An action-packed weekend of rugby in the European Champions Cup showcased how much talent is on display in the Northern Hemisphere’s premier club competition. Here is my XV of the weekend below.
1. Peni Ravai (Clermont)
This man put some shift in at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday. The 18st 10lbs Prop moves like lightning for his size. He carried effectively making 57 meters in total, including a superb try. His work rate was excellent and was typified at the breakdown winning a turnover in his 65 minutes on the field.
2. Camille Chat (Racing 92)
France are spoilt for choice at hooker with Chat and Toulouse’s Julien Marchand. However, Chat was phenomenal against Edinburgh in Paris. He carried the ball 18 times, beating several defenders along the way. He was a nuisance around the park for the Edinburgh defence. He was deservedly taken off just after the 50-minute mark, rested ahead of the quarter-final against Bordeaux next week.
3. WillGriff John (Sale Sharks)
The Welshman is on his way to the Scarlets next season and proved his worth against them on Sunday. He worked tirelessly around the park in a dominant Sale pack. Was also very solid in the scrum, winning a few penalties against arguably Wales’ best scrummager in Wyn Jones. Tomas Francis nearly snuck in here with a cameo off the bench for Exeter, giving Lyon all sorts of problems at scrum time.
4. Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
Wasps may not have beaten Clermont, but they gave them one heck of a game, and Launchbury outstanding. The captain led from the front, disrupting the Clermont lineout and made tackle after tackle in a strong defensive effort. Unfortunately for him his side couldn’t hold on right at the death.
5. Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
The Chiefs pack is always strong, and Hill was their standout performer this weekend. He scored two tries and proved his worth to this team over the 80 minutes. Exeter struggled early on going 14-0 down, but his first try got them back in the game.
6. Tom Curry (Sale Sharks)
The England international played at openside for Sale, however his performance warranted that he couldn’t be left out of this side. He was as dynamic as ever, competing at several breakdowns and giving the Scarlets problems in both attack and defence. Fully deserving of a place on the Lions tour to South Africa this summer.
7. Kevin Gourdon (La Rochelle)
He set up the opening try for Dillyn Leyds with a brilliant offload, which was just a glimpse of this man’s talent. He was excellent at the breakdown and made 82 metres with the ball in hand. In an all-round fantastic team performance, he was easily the best player on the pitch.
8. Jordan Joseph (Racing 92)
Racing may have been without the mercurial Finn Russell, but they were terrific on their way to a 56-3 thumping of Edinburgh. Joseph displayed many touches of class throughout, his hand-off on Duhan van der Merwe and offload to Machenaud for his try was sublime. He topped off an impressive performance scoring a try of his own.
9. Faf de Klerk (Sale Sharks)
This was as tough a call as the other half back position. Racing’s Maxime Machenaud was excellent along with Lyon’s Baptiste Couilloud. However, de Klerk was a class above the rest this weekend. His kicking game was terrific, but what stood out most was his work rate defensively. He repeatedly flew out of the line to pressurise the Scarlets, forcing mistakes and casuing panic in the West Walians in a landslide victory for the Sharks.
10. AJ MacGinty (Sale Sharks)
There were some terrific performances from several Fly Halves this weekend. None more so than MacGinty’s 32-point haul in Sale’s demolition of the Scarlets in Llanelli. The USA international also kicked 11 from 11 and orchestrated the Sharks attack. As if scoring 32 points wasn’t enough, he also made 12 tackles, the most of any Sale player. French pair Romain Ntamack and Matthieu Jalibert both deserve an honourable mention, pulling out stellar performances. Ntamack was a nuisance for the Munster defence and was very strong in the air, while Jalibert played beyond his years with a masterclass in control and game management. However, MacGinty’s flawless record off the tee edges it.
11. Matthis Lebel (Toulouse)
The 22-year-old has been in scintillating form in the Top14 this season scoring 12 tries. He showed his ability this weekend with a brilliant finish after a perfectly weighted kick from Romain Ntamack. Also, his sidestep to sit down JJ Hanrahan to set up Antoine Dupont’s try was sensational, deserving a place in this team for that alone.
12 Levani Botia (La Rochelle)
The Fijian has it all, great footwork, a terrific offloading game, along with brute force. His offload to set up Arthur Retière’s try was terrific. He carried well, repeatedly crossing the gain line and chipped in defensively winning two turnovers.
13. Remi Lamerat (Bordeaux-Begles)
Played with the number 12 on his back, he had to deal with one of the most prolific centres in world rugby in Semi Radrada. He nullified the Fijians threat pretty well alongside centre partner Pablo Uberti. However, the French International stood out with his effective ball carrying by crossing the gain line on many occasions.
14. Teddy Thomas (Racing 92)
Thomas once again showed what a lethal finisher he is in Racing’s thumping of Edinburgh. He had a relatively quiet first half before proving his worth in the second, crossing for two tries. He offered himself as a ball carrier numerous times to give his team front foot ball. A special mention to Munster winger Keith Earls who also scored twice this weekend, one a terrific finish, but he was just edged out by Thomas for me.
15. Dillyn Leyds (La Rochelle)
The South African was an ever-present attacking threat for the French outfit. He grabbed himself an early try with some good support work and made 86 metres in an impressive performance before being replaced due to a head injury.
by Tobias Hunt
Tobias' Sports Journalism Blog 