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.
15. Freddie Steward (England)
Still only 21, but already established as a world star. On another level in the air, fully utilising his 6ft 5ins frame, with his mastery under the high ball crucial to England’s series win Down Under. He’s also rock solid in defence and a very hard man to stop when he gets near the line as he proved with his well-taken try in the Sydney decider. Pushing him hard is the ‘Boks’ Damian Willemse, who is such a talent and joy to watch with ball in hand.
14. Damian Penaud (France)
In the heat of Japan, the Clermont Auvergne winger was on fire, claiming a brace of tries, as he followed up his double for the Barbarians against England to confirm his status as one of the most predatory finishers in the game. Louis Rees-Zammit and Will Jordan were two young men who did the same in thrilling fashion, while Tom Wright looks a quality find for the Wallabies.
13. Lukhanyo Am (South Africa)
It was great to see George North getting back to his best in the final Test in Cape Town after a year out through injury and he is really looking the part in the centre now. But his opposite number Am is the best 13 in the world. From the small town of Zwelitsha in the Eastern Cape, he grew up admiring players that had flair and skill, notably Shane Williams, and he brings that to his own play, along with defensive steel, while he just reads the game so well.
12. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)
A try-scorer in the series-clincher against New Zealand, the man from Athlone is such a fine all-round centre. He’s a highly effective attacker, both as a carrier and a passer, his support running is so astute, he organises the defence and he’s so good on the kick-chase and over the ball. Plus he is equally comfortable at 12 or 13. A word for Nick Tompkins who emerged with real credit from his contest with the powerful Damien de Allende.
11. Emiliano Boffelli (Argentina)
A tight call here, as Marika Koroibete was Australia’s Man of the Series against England and James Lowe was excellent for the Irish. But the classy Boffelli, who is so good under the high ball, capped a fine campaign with some performance as the Pumas sealed a 2-1 triumph over Scotland. He scored 19 points, landing six out of seven shots at goal and delivering a typically sharp finish for the last-gasp match-winning try. That should make for some interesting conversations when he links back up with Edinburgh!
10. Johnny Sexton (Ireland)
The Dubliner really is a pretty extraordinary character. He’s now 37, but there are just no signs of his powers waning. The way he expertly pulled the strings against the All Blacks, making all the right calls in terms of when to carry, when to pass, when to loop and when to kick, was just a fly-half masterclass. Welsh duo Biggar and Anscombe both had their moments, as did Beauden Barrett, while Matthieu Jalibert is always a delight to watch.
9. Jamison Gibson-Park (Ireland)
With World Player of the Year Antoine Dupont being rested by France, it was left to Gibson-Park to emerge as the most influential scrum-half on the summer circuit. Back in the land of his birth, he was a constant thorn in the side of the All Blacks. A big mention for Kieran Hardy, whose pinpoint box-kicking was key for Wales in terms of their tactical approach, with his service being suitably slick as well.
1. Ellis Genge (England)
He is returning to Bristol from Leicester next season and his new club coach Pat Lam is understandably licking his lips, describing his performances on tour in Australia as “immense”. Genge has emerged as a real leader and a player who sets the tone, as demonstrated by the way he bowled over Samu Kerevi and Michael Hooper in the decider. He takes some stopping when he is on the hoof, while he is a top-notch scrummager who can give tightheads a torrid time.
2. Malcolm Marx (South Africa)
So hard to choose between Marx and fellow Springboks hooker Bongi Mbonambi. As someone said the other day “Would you rather have a bulldozer or a tank?” The reliable Mbonambi edges it in terms of his set-piece work, while the explosive Marx makes such an impact over the ball and with his carrying. The latter gets it on the toss of a coin. A big hat-tip for Ireland’s Dan Sheehan, who has really grabbed his chance and is such a presence around the field, while Dewi Lake’s standing continues to grow.
3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
There were some questioning whether his powers were waning when he had a tough time in the scrum against Genge at Twickenham during the Six Nations, but the man from farming stock in Wexford has re-asserted himself as the game’s top tight-head with his all-round excellence in New Zealand. A frustrated fly-half with 3 on his back. Elsewhere, new Pumas prop Joel Sclavi is one to watch out for.
4. Tadhg Beirne (Ireland)
Arguably the best forward in the world right now. Scarlets fans have known all about his excellence for many a year but he was simply off the scale against the All Blacks, particularly in the second half of the decider when he found a succession of different ways of winning breakdowns over the ball. Add to that his athleticism in the lineout and around the field and you have a truly exceptional player.
5. Eben Eztebeth (South Africa)
Won his 100th cap for the Springboks last weekend, really rising to the occasion, and will go down as one of the true greats of a country that has produced some magnificent forwards over the years. Such a presence with his contesting at the lineout and his physicality in the collisions. His second row partner Lood de Jager is a boilerhouse beast who deserves due recognition, while Jonny Hill was key for England, as was Guido Petti for Argentina, with Will Rowlands increasingly important for Wales.
6. Courtney Lawes (England)
This was another really close call as Peter O’Mahony was a man possessed for Ireland, with his tears on the final whistle in Wellington speaking volumes for how much he had given and how much the series triumph meant to him. But Lawes was just such an inspirational figure at the helm of a young England side missing so many familiar faces. The epitome of leading from the front.
7. Josh van der Flier (Ireland)
The openside from County Wicklow continued where he left off in the domestic season. Warren Gatland summed it up well recently when he said: “He just keeps going and going, dominating the breakdown and getting Ireland over the gainline.” Huge plaudits too for Wales new boy Tommy Reffell who made such an impact on his international initiation. His work over the ball was just so vital to Wayne Pivac’s team against the ‘Boks, for whom skipper Siya Kolisi was pretty colossal.
8. Ardie Savea (New Zealand)
At times last weekend, it felt as though Savea was taking on Ireland himself. Pumped up hardly does it justice. It can often take two or three men to knock the Wellington warrior down, such is raw strength and determination, as demonstrated by his try, while he also has the pace around the park of someone who is equally adept on the openside. As for others at the base of the scrum, Jasper Wiese is some carrier, as are Caelan Dorris and Billy Vunipola, while Faletau’s class really is permanent.
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