David Campese selected his Team of the Autumn Nations Series, reflecting on the close competition between Rugby Championship teams and the top Six Nations sides. He commended the Wallabies for showing some flair, especially when Joseph Suaalii was available, blending league skills with union tactics. Campese praised Marcus Smith’s performance with England, noting that while some critics suggest England needs to adapt to his style, Smith is a matchwinner who deserves to play the full 80 minutes at fly-half.
He also expressed concern over player burnout, suggesting that the global rugby calendar needs alignment to better manage players’ workloads while still utilizing the November window for developmental matches.
Campese’s Team of the Autumn Nations Series includes:
15: Will Jordan (New Zealand) – A dynamic player who can glide through defenses effortlessly. He edged out strong performances from players like Hugo Keenan and Blair Kinghorn.
14: Cheslin Kolbe (South Africa) – A clear choice, Kolbe is always evolving and maintains his competitive edge, surpassing other standouts like Mack Hansen and Darcy Graham.
13: Jesse Kriel (South Africa) – Kriel continues to improve and stood out ahead of contenders like Huw Jones and Joseph Suaalii.
12: Sione Tuipulotu (Scotland) – Tuipulotu’s consistency across the four Tests made him the top choice over other exceptional centres like Damian de Allende and Bundee Aki.
11: Louis Bielle-Biarrey (France) – Bielle-Biarrey impressed with his speed and skill, narrowly beating out other wingers like Makazole Mapimpi and Kurt-Lee Arendse.
10: Marcus Smith (England) – After much deliberation, Campese chose Smith for his explosive talent, even though other fly-halves like Finn Russell and Handre Pollard had strong showings. England must build a team around him to unlock his full potential.
9: Antoine Dupont (France) – Despite not hitting his best form, Dupont remains the best scrum-half, outperforming other contenders like Cam Roigard and Ben White.
Forwards:
8: Caelan Doris (Ireland) – Doris was outstanding, showcasing footwork like a winger, and made the biggest impact among a field of top players including Ben Earl and Ardie Savea.
7: Fraser McReight (Australia) – McReight was the standout openside flanker, excelling over players like Josh van der Flier and Charles Ollivon. His development as a top player for the Wallabies was highlighted.
6: Pieter-Steph du Toit (South Africa) – Du Toit is regarded as the best blindside flanker, with strong competition from players like Wallace Sititi and Bobby Valetini.
5: Grant Gilchrist (Scotland) – Gilchrist was a solid rock for Scotland, outshining Emmanuel Meafou and Jeremy Williams.
4: Eben Etzebeth (South Africa) – Etzebeth’s physical dominance made him an easy selection. He was particularly strong, with Maro Itoje and Joe McCarthy providing stiff competition.
3: Tyrel Lomax (New Zealand) – Lomax’s mighty performances earned him the spot over other strong contenders like Will Stuart and Zander Fagerson.
2: Peato Mauvaka (France) – Mauvaka’s athleticism made him a standout choice, with Codie Taylor and Julian Montoya also performing well.
1: Thomas du Toit (South Africa) – Du Toit’s exceptional talent earned him the position, edging out other impressive props like Tamaiti Williams and Andrew Porter.
Campese also expressed concern over the fatigue of players due to the rigorous rugby calendar and suggested that proper planning could help alleviate burnout.