With chaotic scenes in both Dublin and Twickenham, a hat-trick hero for Wales and Japan taking a big scalp in Georgia, we pick our Team of the Week after an action filled couple of days.<\/p>\n
Team of the Week<\/p>\n
15 Damian Willemse (South Africa): A rock of solidity in the mayhem of the Aviva, Willemse scored one try and dominated the airways in a superb display at the back. France\u2019s Thomas Ramos excelled in the Parisian snow, whilst Freddie Steward had a solid day for England<\/a> at Twickenham, as did the promising Ruben Love for New Zealand and Max Jorgensen for the Wallabies.<\/p>\n 14 Tom Rogers (Wales): We\u2019ve had to put him on the other wing \u2013 and yes, Wales lost, but anyone who grabs a hat-trick against the All Blacks deserves selection. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso looked sharp as a tack for England, as did New Zealand\u2019s brilliant Will Jordan.<\/p>\n 13 Nicolas Depoortere (France): Another two tries for this bruising youngster as he really had a shining month despite France\u2019s form concerns. Henry Slade put in one of his best performances for England in a long time, whilst Jesse Kriel was a rock for the Springboks<\/a> in Dublin.<\/p>\n 12 Max Ojomoh<\/a> (England): \u2018OJ\u2019 has been flirting around the England squad for some time \u2013 and he exploded into Test<\/a> impact in a spectacular fashion, grabbing one and making two in a quite brilliant display, making him our player of the week. His opposite number, Justo Piccardo, has made an impact in every match he\u2019s played this autumn and had another big performance, whilst France\u2019s Kalvin Gourgues demonstrated precisely why he\u2019s the talk of the town in Toulouse.<\/p>\n 11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France): He might not have grabbed World Rugby Player of the Year, but he snared a player of the match award and a brace of tries, and made another in a brilliant performance. New Zealand\u2019s Caleb Clarke was superb in Wales and unlucky not to make our side, whilst Monty Ioane was back to try-scoring ways for the Azzurri.<\/p>\n England v Argentina: Winners and losers as late call-up \u2018nails audition\u2019 for starting XV amid \u2018fascinating side-plot\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n 10 George Ford (England): Another minor masterclass from England\u2019s midfield general as he conducted proceedings brilliantly all afternoon at Twickenham. Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu had a solid outing in Dublin but might rue the space he didn\u2019t exploit in attack, whilst Scotland\u2019s Fergus Burke had a really impressive afternoon against Tonga at Murrayfield.<\/p>\n 9 Cobus Reinach (South Africa): Scored one and created one as his fine run of form continues. England\u2019s Ben Spencer had one of his best games in an England shirt and is unlucky to miss out, whilst Scotland\u2019s Ben White had a really strong outing up at Murrayfield.<\/p>\n 8 Magnus Bradbury (Scotland): We\u2019ve moved Ben Earl across the back-row but still a close one between Bradbury and South Africa\u2019s outstanding Jasper Wiese, but the Scot takes the shirt. Two different approaches to the eight shirt, all great to watch. Wallace Sititi was enormous for New Zealand in Cardiff, whilst Lorenzo Cannone shone again for Italy. And a word for Kwagga Smith \u2013 if South Africa have a Bomb Squad, Smith is their very own Oppenheimer. Brilliant.<\/p>\n 7 Ben Earl (England): Brilliant once more \u2013 23 tackles, two steals and 13 carries at eight, but we\u2019ve moved him across to seven to balance things out. France\u2019s Oscar Jegou was called into action on 12 minutes when Charles Ollivon went off with concussion, the young La Rochelle man made another big impact as he topped the tackles, made some telling interventions and kept France on the front foot. If one man emerged from Dublin in credit for Ireland, it was the tireless Josh van der Flier, who never stopped filling the holes cards had left. Siya Kolisi stood up well in opposition, leading cleverly in all of the chaos, whilst Marcos Kremer epitomised physicality at the Allianz, and Jamie Richie gave us a skipper\u2019s knock at Murrayfield.<\/p>\n 6 Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa): Another towering display from a great of the game, Du Toit delivered a real all-court performance. Juan Martin Gonzalez pushed him all the way in another world class performance, whilst England\u2019s Guy Pepper again was the glue in England\u2019s pack in a gritty showing, and both Cian Prendergast and Ryan Baird did similar for Ireland.<\/p>\n Opinion: England have \u2018found themselves\u2019 but \u2018serious contenders\u2019 to the Springboks\u2019 World Cup crown they are not<\/a><\/p>\n 5 Warner Dearns (Japan): Unlucky not to be in our team last weekend, Dearns led from the front in a massive win for the Brave Blossoms in Tbilisi as Eddie Jones\u2019 men won from the last kick of the match. England\u2019s Alex Coles was industrious, whilst either of Emmanuel Meafou, massive for France, or Ruan Nortje could have made our selection.<\/p>\n 4 Scott Barrett (New Zealand): Barrett showed a welcome return to Test action for the All Blacks in Cardiff and just squeezes in. Maro Itoje was consistent as ever for England, hammering tackle after tackle as he led from the front once again at the Allianz. RG Snyman treated us to snarling, seething power as he returned to Ireland and gave everything, replacing the outstanding Eben Etzebeth.<\/p>\n 3 Thomas du Toit (South Africa): A statement performance as he simply dismantled Andrew Porter in Dublin. It was The Tank\u2019s best showing in the Bok shirt, and he takes the selection from a very good Asher Opoku-Fordjour for England, and a powerful display from Wilco Louw, the man who replaced Du Toit.<\/p>\n 2 Malcolm Marx<\/a> (South Africa): Celebrated his World Rugby Player of the Year title<\/a> in some style as he treated us to a big performance. England\u2019s Luke Cowan-Dickie and Scotland\u2019s George Turner both gave their all \u2013 and a word for Maxime Lamothe as he crossed for France. Finally, Wales may have a lot of problems but Dewi Lake isn\u2019t one of them \u2013 an outstanding leader.<\/p>\n 1 Boan Venter (South Africa): Venter completes an all Bok front-row, but Angus Bell (Australia), Ellis Genge (England) and Jean-Baptiste Gros (France) pushed him all the way, as did his teammate Gerhard Steenekamp, explosive off the bench.<\/p>\n