It’s been a fascinating month of international rugby, with the traditional southern hemisphere dominance at this time of the year being replaced by a very different landscape amid series wins for Ireland and England over New Zealand and Australia respectively, plus a first ever Welsh Test victory over the Springboks on South African soil. Elsewhere Argentina squeezed past Scotland, while France continued their all-conquering 2022 by triumphing in Japan.
But who were the individuals that shone the brightest? Which established stars lived up to their billing and which new faces grabbed centre stage?
Rugby correspondent Simon Thomas has considered the contenders and come up with his World XV based on performances in the summer Tests. Notably, ten of the team are from the north. So what you think of his choice.
