako Vunipola (England).

Team of the Week – November, Week Two: 15 Mike Brown (England), 14 DTH van der Merwe (Canada), 13 Huw Jones (Scotland), 12 Owen Farrell (England), 11 Jonny May (England), 10 George Ford (England), 9 Ben Youngs (England), 8 Billy Vunipola (England), 7 Sam Cane (New Zealand), 6 John Barcley (Scotland), 5 Jonny Gray (Scotland), 4 Ultan Dillane (Ireland), 3 Charlie Faumuina (New Zealand), 2 Stephen Moore (Australia), 1 Mako Vunipola (England).

Team of the Week – November, Week One: 15 Rob Kearney (Ireland), 14 Dane Haylett-Petty (Australia), 13 Tevita Kuridrani (Australia), 12 Robbie Henshaw (Ireland), 11 Taqele Naiyaravoro (Barbarians), 10 Johnny Sexton (Ireland), 9 Conor Murray (Ireland), 8 Ross Moriarty (Wales), 7 Josh van der Flier (Ireland), 6 Christiaan Stander (Ireland), 5 Devin Toner (Ireland), 4 Rory Arnold (Australia), 3 Tadhg Furlong (Ireland), 2 Stephen Moore (Australia), 1 Jack McGrath (Ireland).

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