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November Tests: XV of the Week

12th November 2012 12:03

Dan Carter New Zealand

Superb: Dan Carter

Now that the dust has settled in the northern hemisphere, Planet Rugby looks at the guys who stole the show in week one of the November Tests.

Victories were picked up by Samoa, USA, Italy, England, Argentina, South Africa, France and finally New Zealand in an entertaining round.

So without further ado, here comes our offering - be sure to send in your own 15-1 team line-ups.

15 Alex Goode (England) - It was a lesson in how to take your chance when it comes along. Goode was lively in attack and assured in defence as he vindicated coach Stuart Lancaster's decision to pick him ahead of Mike Brown. If he keeps this up then a Ben Foden selection headache may arrive.

14 Gonzalo Camacho (Argentina) - Looked dangerous whenever in possession, and was equally up to the task on defence. The Pumas speedster bagged Argentina's second sensational try that helped the visitors secure their second win over Wales in Cardiff, 11 years to the day after their first. A mention too for England finisher Charlie Sharples, who grasped his opportunity to shine in Chris Ashton's absence with his first two tries for England.

13 Ben Smith (New Zealand) - We were impressed by the nimble feet of Keith Earls in attack while Manu Tuilagi definitely deserves a mention for his couple of tries against Fiji. But Smith is a line-hitting machine and would make many other teams in world rugby.

12 Tamati Ellison (New Zealand) - After much deliberation we settled on the Highlanders back, who combined well with his franchise team-mate on Sunday. When Ellison left New Zealand for Japan a few seasons ago, many felt it was the wrong move due to the centre's international quality, but he is back in black now and looks set to push Ma'a Nonu.

11 Robert Lilomaiava (Samoa) - Yes, no Tim Visser. Sorry Scotland fans but four tries on debut simply could not be ignored. Lilomaiava certainly announced himself on the Test stage on Friday but of course it was a difficult decision to leave the poacher that is Visser.

10 Dan Carter (New Zealand) - Maybe that missed drop-goal against Australia struck a nerve as Carter responded with a superb showing. He kicked well, directed his new centres and broke the line a few times for a top shift. Frederic Michalak was excellent in Paris.

9 Ruan Pienaar (South Africa) - Responsible for the only try in Dublin that turned the game in South Africa's favour. The Ulster nine has been hitting all the high notes for his province, and carried his exceptional form over to the international arena. Test experience is not a commodity the Springboks have in abundance, but Pienaar showed plenty of it on Saturday.

8 Louis Picamoles (France) - Akapusi Qera started the game well for Fiji but drifted as England took control. But there was only going to be one wearer of our eight jersey as Picamoles was a monster, carrying superbly throughout as his stock continues to rise.

7 David Denton (Scotland) - On for Ross Rennie with 19 minutes played, Denton was a real threat. He should get a second go next week as Rennie suffered a dislocated shoulder but it remains to be seen whether Andy Robinson opts to instead bring in a specialist openside.

6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe (Argentina) - Lobbe was once again the driving force of Argentina's back row with a series of strong carries. Always in the thick of the action, the Pumas skipper put in a man-of-the-match performance - which included setting up Juan Imhoff's try - to lead his troops to a famous win. Mention too for England loosie Tom Johnson, who deserved his first England try in the second half against Fiji at Twickenham.

5 Mike McCarthy (Ireland) - Strong in the tackle, excellent in the line-outs and made some timely defensive interventions too - McCarthy's bullish display that saw him front up to South Africa's pack was enough to earn him a man of the match award after 70 minutes played.

4 Luke Romano (New Zealand) - The 26-year-old seems to be maturing into an outstanding Test lock after a complete performance against Scotland. As per usual, Romano hit rucks aplenty and carried well but it was his link play and confidence in possession that stood out.

3 Nicolas Mas (France) - We came seriously close to picking the whole French front-row after that demolition of their Wallaby counterparts. However, only Mas makes the Planet Rugby cut because of other performances at hooker and loosehead. First class from him.

2 Adriaan Strauss (South Africa) An effective battering ram in the Bok pack, Strauss brought his hard-running power to proceedings as he consistently charged through or into Irish defenders - inflicting pain to anyone he came into contact with. McCarthy may have got the official man of the match gong, but Strauss was our clear winner in the hooking jersey.

1 Wyatt Crockett (New Zealand) - Extremely difficult to leave out French debutant Yannick Forestier and also Thomas Domingo for that matter for their combined hammering of Sekope Kepu. But much like Romano, Crockett showed the skills and composure of a back on Sunday and sneaks this starting jersey. Sona Taumalolo also shone for the Tongans.

By Dave Morris and Adam Kyriacou

Comments

Cdn_content says...

Visser bested no one, he was set up by teammates. Yeah he finished, but that's what he supposed to do. He also got fended like a lil girl by savea on the way to the try line. He's awesome in space but I found him

Wanting when he had to create his own.

Posted 03:47 13th November 2012

Terry_English says...

SUFTUM99 - You say that McCaw got Bounced by Denton and was at fault for Scotlands try at the end of the first half. You base an entire game on two incidents and one you misinterpret? Weepu was to blame for the 2nd try.

Denton ran 12 metres and made 4 tackles with 1 missed tackle. He effected 1 turnover. McCaw ran 29 metres, made 10 tackles with 1 missed and effected 2 turnovers. McCaw carried the ball 14 times to Dentons 5.

Once again, why was Denton selected?

Posted 03:21 13th November 2012

colvin says...

Not enough Aussies.

Posted 02:44 13th November 2012

porridge_time says...

Savea, Visser and Gray all deserve to be involved in this team.

Posted 02:39 13th November 2012

theGadflY says...

where's Juan Imhoff...???

Posted 02:38 13th November 2012

rabja795 says...

Don't really understand all the Visser-love. Didn't beat one man other than take a couple of final passes and run in a couple of tries. On wingers, can't wait for Savea to learn more from Jane's allround game. When he does, unstoppable!

Posted 02:02 13th November 2012

ferdie says...

JayStarr - Dagg was only on the field for 26minutes, replaced by Beauden Barrett.

Wyatt Crockett - never been a fan, but his stats from this match include: 2nd highest tackler (behind McCaw), no missed tackles, 2nd highest to breakdown (23 times) behind Romano (24) and ahead of McCaw. More to it than just scrums, and much more than the average prop.

Posted 00:58 13th November 2012

georgesmith says...

Grandpa N.Sharpe, the greatest Wallaby of all time should have been included too. R. Deans, the clown from NZ should be the coach of the week. These two are the height of hopelessness in world rugby.

Posted 00:16 13th November 2012

runnrugby says...

Im glad to see Ellison play more games for the ABs. He was the in form 12 for the NZ teams in super rugby this year. Visser was ok but he didnt have to do as much work to score his tries unlike Julian Savea

Posted 00:03 13th November 2012

Cdn_content says...

I don't think visser played that well. His tries were created by others. He just finished and I'm a big visser fan.

Pisi was amazing at 10 for samoa btw. I thought grey was really good for Scotland and weepy played better than pienar.

Earls is so overrated. He makes a few steps, loses the ball, ineffective really. Zebo On the other hand looked really good

Posted 23:29 12th November 2012

kennyisgay says...

rugby_rockstar... my nana could've scored those tries by Visser who got shown up on defence when Savea put him on his arse when scoring off Smiths pass.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOeUPuh82BQ

Posted 23:16 12th November 2012

Coconut1 says...

What a joke! How can Rober L(Samoa) passed Savea scored two tries against a strong Scotland side?

Posted 23:14 12th November 2012

jcahill1 says...

@ Melkdave

McCarthy was absolutely class.

Posted 21:09 12th November 2012

Sincero says...

Where have all the 'Mike Mc.Carthy's selections is a joke' geniuses from the preview last week gone?? He's an Irish Londoner and proud! Never gave an inch- did himself, the Irish of London and Connacht rugby proud. One positive among very few for the ill-coached, perpetually underachieving, stagnated Ireland of the Stiddy-Dickie era.

Posted 20:59 12th November 2012

Brian_Mclean says...

McCarthy superb against Boks. Him and other young bloods are stepping up as old stagers are suffering creakiness as ageing takes its toll. Ireland needing fresh blood to come through now into various areas....and McCarthy is certainly one.

Posted 20:25 12th November 2012

Roger999 says...

Picking only 2 french players is a complete joke from PR

Posted 19:59 12th November 2012

melkdave says...

Pienaar and McCarthy,instead of Care and Grey and Crockett instead of the french loosehead (damn forgot his name already lol but u get my drift0 and Denton instead of McCaw or Robshaw.or even Nyanga deserves to be in somewhere even if he did play 6 PR are surly having a laugh,or delibratly putting these players in to get a response lol

Posted 19:17 12th November 2012

kybone says...

Surely Savea and Visser were the two best wingers this weekend. I don't know how any players from the Ireland v SA game got in this team because that was surely the most dismal and uninspiring game of the whole weekend. The French props must have been awsome by the sound of things, even though Oz are rubbish in that department, and i actually thought that both scottish props were equally as good as their NZ counterparts.

Posted 17:44 12th November 2012

SUFTUM99 says...

@Terry English - McCaw got Bounced by Denton and was at fault for Scotlands try at the end of the first half - he should know never to come up out of the Guard position until the ball has been passed.

@carpelone - Denton came on after 19 minutes, perhaps you should watch the matches before commenting.

Posted 17:43 12th November 2012

Chubbylugs says...

1 Englishman and 2 French, despite between them shifting 80 points against sh opposition? More bias on here than the bbc!

Posted 17:32 12th November 2012

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