Autumn 2016... it’s a wrap!

All Stars Autumn XV:

Stuart Hogg (Scotland); Dane HaylettPetty, Tevita Kuridrani (both Australia), Owen Farrell (England), Jonny May (England); Beauden Barrett (New Zealand), Conor Murray (Ireland); Mako Vunipola (England), Rory Best, Tadh Furlong (both Ireland), Brodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock (both New Zealand) Chris Robshaw (England), David Pocock (Australia), Kieran Read (New Zealand)

Best match:

Plenty of rugby to enjoy but nothing quite matched the electricity, vibrancy, sensational rugby, setting and drama of Ireland's win over New Zealand.

Players of the Autumn:

Beauden Barritt who lived up to his world player of the year accolades; Brodie Retallick for restoring order to New Zealand ranks when he returned from injury after missing the Ireland defeat; Conor Murray for a string of world class performances at scrum-half; the razor-sharp Ben Youngs who will run Conor close for the Lions spot; Stuart Hogg who now looks like a banker for the tour; Billy Vuniploa before he got injured; Michael Foley back enjoying himself at ten

Team of the Autumn:

Would be easy to say New Zealand but let’s spead the love. Ireland ignited the rugby world with their superb win over New Zealand in Chicago and backed it up with a very classy win over Australia.

Best try:

Rather went under the radar but Jonny May’s score against South Africa was a classic of its kind, prime line-out possession, perfect handling down the line, five points thank you very much; Beauden Barrett’s brilliant individual effort against Ireland in Dublin was a cracker and Robbie Henshaw’s match clincher in Chicago instantly had an historic feel to it.

Lord Lucan award:

Almost no confirmed sightings whatsoever of the real Argentina in Europe this Autumn

World's worst scrummaging performance:

Jonny May trying to fathom how to bind on for shorthanded England against Argentina. The Shed will have been horrified. Still its the thought that counts I suppose.

Most striking stats:

7 - the number of Fijian born players who appeared for Australia and France in their Test at Stade de France; 11 - the total number of penalties Ireland conceded in three full-on Tests against New Zealand and Australia.

Spirit of Rugby award:

Mako and Billy Vunipola for picking up the tab for Tonga’s post match celebrations in Padova where they recorded an excellent win over Italy. Good work chaps.

The Harry Houdini how did he do that award:

Tevita Kuridrani’s remarkably gymnastic try against France for Australia in Paris when 99 per cent of his body seemed to be in touch – but airborn and therefore still legal – as he somehow managed to complete the touchdown.

Best comeback:

With just 25 minutes left South Korea were trailing 36-7 to Chile in Santiago when they started the most unlikly of comebacks, scoring 31 unanswered points to win 38-36. Scrum-half Park Han Gyul helped himself to a hat-trick

Quiet achievers:

Tonga don’t attract the headlines of their Pacific neighbours Samoa and Fiji and are even more starved of funds and facilities if that is possible but a rock solid November saw them chalk up away wins against Spain, the USA in San Sabastien and, most worthy of all, against Italy in Padova. They now rank 14th in the world and above Samoa for the first time in many years.

Notable results you might have missed:

Germany beating Uruguay 23-22 with the last kick of the game in Frankfurt and then Spain beat Los Teros 33-16 a week later in Malaga.

Champagne moment:

Baptiste Sern’s delicious no look inside flick to crack open the All Blacks defence for Louis Picamoles to score in Paris.