Rising Welsh rugby star Steff Emanuel has been tipped for a breakthrough season after producing what was described as a "perfect" performance in Cardiff's emphatic derby victory over the Ospreys.
The 20-year-old centre was named Player of the Match as Cardiff secured a stunning 26-0 bonus-point win at St Helen's, with his display earning glowing praise from Wales legends Tom Shanklin and Jonathan Davies.
Emanuel's standout performance
Emanuel was instrumental in Cardiff's attacking success, helping create three tries, including both of Tom Bowen's scores and Josh Adams' touchdown. He also produced a superb defensive intervention late on, holding up Keelan Giles over the line to preserve Cardiff's clean sheet.
The youngster finished with 15 carries and 17 tackles, prompting former Wales centre Shanklin to suggest he had announced himself on the senior stage.
"Everything he did worked really well," Shanklin told Premier Sports. "He was heavily involved in everything good that Cardiff did, both sides of the ball. He was very good in defence and brilliant in attack.
"He was probably perfect, I think. He showed what a class act he is. He sees things that other 12s don't.
"This is a game where he has announced himself onto the senior stage. I think this is going to be his massive breakout year."
Fellow former Wales star Davies was equally impressed, suggesting Emanuel could eventually become an option for the national side at inside centre.
"He has the vision to see when the guy outside him is under pressure and then just hold it, use his footwork, carry it up and get to the gainline," Davies said. "It's just a sign of someone who has time on the ball. That's a great quality to have in the midfield.
"He sees the game, he makes the right decisions. At a young age, that's a great trait to have as an upcoming player. If Wales are going to persist with a playmaker at 12, he could potentially fill that role in the future."
Springboks injury concern
South Africa have been handed a potential injury concern ahead of their opening November Nations Championship clash against Italy after Cameron Hanekom was forced off during the Bulls' victory over the Scarlets.
The 24-year-old back-rower started Saturday's United Rugby Championship encounter at Loftus Versfeld, which the Bulls won 54-26, but was withdrawn at half-time after struggling with a lower back problem.
Hanekom was replaced by Marcell Coetzee, who went on to score twice as the South African outfit secured a bonus-point victory over their Welsh opponents.
However, Bulls boss Johan Ackermann revealed afterwards that Hanekom had been battling discomfort from early in the contest and had been asked to play through the pain until the interval.
"He struggled a little bit with his lower back quite early in the game, and we asked him to push until half-time," Ackermann told reporters. "Credit to him for hanging in there; he got to half-time, and then the medical staff wanted to treat him, and I just felt we didn't need to risk that.
"We've got Marcel, so let's make it a straight swap, just to protect him as well. He's fine, but he was battling with his lower back."
The update will be of particular interest to Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus, who is due to name his team on Monday ahead of the clash with Italy.
While Ackermann suggested the substitution was largely precautionary, the extent of Hanekom's back problem remains unclear, leaving a question mark over his availability for South Africa's opening autumn fixture.
Hanekom has become an increasingly important member of Erasmus' international plans this year, having missed the entire 2025 Test campaign through injury. He earned his second Springboks cap against England at Ellis Park in July before starting against Argentina and featuring from the bench in the final three matches of the Rugby's Greatest Rivalry series.
The talented forward also crossed for a try in the series finale in Baltimore, further strengthening his case for regular international involvement. Hanekom is one of seven Bulls players included in Erasmus' squad for the November internationals, with the Springboks now facing an anxious wait over his fitness ahead of Monday's selection announcement.
Borthwick admits England problem
Steve Borthwick admits England must bridge the gap between the Gallagher Prem and Test rugby quickly if they are to be successful this autumn.
Australia's visit to Allianz Stadium on Sunday launches the second phase of the inaugural Nations Championship with Borthwick aware that his players need to step up their work at the breakdown and in defence.
While the Prem's focus on attack has created some thrilling spectacles, it is inadequate preparation for the battles to come against the Wallabies, Japan and New Zealand. The only round of European action so far this season exposed the English clubs to a different level of competition in defence and the breakdown and they duly won only one of their eight matches.
Top referee Christophe Ridley provided assistance in training at last week's camp and also gave presentations to the squad in a bid to accelerate their readiness to take on Australia.
"The contact area in the Prem is different to Test rugby," Borthwick said. "That was exemplified in Europe where the English clubs lost more ball and won back less ball at the breakdown than any other nation.
"The other area is the emphasis and importance placed upon defence. We need to ensure that we make it very, very difficult for the opposition to score.
"One of the challenges is that we are refereed domestically by English referees when internationally quite clearly we will never have the English referees, so you need to get used to other interpretations.
"Having that European round pleased me because clearly players needed to be able to adjust. The best players are smart and the best players adjust. And I think it's pretty obvious that over the last six to eight months, we haven't adjusted and dealt with moments in the way we want to."
England have amassed 15 yellow cards in their eight Tests so far this year, including four in their most recent outing against Argentina in July. Borthwick believes going on the attack provides the solution to the indiscipline.
"Frankly, we spend too much time defending," he said. "The way the interpretations are right now, as soon as you spend time defending there is likely to be a decision that goes against you.
"There has been an exponential increase in cards given - and not just by us. The vast majority of them are given when defending in your own 22."
England are facing mounting problems at half-back ahead of Monday's squad announcement after Alex Mitchell followed Fin Smith and Archie McParland into the treatment room. Mitchell has joined his Northampton team-mates in becoming a doubt against Australia after sustaining a hamstring injury in Saturday's 28-14 victory over Gloucester.
