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yes...quite useless. Just about right
PLANET RUGBY INTERNATIONAL XV OF THE WEEK
15 Rob Kearney (Ireland) - So tough to leave out
Scott Spedding, who has a statistically rich debut against Fiji with two assists and close to 200 metres, but we've gone with Kearney. Immense under the high ball against the Boks and a constant running threat with four defenders beaten, the Leinster full-back was excellent.
Israel Folau also racked up the stats on a good day for 15s.
14 Sean Maitland (Scotland) -
Ben Smith was his usual reliable self on the wing for New Zealand on his return to action, but Maitland flourished in an impressive Scottish performance. The half-backs set the tone which led to the Glasgow finisher picking up on all that was created, scoring one try and setting up another, as Scotland go into the week leading up to facing the All Blacks full of confidence.
13 Tevita Kuridrani (Australia) - Best number thirteen in Test rugby right now? We think so, as the devastating outside centre had Wales in pieces at times, notably for his try when he burst through Alex Cuthbert and Alun Wyn Jones. He made sixteen carries and ten tackles.
12 Sonny Bill Williams (New Zealand) - One poor decision aside, when he opted for an offload after breaking into England's defence, Williams was back at his destructive best. In fact he looks better than ever, beating five defenders with a pair of offloads and clean breaks among 16 carries at Twickenham. Rock solid in defence too.
Jamie Roberts went well for Wales, with 17 tackles against the Wallabies, while
Kyle Eastmond caught the eye.
11 Teddy Thomas (France) - It doesn't get much better than a hat-trick on your Test debut, but we hope Thomas shared a fair bit of his champagne with Spedding who set up two of his scores. Make no mistake though, the Racing Métro wing is one hell of a finisher.
Jonny May gets a mention for his amazing solo try.
10 Jonathan Sexton (Ireland) - Man of the Match against South Africa, Sexton's control from fly-half was outstanding. Deadly off the tee, it was the Racing Métro fly-half's tactical kicking to the corners that won him the slot as he persistently pinned the Boks back. A mention for
Aaron Cruden who struggled going for the posts but again, like Sexton, was brilliant in controlling territory.
9 Conor Murray (Ireland) - Maybe it was accentuated by England's poor kicking against New Zealand, but the Irish half-backs were clinical with the boot in their win over the Boks, with Murray's smart kick creating Tommy Bowe's try to wrap up the win. Tough on
Greig Laidlaw who finished with three assists over Argentina, while
Aaron Smith also kicked well.
8 Kieran Read (New Zealand) - Another fine all-round display from the current IRB Player of the Year. Read stood out with ball in hand, winning 45 metres in the process, put his body on the line on defence with nine tackles, and impressed with his aerial skills winning a handful of line-outs. Mentions for
Sergio Parisse of Italy and young
Adam Ashe of Scotland.
7 Richie McCaw (New Zealand) - He just keeps on getting it done. A moment of breakdown brilliance upset the Twickenham crowd and he was in the right place at the right time to put the All Blacks ahead with their second try, bringing in Cruden's bobbling pass. 14 tackles and nine carries, his engine keeps going. Credit to
Rhys Ruddock, who took his matchday call up in his stride and scored Ireland's first try.
6 Sam Warburton (Wales) - Shifts over to the other side of the scrum due to McCaw's superb showing against England. Warburton though was so impressive at ruck time and alongside team-mate
Dan Lydiate tackled well throughout. A mention also for
Jerome Kaino.
5 Paul O'Connell (Ireland) - A colossus. No wonder Victor Matfield talked him up so highly before Saturday's Test. O'Connell played a major role in the maul that ended with Ruddock's try, while adding in 17 tackles. So physical, at 35 he's defying his age - a real captain's performance. Mentions for
Sam Whitelock, excellent as ever as he nearly stole a try from under Danny Care's nose, along with try-scoring
Alun Wyn Jones.
4 Jonny Gray (Scotland) - Scored Scotland's second try against Argentina and went on to make thirteen tackles alongside his big brother Richie. Both were excellent at Murrayfield as Scotland played a new, exciting brand of rugby that their supporters will hope is a sign of things to come under Vern Cotter. Mention for Ireland giant
Devin Toner, who alongside O'Connell was outstanding at the Aviva Stadium.
3 Owen Franks (New Zealand) - Played a big role in the build-up to McCaw's try against England at Twickenham. He made a telling break which had England's defence at sixes and sevens before the ball was recycled and spun wide to his captain. Franks also held his own in the scrums and did his bit on defence with 11 tackles.
Samson Lee went well for Wales.
2 Dylan Hartley (England) - Stood up well to the All Blacks' physicality and impressed with his core duties, especially at the lineout where his throw-ins were deadly accurate. Hartley delivered a 100 percent record in that department like the man he edges out, Wales'
Richard Hibbard, but the England man gets the nod after a superb defensive effort with 18 hits.
1 Jack McGrath (Ireland) - 17 tackles for the Leinsterman ensured that Ireland didn't miss Cian Healy's presence too much in the loose, even if the scrum came under real pressure from the Springbok eight at times. Worked tirelessly in a great defensive team effort.
