Monday 28 November 2016 13:28, UK
England and Ireland lead the way in our team of the week after their eye-catching victories over Argentina and Australia respectively.
England survived the fifth-minute dismissal of Elliot Daly to defeat Argentina and extend their winning streak to 13 games, while an injury-ravaged Ireland edged a six-try thriller with the Wallabies in Dublin.
Scotland and New Zealand both have two players included after they ended their autumn campaigns with wins, while three players who scooped man of the match awards form the back row.
15. Stuart Hogg (Scotland)
Hogg was in no mood to allow Georgia to pull off a shock victory at Rugby Park. His individual try in the first half where he chipped over the defence and gathered the ball to race over was enough on its own to get one hand on this week's No 15 jersey, but it wasn't all he did on Saturday.
Hogg carried the ball 17 times for 147 yards at an average gain of 8.6 metres-per-carry, as well as beating five defenders on his way to crossing the whitewash twice.
Close second was Santiago Cordero, who shifted from wing to full-back shortly before kick-off and carried 16 times for 141 metres, beating eight defenders in the process.
14. Jonny May (England)
It was a day in which everyone had to shift their duties around after Elliot Daly's red card and May did well to maintain England's threat out wide despite being down a winger.
May carried the ball 11 times to top England's charts and made 78 metres which was second only to Mike Brown.
The Gloucester wing also put in seven tackles to help keep Argentina at bay when they tried to wrestle their way back into the contest, and scored the try that put the game out of the visitors' reach.
13. Jonathan Joseph (England)
The Bath centre made eight carries for 61 metres but it was his midfield defence that wins him a spot in our team this week.
Joseph put in 10 tackles, the most of any of the England backs on the day.
12. Garry Ringrose (Ireland)
After an injury to Robbie Henshaw in Ireland's game against New Zealand in Dublin, Garry Ringrose was thrown into the mix in the unfamiliar role of inside centre. The Leinsterman did so well against the All Blacks that he was handed a start against the Wallabies a week later.
Ringrose carries the ball 15 times - the most out of Ireland's backs on the day - and scored an incredible try in the closing stages of the first half when he cut inside the Australian defence to scramble over the line.
11. Tommy Seymour (Scotland)
Seymour equalled Stuart Hogg's carries with 17 of his own against Georgia. The winger made 117 metres with the ball at 6.9 metres-per-carry, while beating four defenders and making two clean breaks.
The Warriors speedster also got on the scoreboard with a try, following up Hogg's chip and out-sprinting Georgia's Vasil Lobzhanidze to dot down in the corner.
10. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
Another annoyingly good shift from 2016's player of the year. When France were just four points behind and hammering the All Blacks line early in the second half, the ball was sent left where the home side appeared to have numbers out wide. However, Barrett lunged out of the defensive line, intercepted a pass and ran the length of the field untouched to break French hearts.
And to silence his kicking critics, the Hurricanes fly-half was successful with all four of his attempts at goal.
Special mention also to Samoa fly-half D'Angelo Leuila, who kicked 20 points in their win over Canada in Grenoble.
9. Vasil Lobzhanidze (Georgia)
It was one-way traffic at Rugby Park, but that traffic would have been more bumper-to-bumper if not for the efforts of Georgia's scrum-half.
Lobzhanidze made seven carries for 46 metres, scored two tries and beat four Scottish defenders.
A nod to France's replacement scrum-half Baptiste Serin, whose nonchalant flick-pass behind his back for a Louis Picamoles try was outrageous from a 22-year-old playing in his fourth Test.
1. Mako Vunipola (England)
Playing with 14 men is never easy and England's scrum was under huge amounts of pressure throughout the game.
Though the front row was not without its casualties, with Dan Cole shown a yellow card, the effort of the tight five ensured England remained competitive up front, which helped them keep Argentina at bay. Besides his set-piece duties, Vunipola also put in an incredible 14 tackles at Twickenham.
2. Rory Best (Ireland)
Talk of Best leading the Lions next year gathered pace as the Ulsterman became the first Irish captain to guide his side to wins over the southern hemisphere big three in a calendar year.
It's been an incredible autumn for the 34-year-old, who capped it off with a fantastic individual performance in his 100th Test for Ireland. He missed one jumper on his own throw, but was otherwise rock-solid in the set piece.
3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
Furlong says he feels a "big, big step" away from the Lions picture but he has recently emerged as the leading contender to be handed the No 3 jersey by Warren Gatland next summer.
His barnstorming run against New Zealand in Dublin a week ago is proof of the Wexford native's ball-carrying capabilities, while he consistently provides Ireland with sturdy framework in the scrum.
At 24-years-old, Furlong is still young for an international front rower, but he looks to have a bright future in the game.
4. Courtney Lawes (England)
Lawes provided England with grunt up front and took the ball four times from England throw-ins, but his most telling stat was his 17 tackles. With Argentina operating with an extra man for the majority of the contest, it was an area in which England needed accuracy, and it was an area where Lawes excelled.
The performance of the Northampton lock highlights the riches on offer to Eddie Jones when picking his second row for Saturday's Test against Australia.
5. Sam Whitelock (New Zealand)
Whitelock put in 13 tackles in Paris, second-most for an All Black behind Matt Todd, and made the most carries of all his side's forwards with seven.
The second rower also took five lineout throws from Kiwi hookers, as well as forcing a turnover.
6. Chris Robshaw (England)
Robshaw might no longer be England captain but he still forms a core part of the leadership group on the field.
The Harlequin was man of the match at Twickenham as his incredible work rate helped England offset the early dismissal of Elliot Daly and injury to Billy Vunipola.
As well as some strong carries, Robshaw made 12 tackles and he edges out CJ Stander, who was at his relentless best against the Wallabies.
7. Josh van der Flier (Ireland)
From one man of the match to another. Van der Flier only found out on Saturday morning that he would be starting in place of the injured Sean O'Brien but that didn't stop him producing yet another eye-catching performance.
The 23-year-old starred when introduced as a first-half substitute in both Tests against New Zealand and he maintained those high standards against the Wallabies.
Van der Flier made a team-high 10 tackles, missing none, and also impressed with ball in hand, beating two defenders from his nine carries. It has been a month to remember for the Leinster flanker.
8. Justin Tipuric (Wales)
The debate over who to include at openside threatened to drag on until Christmas so we have rejigged our back row to include both Van der Flier and Tipuric.
With Sam Warburton injured it was a chance for Tipuric to state his case for Wales and the Ospreys flanker did exactly that on Saturday. He put in 16 tackles at the Principality stadium - the most of anyone who played in the game - and brought about two turnovers for his side. He was Wales' primary recipient at the lineout and also stole a ball from a Bok throw.
When South Africa scored with 10 minutes remaining it looked like they could muscle their way back into the game, but an inspired run from Tipuric ended the fightback and handed Wales their third ever win against the Springboks.
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