International Team of the Week: ‘Genius’ Italian and the world’s best rewarded for blockbuster performances
Split with Italian Ange Capuozzo and All Black Ardie Savea.
The last full weekend of the July Test window came to a close with some interesting match-ups between tier one and tier two teams making for a unique looking team of the week.
Backs
15 Ange Capuozzo (Italy): The Italian speedster was at his very best yet again for his country when he bagged a try while beating six defenders and making a whopping 120 metres against Japan. His genius on attack gets him in ahead of two others who shone going forward in All Black Beauden Barrett and Springbok Aphelele Fassi.
Capuozzo en feu ce matin 🔥 pic.twitter.com/g6yMv8YXOc
— ACTU’ STADE TOULOUSAIN (@actu_stade) July 21, 2024
14 Aka Tabutsadze (Georgia): The result did not go his team’s way against the Wallabies but the winger was elite in Sydney where he was rewarded with a brace of tries including a lovely finish which beat the try-fuelled duo of Argentine Ignacio Mendy and Scotland’s Jamie Dobie.
13 Jose do Santos (Portugal): The centre came on early for an injured team-mate and absolutely rose to the occasion scoring two tries and making nearly 150 metres with ball in hand against the Springboks. The Os Lobos star’s inspired performance blew All Black Billy Proctor out of the starting spot in our side.
12 Hunter Paisami (Australia): Quickly becoming a premium 12 at Test level with impressive strength in the carry and always solid in his tackle count. Paisami is currently the anchor of the Wallabies backline. All Black Anton Lienert-Brown and Scotland’s Sione Tuipulotu deserve mentions for neat outings for their countries.
11 Makazole Mapimpi (South Africa): The Springboks veteran had another stormer of a game as he ran in a hat-trick of tries which further improves his impressive strike-rate for South Africa. He looked dangerous throughout but a mention must go to All Black Caleb Clarke.
10 Tomas Albornoz (Argentina): We almost put Damian McKenzie or Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu in this spot but the Los Pumas playmaker notched up a remarkable four try assists and over 100 running metres against Uruguay in an epic shift.
9 Martin Page-Relo (Italy): Another Azzurri star who was on fire against the Brave Blossoms as he scored and assisted a try in their promising win while Wallaby Tate McDermott would certainly have given coach Joe Schmidt something to think about.
Solid pack
8 Ardie Savea (New Zealand): The best player in the men’s game continued his try-scoring form against Fiji, beating a ridiculous seven defenders in the process. It is remarkable how well he is playing without looking like he has found his top gear. Australia’s Harry Wilson and Italian Lorenzo Cannone were also solid at the weekend.
All Blacks legend questions Ardie Savea’s decision to join Moana Pasifika
7 Fraser McReight (Australia): The openside emptied the tank yet against but this time had a brace of tries to show for it. His impact on both sides of the ball is massive and he has quickly become very important for the Wallabies. Italian skipper Michele Lamaro had yet another lung-busting shift in Azzurri colours.
6 Rob Valetini (Australia): Absolutely firing on all cylinders at the moment with two tries and a try assist at the weekend in a game where he carried throughout at the Georgian defence. Such a consistent player gets the nod ahead of rising Springbok BJ Dixon and Azzurri star Ross Vintcent.
5 RG Snyman (South Africa): The second-row had an excellent shift earning himself the man of the match due to his ability to make life difficult for the Portuguese defenders, using his long levers to make five offloads on the day. His physical presence was important for the Springboks and will be going forward.
4 Niccolo Cannone (Italy): The second-row is renowned for his work rate and it showed yet again with a whopping 23 tackles made against Japan. That earns him a spot over Wallaby Nick Frost and stand-in Springboks skipper Salmaan Moerat.
3 Thomas du Toit (South Africa): The tighthead made a lovely return to the Test arena with a promising shift where he scrummed well and did his job in the tight. Not quite barnstorming but a step in the right direction.
2 Dylan Richardson (Scotland): The Sharks based Scot had a brilliant game for his country as he scored a try in one of his 13 carries. His busy and promising shift edges Argentine Ignacio Ruiz who also put his hand up for Los Pumas.
1 Jan-Hendrik Wessels (South Africa): The hooker turned loosehead shone on his debut as his industry in open play was well rewarded with a try. He did not look out of place in the scrum and it will be encouraging for Rassie Erasmus’ side. Wallaby Isaac Kailea had a good shift as well.
