Who were the best players of the Autumn Internationals?

I thought Adam Ashley Cooper was the best no. 15. Moody was the best no.7. Just based on What I saw.

a "little more balanced" in that you've based it on team results from earlier in the year as opposed to individual performance in the Autumn Internationals, do you mean? In what matches in the Autumn International Tests was Matfield so good that he played better than his counterparts in France, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand? Ditto Conrad Smith, du Preez, Habana and Muliana.

And you couldn't find any obviously.

1-Barcella 2-Hoare 3-Castrogiovani 4-Albacete 5-Matfield 6-Elsom 7-McCaw 8-Lobbe 9-De preez 10-Carter 11-Sivavatu 12-Mermoz 13-C.Smith 14-Habana 15-Muliaina This may be a little more balanced based on results i think. How can you pick so many Aussies when they are no where near that level yet. Deans is developing a team with limited strike power maybe in a few years but at the moment no way.

good point mzee, thats why I had five, and considered nearly seven (Kaino at 6 and Smith at 13). Add a couple each of French, Irish, Aussies, an Italian, and an Argentinian and the mix is abput right. I excluded the Saffas because they had a poor tour and were but a shadow of themselves, otherwise they'd have been there (du Preez, Habana, Matfield etc)

Pocock over McCaw? Genia over du Preez?

The AB,s won most their games on the the end of year tour and most lists here cannot find a spot for more than two all blacks. ????

So how about it Pothale, why not compile a world team of players noted for their crimes and misdemeanours? Just for starters, a certain second row recently signed with the Brumbies, a former English number 8, a big Australian winger, an English hooker and a few other noted for their white line fever...then that kiwi centre who assaulted a fellow player with a handbag, the Welsh fullback of missing teeth, a trigger happy French prop - and the list goes on... You could even determine a world ranking points system and hold a World Cup every four years to determine the champion nation!

Oh dear - the burglary jokes are going to come in thick n fast now.

Jauzion at 15 was better than either Muliaina or Kearney?? You've got a brass one. Wouldn't fight with much else in your selection though.

1 Barcella 2. Servat 3. Castrogiovanni 4. Albacete 5. O’Connell 6. Harinordoquy 7. McCaw 8. Palu 9. Genia 10. Carter 11. Sivivatu 12. Cooper (great at unlocking defences and pilfering the ball) 13. O’Driscoll 14. Jane 15. Muliaina

Exactly - I said somewhere similar last week when these sides were first put up on the times website ... there's been alot wrong with Australia this year - but 2 of the biggest areas of concern have been the overhyped show pony at first 5 and the second row - yet Jones bungs both Giteau and Horwill into his team of the AI's - that says far more about him as both a sh!tstirrer and a warped pundit ...

I think the problem is many didn't see enough of all games to comment. I could only comment having seen most Wallabies games, which isn't enough to go on.

Didn't see any France games, so no I didn't. Unfortunately it appears.

"I’m flattered, to be sure" Well that didn't take much, did it? "So you gonna put up your own selection – it’s much easier than just using your slingshot on mine." I think you mean it's easier to shoot you down than put my own up. Fair point. Here's mine. 1. Robinson 2. Servat 3. Castrogiovanni 4. Thorn 5. O’Connell 6. Fernadez Lobbe 7. McCaw 8. Palu 9. Genia 10. Carter 11. Habana 12. Nonu 13. O’Driscoll 14. Bowe 15. Jauzion

I missed a few games, so can't really say my team with all honesty accross the board but: I think Robinson is really, really under-rated by everyone. This bloke could have been my man of the match in several games this year. Throughout the year. I agree Genia was a good find this year, but Robinson and Alexander as well, have really solidified a piece of the Wallabies game that has been abused for several years now by opposition teams, and referees alike. For that, I think he would be in my team ahead of Barcella, who I saw nothing of ;) I agree with Paul O'Connell being there. In fact, he is one of the top second rowers of the world right now I feel. I would almost pick him over either of the Saffa second rowers. If I am shouted down and everyone thinks Matfield is better then at least he would also be a hard man alternative in the Autumn XV to Botha, and ha can offer a lineout alternative that Botha doesn't. I think Palu played really well this tour. Really played like I have been wanting him to for a long time. I think he dominated any other number 8, except maybe Haskell who I think had a real impact when the Wallabies played England but only came on with about 20 - 30 to go. Also noted that some people who have put up teams of the AUTUMN internationals, have mostly chosen alternatives over McCaw. I also am a little amazed that Gits is at 10 in Jones list. So he rates him better than Carter? Odd choice. Not sure I could agree after this tour at all.

Pasthis Best that's three comments on my selection. I'm flattered, to be sure. So you gonna put up your own selection - it's much easier than just using your slingshot on mine. :) And France beat Boks handsomely - except look how the Boks turned out. They beat Samoa (Whoop de do as you would say yourself) and were thrashed by the ABs. Yeah - I don't have any Frenchmen in my first XV selection. Suck it up. I'll happily defend my choices, but let's see who you're putting up instead.

Actually make that six. Stranger and stranger...

Pothale, Ireland scratched a draw against Australia, beat Fiji (whoop-de-do), and outfought (your words) the boks who were diabolical on this tour. Hardly inspiring stuff. No Frenchies in your starting 15? Come on, pull the other one...