Find out who makes it into our XV this week as the standouts from the last round of pre-World Cup summertime Tests combine…
England finished their World Cup preparations at the north west, while Ireland moved in the world rankings with another win over Wales with a history-making match.
Watch who makes our cut and have your say when it concerns the strongest player of the weekend with our vote below…
15. Rob Kearney (Ireland)
One of numerous Irish players to actually struggle at Twickenham a fortnight ago, full-back Kearney was straight again back to his near-best at home to Wales on Saturday.
The 33-year-old looked quick helping save two possible first half attempts, beating at George North at a , before assisting Robbie Henshaw hold Dan Biggar in-goal up in the future and to grab.
Kearney also believed the first first attempt on the afternoon, hitting the assault at good speed and ending well beyond Jonathan Davies, was very good from the atmosphere, missed no tackles, created seven carries, a clean break and beat four defenders.
14. Makazole Mapimpi (South Africa)
Unlike many countries competing at the World Cup in Japan, South Africa are out there and watched the hosts professionally 41-7 at Kumagaya on Friday off.
The very best performer proved to be wing Mapimpi, that dazzled with his pace and ending: creating 99 metres with ball in hand, beating five defenders, making three clean rests and scoring a hat-trick.
Mapimpi contributed 10 tackles, none that was missing, in a super display.
13. Robbie Henshaw (Ireland)
All summertime, featuring in his very first Test of rugby, Henshaw looked sharp for Ireland in the berth.
The 26-year-old was a package of electricity and energy both in attack and defence – in which he contributed 10 forceful carries and beat two defenders.
Nothing got past Henshaw’s station, while in addition, he revealed phenomenal healing defence to race and catch Biggar about the off ice mark, holding him up with Kearney to discontinue a particular try. Henshaw proved on this display that he needs to start for Ireland.
12. Anton Lienert-Brown (New Zealand)
Lienert-Brown has impressed at points to the All Blacks the summer – on the point at which the likes of Ryan Crotty and Sonny Bill Williams might be receiving a tad uncomfortable.
New Zealand’s blowout 92-7 victory over Tonga on Saturday is hard to accurately take anything from, but relative to the remainder of his own team-mates and resistance players on the afternoon, the Chiefs man finished in the top five for conveys, metres left and tackles made – the only player to achieve that.
Lienert-Brown created a game-high 17 carries, 89 metres in assault, 10 tackles, 1 turnover, two clean breaks and beat six defenders.
11. George Bridge (New Zealand)
Like with Lienert-Brown, Bridge’s functionality is difficult to truly judge due to the inferiority of this opposition, but some stats just can’t be discounted – such as scoring four tries for example, or creating a silly 247 metres with ball in hand.
The wing conducted riot from Tonga, which makes eight sterile breaks, 15 carries, beating 10 defenders. He seared through the Islanders’ defence like a knife through butter notching those four dents.
10. Adam Hastings (Scotland)
A tricky week to select an out-half, as none stood out. Johnny Sexton was good on his Ireland reunite, Owen Farrell assured Beauden Barrett a mix of those good and poor on his return, for England into the No 10 shirt.
Therefore, we have gone using the Hastings, whose trendy running game at the triumph over Georgia was beautiful to see of Scotland. He created 13 carries – no Scot made longer – defeat five defenders, produced seven tackles and got a turnover.
9. Ben Youngs (England)
Youngs had not enjoyed for England ahead of Friday night’s Test with Italy, and headed into the match with a substantial level of pressure on him from several quarters.
The scrum-half responded with a screen which brought him the Man of the Match award, and he scored a try – showing his cleverness from close range – and also made yet another, breaking a scrum to nourish Joe Marchant.
Aside from 1 ball his game was good, as was the pace he attracted to the England strike and his passing.
1. Ellis Genge (England)
Coming on from the 10 minutes approximately the first half, Genge – and – fellow replacement brace Kyle Sinckler – attracted ballast and energy in spades.
The Leicester Tiger made 12 beat three defenders, made one breakdown stunt, was a part conveys and scored a try.
2. Jamie George (England)
For so long in the shadow of England skipper Dylan Hartley, George is now choice hooker to get Eddie Jones and has been among the standouts in St James’ Park.
He made 11 tackles, five was a part of a scrum that was 100 per cent also, was 100 percent using his own throw and carries. George also showed what a talented player he is with ball in hand in the loose – a magnificent offload up the left wing an instance in point.
3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)
Maybe not Furlong’s most striking evening by no means, however, the tighthead demonstrated how important he is to Ireland yet again.
The prop scored the most significant try of the afternoon at the Aviva Stadium against Wales, since he demonstrated brute force to power around for Ireland’s moment, regaining the direct and rewarding a sustained period of dominance and pressure.
His scrummaging was really strong again, whereas his breakdown and ruck function is indispensable to the success of Ireland’s multi-phase power game.
4. James Ryan (Ireland)
Creating into the very crucial member of the Ireland squad, next row Ryan proved against Wales on Saturday he is a class act once again.
The 23-year-old is a workhorse of physicality, also appears to make statement impacts at several things during Test matches.
The Leinster lock created 10 carries, eight tackles – missing none – beat a defender, maintained four lineouts and scored a vital try from close selection. His kind is up with all the finest in the world at the moment.
5. Courtney Lawes (England)
The next row position is possibly the most competitive area inside Jones’ squad right now, together with Maro Itoje, George Kruis, Joe Launchbury and Lawes excellent options.
The Northampton Saint provides a granite tough edge and exceptional lineout defence, together with Friday’s display a real mark.
Lawes made 12 conveys – no forwards on the pitch made longer – 13 tackles, one turnover, asserted four lineout balls and made yet another three lineout steals.
6. Pieter-Steph Du Toit (South Africa)
Consistently one of the greatest actors in this resurgent Springbok aspect, Du Toit led the handle count as South Africa beat Japan on Friday.
Even the back-row made 17 tackles in defence against his blindside character, claimed one lineout rather than appears to have a bad game nowadays.
7. Mark Wilson (England)
Because of his remarkable defensive attempt when played out of position on the openside, Wilson gets in our back-row after his work-rate pops against Italy.
The flanker made an unbelievable 27 tackles for England in Newcastle – a whole nine more than the next best player in the Test. He also did not give one punishment .
Though Wilson took just seven times in attack, he was impactful as he overcome five defenders and forced three clean breaks.
8. Jack Dempsey (Australia)
David Pocock was playing his final Test on Aussie soil when the Wallabies hosted Samoa on Saturday, but Pocock’s back-row partner Dempsey stood out on his own return.
The 25-year-old has had a while with trauma during the past two decades, but looked in super form over the weekend as he beat four defenders and forced one clean break off nine carries, while he also made one life-sized breakdown as Australia won 34-14.
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