Team of the Week: Joie de vivre
France's convincing victory over Argentina sees them claim the most places in our Team of the Week after another big weekend of Test action in Europe.
There are five Frenchmen in our side this week after they claimed their second consecutive southern hemisphere scalp, whilst the Wallabies' gritty victory over England sees them contribute four players.
Three Springboks, two All Blacks and a Samoan make up our team of victors, after all three sides registered wins on the road.
Our bubbling under side also sees France leading the way with five players, and they are followed by New Zealand with three and South Africa with two whilst the rest of the team sees Australia, Samoa, Tonga, Scotland and Argentina all contribute one player.
Team of the Week, Week Two:
15 Berrick Barnes (Australia)
Showed some impressive versatility to control the game from the back and also took the ball at first-receiver on occasion on top of a solid goal-kicking display.
Bubbling under: Brice Dulin (France)
14 Nick Cummins (Australia)
His commitment can never be questioned and he was rewarded with a few opportunities at Twickenham which showed how dangerous he can be.
Bubbling under: JP Pietersen (South Africa)
13 George Pisi (Samoa)
His finish in the corner was one to savour, and capped a hard-working game in which he managed to impose himself consistently in midfield.
Bubbling under: Conrad Smith (New Zealand)
12 Ma'a Nonu (New Zealand)
Although there may have been a few passes that went astray, Nonu's ability to get over the gainline consistently put his team in prime position from which to strike.
Bubbling under: Jean de Villiers (South Africa)
11 Vincent Clerc (France)
His killer instinct got him two more tries to move past his coach on the French try-scorers list, and he does not look like slowing down any time soon.
Bubbling under: Julian Savea (New Zealand)
10 Frederic Michalak (France)
Another composed performance from Michalak who controlled the game well and kept the scoreboard ticking nicely for his side.
Bubbling under: Aaron Cruden (New Zealand)
9 Maxime Machenaud (France)
Provided snappy service and kept his team on the front foot with some good tactical kicking, looks to be a real star of the future.
Bubbling under: Nick Phipps (Australia)
8 Kieran Read (New Zealand)
Led from the front in his first Test as captain and got over for a good try in another polished performance at the back of the scrum.
Bubbling under: Louis Picamoles (France)
7 Michael Hooper (Australia)
He was simply everywhere at Twickenham, and was a thorn in England's flesh with a highly energetic display which proved that the Wallabies' openside stocks are looking good.
Bubbling under: Fulgence Ouedraogo (France)
6 Francois Louw (South Africa)
His blend of physicality and accuracy make him one of the toughest customers around as he has the tools to adapt his game when the need arises and he showed that again against Scotland.
Bubbling under: Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Argentina)
5 Yoann Maestri (France)
A reliable source of line-out ball, he also got stuck into the Pumas up front and got through a ton of work in the tight exchanges.
Bubbling under: Jim Hamilton (Scotland)
4 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)
It has been a remarkable break-out season for Etzebeth, and he is keeping the standards high right until the end. Another powerful game from the new Bok enforcer.
Bubbling under: Pascal Pape (France)
3 Ben Alexander (Australia)
The experienced tighthead had Joe Marler in all sorts of trouble at scrum-time, and proved a robust presence in open play as well.
Bubbling under: Census Johnston (Samoa)
2 Adriaan Strauss (South Africa)
His two tries showed off his different strengths, with a grinding maul contrasting with a deft intercept and turn of pace. He is settling well into the Bok side in the basence of Bismarck du Plessis.
Bubbling under: Dimitri Szarzewski (France)
1 Yannick Forestier (France)
A solid poresence up front who also made his mark in the loose, making some crunching tackles and taking the ball up with gusto.
Bubbling under: Alisona Taumalolo (Tonga)
Previous selections:
Week One: 15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Wesley Fofana, 13 Gonzalo Tiesi, 12 Tamati Ellison, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 5 Samuel Whitelock, 4 Pascal Pape, 3 Nicolas Mas, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Wyatt Crockett.
Our individual selections:
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Berrick Barnes, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 George Pisi, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Vincent Clerc, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Alisona Taumalolo.
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Berrick Barnes, 14 Jeff Hassler, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Nick Cummins, 10 Frédéric Michalak, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Dimitri Szarzewski, 1 Yannick Forestier.
Len Kaplan XV: 15 Berrick Barnes, 14 Nick Cummins, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma'a Nonu, 11 Vincent Clerc, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 François Louw, 5 Jim Hamilton, 4 Pascal Pape, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Sakaria Taulafo.
Quintin van Jaarsveld XV: 15 Berrick Barnes, 14 Craig Gilroy, 13 George Pisi, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Manuel Carizza, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Benn Robinson.
Michael de Vries XV: 15 Berrick Barnes, 14 Nick Cummins, 13 George Pisi, 12 Ben Tapuai, 11 Vincent Clerc, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Maxime Machenaud, 8 Louis Picamoles, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Yoann Maestri, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Ben Alexander, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Yannick Forestier.
