Shaun Goosen selects his XV of players that stood out above the rest during the first week of teh Autumn Interationals as New Zealand pipped England and Scotland thumped Fiji.
Front rankers: Pierre Schoeman (Scotland), Tevita Ikanivere (Fiji) and Zander Ferguson (Scotland)
Schoeman made a whopping 21 tackles against Fiji while tighthead partner Ferguson put in 16 in two convincing performances. Ikanivere was probably the best Fijian on the park at Murrayfield and dummied Darcy Graham to score a great try.
Second row: Maro Itoje (England) and Patrick Tuipulotu (New Zealand)
Itoje looks close to recapturing the form that made him one of the best second rowers on the planet some years ago, making a nuisance of himself around the park in trademark fashion. While Tuipulotu didn’t start the game, his impact off the bench was remarkable, with the Blues skipper producing a number of key plays that, in a just world, should see him lock down the No 5 position for the rest of November.
Back row: Wallace Sititi (New Zealand), Tom Curry (England) and Jack Dempsey (Scotland)
Arguably the ABs’ best player this season, Sititi picked up the Man of the Match prize after another monstrous outing at Twickenham. Curry looked back at his best for England after a long time on the sidelines, while former Wallaby Dempsey made 15 tackles and 69 carry metres for Scotland.
Honourable mentions: Chandler Cunningham-South (England), Rory Darge (Scotland)
Halfbacks: Ben Spencer (England) and Marcus Smith (England)
Spencer was the best on a mediocre weekend for scrumhalves in general, while Smith just about pips Beaudy Barrett to the flyhalf berth after a sublime display at first receiver. Had he remained on the pitch instead of inexplicably getting the hook from Steve Borthwick after 63 minutes, England may well have gone on to win the game.
Honourable mention: Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
Midfield: Ollie Lawrence (England) and Huw Jones (Scotland)
Lawrence made 22 tackles in a standout display at No 12 while Huw Jones scored twice, assisted twice and finished with 116 carry metres.
Back three: Mark Tele’a (New Zealand), Darcy Graham (Scotland) and Will Jordan (New Zealand)
Feyi-Waboso and van der Merwe were excellent for their respective sides, but two-try Tele’a and four-try Graham get the nod this week after two game-shaping performances. Jordan made the odd error but unsurprisingly grabbed a try and made an assist.
Honourable mentions: Manny Feyi-Waboso (England) and Duhan van der Merwe (Scotland)
2024 Autumn Internationals Team of Week 1
- Pierre Schoeman (Scotland)
- Tevita Ikanivere (Fiji)
- Zander Ferguson (Scotland)
- Maro Itoje (England)
- Patrick Tuipulotu (New Zeraland)
- Wallace Sititi (New Zealand)
- Tom Curry (England)
- Jack Dempsey (Scotland)
- Ben Spencer (England)
- Marcus Smith (England)
- Mark Tele’a (New Zealand)
- Ollie Lawrence (England)
- Huw Jones (Scotland)
- Darcy Graham (Scotland)
- Will Jordan (New Zealand)
