Team of the Week: June Tests
After the latest round of international matches over the weekend, we sit down to pick out the best players from the June Tests.
The All Blacks lead the way with six representatives in our team after their impressive 30-15 win over British and Irish Lions in Auckland.
Let's see who made the cut.
Team of the Week: June Tests
15 Israel Folau (Australia): Folau made history on the weekend when he became the first Wallaby to score multiple tries in three successive games. It's not too long ago in Super Rugby that he suffered the longest try-scoring drought of his career (five games). But when it rains, it floods. Joaquin Tuculet, meanwhile, had a good game for Argentina making 64 metres and scoring a try for his efforts.
14 Rieko Ioane (New Zealand): Played on the left wing but we had to find place for him after he vindicated Steve Hansen's decision to pick him ahead of Julian Savea. The 20-year-old Blues flyer grabbed a brace in the 30-15 win over the British and Irish Lions. His second try was particularly impressive as he showed tremendous pace to leave Elliot Daly for dead. A mention for Keith Earls, who impressed for Ireland in their win over Japan.
13 Jonathan Davies (British and Irish Lions): Davies made 85 metres, more than any other Lions player, and was an integral part of that super Sean O'Brien try. From Liam Williams' break, it was Davies' excellent support running that linked up the play trading passes with Daly before assisting O'Brien. Garry Ringrose made 76 metres, more than any other player in the Irish team, and scored a try.
12 Jan Serfontein (South Africa): What a remarkable June international series for Serfontein after a below-par Super Rugby campaign with the Bulls. Repaying Allister Coetzee's faith in him, Serfontein was everywhere on Saturday, even taking the lineout that led to Eben Etzebeth's try. Luke Marshall and Ben Te'o also impressed for Ireland and the British and Irish Lions.
11 Ramiro Moyano (Argentina): Moyano scored a scintillating hat-trick in the space of 13 second-half minutes, blowing Georgia out of the water in the process. Finished with 126 metres gained from four clean breaks with 11 defenders beaten and two offloads. Sefa Naivalu and Steff Evans notched up doubles for Australia and Wales respectively.
10 Ben Volavola (Fiji): Volavola produced a superb kicking display, contributing 17 points from the tee in Fiji's 27-22 victory over Scotland. Volavola beats out Bernard Foley, who scored a crucial try for Australia with ten minutes to go against Italy and kicked five out of six conversions and Nicolás Sánchez, who chipped in with 20 points for Argentina.
9 Aaron Smith (New Zealand): Smith was integral to the All Blacks' gameplan as they overcame the Lions. The nuggety number nine took the pressure off his fly-halves as the strategy to play off nine instead of 10 paid off. Kahn Fotuali'i was inspirational as captain for Samoa, contributing with two try assists as they narrowly lost out to Wales.
8 Kieran Read (New Zealand): The All Blacks captain showed why he is regarded by many as the game's best player in his position after a brilliant showing against the Lions. Read led from the front and his shift was remarkable as it was his first match back after a two-month injury lay-off. Read gained 62 metres on attack with one clean break, two defenders beaten and also managed two offloads.
7 Sam Cane (New Zealand): Another All Black who caught the eye after a solid shift against the Lions. Cane was particularly effective in defence and finished that match with 11 tackles made which was the most for his team. Also did well at the breakdown and beats out Fiji's Peceli Yato.
6 Rhys Ruddock (Ireland): Another fine performance from the Leinsterman as Ireland rounded off their mid-year tour with a victory over Japan in Tokyo. Ruddock was his usual reliable self with ball in hand, gaining 32 metres with a clean break and one offload. Also impressed as captain and comes in ahead of Wallaby rookie Ned Hanigan.
5 Leone Nakarawa (Fiji): Was at the forefront of the Pacific islanders' memorable victory over Scotland in Suva. As expected, Nakarawa's offloading game proved a handful for Gregor Townsend's men but his all-round game was also superb especially on defence where he put his body on the line with great vigour.
4 Brodie Retallick (New Zealand): Was one of the stars in that epic win over the Lions after another outstanding effort at the coalface of the world champions' forward effort. Retallick took the fight to the Lions, gaining 38 metres from 12 carries with one clean break, a defender beaten and one offload. Bok enforcer Eben Etzebeth also caught the eye in the win over les Bleus.
3 Owen Franks (New Zealand): Did well in the tight exchanges against the Lions in Auckland especially in the scrums where he stood firm throughout. Also performed well at his core duties and made some important tackles, especially around the fringes of the rucks and mauls. Ruan Dreyer also played well on his Springbok debut.
2 Agustín Creevy (Argentina): The veteran delivered a superb all-round effort in their triumph over Georgia in Jujuy. Led his troops well and was rewarded with a deserved try for his efforts. Also impressed in his core duties and comes in ahead of Codie Taylor and Malcolm Marx who did well for New Zealand and South Africa respectively.
1 Steven Kitshoff (South Africa): Came off the bench in the Boks' victory over France and made a big impact in the second half. Kitshoff scrummed well and did his bit on defence. But it was his powerful carries that caught the eye, one of which led to a try. Also showed silky skills with with that little roll on the ground before popping the ball up to Francois Hougaard. Deserves to start.