Monday 18 September 2017 11:34, UK
All Blacks fill most of the spots after they hammered the Boks in Albany, but there are spaces for some Top 14 flyers and Aviva Premiership powerhouses...
15. Israel Folau (Australia)
The Wallabies claimed their first victory of the 2017 Rugby Championship courtesy of a 45-20 win over Argentina in Canberra on Saturday, and while there were impressive performances throughout, the star for the Aussies was Israel Folau.
The full-back scored two tries, making 114 metres from his 11 carries, while beating six defenders and making three clean breaks.
Folau narrowly edges out Louis Ludik, who was superb in Ulster's 27-20 win over the Scarlets on Friday night.
14. Alivereti Raka (Clermont Auvergne)
Alivereti Raka played on the left wing in Clermont's 62-6 thrashing of Brive on Saturday, but has been shifted to the other wing to accommodate a certain All Black in the No 11 jersey.
Raka beat an unbelievable eight defenders and made five breaks on his way to notching a 10-minute hat-trick, but he could almost have made it into this week's team on one run alone.
Eight carries for 147 metres tells you he was effective for large portions of the game, but it was Raka's second try that cemented his place in the team.
Nehe Milner-Skudder, who scored twice against South Africa, is unlucky to miss out on a place.
13. Damian Penaud (Clermont Auvergne)
If Raka with the finisher for Clermont, the creator was Damian Penaud. The centre carried the ball 12 times for 105 metres, beating 12 defenders on the way, and had a hand in so much that went right for the home side.
That's not to say he didn't get over the whitewash himself; the midfielder crossed for two tries in his side's comfortable win and in fact almost had a third.
The 20-year-old featured in two of France's three Tests against the Springboks in June, will we see more of him at the next Six Nations?
12. Stuart McCloskey (Ulster)
Stuart McCloskey had a hand in both of his side's tries, the second of which sealed a thrilling win for Ulster.
The first involved a run down the left touchline in which McCloskey tied up two defenders before popping to Sean Reidy who then shifted the ball to Jacob Stockdale for a try. The second came about in similar fashion, freeing his arms between two Scarlets players to pass to Tommy Bowe, with Ulster scoring off the next phase of play through replacement hooker John Andrew.
A nod to James Hook, who in terrible conditions at the Liberty Stadium danced his way through the Munster defensive line for a memorable try in Ospreys' 21-16 loss.
11. Rieko Ioane (New Zealand)
Rieko Ioane was in scintillating form as New Zealand tore the Springboks apart 57-0 in Albany. It was an old-fashioned hiding delivered with a modern touch - the tight five involving themselves heavily in the loose to help bring about the win.
With the stretched Bok defenders scrambling to keep up with their hosts, Ioane attacked with freedom; eating up 181 metres in his 12 carries - making more than 15 metres each time he ran with the ball.
The Blues winger beat 11 defenders and made four breaks, and scored a classic finisher try by latching onto a clever kick ahead from scrum-half Aaron Smith from a quickly-taken penalty.
10. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
Beauden Barrett found his kicking boots against the Boks, but he didn't need them as the Kiwis would have still won 40-0 had the fly-half had missed all of his kicks.
Not only did Barrett contribute 17 points from the tee - missing just one of his nine shots at goal - he also ran well with the ball, and his no-look pass to Milner-Skudder for a try was something you'd expect to see in a Barbarians game rather than early on in an important Test.
There was another superstar performance from Canterbury No 10 Richie Mo'unga, who kicked 23 points in his side's 78-5 win over Counties Manukau in the Mitre 10 Cup. Overall New Zealand appear to be handling the 'rebuilding phase' post-Dan Carter quite well.
9. Aaron Smith (New Zealand)
This could easily have gone to a pair of try-scoring half-backs in the form of Mitchell Drummond, who touched down four times for Canterbury last week, and Ben Youngs who crossed twice for Leicester against Gloucester, but we've given the jersey to Smith for his game management against the Boks.
His service to Barrett is world class, and his communication with his half-back partner ensures the world champions rarely make the wrong decision in attack, which is evident in the weekend's scoreline.
Smith's kick for the Ioane try was sublime, and showcased his ability to sum up a situation in no time at all when most teams would have been happy with a shot at goal.
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Mako Vunipola is a constant threat to opposition sides in the loose; despite his duties up front the British and Irish Lion is determined to enjoy himself with ball in hand.
In Philadelphia the prop carried 12 times, beating two defenders and making a clean break while still shoring up Saracens' set piece in a 29-7 win over Newcastle.
Scott Sio, who was part of Australia's dominant scrum on Saturday, deserves a mention for his strong performance against the Pumas.
2. Dane Coles (New Zealand)
Though he did have one lost lineout to his name, Dan Coles was otherwise in fine form at North Harbour Stadium against the South Africans.
The hooker supported Ioane brilliantly and took a pass before releasing Brodie Retallick for the All Blacks' fifth try on Saturday.
Interestingly Asafo Aumua, who is Coles' understudy in Wellington, scored a sensational try down the wing in Wellington's 60-14 thrashing of Canterbury on Sunday.
3. Sekope Kepu (Australia)
Australia's perceived weakness in the past has been their scrum, while Argentina traditionally dominate in that area.
However on Saturday the roles were reversed as Sekope Kepu and his fellow front rowers made a mess of the Pumas' set piece, earning a yellow card and very nearly a penalty try for repeated scrum infringements. The tighthead prop also crossed for a try in Canberra.
Ofa Tu'ungafasi came off the bench for New Zealand to score in an effective second-half performance that underpins the All Blacks' strength-in-depth up front.
4. Leone Nakarawa (Racing 92)
Leone Nakarawa was his classic troublesome self against Oyonnax on Sunday, freeing his arms in the tackle at every opportunity to keep up the pace of the game.
The second rower also scored his side's first try in a 25-13 win in the Top 14 to complete a good shift at Stade Yves-du-Manoir.
Retallick's try and work in disrupting the Bok set piece earns him a place on our imaginary bench.
5. David Ribbans (Northampton Saints)
Sam Whitelock stole two lineouts against South Africa so he could easily have been our No 5, but David Ribbans' work around the park against Bath in Northampton's 24-6 win gets him into the team.
Ribbans scored two tries and beat seven defenders with the ball during his nine carries. He also put in nine tackles at Franklin's Gardens, the most of all the forwards and tied at the top for Saints overall with Rob Horne.
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints)
Ribbans wasn't the only Saints forward to have an impact in front of their home fans, as British and Irish Lion Courtney Lawes made his presence felt with 19 carries against Bath, the most in the Saints camp.
The 28-year-old also scored a try as his side continued their resurgence following a horror first half against Saracens in the opening weekend of the Premiership.
Lawes was also useful in the lineout, taking five throws from the Northampton hookers and stealing one off the opposition.
7. Sam Underhill (Bath)
Sam Underhill may have been on the losing end of Friday's game, but the flanker more than did his part for Bath.
The England international made a staggering 22 tackles against the hosts, causing havoc throughout the encounter in defence and at the breakdown.
Sam Cane was effective for New Zealand, putting in 14 tackles which was the most by anyone in a black jersey, while Michael Hooper was in contention after a solid showing in the Rugby Championship.
8. Sam Simmond (Exeter Chiefs)
It was a captain's performance for Kieran Read in Albany, but it came down to two players who could have taken this spot.
Sean McMahon was highly influential for Australia, carrying the ball 17 times and making 19 tackles, the most for his team on both counts. He also set up Nick Phipps' try with a well-executed inside pass at full speed.
However Exeter's Sam Simmonds was colossal in the Chiefs' 41-10 hammering of Worcester on Friday night, making 14 tackles and carrying the ball 17 times. The No 8 also scored two tries and beat six defenders to cap off a bonus-point win away from home for the defending Premiership champions.
