June Internationals: North XV vs South XV - Week 1

With the June Tests underway we take a look at the best combined XV's out of the North and South. Some big calls were made but this is how they look after week 1:

Up Front:

1 -  Rob Evans (Wal) - Scott Sio (Aus)

2 - Rob Herring (Ire) - Codie Taylor (NZ)

3 - Dillon Lewis (Wal) - Sekope Kepu (Aus)

Evans & Lewis plus Sio and Kepu got through a mountain of work in their games and set a great platform for their respective sides. Herring performed exceptionally well for Ireland in a loosing cause and Codie Taylor was industrious for the All Blacks against France

The Locks:

4 - Ian Henderson (Ire) - RG Snyman (RSA)

5 - James Ryan (Ire) - Franco Mostert (RSA) 

Henderson and Ryan put in a huge shift for Ireland against Australia in what could have been the Test of the weekend. They are up against the Springbok duo of debutant RG Snyman and Franco Mostert who broke England down at Ellis Park

The Loosies:

6 - John Quill (USA) - David Pocock (Aus)

7 - Tom Curry (Eng) - Michael Hooper (Aus)

8 - Ross Moriarty (Wal) - Duane Vermeulen (RSA)

Quill, Curry and Moriarty were all very impressive this weekend with a combined total of 59 tackles between them. The Southern Hemisphere loose forwards were an absolute menace at the breakdown with multiple steals from each player and brilliant in open play

The Half Backs:

9 - Gareth Davies (Wal) - Faf de Klerk (RSA)

10 - Rhys Patchell (Wal) - Beauden Barrett (NZ)

Davies and Patchell were the top performers for Wales as they dictated play against Argentina. de Klerk, making a welcome return to International rugby and Beauden Barrett would strike fear into any team. 

The rest of the Backs:

11 - Jacob Stockdale (Ire) - Rieko Ioane (NZ)

12 - Bundee Aki (Ire) - Kurtley Beale (Aus)

13 - Michele Campagnaro (Ita) - Samu Kerevi (Aus)

14 - Teddy Thomas (Fra) - Sbu Nkosi (RSA)

15 - Elliot Daly (Eng) - Willie le Roux (RSA)

Bundee Aki lead the carries for the Northern Hemisphere backs and him combined in midfield with the elusive Campaganro would be the perfect combination to release the likes of Stockdale, Thomas and Daly. 

Beale and Kerevi payed like men possessed for Australia and they combine a good balance of crashing carrying and distributing to set Ioane, Nkosi and the dangerous le Roux free.