The Autumn Nations Series brings the best players on the planet together and they delivered in Round 2 with some brilliant displays. Four are in contention to be named Player of the Round.
The weekend saw Ireland, England and New Zealand all record big wins, while South Africa edged out Wales, France did the same against Argentina and finally Scotland held out against Australia.
With that in mind, it is time to vote for the pick of the players from the round, with a Springbok full-back, an Irish winger, a French full-back and a Scottish flanker in contention.
Andrew Conway (Ireland)
There is something to be said for players who do everything well and Andrew Conway certainly falls into that category.
The Munster flyer might not have the star power of some of his teammates in the Ireland backline, but there is a reason that Andy Farrell trusts him so implicitly.
Conway is such a safe pair of hands under the high ball and rarely makes a mistake. On Saturday he also showed that he can finish like the very best of them.
He was on the end of three tries, showing his knack for being in the right place at the right time, and was inches away from another in a poacher’s showing against Japan.
Francois Steyn (South Africa)
Much was made of South Africa’s failure to win in Cardiff since 2013. Perhaps the problem over the past eight years was the absence of Francois Steyn.
The veteran Springbok, now a two-time World Cup winner, was called into action early when Damian Willemse was forced off in the first half against Wales.
Steyn was outstanding for the Springboks, offering a second kicking option in the rainy conditions, booting a monster penalty and making 65 metres with ball in hand.
Melvyn Jaminet (France)
When he travelled to Australia this summer, Melvyn Jaminet was a shock call-up for France, having never played a game of top-flight rugby.
This November he has the pressure of backing up those displays against the Wallabies. If his first effort against Argentina is anything to go by, Jaminet is up to the challenge.
A tricky early penalty settled both him and France and by the time the game finished, the full-back had kicked seven of eight from the kicking tee.
Just as important was his tactical kicking, providing real length to win the territory battle, while also showing his threat as a runner when given the ball in space.
Hamish Watson (Scotland)
It has become one of the most reliable aspects of Scotland’s play that Hamish Watson will prove a menace on both sides of the ball for Gregor Townsend’s men.
As they knocked off the in-form Wallabies, Watson got the ball rolling with the opening try of the game from a clever lineout move.
Just as important was a turnover penalty on the Scottish line when Hunter Paisami went close, while Watson was a big reason that the Wallabies never managed get their attacking game going.
