Planet Rugby Team of the Week, with some tough selection calls all over the board.

After a thrilling weekend of Test rugby, here is your Planet Rugby Team of the Week, with some tough selection calls all over the board.

The standout performances came from the Springboks and the All Blacks after their big wins, and they are well represented as a result, while Wales, Fiji, Ireland and England get recognition for their triumphs.

Team of the Week

15 Blair Murray (Wales): Despite their abysmal run, the New Zealand-born speedster has been a real find for the Welsh. Benjamin Elizalde and Freddie Steward had a good battle in the Argentina v England clash, while Jimmy O’Brien (Ireland) had plenty of space to show his class against Portugal, but Murray was always a threat as Wales finally won a match.

14 Edwill van der Merwe (South Africa): The other scrum-capped South African wing was given a chance with Cheslin Kolbe and Kurt-Lee Arendse rested and he was excellent. Van der Merwe touched down twice and was superb in the basics of the modern day wing play to be a real standout as he edges out England’s Tom Roebuck and Ireland’s Tommy O’Brien.

13 Canan Moodie (South Africa): Has not quite kicked on at Test level since making his debut in the 2023 Rugby World Cup but this could be a big year for the hugely talented back. Moodie scored a try and was physical on both sides of the ball to do enough to take the position from Hugh Gavin of Ireland and Japan’s Dylan Riley.

12 Josua Tuisova (Fiji): Retains his place after another destructive performance for the Pacific Islanders. It is perhaps tough on the Springboks’ Andre Esterhuizen, who did a fine job in both the backline and pack after Jasper Wiese’s red card, while England’s Seb Atkinson already looks at home at Test level, but Tuisova was once again ridiculously good.

11 Shayne Bolton (Ireland): Although Tuisova is in for the second week running, his team-mate Jiuta Wainiqolo just misses out, despite another exceptional outing, this time against Scotland. Bolton might have only been playing Portugal but, as debuts go, it was superb. He helped himself to two tries, broke tackles at will and ran for other 100 metres. Josh Adams (Wales), Rieko Ioane (New Zealand), Ignacio Mendy (Argentina) and Will Muir (England) were next best.

Balanced performance

10 Manie Libbok (South Africa): The talented Stormer is renowned for his ability with ball in hand, but on Saturday there was a lovely balance to his game as he dictated proceedings against Italy. There were some fine displays in the crucial decision-making role, with George Ford and Beauden Barrett once again impressing for England and All Blacks respectively, while Ireland’s Jack Crowley and Wales’ Dan Edwards also had big games, but Libbok shaded the battle.

9 Cam Roigard (New Zealand): After issues with the All Blacks’ kicking and aerial game in Test one, that was rectified in Wellington with Roigard setting the tone with his box-kicking accuracy. The scrum-half was also accurate from the base and sharp around the fringes to get in over Simon Benitez Cruz (Argentina), Grant Williams (South Africa) and Craig Casey (Ireland).

8 Aaron Wainwright (Wales): Another position with several options after Viliame Mata, Tom Willis and Cian Prendergast shone for Fiji, England and Ireland respectively, but Wainwright was excellent in Wales’ triumph over Japan. He carried hard and also defended well, winning two turnovers.

7 Ardie Savea (New Zealand): Could probably be in this team most weeks and once again the former World Rugby Player of the Year stood out for the All Blacks. Savea made metres every time he got the ball in hand and was also a nuisance for France in defence. Wales’ Josh Macleod and South Africa’s Marco van Staden were excellent, and Guy Pepper made a real impact off the bench for England, but they were a step below the superb Savea.

6 Tupou Vaa’i (New Zealand): There were doubts about shifting him into the back-row, but his performances in the mid-year series are going some way to dispelling that concern. Vaa’i was arguably the All Blacks’ best forward on Saturday, showing his athleticism around the field to along with his work in the tighter exchanges. Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa) and Juan Martin Gonzalez were the next best.

Edges out ‘next Brodie Retallick’

5 Ruan Nortje (South Africa): After a fine debut last week, Fabian Holland was once again excellent, with comparisons being drawn to Brodie Retallick, but Nortje was exceptional in the victory over Italy. Particularly in the set-piece, the second-row made a mess of the Azzurri lineout, while he was physical at close quarters during the dominant 45-0 triumph.

4 Patrick Tuipulotu (New Zealand): Came in for Scott Barrett but the All Blacks certainly did not miss their captain as Tuipulotu formed a fine partnership with Holland. The 32-year-old was very much the enforcer as he powered through French defenders to get his side on the front foot. A word too for England’s Charlie Ewels, who has enjoyed a fine series in Argentina.

3 Joe Heyes (England): A statement couple of games for the Leicester Tigers tighthead, who dominated his opposition loosehead in the victories over Argentina. Heyes’ demolition of Thomas Gallo on Saturday has led to the Benetton man’s demotion to the Argentinians’ second-string team. Elsewhere, Wilco Louw was once again solid in the set-piece for the Boks.

2 Tevita Ikanivere (Fiji): Led from the front for the Flying Fijian to take the spot from the All Blacks’ Codie Taylor and England’s replacement hooker Curtis Langdon. It was a tireless effort from the Fiji captain, who was accurate in his core roles and put himself about both with and without the ball.

1 Ox Nche (South Africa): Began the game on the bench but came on to great effect to help the Springboks wrestle control of the set-piece. Nche shunted the Italian tighthead, who had performed well against Thomas du Toit, into reverse to help lay the platform for their comfortable win.