Former England players Ben Youngs and Anthony Watson have announced their ideal XV from the initial three rounds of the Nations Championship. Their selections were shared during an episode of the For The Love Of Rugby podcast.
Backline Selections
At fullback, Damian Willemse was chosen for his performances, including his aerial dominance against England at Ellis Park and his role in the midfield against Scotland. He also made an appearance off the bench against Wales in Durban.
Cheslin Kolbe was named on the wing, noted for his performance against England, which included a try and five conversions. His defensive work and aerial skills were also highlighted. Jesse Kriel, who scored in all three of his matches, including a crucial try against Scotland, was selected at centre. His defensive leadership and attacking play were recognised.
Joining Kriel in the centres is Sione Tuipulotu, who started his campaign with two tries against Argentina and gained 72 metres from 14 carries against the Springboks. On the other wing, Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was selected for his strong attacking displays, including gaining 99 metres against Argentina and beating multiple defenders against Fiji. His tournament statistics included 246 metres gained, six line breaks, and two tries.
The halfback pairing features Matthieu Jalibert at fly-half and Maxime Lucu at scrum-half. Jalibert, who also played at fullback against Australia and Japan, was praised for his dynamism. Lucu was noted for his ability to handle challenging ball and for scoring two tries during the championship.
Forward Pack Recognised
In the loose forwards, Jasper Wiese was selected at number eight, having performed well against England and scoring a try against Wales. Fraser McReight was chosen at openside flanker for his work rate and ruck contributions for the Wallabies. Pieter-Steph du Toit, who was also named Player of the Series, was selected at blindside flanker for his consistent high-level performances and his ability to adapt to different roles, including extra lineout responsibilities.
The second row includes Emmanuel Meafou, who scored a try against Australia and showcased his work rate against Japan and New Zealand. He is partnered by Ruan Nortje, whose work rate was also highlighted, particularly in his two strong performances before being rested against Wales.
The front row consists of Ellis Genge at loosehead prop, known for his scrummaging and powerful carries, including a try against the Springboks. Malcolm Marx, the reigning World Rugby Player of the Year, was selected at hooker after scoring a try and dominating contact against England, followed by a strong scrummaging display against Wales. Joe Heyes completes the front row at tighthead prop, recognised for his defensive effort against Argentina and his scrummaging throughout the series.
The Springboks were identified as the Team of the Series, having won all three of their matches, scoring 130 points and conceding 49. They defeated England 45-21, Scotland 42-28, and Wales with a significant points difference. Rassie Erasmus was named Coach of the Series for leading the Springboks to three wins while making significant squad rotations. The Springboks averaged just over 43 points per test during the championship.
Paul de Villiers received the Breakthrough of the Series award, starting all three tests and contributing significantly, including a breakdown steal against Wales. The match between South Africa and Scotland, which South Africa won 42-28 at Loftus Versfeld, was a notable game of the series. Japan‘s 27-10 victory over Italy was recognised as the Performance of the Series, marking their first win in this tier-one competition. Theo Attissogbe‘s try for France against New Zealand was awarded Try of the Series.
The Springboks were also ranked as the top team in the international power rankings following the Southern Hemisphere leg of the Nations Championship, having won all three tests and deploying 43 different players and six debutants.
Other teams in the power rankings included New Zealand at second, France at third, and Ireland at fourth. Scotland was placed fifth, followed by England at sixth, Australia at seventh, Argentina at eighth, Japan at ninth, and Wales at tenth. Italy was noted as the biggest disappointment of the series, with three defeats and a 57-10 loss to Australia.
The Fiji Rugby Union was recognised as the Shift Worker of the Series for hosting their home fixtures in Cardiff, Liverpool, and Edinburgh due to stadium requirements.
The Nations Championship saw 18 tests played within a fortnight.
Source: planetrugby.com
