Following the conclusion of the end-of-year internationals across Europe, we asked Wallabies legend David Campese to pick his Team of the Autumn Nations Series.

“I have to say a thoroughly enjoyable Autumn Nations Series where we’ve seen just how close it is between the Rugby Championship sides and the top four Six Nations teams,” he said in his review.

“Running rugby has been at a premium but the Wallabies started to show a little bit of intuition and an ability to get their backline moving, especially when Joseph Suaalii was available. He’s managing to fuse the things he’s learned in league with a union twist and that’s good news.

“I loved watching Marcus Smith with England and it’s no co-incidence that his team was ahead every time he was replaced at 10. There’s word about him learning to play in that context, but for me it’s far more about England learning to play to Smith’s explosive genius. He’s a matchwinner of the highest order and they won’t find that X-factor elsewhere. Coaches have to trust talent like this so for me it’s 80 minutes at 10, and back the bloke.

“My final thought – these guys are playing 12 months of rugby and they’re tired. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get the global calendar finally aligned, so players aren’t getting burned out and we’re playing in proper weather? You could still use the November window for A Series and development Test? Just a thought, but I’m very concerned about the balance of player conditioning and I believe this would help.

“Anyway, here’s my XV of the Tournament and there’s some super close calls in every position!”

15 Will Jordan (New Zealand): Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn were so close to my selection and I thought Tom Wright and Juan Cruz Mallia also had great tournaments, but Jordan just has that ability to glide through defences as if they’re not there. An absolute worldie, whether on the wing or at 15.

14 Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa): My easiest selection. What I love about Cheslin is he doesn’t let his game stand still – he develops all the time and is always looking for a competitive edge. Ireland’s Mack Hansen and Scotland’s Darcy Graham also impressed at times, but Kolbe is a shoo-in.

13 Jesse Kriel (South Africa): The quiet man of the Boks just keeps getting better and better. I was torn between creating a combination between the South African and the Scottish centres, so unfortunately Huw Jones just misses out. I also thought Nacho Brex for Italy and Joseph Suaalii had their moments but Kriel and Jones were a way in front.

12 Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland): Like 13, this was a really tough call and I went with Sione for his all-round excellence over the four Tests he played. Damian de Allende is world class but as noted above, I wanted to be fair to both sets of outstanding centres so they get one each. A nod to Tommaso Menoncello, brilliant for the Azzurri and of course, Bundee Aki, always a physical presence.

11 Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France): This guy has some serious gas and he’s got some lovely touches with the boot too. The two Boks, Makazole Mapimpi and Kurt-Lee Arendse were fantastic in rotation and I also like what I saw from the young Pom, Ollie Sleightholme, who took his chance wonderfully well.

10 Marcus Smith (England): This was the toughest of my picks. I agonised over Smith, Finn Russell, Thomas Ramos, Tomos Al𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧oz, Sam Prendergast, Damian McKenzie or Handre Pollard, and in the end I picked the guy I’d want to watch most of all, Marcus. As noted in my thoughts, England need to learn to build a team around him – he’s box office and will remain so.

9 Antoine Dupont (France): My leading contenders were Dupont, Cam Roigard and Ben White – but Dupont, without reaching his own standards at times, was easily the best around. He does things others can’t and however well others played, I’d still take him every time – and if you say otherwise I suggest you’re not being fully truthful with yourself!

The forwards

8 Caelan Doris (Ireland): Again, so many options here with Wallaby Harry Wilson in brilliant form all autumn, Ben Earl once again England’s best forward, Ardie Savea in fine fettle and Jasper Wiese as muscular as ever. But Doris has the precontact footwork of a winger and he’s back to his very best after, by his standards, a quiet season in 2023/24.

7 Fraser McReight (Australia): I am really happy to pick a Wallaby on merit and I thought that, alongside Josh van der Flier and a couple of moments from Charles Ollivon, McReight was easily the best openside on view in the tournament. He was absolutely outstanding and it’s great to see Australia developing an heir to the shirt of Smith and Hooper. A nod to Rory Darge, a real breakdown pest who looks a Lion in the making, and Juan Martin Gonzalez, brilliant for Los Pumas.

6 Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa): World Player of the Year and with some good reason. The best blindside in the world bar none. Harsh on Wallace Sititi and also Chandler Cunningham-South who has really kicked on for England. A word too for Pablo Matera, a brick wall for Argentina as always, and Bobby Valetini, who played at both six and eight for Australia.

5 Grant Gilchrist (Scotland): Emmanuel Meafou was at his destructive best for France and massive in every aspect. However, the unsung but brilliant Gilchrist was a rock for the Scots. My other honourable mentions go to Jeremy Williams of Australia, George Martin of England and of course, Franco Mostert, the great Bok lock.

4 Eben Etzebeth (South Africa): It really was never going to be anyone else! Bloody huge, bloody brilliant and bloody hard! If I have to pick a runner-up, I thought Maro Itoje was outstanding for England but made two silly errors, whilst Joe McCarthy was as solid as anything for Ireland. Thibaud Flament was great for France too, a ridiculous athlete with a ridiculous try-scoring record this season.

3 Tyrel Lomax (New Zealand): A mighty season for a mighty man – he just sneaks in ahead of England’s much-improved Will Stuart, Scotland’s Zander Fagerson and Australia’s Allan Alaalatoa.

2 Peato Mauvaka (France): An incredible athlete who runs sides ragged for 60 minutes. Codie Taylor was missed by New Zealand when he was unavailable, Jamie George was great for England and I thought Julian Montoya led by huge personal example for Los Pumas. Dewi Lake was by far the best Welsh player and I have to give him a shout out for his resilience.

1 Thomas du Toit (South Africa): He was always in my side, but the question was at one or three?! Ridiculous talent for a prop forward. His try-scoring record is remarkable and he just sneaks in ahead of Tamaiti Williams, excellent for New Zealand, and Andrew Porter, always fantastic for Ireland.