Share
2nd December 2024
10:28am GMT
Ireland and the Wallabies brought the curtain down on this year's Autumn Nations Series, as fans now look towards February's Six Nations, with one eye on next summer's Lions tour to Australia
Scotland had the strongest November, but question marks over their consistency remain. A resurgent England are on the right path despite three narrow losses.
Wales, meanwhile, finished off their year by losing every match in 2024.
Ireland may have looked lethargic and uninspired, but they managed three wins from four and are still the dominant nation of the four.... for the moment.
Based on the performances over the last year, and ones we expect to see over the next seven month, we have selected a Lions 23 to take on Joe Schmidt's Aussies.
Team breakdown: 12 Ireland, 7 England, 4 Scotland.
Lots of good options to marshal the backfield with England's George Furbank, the Scottish duo of Tom Jordan and Blair Kinghorn, while Jamie Osborne could come into contention.
But it will take some special performances to overtake one of the most well-rounded players in the game, whose low error count is invaluable in the position.
With all the well-deserved hype around England's 21-year-old Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, the Edinburgh man reminded everyone of his class this autumn after missing out on the Six Nations.
Any centre combination of Huw Jones, Henshaw, Sione Tuipulotu, and Bundee Aki would be a worthy adversary to face Joseph Sua'ali'i and friends next summer - with Garry Ringrose and Olli Lawrence also strong contenders at outside centre.
Henshaw shades Jones due to his 'test-match animal' gene and defensive work.
One of the form players over the last year and he will have to keep it up in order to start ahead of Aki or Henshaw.
Banana-kick 50:22 aside, it was a disappointing November for Lowe, and indeed a lot of Irish left-wingers.
However, his place in World Rugby's 2024 Dream Team was fully deserved, and his offloading and left boot gives him a point of difference.
Duhan van der Merwe and Tommy Freeman will also have their eye on the jersey.
Some intriguing questions surround the battle to quarter-back the Lions' attack.
Will Racing's Owen Farrell be considered by his father Andy? Can Marcus Smith take his game to even greater heights? Will Jack Crowley and Sam Prendergast's battle take much-needed game time away from each other? Does Ciarán Frawley make it as the best 6/2 split bench option?
All will become clearer in time, but right now Russell remains a head above the others.
Unfortunately for England's Alex Mitchell, he was not able to close the gap on JGP, after missing the Autumn Series.
Ben Spencer did well in Mitchell's absence, but the Irish No 9 showed against the All Blacks why he is still the man in possession.
A solid, if unspectacular, autumn from the Leinster man.
Played a lot of minutes and Ireland only lost two scrums in the month, both in the first game against the All Blacks, one of which was a contentious decision against tight head Finlay Bealham.
Still recovering from a long-term ACL injury, Sheehan's reputation was arguably enhanced despite missing Ireland's four games, given the country's lineout woes.
Ireland could potentially have two hookers on tour with Rónan Kelleher - who trained with the Lions squad in 2021 - and Gus McCarthy holding ambitions.
The Glasgow Warrior took it upon himself to take the mantle from Tadhg Furlong, and a big Autumn Series has firmly put him as the front-runner at 3.
Was part of a dominant Scottish scrum, and had one of the biggest work rates at ruck time.
Looks nailed on for a third Lions tour, and will likely be one of the first names on the team sheet.
A proper veteran of test rugby, but still only 30 and with an engine as strong as ever.
One of the four Irish members in World Rugby's 2024 Dream Team.
A master of the turnover, and will start at either lock or blindside flanker.
No real standouts at blindside, but ball-carrying and gain-line breaking is needed, and Cunningham-South provides just that.
Still just 21 and improving rapidly.
The likes of Jack Conan, Tom Curry, Jac Morgan, and Matt Fagerson are also in contention.
There is also the question of Jack Willis. One of the standout back rowers in Europe but exiled from international duty while he lines out for Toulouse. Will he be considered?
Back to the form that saw him win the 2022 World Player of the Year award.
Should have been called up in 2021, and will hopefully make up for that disappointment.
One of the more nailed-on players to start, and may go as captain.
Few have been better in the world this year, and that was reflected in his nomination for World Player of the Year.
Replacements:
Jamie George, Ellis Genge, Tadhg Furlong, Joe McCarthy, Ben Earl, Alex Mitchell, Marcus Smith, Bundee Aki.
