Team of the Week: Celtic collection

Ireland, without doubt the most improved team of the year, and Wales provide the bulk of our starting XV.

There are eight Celts in our first-choice selection, with New Zealand (three), England, Australia, France and Argentina (one each) making up the rest of the team.

There are four more Celtic players in our back-up squad – four from Ireland and one from Scotland.

France (four bubbling under) add to the Northern Hemisphere heavy squad – with Australia (three), New Zealand (two) and England (one) completing the selection.

Four players returns from last week's selection – flyhalf Beauden Barrett (New Zealand), scrumhalf Conor Murray (Ireland), prop Tadhg Furlong (Ireland) and hooker Dane Coles (New Zealand).

Team of the Week – November, Week Four:

15 – Mike Brown (England):

He made the Argentinians' normally sound defensive structures look decidedly second rate.

Bubbling under: Stuart Hogg (Scotland)

14 – Dane Haylett-Petty (Australia):

One of the real Wallaby stars in what was a year of erratic performances by the Aussies.

Bubbling under: Noa Nakaitaci (France)

13 – Jonathan Davies (Wales):

He showed South Africa's young guns just how far behind they are on the international stage.

Bubbling under: Tevita Kuridrani (Australia)

12 – Garry Ringrose (Ireland):

With talented young players like this coming through there's a bright future ahead for Ireland.

Bubbling under: Ryan Crotty (New Zealand)

11 – Virimi Vakatawa (France):

Flying Fijian wings have become the flavour of the month.

Bubbling under: Julian Savea (New Zealand)

10 – Beauden Barrett (New Zealand):

Was there ever any doubt?

Bubbling under: Paddy Jackson (Ireland)

9 – Conor Murray (Ireland):

He must be close to being the best (at least most on-form) scrumhalf in the world at present.

Bubbling under: Maxime Machenaud (France)

8 – Ross Moriarty (Wales):

Was a monster on defence and just as powerful with ball in hand.

Bubbling under: David Pocock (Australia)

7 – Justin Tipuric (Wales):

And they worried the absence of Sam Warburton could hamper them.

Bubbling under: Michael Hooper (Australia)

6 – Christiaan Stander (Ireland):

One of the most valuable assets Ireland managed to lure from South Africa.

Bubbling under: Charles Ollivon (France)

5 – Sam Whitelock (New Zealand):

One of the few All Blacks who seemed to have something left in the tank for the final match of the year.

Bubbling under: George Kruis (England)

4 – Guido Petti (Argentina):

One of only a few Pumas who kept their reputations intact.

Bubbling under: Iain Henderson (Ireland)

3 – Tadhg Furlong (Ireland):

One of the break-out players of the year.

Bubbling under: Uini Atonio (France)

2 – Dane Coles (New Zealand):

Simply the most complete hooker in the world at present.

Bubbling under: Rory Best (Ireland)

1 – Gethin Jenkins (Wales):

Really did make the South African front row look like rank amateurs.

Bubbling under: Jack McGrath (Ireland)

Our individual selections:

Warren Fortune XV: 15 Stuart Hogg, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Tevita Kuridrani, 12 Garry Ringrose, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Conor Murray, 8 David Pocock, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Christiaan Stander, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Iain Henderson, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Rory Best, 1 Jack McGrath.

Paul Dobson XV: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Dane Haylett-Petty, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Ryan Crotty, 11 Virimi Vakatawa, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Christiaan Stander, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Gethin Jenkins.

Jan de Koning XV: 15 Mike Brown, 14 Noa Nakaitaci, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Garry Ringrose, 11 Virimi Vakatawa, 10 Beauden Barrett, 9 Conor Murray, 8 Ross Moriarty, 7 Justin Tipuric, 6 Christiaan Stander, 5 George Kruis, 4 Guido Petti, 3 Tadhg Furlong, 2 Dane Coles, 1 Gethin Jenkins.

Previous selections:

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 Christian 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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