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The North asserted itself this week. All the Home Nations won, except Scotland, who put up a fight against New Zealand. France outlasted South Africa in the Marseille Melee. Italy made history in Tuscany; well, for rugby this time.
Who makes the Team of the Week?
Fullback
Fifteens were on a roll this round.
Jordie Barrett was perfect off the tee including a tricky one to ice the game. He found Mark Telea with a precise cross kick for a try. However, he missed a few too many tackles.
His rival on the day, Stuart Hogg, also had a clever stab over the top to force a penalty try. His hair may be new, but he looked like the Hoggy of old, full of ideas.
Freddie Steward was not just brilliant in the air this time; he made Japan think twice about kicking to him because he made breaks. England may need him to be more of a counter attacker.
Italy’s Ange Capuozzo was a rugby volcano, but a drop in space blotted his copy.
Thomas Ramos was ice cool in the red hot din of the Marseille gladiator arena. He is far more than a place kicker, as good as he is off the tee: he is happy to run a channel and take contact. Depending on whether your eyes were green or blue, his bounce of Cheslin Kolbe was either a beautiful fend or a cardable forearm.
But it is old Willie le Roux who takes this spot this week. He was precise in just about every involvement. When he is in that sort of mood, he can put the ball on a string. He played first receiver (he was a flyhalf until he got to the Cheetahs) for much of the Test, where his keen sense of space not yet developed but about to emerge is often best used. He also directed his teammates all night long; a backline captain. His flat pass try to Kurt-Lee Arendse for a try was sorcery.
Right wing
Mark Telea had a dream All Black debut, scoring a brace. He has a wicked fend and step, making 76 metres on ten carries, beating five defenders and making three clean breaks.
Darcy Graham took his try well and worried New Zealand all night.
Cheslin Kolbe was a bit better than dangerous Damian Penaud in Marseille; his goal kicking was superb and surprisingly powerful. He put official Man of the Match Anthony Jelonch on his bum once, choosing power over stepping for once. Kolbe has it.
Mark Telea of New Zealand celebrates. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Outside Centre
George North reminded Argentina how once he was considered the best wing in the world. He was a smart and strong defender of the dangerous Pumas, dominating tackles. He ran over Santiago Carreras. The number 13s in the Marseille mash cancelled each other out. Chris Harris made a welcome return to form. Guy Porter scored twice as England rediscovered scoring, but it is North who impressed most.
Inside Centre
Damian de Allende was a handful and more for the short handed Boks. Stuart McCloskey continues his rich vein of form. But Owen Farrell was a maestro for England, with a preposterous left footed grubber, intuitive combinations with Marcus Smith (at last) led to Steward’s try. He was also a proper worker on defence, hammering a carrier and winning a turnover.
Left Wing
Despite good turns by Caleb Clarke and Kurt-Lee Arendse (polar opposites) it was Duhan van der Merwe who impressed most. The Afrikaner Android was nigh impossible to bring down, first time. He was rampant.
Flyhalf
Scotland would likely have won their match against Australia had Gregor Townsend not insisted on (once again) showing Finn Russell his place. But this week, Finn the Stonemason slots right back into his team and ours.
Honestly, the remainder of the tens struggled to dominate proceedings with Owen Farrell continuing to take a more playmaking role from Marcus Smith, as did Willie le Roux from Damian Willemse, who was excellent this week but limited. Beauden Barrett was big in every way: his amazing plays outweighed his errors.
Scrumhalf
Welshman Tomos Williams had a unique charge-down try after he chased his own kick. He stayed the full 80 and outplayed an excellent foe. In Marseille, Faf de Klerk also outplayed Antoine Dupont, who seems to be struggling against Southern opponents. Ali Price continues his good autumn play.
But we will go with British and Irish Lion Williams.
No. 8
It was not a great day for eighth men. Kwagga Smith is not a proper No. 8 and yet Greg Alldritt did not really capitalise on his mismatch. With a man up in the pack (and a hybrid flank-wing as well) it is often a No. 8 who can exploit the advantage.
Marseille seemed to neutralize all the forward stars. So it is between Taulupe Faletau and Ardie Savea. Savea is running into the issue of being too consistently good! Faletau is another player who rarely has a bad game. He scored, tackled (15) and carried impeccably. And it was birthday (32).
Openside
Justin Tipuric was superb, so alert, and quick to the tackle. Siya Kolisi played a captain’s innings, was instrumental in leading a 7-man pack back from being 0-13 down, and snuck over for an odd untouched try as well. But blonded Dalton Papali’i made 14 tackles and played to the ball very well all game. He was also the official man of the match, as was Anthony Jelonch for France, but he was bounced by a wing so he cannot take this spot.
Blindside
Charles Ollivon is about the perfect construction of a rugby forward; long, powerful, smart. Nick Timoney was very good for Ireland and might make the World Cup plane. But go no further than Jamie Ritchie here. He was all over the park, winning lots of breakdowns, and putting his team in position to shock the world and change history.
Locks
We are living in the golden age of locks. Take your pick this week. Richie Gray is back and he is one of the best when he is on; he rose above the rest, including an excellent Grant Gilchrist at Murrayfield. Tadhg Beirne is also in great form. Will Skelton moved heaven and earth but not Rome.
But it might have been Eben Etzebeth’a finest hour as a Bok, if losses are counted. With a key part of the pack’s strategy gone in eleven minutes, the big man added a few more pieces to his kick chase, set piece, big carry, dominant tackle, pod leader game. He will lock down with Skelton for a terrifying second row.
Will Skelton. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
Tighthead prop
The brutal scene in France just left a pile of gore on the floor. Nepo Laulala was powerful in the carry for 51 minutes. He also tackled his heart out. Credit to Frans Malherbe, though, as last man standing in a true and proper Test.
Hooker
Precise Julian Marchand edged wayward Bongi Mbonambi in a war of attrition. Samisoni Taukei’aho had 57 minutes and his 10th try of the year. He was also on target at the lineout, whilst making 10 tackles. Scottish hooker Fraser Brown shone in attack and defence; a good match for number twos.
Loosehead prop
Ox Nche just gets better and better. Up against a man mountain in Marseille, he won the scrum duel and was hard in the tackle. Ellis Genge scrummed brilliantly and demolished three tacklers to score a try.
Team
Willie le Roux (SA), Cheslin Kolbe (SA), George North (Wales), Owen Farrell (England), Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland), Finn Russell (Scotland), Tomos Williams (Wales), Taulupe Faletau (Wales), Dalton Papali’i (NZ), Jamie Ritchie (Scotland), Eben Etzebeth (SA), Will Skelton (Australia), Nepo Laulala (NZ), Samisoni Taipei’aho (NZ), Ellis Genge (England).
Bench: Fraser Brown (Scotland), Ox Nche (SA), Frans Malherbe (SA), Richie Gray (Scotland), Charles Ollivon (France), Faf de Klerk (SA), Beauden Barrett (NZ), Ange Capuozzo (Italy).
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