Test Team of the Week

Test Team of the Week

With the Rugby World Cup warm-ups done and dusted and the Rugby World Cup a mere few days away, we take a look back the past weekend and selected our team of the Week.

1. Ellis Genge - England

Genge was simply superb off the bench for England playing just over 40 minutes in a performance that helped swing the momentum comfortably in England's favour.

The 24-year-old loosehead was excellent with fellow substitute Kyle Sinckler and made over 20 running metres from 12 carries.

Notable mentions for James Slipper, who took Samoa's scrum apart, as well as Irish pair Dave Kilcoyne and Cian Healy.


2. Cody Taylor - New Zealand

Ardie Savea and the All Blacks' back stole the spotlight as New Zealand thumped Tonga but Codie Taylor played a vital role in the destruction of Tonga with his solid set piece work providing the platform for the backs to get the job done.


He contributed well on both sides of the ball too providing a try assist, scoring one of his and making 10 tackles.

Elsewhere Malcolm Marx and Jamie George had really solid performances.

3. Tadhg Furlong - Ireland

Nepo Laualala and Kyle Sinckler were tough to ignore for a place in the side but a strong showing against Wales gives Furlong the nod.

Furlong was strong in all facets of the game, got on the scoreboard and was excellent in the scrums and rucks.

4. James Ryan - Ireland

It was hard to look much further than James Ryan for the #4 jersey despite Eben Etzebeth and Scott Cummins having good outings this weekend and Patrick Tuipulotu impressing.

Ryan was at the heart of an improved Irish lineout, despite some minor mishaps and was up to his usual tricks contributing immensely on attack and defence.



5. Franco Mostert - South Africa

If you were lucky enough to catch the Springboks clash with Japan on Friday you would have got a glimpse of what to expect at the World Cup as well as a strong performance from the Springboks.

At the heart of their performance was Gloucester lock Franco Mostert who edged Courtney Lawes, Adam Coleman and Jean Kleyn for a place in our team of the week.

Mostert was all over the pitch in Japan, he made a massive 16 tackles bettered only by Pieter-Steph du Toit and Damian de Allende. He was also key in taking Japan's lineout apart.

6. Ardie Savea - New Zealand

Tonga were unable to contain the All Blacks' flanker. He was simply sublime on attack as he was involved in 4 tries and made a massive 163 running metres and managed to weigh in with 12 tackles.

 
 
 
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Incredible game from Ardie Savea 🀯🀯 #AllBlacks #NewZealandRugby @ardiesavea

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Pieter-Steph du Toit, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and Sebastien Negri all had great games but were nowhere near Savea. 

7. Mark Wilson - England

Like Savea, Mark Wilson had an incredible game against Italy on Friday in Newcastle.

Wilson was emphatic on both attack and defence and put his hand up after a few impressive showings by other England flankers during the Rugby World Cup warm ups.


8. Jack Dempsey - Australia

Blade Thomson, Kieran Read, Beka Gorgadze and Duane Vermeulen all had strong games for thier respective sides this weekend, however, Jack Dempsey gets the nod for the #8 jersey in our team of the week.

Dempsey had a workmanlike performance with some good runs, was rock solid at restarts, made his tackles and was great in the lineout.

9. Ben Youngs - England

Youngs was under pressure who put on a box-kicking masterclass at St James’ Park and stepped up after a somewhat poor showing against Ireland a fortnight ago.

His passes were crisp and he linked up well with Farrell, his pack, scored a try before assisting Joe Marchant.



TJ Perenara dominated behind an excellent pack while Dwayne Polataivao did well to score a brace off the bench against Australia.

10. Adam Hastings - Scotland

Bernard Foley impressed in open play but struggled off the tee while Owen Farrell run an excellent second half attack for England but Scotland's Adam Hastings edges the pair in our team of the week.

Hastings run a great attacking shift against Georgia and mixed up his approach well enough to also edge Pollard and Sexton.

11. George Bridge - New Zealand

Hard not to look much further to George Bridge for the left-wing spot after he scored 4 tries and made 247 running metres. 

 
 
 
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Top Meters from this weekends Test Match action George Bridge was on πŸ”₯

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Marika Koroibete was superb for Australia as too was Martin Iosefo for USA.

12. Matt Toomua - Australia

Ryan Crotty was steady and superb for the All Blacks on his return to test rugby and played a key role in the dismantling of Tonga. 

Bundee Aki was also sublime for Ireland but Matt Toomua's excellent performance against Samoa earns him a spot at inside centre.

Toomua scored and assisted a try and was strong on defence.

13. Robbie Henshaw - Ireland

Henshaw's game against Wales will certainly give Joe Schmidt something to think about as he was strong defence and equally good on defence.

He also did extremely well to stop Dan Biggar from scoring.

Lienert-Brown was sublime on attack against Tonga while Joe Marchant impressed for England and Adam Ashley-Cooper put in a fine shift for Australia.

14. Makazole Mapimpi - South Africa



A well-taken hattrick from the Springbok winger earns him a place on the right despite playing on the left wing against Japan.

He gets the nod over Sevu Reece, Darcy Graham and Cheslin Kolbe who were all superb in their own right.

He also made all over of his attempted tackles and notched up just shy of 100 running metres.

 

15. Soso Matiashvili - Georgia

Somewhat of a bolter completes our team of the week.

Matiashvili was outstanding against Scotland beating 11 defenders and made over 80 running metres.

Ben Smith oozed class in possession and set up one try while scoring two of his own while Willie le Roux was excellent for the Springboks.

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