It’s that time of the week where we compile our dream side from the weekend’s action, here is RUCK’S Autumn Nations Series Team of the Week for round three:
Autumn Nations Series team of the week:
#BACK-THREE:
15. Freddie Steward (England)
Guardian: "Effortlessly graceful in the air – he never looks like dropping one – and took his first of what should be many tries well."
14. James Lowe (Ireland)
Irish Times: "He had the first and last Irish player to touch the ball and in between produced a colossal performance. His tackle on Rieko Ioane ensured that Ireland would win while he took his try with typical aplomb."
11. Makazole Mapimpi
The Herald: "Took his tries really well to cement his reputation as one of the world’s best wingers.'
#CENTRES:
13. Garry Ringrose (Ireland)
Balls: "One of his best performances in an Ireland jersey. It was a constant threat to the New Zealand defence with his quick feet and silky skills. Try saving tackle on Jordie Barrett was a real game-changer."
12. Waisea Nayacalevu (Fiji)
CONTINUES ON PAGE TWO
#HALFBACKS:
10. Marcus Smith (England)
Telegraph: "Showed intent from early on in his first Test against a major rugby nation, interchanging well at key moments with Farrell. Set up Steward for his try. "
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
Irish Times: "He backed up last week’s performance with another outstanding effort, providing his team with a wonderful quick tempo from the breakdown and he read the game intelligently."
#FRONT-ROW:
1. Andrew Porter (Ireland)
Independent: "Stood up well to what was a major test of his scrummaging credentials since switching back to loosehead. Huge engine saw him go 76 minutes."
2. Ronan Kelleher (Ireland)
Rugby Pass: "Brilliant awareness to snuff out an All Blacks try chance with an interception near the line, he frequently carried enterprisingly but was caught out by the eagled-eyed officials for taking a second movement on his knees, a ploy that scrubbed out the first-half try scored by Tadhg Furlong. Deliciously made up for it with his 44th-minute try and he kept smashing into the game until the 59th minute when exchanged for Rob Herring."
3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
Balls.IE: "Continues to show his class with another stunning performance – will be disappointed with his defence for New Zealand’s first try"
#SECOND-ROW:
4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)
The Herald: "Immense metaphorically as well as physically, the lock was named man of the match after yet another towering performance."
5. Marcos Kremer (Argentina)
#BACK-ROW:
6. Caelan Doris (Ireland)
Irish Times: "The official man-of-the-match capped a wonderful display with a superb individual try, seeking out the soft inside shoulder and accelerating under the posts. Breakdown, lineout, open play, it didn’t matter, he was everywhere."
7. Michael Hooper (Australia)
118 caps and counting for the Aussie skipper and a breakdown threat again before 55th minute injury.
8. Jack Conan (Ireland)
Independent: "Deceptively quick footwork allowed him to exploit gaps in the New Zealand defence. New attacking shape allows him to thrive in the wider channels."
EDITORS PICKS:
- Rugby fans can’t agree on whether Fiji red card was correct or not
- LIST: 5 players with surprising post rugby career plans
- Mike Brown tells Eddie Jones the three England changes he must make
- 6 best social media posts from today’s Autumn Nations Series action
- LIST: 3 best and 3 worst players for England against Australia
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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