Team of the week: All Blacks lead the way while two seasoned props shine
Monday 10 October 2016 16:28, UK
After their Rugby Championship clean sweep New Zealand dominate once more, but there's room for a pair of grizzly props.
Census Johnston and Adam Jones rolled back the years last weekend, the former moving across the scrum to loosehead and helping Harlequins to victory over Northampton.
Scott Williams and Ian Whitten have forced their way into a backline brimming with All Blacks while young French flanker Sekou Macalou features at blindside after another barnstorming display for Stade Francais.
15. Ben Smith (New Zealand)
Ben Smith made 17 carries for 78 metres against the Springboks in a 57-15 win in Durban, but it was his near-perfect work under the high ball that earns him a spot this week.
Allister Coetzee has leaned on South Africa's more traditional kicking approach in the last two rounds of the Rugby Championship, but Smith eradicated all threats from half-backs Faf de Klerk and Morne Steyn, and even claimed a few of his own attacking kicks which brought about scores.
14. Israel Dagg (New Zealand)
After being snubbed by Steve Hansen for last year's World Cup squad, Dagg has bounced back to put himself joint-top for tries scored in the 2016 Rugby Championship, with five alongside Ben Smith.
On Saturday Dagg scored two of those five, carrying the ball 14 times for 91 metres, and beat six defenders along the way.
The Crusaders winger was of equal use in defence, turning the ball over three times in open play which halted Springbok attempts to wrestle their way back into the game.
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (New Zealand)
Lienert-Brown triggered New Zealand's first try in Durban, jinking past Jun de Jongh before drawing three defenders to release Waisake Naholo down the left for Israel Dagg's opener.
The centre also charged down Pat Lambie's kick for the first of Beauden Barrett's two tries - the score that started the landslide second-half scoring. Overall the midfielder showed far more poise and game awareness than can normally be expected of someone in his fifth Test.
Samu Kerevi is unlucky to miss out here, he had a heavy hand in the Wallabies' 33-21 win over the Pumas, but Lienert-Brown edges the Australian.
12. Scott Williams (Scarlets)
There is intense competition for places in the Wales midfield for the autumn internationals and Williams did his chances no harm with a man-of-the-match display in a 31-27 victory over the Dragons.
Williams, who turned 26 on Monday, was excellent with ball in hand, making three breaks and beating six defenders as he carried 12 times for a gain of 68 metres. He also produced some fantastic footwork and offload for Steff Evans' second try.
11. Ian Whitten (Exeter Chiefs)
The Irish winger bagged a brace as the Chiefs came from behind to draw with Gloucester, and it was just rewards for a brilliant all-round performance.
Whitten leeched onto Thomas Waldrom to help the No 8 over the line before he profited from Sam Hill's excellent break and offload to score on the half-hour.
Another fine offload, this time from Lachlan Turner, saw Whitten spark Exeter's fightback from 13 points down, and he also got involved in the driving maul that saw Damian Welch draw them level at the death.
Whitten edges out Cian Kelleher and Isa Nacewa, who both scored two tries in their provinces' derby wins.
10. Beauden Barrett (New Zealand)
Beauden Barrett started his All Blacks career as a utiIlty back but has now made the fly-half jersey his own. Unfortunately for opposition defences, he has carried much of the skills learned out wide into his new role.
On Saturday the 25-year-old made the most carries of all the New Zealanders with 20, and made the most metres with ball in hand (124m). His seven defenders beaten was also the best by anyone in his side and he chipped in with two tries.
Dan Carter retired last year as World Rugby Player of the Year and will be remembered as one of the game's greats, but his shoes have been filled so seamlessly that New Zealand Herald writer Chris Rattue wrote this week that Barrett's performances "shows how the Dan Carter obsession was actually holding the All Blacks back".
9. TJ Perenara (New Zealand)
With first-choice scrum-half Aaron Smith sent home in shame after a 'toilet liaison', TJ Perenara was given consecutive starts for the All Blacks for the first time in his career, and he rose to the challenge.
Aside from keeping the All Blacks ticking on attack and scoring two tries of his own in front of the dejected Springbok fans, Perenara was also solid in defence, turning the ball over four times - the most by any All Black player on the day.
Honourable mention to Martin Landajo, who was incredibly influential but in a losing cause at Twickenham.
1. Adam Jones (Harlequins)
He won 95 caps for Wales at tighthead but Jones was thrown into the deep end on Saturday as he had to play at loosehead against Saints.
Jones didn't even know he would be on the bench until the morning of the game when Joe Marler failed a fitness test, and he had to come on after just six minutes when Mark Lambert went off injured.
The 35-year-old conceded two first-half penalties but won his battle with Kieran Brookes and his replacement, fellow England prop Paul Hill. He drew jubilant roars from the Stoop faithful late on when he won a scrum penalty, allowing Tim Swiel to kick his fourth three-pointer of the second half.
2. Dane Coles (New Zealand)
Agustin Creevy could easily have taken this position with 18 carries at Twickenham on the back of another tireless Rugby Championship from one of Argentina's toughest campaigners.
However, Dane Coles was once again in the thick of it when the All Blacks were throwing the ball around which is why he's once again made it into the team.
The Rugby Championship is home of the hooker, with three of the four nations captained by their No 2, and Coles has been unquestionably the best of the lot in the southern hemisphere in 2016.
3. Census Johnston (Toulouse)
The veteran tighthead terrorised the Clermont front row on Sunday as Toulouse were narrowly beaten at the Stade Marcel Michelin.
Johnston scored the visitors' first try following a powerful rolling maul and his strong scrummaging saw Clermont loosehead Etienne Falgoux replaced after 45 minutes, only for his replacement - Thomas Domingo - to be yellow-carded shortly after his introduction for collapsing a scrum.
A penalty try shortly followed as Johnston continued to wreak havoc, something that won't have gone unnoticed by the Connacht front row ahead of Saturday's Champions Cup opener.
4. Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)
Despite all the attacking options at the disposal of the All Blacks, second rower Brodie Retallick made his way into tied-second place for Springbok defenders beaten over the week. The Chiefs lock beat six South Africans in 14 carries, making 43 metres in the process.
The 25-year-old still performed all his set-piece duties at Kings Park and brought about a turnover, but it's his work-rate with the ball that made him World Player of the Year in 2014, and that was the driving force of his contribution against the men in green and gold.
5. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
With England's autumn internationals around the corner it will please Eddie Jones to see that Maro Itoje has lost none of the form that saw him rise to prominence in this year's Six Nations.
In a top-of-the-table clash against Wasps on Sunday Itoje put in 16 tackles - the most of any of his team-mates - as Saracens ground out a 30-14 win.
He also took charge at the lineout, winning six from the hands of his own throwers, as well as stealing one off the visitors.
6. Sekou Macalou (Stade Francais)
The 21-year-old flanker was outstanding in Stade's derby defeat at Racing. Macalou produced some ferocious hits in defence and forced three turnovers.
He was just as devastating in attack. He made 61 metres from 13 carries, showing fantastic footwork and pace as he beat six defenders, and he was heavily influential for Julien Arias' try just before half-time.
7. Liam Gill (Toulon)
The former Reds flanker has made an impressive start to his TOP14 career and put in another huge shift in defence as Toulon snatched a 17-17 draw at La Rochelle.
Gill made seven carries and offloaded well in the tackle but it was in defence where he really caught the eye. The 24-year-old led the way with 18 tackles, five more than second-placed Anthony Etrillard, and was a pest at the breakdown.
8. Ben Morgan (Gloucester)
Billy Vunipola once again impressed for Saracens but fellow England international Morgan gets the nod after he continued his good form at Sandy Park against Exeter.
The Gloucester back row worked their socks off, with Morgan making 16 tackles - missing none - and forcing a turnover.
He was also the Cherry and Whites' primary ball carrier, making 65 metres from 16 carries and beating four defenders, and he supported David Halaifonua's break down the left touchline on 58 minutes to score his side's third try.
