Top of the form... it’s Taine time in pick of the autumn

WE’VE been treated to a feast of international rugby over the past month, with a series of compelling contests and a host of quality individual performances.

So which are the players that have stood out above all the others?

Rugby correspondent Simon Thomas has donned his hard hat and put together his team of the autumn.

15. Freddie Steward (England, right)

THE 20-year-old from Leicester went into the autumn as a real Test rookie, with just two caps – against the USA and Canada – to his name, but came out the other end as a new force in the world game, a player who can hold on to the England No.15 jersey for a decade. At 6ft 6ins and 16st 12lbs, he is such an imposing figure under the high ball, in defence and on the carry, with his lines of running and good feet for such a big man making him a major threat. A star is born.

14. Will Jordan (New Zealand)

I was sorely tempted to find a place in this team for the versatile Rieko Ioane, who lined up both on the wing and the centre during the autumn, showing his class and blistering pace in both positions. But, in the end, it’s his countryman Jordan who edges it, having continued his extraordinary try-scoring run over the past month, with touchdowns against both Wales and Ireland taking his tally to 17 from his first 12 caps, that individual effort in Cardiff being one of the highlights of the autumn.

13. Henry Slade (England)

THIS was such a tight call. Garry Ringrose had a huge game in Ireland’s famous victory over New Zealand and is very much the glue in their midfield, pretty much always making the right decisions in attack and defence. But Slade was arguably England’s stand-out player of the autumn and just brings a different dimension to their midfield with his creativity. That was exemplified by his no-look pass to Joe Marchant which set up the crucial Raffi Quirke try against South Africa, where Slade also fronted up to the physical challenge presented by Lukhanyo Am, who himself has had such a fine year.

12. Damian de Allende (South Africa)

SIMPLY the best inside centre in the world, a title he has held for a couple of years now. He’s the focal point of the Springboks attack with his mighty carrying, but there is more to him than just crash and bash. There’s also rugby intelligence as he picks the lines of weakness to exploit and the skills and awareness to capitalise on the yards he makes. Then there’s his defence. You would have more joy running into a brick wall. Some player.

A word too for Australia’s Hunter Paisami, who is going to be a star.

11. Makazole Mapimpi (South Africa)

IN the absence of Cheslin Kolbe,

Mapimpi has really taken on the mantle as the Springboks’ main strike weapon out wide this autumn, adding three more tries to his impressive career total of 20 from 25 Tests. Such a good finisher. Elsewhere, Lions wing Duhan van der Merwe merits a mention in dispatches, as he has been a real handful in the colours of

Scotland.

10. Romain Ntamack (France)

Produced the moment of the autumn – and arguably the year – when he set off from behind his own line to launch a length of the field counter that proved the turning point in France’s memorable victory over New Zealand. It was a mixture of audacity, pace and consummate skill, as he left Jordie Barrett in his wake before delivering an exquisite reverse pass to release Melvyn Jaminet. You could hear the intake of breath around the rugby world. His dad Emile would be so very proud of the young lad. What a talent.

9. Antoine Dupont (France, left)

I thought long and hard about selecting the moustachioed Nic White, who stood out during a difficult campaign for the Wallabies, with excellent performances against both Wales and England. But it’s hard to ignore the sheer brilliance of the livewire Dupont, who rounded off a magnificent 2011 in style. In Brian O’Driscoll’s opinion, there’s never been a more clear-cut world player of the year than the “unreal” Tou

louse scrum-half and it’s hard to argue with him.

1. Steven Kitshoff (South Africa, right)

YOU could have any one of the six Springboks front rowers in this team, but I’ve opted for the ginger-haired Stormers loosehead as my pick of that mighty bunch. It might seem strange to go with someone who didn’t actually start any of the autumn Tests, but the way South Africa operate, the bomb squad get pretty much half of each match and Kitshoff’s impact off the bench has just been so consistent, both in terms of his destructive scrummaging and his work in the loose.

2. Peato Mauvaka (France)

IT has been some breakthrough campaign for the man born in New Caledonia. Coming into the autumn, he had only started the one Test match, but he finished it with the No.2 jersey on his back and five tries in three games, including a brace in the victory over the All Blacks. His tearful, emotional interview after that win was a really special moment. A mention too for Malcolm Marx, who confirmed his status as one of the very best players over the ball in world rugby.

3. Tadhg Furlong (Ireland)

A man who has redefined the role of the tighthead prop. Yes, he does the basics wonderfully well, serving as a rock-like cornerstone of the scrum and grafting away at the maul coalface. But there’s so much more to his gane, in terms of his defensive work-rate, his dominance in the collisions, his ballhandling skills and even the odd sidestep for good measure. The complete player.

4. Eben Etzebeth (South Africa)

Can consider himself unfortunate not to have been shortlisted for world player of the year, as he has been so consistently impressive, bringing that form into his country’s European tour. He delivers immense physicality as the Boks’ bruising enforcer, but there’s also the athleticism that makes him such an asset at the lineout and galloping upfield on the kick chase. He carries with real purpose, he secures ball at the rucks, he tackles everything that moves and he invariably does it for 80 minutes. The kind of man you want on your team.

5. Jonny Hill (England)

It was a close call which Englishman to choose to partner Etzebeth in the boilerhouse, but in the end Hill’s outstanding display in the victory over South Africa just gets him the nod. He perhaps doesn’t get the acclaim he deserves, but the tireless graft, lineout work and physical presence that earned him a Lions squad call make him a valuable commodity for Eddie Jones’ team. I was tempted to shift Courtney Lawes into the second row as I was keen to find a place for him, in recognition of his excellence, but in the end I decided to stick with players in their positions.

6. Caelan Doris (Ireland, above)

As I say, it is hard to leave out Lawes as he was such an inspirational figure for England, as player and then captain, with his try-saving tackle on Tongan full-back Telusa Veainu summing up his lung-busting efforts. But Leinster’s Doris made the most carries (36) of any player in the Autumn Nations series, providing perpetual go-forward, and hit the most rucks (99), while his storming run to the line against New Zealand will go down in Irish rugby folklore.

7. Taine Basham (Wales)

Yes, there is a strong argument for going for Springboks openside Siya Kolisi who has led by example as skipper with his tremendous all-round play. But Basham has been one of the stories of the autumn and certainly the biggest plus from a Welsh perspective. He made more tackles (57) than any player from any team and jointly hit the most rucks (99) along with Doris, while he repeatedly punched well above his weight with his dynamic carrying. Kicked off with an immense display against New Zealand and rounded off a campaign he can be really proud of with a Man of the Match performance versus Australia.

8. Ardie Savea (New Zealand)

A few contenders here, with Tom Curry, Greg Alldritt, Duane Vermeulen and Jack Conan all showing up well, but I just found it impossible to leave out Savea. Simply one of the best athletes in the game and also delivers an incredible workrate. Superb at the breakdown and a man you really don’t want to find yourself in the way of when he engages beast mode with ball in hand. Another who was unlucky not to be short-listed for world player of the year. A unique talent.