First among equals: The small matter of Ireland v Australia on Saturday remains, but it won't change the undeniable truth of this autumn: South Africa remains the best team in the world. Or, to put it simply, the toughest to beat. They can dominate physically, exploit wide spaces, outkick opponents, or simply outlast them. In essence, they cover every angle. Pieter-Steph Du Toit was a deserving winner of the men's World Player of the Year award in Monaco on Sunday, but truthfully, any of several Springboks could have claimed it. Eben Etzebeth and Ox Nché were close contenders, and Cheslin Kolbe and Siya Kolisi finished the year in top form. France was the other unbeaten autumn side, defeating the All Blacks, Argentina, and Japan, but Ireland's home defeat by New Zealand raised questions for Andy Farrell as he shifts focus to the 2025 British & Irish Lions.
Winners and losers: Modern Test rugby margins can be razor-thin, as England knows. However, the two sides that have made significant strides since the summer are Scotland and Australia. The Scots have been building a solid squad for a while, though they haven't secured all the results they aimed for. Sunday's convincing victory over the Wallabies highlighted the growing depth and composure of Gregor Townsend's side. Australia, meanwhile, deserved their thrilling win against England and have reignited hopes for a competitive Lions series next year. The biggest losers? Look no further than Wales, who have just completed their first winless calendar year since 1937. Losing to a strong South Africa team is no shame, but Saturday's 45-12 home defeat in Cardiff starkly illustrated the issues facing Welsh rugby.
Six Nations portents: The Autumn Nations Series has heightened the stakes for several teams. How long will Warren Gatland stay in charge of Wales? Who will Ireland back at 10 under Simon Easterby's temporary stewardship? The jury is still out on England's progress under Steve Borthwick. Despite three defeats in four November matches, England's high-risk defensive system is giving too much space to quality attacking opponents. Marcus Smith has emerged as his team's best performer this autumn, while the rest of the backline has struggled for rhythm. The solution seems clear: England needs to build a tailored backline around Smith. Unless, of course, the coaches decide the team functions better when the less flamboyant Fin Smith comes off the bench to play fly-half. A significant decision looms.
Lions in waiting: Imagine last weekend was a Lions selection eliminator. How many of Scotland's slick-looking backs would make the cut? The answer is most of them. Blair Kinghorn, Darcy Graham, and Duhan van der Merwe form a top-quality trio, Sione Tuipulotu and Huw Jones are a well-balanced midfield duo, and scrum-half Ben White is seamlessly integrating with Finn Russell. Ireland will still have strong representation, but the Scotland v Ireland game in the second round of the 2025 Six Nations could be pivotal. In a beaten Welsh side, Jac Morgan and Dewi Lake impressed, but few Englishmen advanced their cases over the past month. Aside from Marcus Smith, Sam Underhill, Luke Cowan-Dickie, and Ollie Sleightholme, the list is short.
Shooting stars: Australia's new cross-code arrival, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, made an immediate impact. His ability to soar high at restarts and reach balls above expert aerial operators has galvanized the Wallabies, with Max Jorgensen also posing a significant threat. Argentina has eye-catching talent too, with Tomas Albornoz sparking at fly-half and 23-year-old Joaquin Oviedo, who scored two tries against the Wallabies in September, making waves at No 8. Among recent Test debutants, Irish hooker Gus McCarthy looked formidable against Fiji, and big things are expected of teenage flanker Freddy Douglas, the youngest Scotland player capped since 1963.
Light and shade: In the brave new world from 2026, the Test rugby year will end with a final between the top two sides. If this were happening this year, it would be South Africa against another, likely France. Is this an unmissable delight or a looming player welfare nightmare? The current global calendar already offers little respite for top players. The good news is that removing blockers before box kicks and more protection for scrum-halves is enhancing the game's flow, but more evidence is needed to determine if the 20-minute red card experiment at Test level is beneficial. There's still too much time wasted waiting for television match officials, but broadcasting referees' voices over the public address has been a welcome step forward. Kudos to the artistic lighting engineers at the Stade de France. The dramatic illumination of the All Blacks haka before their evening Test against France was November's most captivating moment.
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