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
kybone says...
hellovanite-
Joe Simpson- English parent and lived in England since childhood
Alex Corbisiero-English parent and lived in England since age of 4
Charlie Sharples- Born in HK while English parents were working there. Lived almost entire life in England
Simon Shaw-English parents who lived in several different countries before he was born and whilst he was growing up
Paul Doran-Jones- Actually born in England. Moved to Ireland to go to Dublin Uni and was taken on by Leinster before moving back to England
Delon Armitage-Part of our West Indian population who are, as you put it, interwoven into our natural society
Matt Banahan-Born in Jersey as you actually pointed out. No need to say anymore!
Dylan Hartley-English parent and moved to England whilst still at school
We've already discussed Tuilagi
I admit that the others qualified on residency, but what i actually asked for was one example of someone who had been scouted, then brought to England with the intention of making them eligable to play for England. Looking at your list again...........You didn't name one. Never mind.
Anyway, i have genuinely enjoyed our discussion. Merry X'mas
Posted 17:27 21st December 2012
APV1 says...
@ hellovanite - upstairs is fine. It's the basement you need to be wary of...
;-)
Ignoring that some of the list you wrote has names of players who are no longer part of the England set up, I have always had issues with Flutey and Hape. Especially Hape. Anyone who has been capped, in any sport, should not be allowed to play for another international team. I've always said that and firmly believe it. But the rules aren't ours. Reluctantly.
(P.S. Jersey is part of the UK)
Posted 10:21 17th December 2012
hellovanite says...
kybone... Look tiger as far as I know Bent is the only one that's jumped off the tarmac and into a green Jersey. The fact is they should not come into the international team's equation period, or it should be way more than 3 years. Currently you have loads more overseas players in the England setup. Some are deservedly there, some are probably not. A lot will go back to their homes...errr you know the ones where their families are. Playing for your country isn't just about how good you are, it's an honor bestowed. It's not the most motivating thing for home grown players too be leap frogged by overseas players. It is a different situation between NZ and the UK, you just don't want to understand that. In NZ we have a "pacific Island" culture that is naturally interwoven into the fabric of society here, the fact that the culture thrives on rugby is a bonus. As for saying the parents came for career opportunities is a bit rich mate, which career was that? I'm pretty sure it wasn't bus driving. They came to check the place out did they? No phone calls about career eligibility? Hey as I said before, it is what it is, and I at least admit that the Vunipola boys and M.Tuilagi have the right to play for England. On your point of naming a player, well I can't because it doesn't happen that way does it, at least not in the public forum anyway. Still there must be one out of this lot???
America, Alex Corbisiero
Australia, Joe Simpson
Hong Kong, Charlie Sharples
Ireland, Paul Doran-Jones
Jersey, Matt Banahan
Kenya, Simon Shaw
New Zealand, Thomas Waldrom, Riki Flutey, Shontayne Hape, Dylan Hartley
Samoa, Manu Tuilagi
South Africa, Hendre Fourie, Mouritz Botha, Matt Stevens, Brad Barritt
Trinidad, Delon Armitage
Hey I'm over this argument now, I just have to live with it so I concede. Happy Joy :)
Posted 00:59 15th December 2012
hellovanite says...
APV1... Nice spin, are you politically minded? Reading your post is kind of like when you visit a persons house that you hardly know and realise that there is stuff poking out from under the carpet and all the fruit in the bowl has been recently polished. Right then and there you just know that they don't want you to go upstairs. You just keep polishing that veneer my friend for fear that the truth be revealed. "The truth! You can't handle the truth".... too much? lol
By the by, I'm pretty sure the Suva Colonial Cup team are looking for players, if you don't mind being paid in coconuts and pineapples that is. Actually, the way of life in the Islands is not as bad as you might think, for the most part it's the simple life unaffected by the convenience of the western world and it's lethargic materialistic needs. Still like the devil inside there is temptation. So when the flesh trading fat cats come calling like an ice cream truck on a Saturday 40 degree swelter. The naive, poor and innocent are trapped in the pendulums swing forced by their sub-conscience to follow the piper with tints of gold in their eyes. The devil wears many faces and can tell a pretty tale, what hope do these good fearing folk have. It's an epidemic I tell you soon there will be no one in Fiji but the Indian people. Actually England has a cricket team so they're not safe either. Bloody south sea pirates.
All in good spirits, have an enormous Christmas and a jubilant new years!
May Santa leave you a big bottle of Glenfiddich, you are going to need it come November 2013
Posted 21:50 14th December 2012
APV1 says...
@ hellovanite - I was being a little facetious, in fairness. I know! What a shock! Me?!
But there is talk and rumour of these so-called "scouts" and I'm sorry to say I probably think it's true. But where's the proof? And, if we have any, what can we do about it?
In fact, is it wrong to say to a young (teenage, perhaps, so the natural talent is beginning to shine through) chap growing up in comparative poverty, "Come on then lad. Why don't you and your family move to the UK / France / Aus / NZ / where-ever? We'll provide a good standard of living and education for you all. Just keep playing rugby and we'll get you into the national set-up. Sound exciting? Let's do it!"
Immoral? Certainly. Illegal? No idea... Perhaps.
But does the lad benefit from all that his new country can offer? Absolutley.
Personally I was hoping to be scouted by a PI and live out my days on a beach, but it never happened. There's still time though...
Posted 10:22 14th December 2012
hellovanite says...
APV1... No of course they are not looking at the players children, all I am elaborating on is the circumstances around how they came to be there in the first place. I have already conceded that irrespective of these circumstance, Manu and the Vunipolas are not an issue. I accept that if you move to a country no matter how your father/brothers came to be there, and play there from a youngster it's your right to choose. Kybone... For some reason PR won't let me post the comment I made in response to you... ;)
Posted 08:56 14th December 2012
APV1 says...
@ hellovanite - just had another thought (and, yes, it did hurt), based a little on kybone's previous comment. If the son's now playing for nation X, are they there because their father was "scouted"? Does that mean that Japan are actually after Shane Williams' daughter Georgie and son Carter? And France, Japan and NZ were actually after the unborn fruit of Haskell's loins? Those dastardly poaching scouts! How dare they scout a father so that they can poach his children (born or unborn)?!
Thankfully Haskell got out before they could, but the Williams children are at great risk still.
(I'm suffering with Man Flu at the moment, so I hope that made sense...)
And, hellovanite, I forgot to commend you on having such a wonderful mother. Although not from Bath myself, I do support them. I hope you get her a Blue, Black and White something-or-other for Christmas!
Posted 16:04 13th December 2012
hellovanite says...
Posted 11:33 12th December 2012
kybone says...
hellovanite- 'What's the point as long as there's something in it for you, you're never going to get it.'- Could you not be bothered to finish off, or did you just realise that you don't have valid a point? I absolutely agree on the Bent and Payne examples and, by the way, i never liked the idea of Botha and Barritt playing for England but there you go. I simply object to your implication that the Tuilagi's and the Vunipola's were coerced into coming over here with the promise of untold riches. While all the time, the plan was to pilage their families for talented youngsters and get them into the England fold. The simple fact is that both families came to the UK for career opportunities and it just so happens that youngsters that came with them, and have then grown up here, have ended up choosing to represent England. It's no different to the situation of several NZ players past and present. You're basically trying to argue that killing is ok but murdering is not- you're talking about the same thing.
One final point, i would ;like you to name one PI player currently in or close to the England squad, that was scouted, then brought to England with the intention of making them eligable to play for England. Just one! Should be easy enough seing as you've already stated that there are many.
Posted 18:33 11th December 2012
hellovanite says...
"Area not arrear" obviously I can't spell when I've been drinking... Merry Christmas one and all!
Posted 06:29 11th December 2012
APV1 says...
@ lawynd - Parling? I always did say you were barmy.
Posted 12:33 10th December 2012
APV1 says...
@ Wallaroo - enjoy that beer, you most certainly deserve it. No need to apologise for a lack of response - rugby (and certainly a rugby forum) seem quite trivial when looked at from different perspectives.
We'll try to have a warm mulled-wine in our pale sun if it ever peaks out and toast everyones' health and happiness!
Posted 10:08 10th December 2012
hellovanite says...
Kybone, I have no problem with players playing for overseas clubs at all. It's the ease in representing the country that that club belongs to that is an arrear of concern. I was reading a post the other day saying something like "get a green jersey on Jared Payne pronto" the guy hasn't even been there a year, Michael Bent got off a plane and hey presto he's a fully fledged Irishman. The rules around this are a total joke. My comments around the Vunipola's and Tuilangi's was more to highlight the difference between what you do in the NH and how these players happen to make the ABs down here, you know in the pacific... What's the point as long as there's something in it for you, you're never going to get it.
Posted 04:35 10th December 2012
kybone says...
hellovanite- I don't know the stats on Britains PI population tbh. All i know is that there really aren't that many of them over here. When i was a new recruit in the army there were 4 Fijians in my troop of 44. So if you take that as roughly average then thats 10% (ish) of over 100,000.
On the Tuilagi situation, yes they most probably were scouted but they were already Samoan internationals. So its just a club signing a foreign player, i don't understand your objection. Are Japan now in your bad books for bringing Alex Tuilagi over there?. Were the Highlanders wrong for signing James Haskell? Is it the idea of scouting in general that displeases you? Your dispute seems to be with the amount of money people are offered to come and play for european clubs. If the Tuilagi family had come to England to work in a warehouse for minimum wage would that have been ok? Vunipola is not English in the same way that Rokocoko is not a kiwi, what their fathers did for a living is irrelevent.
Posted 11:11 09th December 2012
hellovanite says...
Kybone, I will give you those two but only on the premise that you understand that everything has a starting point. Vunipolas father was scouted by pontyprid in Wales and the Tuilangi's were also scouted, maybe not Manu but I think you get the picture. and your comment "the vast majority of the PI population in England are actually in the British Army" I know there are some Fijians in the british army but to say the vast majority of islanders are in the forces. I'd like to see the stats on that assertion.
Posted 05:54 09th December 2012
kybone says...
hellovanite- I agree with nearly everything you say, the thing that i disagree with is your choice of example i.e. Tuilagi and Vunipola. Neither were coerced into coming over here as Tuilagi was just 14 and Vunipola was only about 6! So obviously there was no telling whether they were ever going to be anywhere near good enough to play for England or that they would even choose England to represent. I'd also like to point out that the vast majority of the PI population in England are actually in the British Army.
Posted 16:51 08th December 2012
hellovanite says...
TVaddict...I respect APV1 and Lawynd, as while they might not want to agree with me, they at least understand the meaning of my post. You sir either did not read my text in full context or for some reason just want to go off on some kind of self righteous rant, championing the cause against discrimination. My post was aimed at differentiating between free will and coercion. It has nothing to do with people being able to live where they want, as obviously they are free to do so. Is it right that just because a small nation cannot match the cash being offered by a NH club, the country that club comes from can then sit patiently waiting to entice and the pounce? What does the country of origin get for their troubles? and would that player have stayed put if they could have matched the overseas offer. We saw Quade stay in OZ because the ARU came to the party and offered big money to match the French, lucky Australia. Of course if you take a young lad and make him king of the world with trappings and wealth he is going to be swayed. His life has taken a different path, but the question still remains is it right. Ideally not at all, but in reality it is a different story. Either way I'm over this now as I'm sure you are ;)
Posted 07:33 08th December 2012
Wallaroo says...
Apologies for responding late to say thanks to those that responded to my post. Unfortunately been a rather trying "Chemotherapy" week.
Thanks APV1, Carpelone and Sidestepper for your gracious comments.
TVaddict - White wine in the sun is a very well known Christmas song here is Aus, although I don't agree with Tim Minchin's belief in Atheism I like the song. Having said that I'll be enjoying a beer in the sun that's for sure.
Posted 02:31 08th December 2012
lawynd says...
@APV1 - For me, the player of the series is Geoff Parling, who was also my player of the tour to South Africa.
Posted 23:30 07th December 2012
APV1 says...
@ hellovanite - fair play to you, mate.
@ lawynd - who would you have chosen? I voted for him, as I think he came, he saw and he (almost!) conquered everything. He struggled against SA (Etzbeth was awesome), but he deserves this I think. Tuilagi, Cole or Brown as runners up, imo.
@ TVaddict - I agree with you about the UK being multi-cultural. They let "my lot" in, after-all!
Happy Friday one and all - cheers!
;-)
Posted 17:18 07th December 2012