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World Rugby

Seven Players Set To Make A Major Impact In the Autumn International Series

Seven Players Set To Make A Major Impact In the Autumn International Series

Take a look at seven players set to make a major impact in the Autumn Rugby International Test Series.

Oct 20, 2022 by RugbyPass
Seven Players Set To Make A Major Impact In the Autumn International Series

As the rugby community, and the rest of general society, continue the gradual crawl away from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rugby’s November test series is back in earnest.

The annual pilgrimage north by the southern hemisphere’s best to take on their northern counterparts always delivers.

Having split the June test series two wins a piece, there is nothing to choose between the two hemisphere’s best, less than 12 months out from the 2023 Rugby World Cup. 

Ireland and England picked up impressive series wins in New Zealand and Australia, respectively, while Wales and Scotland pushed South Africa and Argentina to the brink in their series.

Now back on home turf, the Six Nations sides will be looking to double down on their June efforts and lay a marker ahead of the game’s biggest showpiece in 2023. 

Johan Goosen – South Africa

The return of the prodigal son could not have come at a better time for the Boks. 

Now a decade on from making his debut as a fresh-faced 20-year-old, Goosen has gone on to have a nomadic career, featuring a mid-career ‘retirement,’ as he wiggled out of a contract with French giants Racing92, before returning a year later with the Cheetahs.

He then moved on to another French giant in Montpellier, then subsequently bounced back to South Africa and the Blue Bulls, all in the space of three seasons. 

To Say Goosen has taken the road less traveled is a major understatement. 

Highlighted as a potential Springbok centurion following a prodigious rise through the age group ranks, Goosen’s 13 caps to date would indicate a poor return on his potential. 

Following his time in the international wilderness, Goosen appeared to regain his best form, prior to a knee injury at the tail end of last season. 

Now back to full fitness, the Bok coaching staff will be hoping he can play himself back into form as incumbent No. 10, as Handre Pollard looks set to remain on the side lines with injuries. 

Competing with Goosen is utility back Damian Willemse, who was a revelation throughout the Rugby Championship at fly-half, but the Bok coaching staff appears to view him as more of a jacl-of-all-trades player in a similar mold to Francois Steyn, than a bonified option as the primary fly-half. 

Therefore, the stage is set for Goosen to grab the famous green number shirt and hold onto it heading towards next year’s World Cup.

Manu Tuilagi – England

Without a doubt England’s first-choice center when healthy, Tuilagi simply is world-class when he gets a run of games under his belt. 

Unfortunately, staying healthy has been his Achilles heel since the very beginning of his career. 

Now playing at a slightly lighter weight and in a new environment with the Sale Sharks, Tuilagi appears to be getting back to his best form, just in time for an assault on next year’s World Cup. 

England’s attack frankly is unrecognizable when Tuilagi is available, due to his ability to break tackles and get over the gain line almost at will. 

How much injuries have taken out of him will show in this upcoming window, but if he can still cut the mustard and stay healthy at international level, then Eddie Jones’s side will feel much better going forward. 

Having fallen one step short of World Cup glory at the 2019 tournament, this is very much the last chance for a number of English stars, including Tuilagi, to lift the trophy.

Sam Costelow – Wales

Making his mark with an up-and-down Scarlet’s side in the United Rugby Championship, Costelow is one to watch for the Welsh this November. 

A former under-20s star, the 21-year-old has a real chance to make an impact for Wayne Pivac’s side, which is missing its captain and incumbent No. 10, Dan Biggar, due to injury. 

Pivac and his coaching staff will be looking for some to step up while Biggar recovers. Thus, the roadmap for Costelow is clear. 

Competing against known commodities in Rhys Priestland and Gareth Anscombe, Costelow could leapfrog the two as Biggar’s backup with a run of strong performances. 

Both Priestland and Anscombe have at one point or another pushed/displaced Biggar in the Welsh starting lineup, but neither has ever quite held onto the position for one reason or another. 

Following a disappointing Six Nations, which included a loss to Italy, Wales needs new young stars, and Costelow fits the bill.

Baptiste Couilloud – France

Let’s be clear before going any further with this segment - the French No. 9 shirt is not up for grabs. 

Antoine Dupont is the best player in the world. He will be, barring injury, France’s scrumhalf at next season’s World Cup. 

With that out of the way, Couilloud is one heck of a player and could well be the man to back up Dupont going forward and almost certainly would start for pretty much any other team in World Rugby. 

Les Bleus currently are blessed with the greatest squad depth in the international game. At scrumhalf alone, there are up to six viable starting options available to head coach Fabien Galthie and his staff. 

Couilloud’s addition to the squad is just reward for the 25-year-old following his stellar form for his hometown side Lyon. 

While nobody is a like-for-like remake of Dupont, Couilloud brings a high-level attacking game around the base of the ruck, comprising of sniping runs and a lethal sidestep with the pace to finish off an attack. 

Personality-wise, he is a on the other end of the spectrum to the cool demeanor of Dupont, bringing more of an edge and traditional scrumhalf chirpiness. 

This confrontational style has got him to where he is and will offer France someone who can come in and up the tempo from the bench. 

Joey Carbery – Ireland

Long considered the heir apparent to Jonathan Sexton, Munster’s fly-half has had a simply torrid time with injuries since the 2019 World Cup. 

Playing behind a Munster pack that has struggled did not help matters, either. In saying this, Carbery has started to show much better form as of late.

At his best Carbery, is an attacking pendulum from which a team can pivot. A threat with ball in hand, a world-class goal-kicking rate and an ability to bring in his teammates with a well-timed pass, Carbery has the potential. 

Outside of injuries, the challenge has been confidence. When playing with a swagger, everything looks easy, but the ability to play on the back foot has at times been lacking. 

Sexton, barring injury, remains the Irish pivot heading to the World Cup, but a consistent run in the team could have Carbery finally pushing the captain in what would be a significant development for Andy Farrell’s side. 

Ireland’s run of games offers Carbery a real chance to get some starting minutes. Outside of their game against the world champion Springboks, Ireland will be the heavy favorite going into every game this November. 

An interesting fact remains that for every Irish victory over New Zealand, Carbery has been involved and closed out each game, thus giving the Munster pivot a remarkable five wins in seven attempts against a side Ireland had never previously beaten. 

Michael Hooper – Australia

It's a truly fascinating situation for the Wallabies captain. 

With over 120 test caps to his name, the Wallabies skipper still is remarkably just 30 years old. 

His durability and ability to put in strong performances week after week has ensured that Hooper’s name has been the first one on the team sheet for over a decade. This was, of course, until the opening rounds of this season’s Rugby Championship in Argentina. 

In a shocking turn of events, Hooper stood himself down from action citing personal reasons. This would see him miss the entire campaign, with many questioning whether he would ever return. 

Now back in the mix, it will be interesting to see if he can slot back in seamlessly, or will the toll of the international game remain a bit too much for someone who has given his heart and soul to the gold jersey. 

Another challenge now facing his position in the team is the emergence of Queensland Reds star Fraser McReight, who proved himself to be more than ready for the international game with some very strong performances. 

A similar style player to Hooper, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie may opt to rotate between the two players, thus removing some of the heavy workload Hooper traditionally carries for the side. 

Will Skelton – Australia 

A sleeping giant of the international game for a number of years, Skelton’s return to the Wallabies is immensely significant. 

The 6-foot-8, 310-pound Skelton is a man mountain who will give Australia a much-needed battering ram capable of mixing it with the best in the game. 

Due to his decision to play his club rugby outside of Australia, Skelton has been ineligible for the Wallabies since 2017 and should really have more than his 14 test caps. 

Making his debut in 2014, Skelton was heralded as the next big superstar in the international game, but like two ships passing in the night, he was gone before he ever really got going. 

A move north to English Premiership giants Saracens, initially on an eight-month loan move, before a permanent move brought with it a renewed professional approach for Skelton. 

Shedding a remarkable 50 pounds to get down to a competitive playing weight, Skelton took the European game by storm. 

Playing on a Saracens side jam-packed with world-class talent, Skelton won two English Premierships and a Heineken Champions Cup with Sarries, before moving to French side La Rochelle. 

Hitting the ground running, Skelton won another Champions Cup title with the French side, thus making him impossible for Wallabies selectors to ignore. 

Having now achieved incredible results at club level, Skelton will be looking to finally fulfil his potential on the international stage.

Written by Philip Bendon