Autumn internationals: Who makes the cut for RUCK's best XV of the series?

Top 10s/Lists

by Steven Smith

Wednesday, 29 November 2017 at 10:47

bySteven Smith

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Scotland dominate and there is room for plenty of England players while Tadhg Furlong and Rob Evans fly the flag for Ireland and Wales.

Full-back: Stuart Hogg (Scotland)

Elusive, inventive, fearless, what might have been if Hogg had not been injured at the start of the Lions tour? Two perfect performances against Samoa and the All Blacks made it impossible to leave out despite missing the historic win against the Wallabies.

Right-wing: Rieko Ioane (New Zealand)

There appears to be nothing that the World Breakthrough Player of the Year cannot do and is sure to add to his 11 tries in 13 Tests.

Outside-centre: Huw Jones (Scotland)

Jones' appearance on the scoresheet in each of his three starts this autumn will grab the headlines, but he's put in three big defensive shifts too, and his ball-carrying promises to give England yet more headaches come the Six Nations. Glasgow will be thrilled at the form their latest addition has shown during the international window.

Inside-centre: Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand)

He has bounced back from his red card against the British & Irish Lions brilliantly. His individual quality - fantatsic offloads and superb grubber kick - got the All Blacks out of jail against Scotland in Edinburgh before another stellar display against Wales in Cardiff.

Left-wing: Jess Breach (Red Roses)

Scoring 11 tries in your first two Tests makes you pretty hard to ignore. Breach excelled for England women against Canada and looks set for a long international career.

Fly-half: Finn Russell (Scotland)

Beauden Barrett may have been voted World Player of the Year, but Russell has been the standout number 10 during the Autumn series. The 25-year-old is a key cog in Scotland's high-tempo game plan, and orchestrated the emphatic win against Australia at Murrayfield.

Scrum-half: Ali Price (Scotland)

The dimuntiive scrum-half caused havoc for Gregor Townsend's Scotland throughout the series, proving he can be their first choice playmaker ahead of injured Greig Laidlaw. Always kept defences guessing with sniping runs and crisp passing.

Loosehad-prop: Rob Evans (Wales)

f he was a New Zealander, the loose-head prop would be in their team because he’s a good footballer and has the skill to back it up.

Hooker: Stuart McInally (Scoland)

McInally has had one of the most stand-out autumns of any of the Home Nations players. The 27-year-old has had to bide his time to reach the limelight but he has taken full advantage of this injury-induced chance to show his full-range of skills. Now clearly Scotland’s best hooker.

Tighthead-prop: Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

Surely should have been nominated for World Player of the Year? The Leinsterman, who was integurl to the British & Irish Lions in the summer scrummed well, and ran with the ball like a man possessed throughout the Autumn series.

Lock: Jonny Gray (Scotland)

The lock forward put in a typically workmanlike shift for his country during the Autumn series; being efficient in the lineout, making big tackles and even scoring two tries. The Gregor Townsend style of game suits Gray’s skillset, a wide-ranging lock who is able to contribute fully to all aspects of play.

Lock: Joe Launchbury (England)

Blindside flanker: John Barclay (Scotland)

Barclay has led from the front for the Scots the Autumn with big tackles and even the off turnover. When he crossed the whitewash for a try against Australia it was well deserved.

Openside flanker: Sam Cane (New Zealand)

It has taken a couple of years for Cane to fill the Richie McCaw shoes, sizeable as they were, but he has finally done so with several unflinching displays. Always supplies a tackling masterclass.

Number eight: Sam Simmonds (England)

Supposedly not big enough to play No8 at Test level but this was an excellent first international start against Samoa. Not the largest but he is slippery and was among England’s best carriers. We’ll see him again during the Six Nations.

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