England machine: Manu Tuilagi
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Now that the dust has settled in the northern hemisphere, Planet Rugby looks at the guys who stole the show in the final week of the Test series.
The big winners were England, who put world champions New Zealand to the sword thanks to a record 39-21 victory at Twickenham. And the Wallabies ended their tour on a high after beating Wales at the death in Cardiff.
So without further ado, here comes our offering - be sure to send in your own 15-1 team line-ups.
15 Leigh Halfpenny (Wales): Once again, Wales' Mr Consistency delivered another magnificent display, kicking Wales to within seconds of victory before he was carried off injured. Strong British and Irish Lions contender for the number fifteen jersey for next year's tour Down Under.
14 Cory Jane (New Zealand): One of the few players that stood out in an otherwise deflated All Blacks team, Jane was a constant threat to the English defence with his strength and angles of running - one of which was responsible for setting up Kieran Read for New Zealand's second try. Mention too for Wales' Alex Cuthbert.
13 Manu Tuilagi (England): New Zealand were hit by a vomiting bug in the week, but not as hard as they were hit by England's destroyer in-chief. The 21-year-old Samoan produced his best display in an England jersey, giving his team plenty of forward momentum and was instrumental in all the hosts' tries - bagging one for himself in the process.
12 Brad Barritt (England): The South African midfielder also dished out a solid 80 minutes for his adopted country - tackling hard and running strongly. Barritt's fine performance earned him his first Test try which sparked's England's eight-minute blitz, which saw the hosts cross for three tries during that time.
11 Julian Savea (New Zealand): Tough call to leave out England's full-back cum wing Mike Brown - who performed admirably - but Savea's brace can't be ignored. New Zealand's powerful left wing put his derailing team back on track soon after half-time, and his second score at the death limited the damage somewhat.
10 Owen Farrell (England): This week's listing of Farrell alongside Dan Carter on the shortlist as IRB World Player of the Year was greeted with incredulity in the rugby world, but it was the youngster who looked the most accomplished number 10 on duty at Twickenham. Having played second fiddle to Toby Flood for the most part of November, all of Farrell's confidence came flooding back (no pun intended) as he stamped his authority on the game - especially with his boot, in which he contributed 17 points.
9 Ben Youngs (England): On a Saturday where none of the scrum-halves really stood out head and shoulders above the rest, Youngs gets the nod purely for making opposite number Aaron Smith - who has had a stellar debut season playing for the All Blacks - look very ordinary indeed.
8 Wycliff Palu (Australia): This was a bit harder to choose with England's Ben Morgan and Toby Faletau of Wales both running strongly and tackling hard for their respective teams. All Blacks number eight Kieran Read never give up, but his intercept pass to Tuilagi opened the door a little wider for Palu who in the end bashed it down following his barnstorming performance at the base of the scrum for Australia. He was rather fortunate to escape a yellow card after a high tackle on Wales hooker Matthew Rees though.
7 David Pocock (Australia): A winning return for the Wallabies fetcher, who not only bossed the breakdown but carried the ball strongly throughout. Kudos to England's Chris Robshaw too after leading his side to a record win over New Zealand.
6 Tom Wood (England): A tireless display from the Saints flanker whose Trojan work-rate earned him a deserved man-of-the-match gong. England's foremost ball carrier in the back row was given plenty of opportunity to go forward and gleefully accepted the challenge of soaking up numerous New Zealand tackles on the gainline.
5 Nathan Sharpe (Australia): It's debatable whether Sharpe was the top lock over the weekend. But we just couldn't leave out the veteran playing in his last game for Australia - unless he's coaxed out of retirement once again!
4 Joe Launchbury (England): Got through a serious amount of work in 66 minutes, and never stopped working in the heat of battle. His replacement Coutney Lawes carried the batton over the finish line and was also a menacing figure in the short time spent on the pitch.
3 Dan Cole (England): Fronted up to the physical presence of the All Blacks front-row in the scrum and helped turn the screw when England were on top. Mention too for Genthin Jenkins who made his presence felt against Australia.
2 Tom Youngs (England): Good darts in the line-out and held up well in the scrum. Got through a mountain of donkey work at ruck time too, and helped England to dominate the breakdown - also ever present in England's defence effort. Has improved with each game through the November series
1 Alex Corbisiero (England): Scrummaged strongly, while the US born prop was also eager and energetic in the loose.
Compiled by Dave Morris
Comments
TVaddict says...
@hellovanite
Have you considered the possibility that Manu is a Samoan Englishman? I know it's hard for someone like you to take, but human beings can have connections to various land masses arbitrarily separated by other human beings into what we call 'countries'. What would you say decides what country your from?
-Where you are born? Could be born on holiday, I guess that's out.
-Where most of your genes are from? Hello Hitler.
-Where you've spent most of your time living or where your living now? "I'm just working there it's not where I'm from!"
-Where the you decided to call your home? "No mate, some guy online says your not allowed to call this home."
I'm on your side for some of what you say. The posters who criticised NZ for poaching players were as ignorant and stupid and those who criticise England for it today. They are all as culturally and socially inferior as each other, unable to keep up with the modern world we live in, and hopefully their fingers will drop off so we don't have to read another post about player poaching ever again and can focus on the game we love.
Your argument of the distances involved might seem initially logical, but when you think about it (i.e. planes) it really isn't. Do you think there are more people of Indian descent in the UK or in Russia (which is closer to India just so you know)?
Your statement that the P.I. population in England mostly play professional rugby is absurd! Most of them don't! You might as well say the majority of Jews in America work in Hollywood. It's a comment bordering on insanity.
I feel England (UK) is a country almost defined by it's multicultural and multi-ethnic history. It is one of the few attributes that I truly love about England (UK). A country which accepts and attracts people from all backgrounds from around the world to join our cultural melting pot.
Posted 14:56 07th December 2012
APV1 says...
@ hellovanite - we are at odds here, although I do see your point of view. I'm with lawynd here, inasmuch as I think we'll have to agree to disagree.
My issue, as I stated before, is with PR. Their inconsistency is rediculous.
How can they justify mentioning the nationalities of the 3 English players (how's that for a concession..?!) and not for Faletau or Pocock? Where's the difference?
Yes, Zimbabwe is a little closer to Oz than Samoa is to the UK, but I don't think that was it. How about Faletau and Wales? Significant difference in distance? Not at all. So we can debunk that argument as moot.
We all know there have been prats in the past who've mentioned the poaching, but since when did two wrongs make a right? And, other than the odd bit of banter and tongue-in-cheek comment, you'll be hard-pressed to find any from me. Because I, too, know it's a pile of turd.
The real shame is that PR hasn't bothered to respond. It demonstrates a lack of backbone and courage. Just chuck in the grenade and walk away. If the author came back and justified their decision, I would have much more respect for them. They might (?!) even be able to make me understand their reasons. They know who I am - as a registered member of the site, they have my details - but they're hiding behind the site, not willing to have the courage of their convictions.
PR Editor - anyone out there..?
Posted 11:51 07th December 2012
lawynd says...
Related to the OP, I see Joe Launchbury has been voted England's player of the series. Whilst I appreciate it's a public vote, and that Launchbury did very well, it seems as baffling a choice as Owen Farrell for IRB Player of the Year.
Posted 11:47 07th December 2012
hellovanite says...
lawynd... Fair enough, I was getting a bit high and mighty about things wasn't I ;)
Posted 11:20 07th December 2012
lawynd says...
@hellovanite - I think we're going to have to agree to disagree - I will say though that you'll never, ever hear anything about 'poaching' from me because I think it's a complete crock of sh1t too.
Anyway, to more important matters - roll on this weekend's HEC games...and the 6N...and Super Rugby...and the 4N...!
Posted 10:48 07th December 2012
hellovanite says...
One thing I can tell you is that the greater percentage of them are not rugby or league professionals and never will be, I would hesitate to say that the same cannot be said of the P.I. population who live in the UK. Hey England is a nice country for the most part, I lived there for 3 years. I'm not slagging it off at all, hell my mum's from Bath. I just find it richly hypocritical considering the long held belief that NZ poaches pacific Islanders, when it is as plain as day that the UK are far more guilty of this. I was in Nandi a couple of months back and witnessed it myself, yes that's right I move in rugby circles and have many friends in the islands. If PR refer to Manu as a Samoan well that's because first and foremost he is a Samoan. same as Joe.R is a fijian the real difference is we didn't go looking for his father or his brothers waiving a fist of cash, they like you west Indian population of the UK came first for a better life and second for family reasons. I could be wrong but I doubt any polynesian would pick the UK over NZ in this respect. OK now for the witty brain boiling repartee... Can't wait. Did I say that my issue wasn't with polynesians playing for England, just the inference that what happens there is the same as what happens here ppppffffttt I say! ;)
Posted 05:03 07th December 2012
hellovanite says...
Opinion and Uninformed, is that right Kybone. Seems pointless to point out the difference, why don't you just check out wikipedia on Rokococo and Sivivatu. If you feel English then good for you, no issues with that. If Manu feels English good for him too. You are missing the point entirely. For many years now I have listened to NH trolls go on and on about New Zealand stealing players from their native lands and you talk to me about ill informed opinions, laughable. I would find it ironic if there was any truth to that argument. In any case if you wish to become derisive and house proud about it go right ahead, I have a very thick skin. Not seeing the wood for the trees springs to mind. I think as long as a player has a shirt on their back they represent that shirt and good luck to them, it is after all their choice. However, If you can't see the difference between a person coming to a country in search of a job (be it a bus driver or not) and a knock on the door with a cheque book 12000km from blighty, well never mind as I say pointless to point out the difference. In New Zealand we have a very large polynesian population, maybe becuase we live in the same neighborhood, I don't know.
Posted 05:02 07th December 2012
kybone says...
hellovanite- The words 'opinion' and 'uninformed' spring to mind my friend. There are two players of pacific descent in the England squad, neither of whom were 'scouted' and both have lived here since long before they became pro rugby players. So i take it that the families of Sivivatu and Rokocoko etc all came to NZ to better their lives, as opposed to the Vunipola family who were brought to the UK with the expressed intention of their 5 year old son one day playing for England. See how ridiculous your point is? Probably not!
Posted 16:42 06th December 2012
lawynd says...
@Hellovanite - what you're essentially saying is that I'm not English, either. Frankly, you can boil your head! If people are leaving the Pacific Islands for a better quality of life, why are you differentiating between those that drive buses (which is how a significant proportion of British West Indians came to be here) and those that play rugby? Both are, after all, a job.
You're right about one thing though, it is all semantics, and that's why we're fed up of discussing it ad nauseum, and of PR and certain posters constantly bringing it up (and crucially, only mentioning English players). It isn't meaningful and distracts from the game that we all love.
Posted 10:49 06th December 2012
new_j4a says...
OLD Joke:
Q: Where does the English cricket/rugby team stay when they tour the SH?
A: With their parents.... ;)
Just a very old and tired joke guys. If it makes you feel a bit better, in a very real sense, much of the world is English....you are our Mecca for sport, language, government, law, culture and much more. Merry Christmas all. And well done England from one of the many mongrel colonials.
Posted 08:45 06th December 2012
hellovanite says...
Locality in terms of difference is not an argument at all, it's an illustration of difference. If you are calling Manu an Englishman Lawyd by that logic all the Tuilangi brothers are English. I really don't mind that Manu "chose" to play for England at all, and good luck to him and England. The difference between NZ and England in this respect is that Polynesians of NZ (esp Samoans) are more a kin to your West Indian population in that their fathers weren't enticed away for money to play rugby in the semi arctic conditions of a NH winter. They came to NZ for a better life in a country not vastly dissimilar to their own. It is ignorant to cloud the issue with semantics, so let's just tell it like it is and stop kidding ourselves. The reason why you have polynesians in your team is that someone in their direct family was scouted to play rugby in your country, for money. Adversely you would be hard pressed to find the same scenario in New Zealand. In any case it is what it is and I accept that, and as I have said wish all parties the best. But it is what it is gentlemen...
Posted 19:56 05th December 2012
JamieTheProp says...
I think 1 to 15 should have been English - just sayin'
Posted 19:10 05th December 2012
APV1 says...
@ hellovanite - "We all know that your lot have started scouting the pacific waters for some time now in a deliberate attempt to balance the equation."
By "my lot", who do you mean? Is it my Dutch, Irish, Spanish or Scotish forebears? Don't let the fact that I'm English fool you into thinking I'm of Ancient Briton or Saxon descent. Like most in our fine land, I'm a true mongrel of dubious and mixed heritage. Any less English? Certainly not.
And the physical difference between countires is a daft argument. They've invented these machines which fly. I know! What a shock! Now people can leave their villages and travel a bit.
Don't leave yours though, as they'd be missing their idiot if you did.
;-)
And my argument isn't with the posters who are all entitled to their opinion, reagrdless of how stupid they are (No, I didn't call you or your post stupid. But we do all know a few who are). My gripe is with the lack of objectivity of the author of the piece. I expect (perhaps I shouldn't!) the journalists to be objective and fair and present issues without bias. Now I don't expect them not to present THEIR pick for Team of the Week, or offer an opinion - that's what sparks the debate. But I would hope that they wouldn't feed the trolls.
In fact, their decisions have detracted from the usual lively debate on these threads. Have a quick skim through and consider what most of the posts are about. How many are entirely about the XV picked?
Posted 11:36 05th December 2012
lawynd says...
@hellovanite - do you honestly believe that the only reason Leicester gave contracts to the five older Tuilagi brothers was to get him to play for England? Or that the fathers of Toby Faletau or Mako and Billy Vunipola were offered contracts by Ebbw Vale and Brigend respectively, just to get their seven year-old sons over here to play?
If you do, I've got some real estate you would be interested in.
Posted 10:21 05th December 2012
side_stepper says...
Fair enough! And also English forwards for 'Hot' this week. Also a tribute to PR for allowing comments in their website, which have been aplenty in 2012.
@ Wallaroo. You are a great ambassador of Christ Jesus with your scripture-inspired words. GOD Bless you this Christmas and 2013.
Merry Christmas and blessed 2013 to all.
II Thes 5:16-18
Posted 08:01 05th December 2012
hellovanite says...
APV1... There is an incredible difference not only physical distance but also in acquisition between the so called Englishmen you have in your team and the players who are of Island descent that play for NZ. We all know that your lot have started scouting the pacific waters for some time now in a deliberate attempt to balance the equation. I will not detract from the English win over the weekend as it was fair play and well achieved, but lets not fool ourselves about the current make up of the English national side lest we start living on fantasy island. The difference between NZ and England in this respect is vast.
Posted 06:19 05th December 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Guys. Grist to the mill: ignore the nationality baiting. Next you'll complain they called Tom Wood Trojan.
Posted 14:28 04th December 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Does the "Planet" in "Planet Rugby" refer to Planet Earth? I appear somehow to have gained an interplanetary Internet link to another planet's rugby website where England centres get picked for good play?
Posted 14:14 04th December 2012
makemehappy says...
Sounds like there are some very insecure people commenting on this thread!
Posted 13:58 04th December 2012
bignoel says...
@ Maxgzy & Passtheball
It is PR's bias that people are commenting on here - be it intentional or unintentional. If you start mention where all the Englad players were born, then surely you also have to mention that Pocock was born in Zimbabwe!!
If it had just been one of the three described like this then most people would have let it slide - but to mention all 3 and then not mention Pocock just indicates that someone has a very large chip on his or her shoulder.
After all, how many times has O'Gara been called a "US born fly half"?
Posted 13:49 04th December 2012