Team of the Week: Almost All Black

The first week of test rugby was dominated by the southern hemisphere sides, which is reflected in our Team of the Week.

The All Blacks destruction job of Ireland gives them the most players in the selection, with six starting and another four bubbling under.

The Springboks also picked up a big victory over England and win four places in the line-up, while two more narrowly missed out.

The closed of the three matches saw Australia hold off a Welsh fightback, which allows three Wallabies and two Welshmen to complete our panel.

Special mention must be made of Scotland's victory over Australia in midweek, and two Scots are bubbling under in recognition of that triumph. Ireland win just one place in the bubbling under selection, while England leave with nothing…

Team of the Week – June 9:

15 – Israel Dagg (New Zealand): The creative fullback was outstanding and kept the defenders guessing, creating the second Savea try by drawing defenders in brilliantly.

Bubbling under: Leigh Halfpenny (Wales)

14 – Alex Cuthbert (Wales): Scored a well-taken try and looked good every time he stretched his legs. Also made an impressive try-saving tackle on Rob Horne.

Bubbling under: Zac Guildford (New Zealand)

13 – Jean de Villiers (South Africa): The new skipper was outstanding and with a gash under his eye only a brave man would have suggested he go off. A brilliant try with great determination to get over the line and some genuine speed to burn Chris Ashton down the touchline. He also kept a close watch of the dangerous Manu Tuilagi and didn't allow him to break the advantage line.

Bubbling under: Jonathan Davies (Wales)

12 – Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand): Produced a mixture of good and bad, with one great off-load to help set-up the opening New Zealand try.

Bubbling under: Francois Steyn (South Africa)

11 – Julian Savea (New Zealand): Some said he wasn't ready to play at this level – he had a message for them! The first Kiwi to score a hat-trick against Ireland with three superb tries. He added a defensive element to his performance as well with a massive tackle on Rob Kearney in first half.

Bubbling under: Bryan Habana (South Africa)

10 – Dan Carter (New Zealand): A class act and kicked, ran, passed and tackled brilliantly from start to finish. Special mention must also go to Berrick Barnes, who controlled things brilliantly for the Wallabies.

Bubbling under: Berrick Barnes (Australia)

9 – Will Genia (Australia): A was a constant threat with ball in hand, showing a great turn of pace whenever he was given enough space to operate. His decision-making was excellent on the night and his try – his third Test match try in three appearances in Brisbane – was superbly taken… and match-changing. The clincher, however, was his beautiful delayed pass to fellow try-scorer McCabe in the second half.

Bubbling under: Aaron Smith (New Zealand)

8 – Kieran Read (New Zealand): The skillful No.8 was all over the park and added a lot of value in broken play, while his dash into space from a kick-off almost yielded great solo try.

Bubbling under: Pierre Spies (South Africa)

7 – David Pocock (Australia): Captained the side well to lift his troops and was better on the ground than his opposite number Sam Warburton.

Bubbling under: Richie McCaw (New Zealand)

6 – Willem Alberts (South Africa): He was a man mountain and crashed his way through the English defence on almost every run and was very difficult to bring to ground. A fantastic showing for the big bulldozer.

Bubbling under: Dan Lydiate (Wales)

5 – Nathan Sharpe (Australia): Still the Wallabies' best lock and his was great value at set-pieces and looked fitter than several younger second row forwards.

Bubbling under: Richie Gray (Scotland)

4 – Eben Etzebeth (South Africa): A great start to his Test career with a physical in your face performance.

Bubbling under: Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)

3 – Adam Jones (Wales): Put Australia under a lot of pressure in the scrums and won a free-kick and two penalties for his team.

Bubbling under: Euan Murray (Scotland)

2 – Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa): A typically tough performance and he cleaned out rucks and charged around the field making tackles with a few turnovers in his name as well.

Bubbling under: Rory Best (Ireland)

1 – Tony Woodcock (New Zealand): Scrummed well and was mobile around the park hitting rucks and getting his big frame in the way of the Irish effectively.

Bubbling under: Gethin Jenkins (Wales)

Our individual selections:

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 Alex Cuthbert (Wales), 13 Jonathan Davies (Wales), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand), 11 Bryan Habana (South Africa), 10 Dan Carter (New Zealand), 9 Will Genia (Australia), 8 Kieran Read (New Zealand), 7 Willem Alberts (South Africa), 6 Victor Vito (New Zealand), 5 Richie Gray (Scotland), 4 Brodie Retallick (New Zealand), 3 Euan Murray (Scotland), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 1 Cian Healy (Ireland).

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 Alex Cuthbert (Wales), 13 Jean de Villiers (South Africa), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand), 11 Julian Savea (New Zealand), 10 Dan Carter (New Zealand), 9 Will Genia (Australia), 8 Pierre Spies (South Africa), 7 David Pocock (Australia), 6 Willem Alberts (South Africa), 5 Juandre Kruger (South Africa), 4 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), 3 Jannie du Plessis (South Africa), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 1 Tony Woodcock (New Zealand).

Len Kaplan XV: 15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 Zac Guildford (New Zealand), 13 Jean de Villiers (South Africa), 12 Francois Steyn (South Africa), 11 Julian Savea (New Zealand), 10 Daniel Carter (New Zealand), 9 Will Genia (Australia), 8 Kieran Read (New Zealand), 7 Richie McCaw (New Zealand), 6 Willem Alberts (South Africa), 5 Geoff Parling (England), 4 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), 3 Adam Jones (Wales), 2 Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa), 1 Tony Woodcock (New Zealand).

Michael de Vries XV: 15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 Alex Cuthbert (Wales), 13 Jean de Villiers (South Africa), 12 Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand), 11 Julian Savea (New Zealand), 10 Dan Carter (New Zealand), 9 Will Genia (Australia), 8 Kieran Read (New Zealand), 7 Willem Alberts (South Africa), 6 Dan Lydiate (Wales), 5 Samuel Whitelock (New Zealand), 4 Rob Simmons (Australia), 3 Adam Jones (Wales), 2 Andrew Hore (New Zealand), 1 Tony Woodcock (New Zealand).

Timmy Hancox XV: 15 Israel Dagg (New Zealand), 14 Alex Cuthbert (Wales), 13 Jean de Villiers (South Africa), 12 Francois Steyn (South Africa), 11 Julian Savea (New Zealand), 10 Dan Carter (New Zealand), 9 Will Genia (Australia), 8 Kieran Read (South Africa), 7 David Pocock (Australia), 6 Willem Alberts (South Africa), 5 Nathan Sharpe (Australia), 4 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa), 3 Euan Murray (Scotland), 2 Rory Best (Ireland), 1 Gethin Jenkins (Wales).