Following the conclusion of the end-of-year internationals across Europe, we asked Wallabies legend David Campese to pick his Team of the Autumn Nations Series.
“I have to say a thoroughly enjoyable Autumn Nations Series where we’ve seen just how close it is between the Rugby Championship sides and the top four Six Nations teams,” he said in his review.
Running rugby has been at a premium but the Wallabies started to show a little bit of intuition and an ability to get their backline moving, especially when Joseph Suaalii was available. He’s managing to fuse the things he’s learned in league with a union twist and that’s good news.
“I loved watching Marcus Smith with England and it’s no co-incidence that his team was ahead every time he was replaced at 10. There’s word about him learning to play in that context, but for me it’s far more about England learning to play to Smith’s explosive genius. He’s a matchwinner of the highest order and they won’t find that X-factor elsewhere. Coaches have to trust talent like this so for me it’s 80 minutes at 10, and back the bloke.
“My final thought – these guys are playing 12 months of rugby and they’re tired. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get the global calendar finally aligned, so players aren’t getting burned out and we’re playing in proper weather? You could still use the November window for A Series and development Test? Just a thought, but I’m very concerned about the balance of player conditioning and I believe this would help.
“Anyway, here’s my XV of the Tournament and there’s some super close calls in every position!”
David Campese‘s Team of the Autumn Nations Series
15 Will Jordan (New Zealand): Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn were so close to my selection and I thought Tom Wright and Juan Cruz Mallia also had great tournaments, but Jordan just has that ability to glide through defences as if they’re not there. An absolute worldie, whether on the wing or at 15.
14 Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa): My easiest selection. What I love about Cheslin is he doesn’t let his game stand still – he develops all the time and is always looking for a competitive edge. Ireland’s Mack Hansen and Scotland’s Darcy Graham also impressed at times, but Kolbe is a shoo-in.
13 Jesse Kriel (South Africa): The quiet man of the Boks just keeps getting better and better. I was torn between creating a combination between the South African and the Scottish centres, so unfortunately Huw Jones just misses out. I also thought Nacho Brex for Italy and Joseph Suaalii had their moments but Kriel and Jones were a way in front.
12 Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland): Like 13, this was a really tough call and I went with Sione for his all-round excellence over the four Tests he played. Damian de Allende is world class but as noted above, I wanted to be fair to both sets of outstanding centres so they get one each. A nod to Tommaso Menoncello, brilliant for the Azzurri and of course, Bundee Aki, always a physical presence.
11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France): This guy has some serious gas and he’s got some lovely touches with the boot too. The two Boks, Makazole Mapimpi and Kurt-Lee Arendse were fantastic in rotation and I also like what I saw from the young Pom, Ollie Sleightholme, who took his chance wonderfully well.
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