Team of the Week: Southern shutout
As the southern hemisphere invades the north, the rugby365.com Team of the Week returns with the Tri-Nations teams each claiming a northern scalp and dominate our selections.
The Springboks impressive performance against a tough Ireland side surprised even some of the more loyal South African fans who had feared for the worst before the Test match that came just a week after the bruising Currie Cup final.
The Wallabies are the other big winners in our team, as they proved that a very talented backline is enough to beat Wales, and won comfortably in Cardiff despite their scrum being marched backwards and giving away penalties throughout the Test.
In London the All Blacks were able to return to winning ways against England, although the hosts did produce a good showing in the second half to drag themselves back into the match with some good old fashioned tight forward play, slowing down the game and not allowing New Zealand to dictate the pace.
The resurgent Springboks secured six places in our team, while the Wallabies (four) and All Blacks (three) are also well represented. The final two spots in the starting XV go to the two Welsh props who gave their Australian counterparts a hard lessons on how to scrum.
The Bubbling Under selection is far more evenly spread across the board, with England (four) receiving some recognition for a their efforts against the All Blacks, who earn four more places themselves, while Ireland (two), Australia (three), South Africa (one) and Wales (one) make up the numbers.
Here is rugby365.com’s Team of the Week:
15 – Kurtley Beale (Australia):
Has really found his position at fullback in a young Wallaby back three and is a constant threat on counter-attack, and came close to scoring what would have been a sensational individual try.
Bubbling under: Gio Aplon (South Africa)
14 – James O’Connor (Australia):
Picked up from where he left off last week against the All Blacks with the added responsibility of goal-kicking and has the pace to beat Welsh wizard Shane Williams on the outside.
Bubbling under: Tommy Bowe (Ireland)
13 – Adam Ashley-Cooper (Australia):
This was a close call and the hard-hitting centre’s just pips Ireland’s favourite son Brian O’Driscoll for the No.13 jersey.
Bubbling under: Brian O’Driscoll (Ireland)
12 – Jean de Villiers (South Africa):
The manner in which he creates opportunities for his teammates is why is was so valuable to the Boks and his efforts allowed Zane Kirchner an easier transition to the midfield.
Bubbling under: Matt Giteau (Australia)
11 – Hosea Gear (New Zealand):
He is finally being given his chance to stake a claim in an All Blacks jersey and showed his deadly try-scoring ability with an agile dive for the corner against England.
Bubbling under: Drew Mitchell (Australia)
10 – Dan Carter (New Zealand):
The unflappable superstar was as cool and calm as ever and held the backline together.
Bubbling under: Toby Flood (England)
9 – Ruan Pienaar (South Africa):
Back in his favourite position and he owned Eoin Reddan in the battle between the No.9s.
Bubbling under: Will Genia (Australia)
8 – Pierre Spies (South Africa):
Not the universal choice, but being such a destructive power the No.8 gave the Irish something to think about. He is a scary physical specimen.
Bubbling under: Kieran Read (New Zealand)
7 – Juan Smith (South Africa):
Nobody was more deserving of a 60-metre dash for glory to score a fine try.
Bubbling under: Jerome Kaino (New Zealand)
6 – David Pocock (Australia):
He has been immense all season and his outstanding work at the breakdown was the catalyst that released the backs to launch their attack.
Bubbling under: Richie McCaw (New Zealand)
5 – Victor Matfield (South Africa):
Just when critics started to suggest he was looking jaded and in need of a rest, the Bok superstar produces a world class performance.
Bubbling under: Sam Whitelock (New Zealand)
4 – Brad Thorn (New Zealand):
The hard man stood up against the English pack and showed age is but a number in the tight five.
Bubbling under: Courtney Lawes (England)
3 – Adam Jones (Wales):
Anchored the scrum and terrorised Benn Robinson, who will be checking for Jones under his bed before he goes to sleep in the future.
Bubbling under: Dan Cole (England)
2 – Bismarck du Plessis (South Africa):
Back to his best and wrestled the ball out of Irish hands in the tight exchanges throughout the match.
Bubbling under: Matthew Rees (Wales)
1 – Gethin Jenkins (Wales):
The one position where we really struggled to come up with a winner, and the complete decimation of the wallaby scrum helps Jenkins to edge out Sheridan.
Bubbling under: Andrew Sheridan (England)
Our individual selections:
Paul Dobson XV: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Brian O’Driscoll, 12 Matt Giteau, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Albie Mathewson, 8 Nick Easter, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Juan Smith, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Len Kaplan XV: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Will Genia, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 David Pocock, 6 Juan Smith, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Grant Ball XV: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Sonny Bill Williams, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Juan Smith, 6 David Pocock, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Sam Whitelock, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Andrew Sheridan
Jan de Koning XV: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Jerome Kaino, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Brad Thorn, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Timmy Hancox XV: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 James O’Connor, 13 Brian O’Driscoll, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Hosea Gear, 10 Daniel Carter, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Juan Smith, 6 David Pocock, 5 Victor Matfield, 4 Courtney Lawes, 3 Adam Jones, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Andrew Sheridan.
