With record runs, outstanding victories and history-making success gracing the last eight months, there has been plenty to whet the appetite ahead of next year’s RBS 6 Nations.
It seems only yesterday that England swooped in for their first Grand Slam since 2003, but with impressive performances from Ireland, Wales, Scotland, Italy and France, their bid for successive RBS 6 Nations titles is going to be far from straightforward.
And with most teams now taking to the pitch for the last time before the 2017 Championship, which stars have shone brightest in their bid to sit as Europe’s best come February and March?
England
Despite notching five wins from five in this year’s RBS 6 Nations, few would have expected England’s run to still be roaring on heading towards the end of the season.
But with victory over rivals Wales paving their way for the summer, Eddie Jones’ side went from strength to strength, their perfect series coming to the fore Down Under with a whitewash 3-0 victory over Australia – and a record points haul to boot.
Even at that point Dylan Hartley called for more from his team, delivering in their Autumn Internationals series with victories over South Africa, Fiji and, most recently, Argentina.
But with Australia to come next Saturday, a stern test to their 13-match winning run will certainly be present as England look to add to their 12-month unbeaten stretch.
Emerging star: Kyle Sinckler – prop
Tighthead prop Kyle Sinckler served his time in the England camp before making his debut in the Red Rose’s 37-21 victory over South Africa this autumn.
Sinckler was part of England’s touring party to New Zealand as a 21-year-old in 2014, appearing as a replacement for Henry Thomas in a 38-7 mid-week win over the Crusaders, but not making a Test appearance.
Eddie Jones named him among his travelling party for the successful tour to Australia this summer, but it is since the start of the season that he has come into his own.
Having made 87 appearances for Harlequins since making his debut as a precocious 18-year-old, Sinckler has displaced Will Collier as undisputed first-choice at the London club.
His trademark bullish carrying has been complemented by ever-improving scrimmaging.
Much like Mako Vunipola on the loosehead, he has the acceleration to do real damage in the loose, scoring a memorable solo try for Harlequins against London Irish last year.
If the young prop continues his sharp upward trajectory, the RBS 6 Nations could be a glorious chapter in his coming of age story.
France
A trip to Argentina for two Tests provided a stern test to France’s summer, but a 27-0 success suggested a clinical performance heading towards the best of their capabilities.
Les Blues seemed to take their form forward into the Autumn Internationals, giving an outstanding display as Samoa were outplayed 52-8 in Toulouse, while only fine margins prevented them from getting the better of Australia, just missing out 25-23.
And it was performance in defeat that almost crowned their year, delivering an almighty effort in a narrow 24-19 loss to New Zealand – a side who had lost just one out of their 14 matches this calendar year.
Emerging star: Baptiste Serin – scrum-half
France might have fallen just short against New Zealand on Saturday but one man grabbed the headlines with a moment of brilliance.
Capped for the first time this summer, scrum-half Baptiste Serin is a former France Under-20s player, and came off the bench in all three Tests in November.
But it was against the All Blacks where he really shone, with the cheekiest of one-handed reverse passes to create Louis Picamoles’ try.
The latest in a long line of French scrum-halves, Serin will be a valuable asset for Guy Novès in the RBS 6 Nations.
Ireland
Few gave Ireland a chance when facing the mighty New Zealand, but it certainly proved to be sweet home Chicago in a historic victory.
The All Blacks had gone into the game on an 18-game unbeaten run, the 40-29 Ireland victory their first success in a terrific five-try affair.
They were to be defeated by the same opposition a fortnight later, but that didn’t stop Ireland revelling in a historic 12 months, beating New Zealand, South Africa and Australia in the same year for the first time.
Rory Best’s 100th cap further added to the celebrations in Dublin, an exemplary victory over Australia rounding off the stunning year.
Emerging star: Tadhg Furlong – tighthead prop
Such has been the impressive autumn for Tadhg Furlong, some have already tipped the tighthead prop to be a contender for a British & Irish Lions place in New Zealand next summer.
The 24-year-old has forced himself as one of the first names on the Ireland teamsheet under Joe Schmidt, an unsung role that has quietly increased its importance with each game.
But Furlong feels it’s a long way in the reckoning ahead of a potentially pivotal RBS 6 Nations campaign next year.
Italy
It was a year of tight games all-round for Italy, but that didn’t stop Conor O’Shea’s side making their own history in an extraordinary year for the RBS 6 Nations teams.
Few gave them a chance against the southern hemisphere giants just a couple of weeks ago, but Italy turned the tables in Florence for their first ever win over the Springboks.
It’s momentum O’Shea is desperate to take into next year’s Championships, despite their ranking of No.13 in the world, also getting the better of Canada in the summer.
And Italian legend Sergio Parisse labelled the win as one of their most important, a game that is just the start of a potential successful period of rugby.
Emerging star: Edoardo Padovani – full-back
Historic victories can often be built on the smallest of moments, and Edoardo Padovani can certainly boast his own touch of genius against the Boks.
With Italy 7-5 up, it seemed an immediate response was to come for the visitors, only for Padovani to have superb game awareness to snuff out the danger.
The fly-half, still only 23, is certainly one to keep an eye out for come the next RBS 6 Nations.
Scotland
Against one of world rugby’s rising teams, Scotland held their own at the start of the summer with an impressive double victory over Japan, grinding out two wins against the Brave Blossoms.
And the autumn was bring further encouraging performances, once again forcing a desperately unlucky last-gasp defeat to Australia, with Vern Cotter’s side showing the pizzazz that got them two victories in the last Championships and a World Cup quarter-final berth.
With the performances well and truly at the fore, displays on the pitch found merited rewards, edging out Argentina with Sean Maitland’s try doing the damage.
From substance came style in the Autumn International conclusion, running in six tries as 2016 RBS 6 Nations Player of the Championship Stuart Hogg crossed over twice in a 43-16 success over Georgia – some perfect momentum heading into the winter.
Emerging star: Huw Jones – centre
The centre – who can also play as a fullback or wing – made his debut against Japan back in June as a replacement, but it was against Australia where he really showed his stuff.
Though his side suffered defeat, a double against the Wallabies got the rugby world talking, two excellent tries to set BT Murrayfield alight.
And with an assist against Argentina also in the offing, Jones showed he was far from a one-trick wonder.
Wales
Wales saved the best until last in their Autumn Internationals campaign as a 27-13 victory over South Africa saw them complete the seasonal hat-trick for the first time since 2002.
Hooker Ken Owens got the first try while a dazzling Justin Tipuric showed just why he has got the forwards and backs alike in his wake with a scintillating score.
That win, coupled with successes over Argentina and Japan, gives them a strong boost heading into next year’s RBS 6 Nations, trying to take their first title since 2013.
Emerging star: Keelan Giles – winger
From a first club start to being on the cusp of international honours, it’s certainly been a year to remember for Keelan Giles.
The Ospreys winger is still only 18, but has been touted as the next big thing in Welsh rugby, with a chance to develop his skills in the PRO12 prior to next year’s tournament.
Already deemed as being good enough if he’s old enough from Rob Howley, the world is at his feet for a man who has already represented his country at age group level.
