England and All Blacks make a statement

The rugby365.com Team of the Week is understandably dominated by players from England and New Zealand this week, after their utterly convincing victories putting Australia and Scotland to the sword respectively.

England are the big winners with six stars in our side thanks to their humbling  35-18 triumph over high-flying Australia to bring the Wallabies back down to earth with a thump.

The All Blacks add another five names to the team list and made it appear as though it was the first XV up against a spirited but ultimately unworthy under 14 side in their 49-3 whipping of Scotland.

Not to be outdone the Springboks make up three places in the team following their match that proved if you play to your potential for 20 minutes or so in the second half that should be enough to hold on for a 29-25 win over Wales. The final spot in the starting XV goes to one lone Wallaby.

The Bubbling Under selection is far more evenly spread across the board, with England (three) and the All Blacks (three) adding to their impressive tallies from the weekend, while South Africa (two), France (two), Samoa (two), Wales (two) and Australia (one) make up the numbers.

Here is rugby365.com’s Team of the Week:

15 – Kurtley Beale (Australia):
Scored a brace of tries in an attempted fightback by the Wallabies with a brilliant chip-and-chase solo effort..
Bubbling under: Ben Foden (England)

14 – Chris Ashton (England):
Proved himself to be a deadly finisher and scored a fantastic try running from hi own try-line and burning Drew Mitchell for pace in the process.
Bubbling under: George North (Wales)

13 – Conrad Smith (New Zealand):
Mr. dependable and his experience shone through.
Bubbling under: Adam Ashley-Cooper (Australia)

12 – Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand):
Lived up to some of his hype with a strong performance with his trademark offload catching the eye.
Bubbling under: Seilala Mapusua (Samoa)

11 – Hosea Gear (New Zealand):
Putting in a strong argument to be the All Blacks permanent No.11 with his ability to create something from nothing.
Bubbling under: Maxime Medard (France)

10 – Toby Flood (England):
Fed off the confidence from his halfback partner and was flawless in his kicking display to edge out Dan Carter who was brilliant, but left the field while half an hour still to play.
Bubbling under: Dan Carter (New Zealand)

9 – Ben Youngs (England):
A real superstar in the making, oozing confidence, providing quick ball and completely outplayed Will Genia.
Bubbling under: Kahn Fotuali’i (Samoa)

8 – Kieran Read (New Zealand):
Was a tough toss up between a few hard working No.8s, but Read pips Easter and Spies in his unsung All Blacks hero role.
Bubbling under: Nick Easter (England)

7 – Richie McCaw (New Zealand):
Outstanding and ever-present and was so good that he gets the nod even though a full day at the office wasn’t required from the All Blacks skipper.
Bubbling under: Juan Smith (South Africa)

6 – Tom Croft (England):
Star of the show in the England back row and played an important hand in Chris Ashton’s first try.
Bubbling under: Willem Alberts (South Africa)

5 – Victor Matfield (South Africa):
Springbok supremo lead the team with distinction and offered a lovely dummie to go over for a try in the match where he became the most capped Bok in history.
Bubbling under: Jérôme Thion (France)

4 – Courtney Lawes (England):
Enjoyed a few cameo role linking with the backs and although not the universal choice it was his kind of a game.
Bubbling under: Brad Thorn (New Zealand)

3 – Dan Cole (England):
Fast becoming a feared force at tighthead in world rugby with few able to match his strength.
Bubbling under: Owen Franks (New Zealand)

2 – Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa):
Was his usual energetic self and steals ball on the ground in the mould of an openside flank at times.
Bubbling under: Matthew Rees (Wales)

1 –  Tendai Mtawarira (South Africa):
Beeeeast!! Was immense on attack and defence and absolutely owned Adam Jones.
Bubbling under: Andrew Sheridan (England)

Our individual selections:

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Dan Carter,  9 Nick Youngs, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Jérôme Thion, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Conrad Smith 12 Sonny Bill Williams 11 Hosea Gear 10 Dan Carter 9 Ben Youngs 8 Pierre Spies 7 Richie McCaw 6 Tom Croft 5 Victor
Matfield 4 Brad Thorn 3 Dan Cole, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtarawira.

Len Kaplan XV: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
 
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Shontayne Hape, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Willem Alberts, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Grant Ball XV: 15 Ben Foden, 14 George North, 13 Conrad Smith, 12, Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Alun-Wyn Jones, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Andrew Sheridan.

Timmy Hancox XV: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Chris Ashton, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Toby Flood, 9 Ben Youngs, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Tom Croft, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Previous selections:

Week One (Monday, Nov. 8): 15 Kurtley Beale (Australia), 14 James O’Connor (Australia), 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper (Australia), 12 Jean de Villiers (South Africa), 11 Hosea Gear (New Zealand), 10 Dan Carter (New Zealand), 9 Ruan Pienaar (South Africa), 8 Pierre Spies (South Africa), 7 Juan Smith (South Africa), 6 David Pocock (Australia), 5 Victor Matfield (South Africa), 4 Brad Thorn (New Zealand), 3 Adam Jones (Wales), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales).