Who's hot…and who's not!

It is time for our weekly wrap up of who has their name in lights at the moment…and who is making the headlines for the wrong reasons.

It is time for Planet Rugby's weekly wrap up of who has their name in lights at the moment…and who is making the headlines for the wrong reasons.

You can't touch this!

The All Blacks: 60-0. In a full Test. Against a Tier One nation. Enough said.

SA U20s: All evidence suggests that South Africa's production line of rugby stars is turning over faster than ever. Led by IRB Junior Player of the Year Jan Serfontein, inspirational skipper Wiaan Liebenberg, Stormers prop Steven Kitshoff, Player of the Year nominee Shaun Adendorff and teenage sensation Handrè Pollard the Baby Boks caught the imagination of a nation as South Africa was finally able to shake off the disappointment of the events in New Zealand last year by celebrating the junior world title.

Sonny Bill Williams: Let's all hope that the most exciting player in world rugby is not lured back to the 13-man code. SBW is revolutionising the game in a way not seen since Jonah Lomu tore up the manual on what wings should look like. A new benchmark has been set for what can be done with the ball in the tackle. As more players get better at the 'Sonny Bill offload' more tries will be scored, making entertaining rugby the ultimate winner.

David Pocock and Berrick Barnes: At the start of the month, most pundits reckoned that of all the June touring sides, Wales had the best chance of success below the equator and they certainly came close to upsetting the Wallabies. But with Aussie pivots falling like flies, Barnes stepped up to be an unexpected hero for the hosts with a series of calm performances while Pocock laid to rest doubts about his form and put his hand up for the long-term captaincy.

Aaron Smith, Aaron Cruden, Sam Cane: If last Saturday's demolition job is anything to go by, the next generation of All Blacks has declared itself ready to take over. Piri Weepu has already been brushed aside. How long before His Royal Fly-Halfness DC and King Richie are usurped?

Scotland: Before Andy Robinson's team set sail for the south, a few highly-respected figures in Scottish rugby were saying it would be “unreasonable to expect three wins on tour.” Robinson's head was on the chopping block after the Six Nations, now he's a hero. What a difference three months can make!

Baby Boks v Baby Blacks: The climax of Junior World Championship was a pleasure to watch. The two finalists were streets ahead of all the other teams in the competition, even if they got their respective campaigns off to a bumpy start. The atmosphere created by the record-setting crowd at Newlands was electric and the standard of play was remarkable. Even the Thai green curry served in the press box was delicious. Two thumbs up!

France: After throwing victory away a week earlier, a much-changed Bleus team bounced back and gave the Pumas a spanking. The new half-back partnership formed by returning veteran Fred Michalak and debutant Maxime Machenaud worked wonders, giving coach Philippe Saint-André plenty of food for thought ahead of the November Tests.

French Barbarians: Japanese crowds were given a real treat as a star-studded French Baabaas team led by William Servat played two games in four days against the Brave Blossoms. The tourists won 40-21 and 51-18.

USA rugby: All those who fear sleeping giants take note: The Eagles attracted a record home crowd of 17,214 last Saturday. That isn't huge by the standards of established rugby super powers but there is a growing body of evidence to suggest that the game will soon become mainstream in the land of the free and home of the brave. A survey from a couple of years ago found that rugby was the fastest-growing team sport in the US. Next year, Ireland will visit the States, and the Olympics will give the game even more coverage. It's just a matter of time before we see Shaquille O'Neal lookalikes in line-outs. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Bbbrrrr… Someone throw another log on the fire!

USA Eagles: Two red cards didn't help the Eagles' cause against Italy. No one can win with 13 men. What a shame considering so many Texans turned up to watch.

Ireland: 'Collective capitulation' was one of the descriptions given to the Irish nightmare in Hamilton. The knives are out for Declan Kidney more than ever.

The IRB rankings system: This won't be the first time someone has complained about the seemingly incompressible world rankings system that is so crucial to the World Cup draw. Can anyone explain to us how Ireland managed to rise one place to eighth after being slam-dunked by the All Blacks while Wales, who came within inches of beating the Tri-Nations champions, drop two places to sixth?

Morne Steyn: The Bulls points machine earned – and cemented – his place in the Springboks side based on the fact that he was the world's most accurate kicker. He didn't offer much else, but it didn't matter because all his bombs fell in exactly the right place, touch was always found with territory gained and the uprights were always bisected from the tee. None of the above is currently the case.

Montpellier: There have been very unhappy rumblings in the Herault in the wake of attempts to slash MHRC's operating budget by club president Mohed Altrad, who has simply been axing employees left, right and centre. After eleven people (mainly admin staff but also a fitness coach) were shown the door, the club's Association, which looks after the amateur side of things, refused to sign the paperwork necessary for the pro team to compete in the Top 14. An agreement was reached on Wednesday but not before nearly half a dozen people became victims of the arms race in French rugby.

Bourgoin: One of France's oldest clubs was kicked out of the professional ranks on Wednesday for failing to balance its books…again. The 1997 European Challenge Cup winners will now play in the Fédérale 1, meaning Béziers are saved from relegation from the ProD2.

Italy U20s: The future doesn't look great for Italian rugby after their Junior side came stone last at the World Champs, losing to Fiji on the final day. When that result is compared to the progress being made by Argentina, their should be some worried administrators in Rome. We went to few Junior Azzurri games and they were woeful.

No TV coverage of Samoa v Scotland: It's 2012, yet a game between two teams ranked inside the top ten is broadcast by….no one. How is that possible?

By Ross Hastie