Ireland and Scotland sacked Argentina, the Eagles finally landed a win over the Canadians and Japan made noodles of the Italians.
England was valiant but came away from New Zealand with nothing, France’s foreign legion was repelled by Australian defence and counter-attack and Wales let the Springboks score nine tries in two weekends.
But who makes the 30-man June International squad?
At fullback Ben Smith, Willie le Roux, and Israel Folau look ready for the Rugby Championship, but I would start with le Roux and bring in Folau as a supersub. I would shift Smith to the wing. When Israel Dagg returns, that’s probably what will happen. Honourable mention to Irishman Rob Kearney and Chris Wyles of the USA.
My four wings are the miraculous Ben Smith, the very rugged Alex Cuthbert, the beastly Julian Savea, and deadly newcomer Cornal Hendricks, who pips the somewhat inconsistent Cory Jane. Bryan Habana misses out, to show I’m fair. Who would start? I’d like to see Savea and Cuthbert, but maybe to shore up the aerial department, it would be Smith and Savea.
In the midfield, I was disappointed by Wesley Fofana and Jon Davies. I’ll go instead with yet another in the long line of Kiwi centres, Malakai Fekitoa. Instead of pairing him with tackle-missing Ma’a Nonu, I’ll reward Jamie Roberts. The backups would be hard-charging Jan Serfontein (who tackles like he means it) and canny veteran Conrad Smith.
At flyhalf, it is slim pickings. Bernard Foley? Dan Biggar? A misfiring Aaron Cruden? I would hate to have Biggar be my playmaker in the last minute of the World Cup final – he’d try a 60-metre dropkick after he was 20 metres short with a 40-metre attempt.
I’d go with Foley, I suppose, and maybe Handre Pollard of the Baby Boks as my backup. Why not?
At scrumhalf, we have only two choices: Aaron Smith and Fourie du Preez. If you could combine them, you’d really have something. That hybrid would look strange, but he would rule world rugby.
The number eights are SANZAR. Wycliff Palu, Kieren Read, and Duane Vermeulen, with Vermeulen getting the start, having outplayed Toby Faletau, and being the most durable and consistent loose forward in world rugby for the last two years.
Read is his backup, and I’m sure he will fire in the Rugby Championship, having had a concussion-enforced sabbatical.
At blindside, Tom Wood and Dan Lydiate are all you need. They chop trees down. They are the same creature. They are one and the same.
The opensiders are clearly Francois Louw and Michael Hooper; with Richie McCaw only losing out because of his broken rib. I think Louw had to bear more of a breakdown load, so he starts. And he is the best rugby player in the world.
Leaping lineout lock is between the youthful Victor Matfield and Geoff Parling. Alun Wyn Jones is unlucky, but Matfield had his measure. Rob Simmons seems to have eaten a few more steaks, too. Sam Whitelock doesn’t look himself, but I am sure he will come right. Matfield starts and captains the side.
Enforcer lock? Brodie Retallick looks full of fire this year. Will Skelton had an impressive cameo. Joe Launchberry was also very good. Even though he is injured, I will exercise my one “Arbitrary Selection” and pick Eben Etzebeth to back up Retallick. I hope you realise how generous I am being.
In the front row, it was rather dismal. At hooker, Bismarck du Plessis was grumpy, but did bring his trademark hand-to-hand combat skills. Dane Coles probably finalised his World Cup plane ticket. Nobody else really impressed me.
On the loosehead side, James Slipper impressed me, along with Gethin Jenkins. Some of the other guys from the Big Three looked tired. I suppose Tony Woodcock picked it up in the third Test. But I’d go with Jenkins and Slipper.
At tighthead, Owen Franks was the best of the worst, and I’ll eat crow and say that Jannie du Plessis was actually not bad for once.
Squad
Willie le Roux, Ben Smith, Malakai Fekitoa, Julian Savea, Bernard Foley, Aaron Smith, Duane Vermeulen, Tom Wood, Francois Louw, Victor Matfield (c), Brodie Retallick, Owen Franks, Bismarck du Plessis, and Gethin Jenkins.
An Aussie playmaker unleashes a lethal backline of deadly All Blacks and one little guy from Bloemfontein. In the pack, an excellent Welshman, an honest Englishman, four big South Africans, and two fundamentally sound Kiwis.
Firstxv
Guest
Le Roux was fun to watch. The boks are finding more ways to involve him more which will be interesting at RC time. We're not used to unpredictability from the boks and Le Roux provides that in spades. he could be the difference this year.
Harry Jones
Guest
Looking forward to Etzebeth v Retallick.
Jerry
Guest
Are you saying there isn't one independent site that picked Le Roux? He had a very strong series and it wouldn't be surprising for him to be preferred.
Harry Jones
Guest
Cool team!
Harry Jones
Guest
Flo is born to play rugby great physique for a loose forward can get low to the ground but doesn't sacrifice what you need to clean rucks or tackle dominant can play any type of rugby open or tight very seldom loses the ball in contact rips through tackles places the ball clean ULTRA competitive never backs down from a fight plays for 80 minutes and can float between the positions if you had a huge injury problem he would be your man to fit in the backline watch him do a one handed offload dummy to free up Habana about two years ago or the try at Ellis Park 2013 or watch him in space he feel completely comfortable can pass the ball both directions and in the tackle too and he is very smart in the dirty places and jumps well at the back of the line out has some inventiveness but is still Cape Town mongrel when he goes to pilfer he is almost impossible to move them off the ball with his size and strength and he gets low his tackling is textbook usually makes smart tackles
Chan Wee
Guest
the problem for Hooper would be that Scot Burgur would also come into the picture , maybe every match. also somewhere along the line Sam Cane or Matt Todd or Victor Vito may pplay for NZ if Rich Mac feels sore. and dont forget the Argies ; they have Lobbe and the young guy .
Harry Jones
Guest
I rate Kearney very high
Chan Wee
Guest
JUNE squad post test matches. 01 G Jenkins 02 BDP 03 O Franks 04 B Retallick 05 V Matfield 06 J Kaino 07 C Robshow - led his team well despite the 3-0 and the blitz in that 3rd test. 08 D Vermulen 09 A Smith 10 T Pisi - Samoan fly half is very good (considering the team he plays in) 11 J Savea 12 N Nadolo - He scored trys and kicked like a pro - who knew he could place kick like that !!! 13 C Smith 14 B Dulin - was one of the best attacking sources for France. 15 B Smith 16 R Webber - managed the England lineout well and was not bad in the loose. 17 T Woodcock 18 M DIaz - Gaining a reputation as one of the leading props 19 AW Jones - He is an old horse like Matfield and guiding the Welsh. 20 D Lydiate 21 F Tanaka - very quick (maybe even quicker than Aaron Smith) 22 A Cruden 23 I Folau 24 Beast 25 D Coles 26 S Manoa - The USA 2nd row is a legend in Europe and for a reason. 27 M Hooper 28 P Mack - Canadian Plays both 7S and XVs in the smae sirit !! 29 D Biggar 30 W Leraux
Chan Wee
Guest
according to SIR Clive the other Tom - Croft is the best 6 in England ;)
Chan Wee
Guest
Nah , Le Raux does not have the defensive nous of Smith. He is more like Dagg - standing behind a scrum and making a play as first receiver. Still the besst all rounf FB for me is Rob Kearney. had he played for one of the SH teams ,he would be a legend ;)
Harry Jones
Guest
Nice! Yes, we have our biases...but a SA pack with NZ backs would be fun to watch.
Harry Jones
Guest
Yes, that was part of my rationale. At 8, I had 3 great ones to choose from.
Harry Jones
Guest
Louw and Hooper can settle who is the best openside in the RC this year, but Hooper is going to have to show me he can not be cleaned out so easily, carry stronger, and stop chasing lost causes.
Harry Jones
Guest
I used logic, illogic, and a mix of the two (ill logic). My final XV is my Best of June; but I admit I had some fun with the bench...
Harry Jones
Guest
Agree. But I thought Wood and Lydiare were outstanding. In retrospect, I would lke to add Kaino to my bench. Behind Wood-Lydiare (Woodiate) bc they are one and the same.
Harry Jones
Guest
Le Roux played like he had invented rugby. Come on. Watch the Durban Test. It was magnificent. Like a rugby symphony and Willie was the conductor. They're building a statue for him in Cardiff.
Harry Jones
Guest
Nonu missed 4 tackles in test 3; and wasn't good in test one. He was HUGE in the second test. So I thought Roberts offered more for all 150 minutes he played.
Harry Jones
Guest
Le Roux and Smith are neck and neck but I still like Smith at wing more; and I have been clear about Folau--I think that he's still learning union.
Harry Jones
Guest
Ha ha! But I am friends with ROAR people.
PeterK
Guest
that is neither fair or logical because some independent sites did pick Folau, none picked Le Roux. If none picked Folau that would be different.