Australia dominate the Sky Sports rugby team of the week
Wednesday 12 August 2015 11:32, UK
The Rugby Championship served up a thrilling conclusion last weekend as Australia ended a 10-match losing streak against New Zealand.
The Wallabies were 27-19 winners in Sydney as they won the competition for the first time since Argentina’s inclusion, while the Pumas also served up a shock in Durban as they beat South Africa for the first time in their history.
Fiji warmed up for the World Cup with an impressive victory over Samoa in the Pacific Nations Cup final, while Ireland outclassed Wales in the battle between two experimental teams in Cardiff.
But which players made our team of the week?
15. Israel Folau
Folau was inspired under the high ball, ensuring that Australia were never pinned down territorially. The full-back carried the ball a total of 12 times, making 85 metres on the day - both of which topped the table in the Australian stats. Folau also beat five defenders, more than any other player in the competition.
14. Nehe Milner-Skudder
The Hurricanes wing scored two tries on his All Blacks debut, making the most breaks of any of his team-mates and more metres with ball in hand than any player in the competition with 113. Milner-Skudder has provided Steve Hansen with more selection headaches on the wing.
13. Keith Earls
Earls made his long-awaited return to the international scene in Cardiff, scoring a try in his first Ireland appearance since the final day of the 2013 Six Nations. The 27-year-old admitted to suffering from pre-match nerves but once the action got underway, he was determined to make up for lost time. Earls forged an impressive centre partnership with Darren Cave, made 10 carries for 74 metres and beat three defenders.
12. Marcelo Bosch
The Saracens centre put in a superb display in Durban. He was tied for the most Argentine tackles on the day, and made the fourth-most metres of all the Pumas, but his presence was made known mostly on the scoreboard. Bosch opened the scoring for the visitors inside two minutes with a try, before adding a long-range penalty and a drop goal in the second half as Argentina made history.
11. Juan Imhoff
What more could you ask from a winger? With one of the first touches of the game Imhoff burst through the South African defence before offloading to Bosch for the first try of the game. He then went on to cross the whitewash three times for the Pumas, and kept opposite number Jesse Kriel quiet all afternoon.
10. Matt Toomua
Just like his half-back partner in this team, Toomua came on from the bench, but once he did the Australia backline fired with far more purpose than they had under the direction of Bernard Foley. Toomua kept the New Zealand tacklers under plenty of pressure with superb distribution, but on the occasions when he did kick, he did so effectively.
9. Nic White
Not often that a replacement makes team of the week but White put on a show that could see him start on Saturday when the Wallabies seek a second consecutive win against the All Blacks. Only on the field for 16 minutes, White scored a try and set the tempo that overturned a deficit to come away with a comfortable win.
8. David Pocock
With Scott Higginbotham and Ben McCalman each given a chance at No 8 in the opening rounds of the Rugby Championship, Michael Cheika decided to follow Heyneke Meyer's lead and pick a fetcher in the position against the All Blacks. Pocock and Michael Hooper proved to be a very effective pairing at the breakdown, and even more encouraging for Cheika, Pocock was able to perform the necessary duties of a No 8 at the same time.
7. Michael Hooper
Hooper led round three of the Rugby Championship with steals, taking one more than team-mate Pocock against New Zealand. He also proved his annoying best when tackling - putting in more tackles than any Australian forward, and second overall in the team standings behind Tevita Kuridrani.
6. Scott Fardy
In a stand-out performance by the Wallabies, it was the unsung work of Scott Fardy that kept the New Zealanders tackling all afternoon. Fardy carried the ball 11 times in total, only one less than Israel Folau who was Australia's best performer in that category. Have Australia found their back row combination for the World Cup?
5. Lood de Jager
The only reason for South African celebration in Durban on Saturday was De Jager. When Matfield limped off the field early in the first half in the game against the Wallabies, there was concern about who would replace him. Fortunately for Heyneke Meyer, the 22-year-old not only ably replaced Matfield in the No 5 jersey, he also took full control of the South African lineout.
4. Leone Nakawara
Nakawara replicated the superb form he produced for Glasgow last season as he helped Fiji collect their third successive Pacific Nations Cup. The second row underlined his pace, power and skill as he scored two tries in their final win over Samoa, while also showing leadership in set pieces. Fiji could yet have a major say in the World Cup ‘pool of death’ with England, Wales and Australia.
3. Sekope Kepu
New Zealand held a slender lead early in the second half in Sydney, but with a penalty advantage, the home side threw attackers at the line and it was tighthead prop who ran the perfect line. Kepu left Kieran Read in his wake as he cantered over for the opening try. The 29-year-old was a rock in the scrum, too.
2. Agustin Creevy
This man is proving to be one of the great leaders in world rugby. In an emotional Test match for the South Americans, Creevy led the Pumas in steals as an ever-present thorn in the side of a South African side overflowing with fetchers, and even once he was substituted he could still be seen giving orders to his team as they steered to victory.
1. Scott Sio
Scott Sio made his debut in a 47-29 thrashing by New Zealand in 2013, but his most recent Test was far more enjoyable. Not only was he a nuisance in the loose but the scrummaging performance by him and his front-row partners will give Michael Cheika plenty to smile about going into a World Cup pool with the likes of England and Wales.
