Champions Cup Team of the Week
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Champions Cup Team of the Week
After another action packed weekend of rugby in Europe, we take a look at the big performers of the weekend and who impressed us the most.
It would be a shame if Eddie Jones isn't taking a look at Elliot Daly for this year's 6 Nations. A string of impressive performances for Wasps this season and his versatility surely have put him in contention. Unlucky to suffer defeat against Bath.
1. Eddy Ben Arous
Dan Carter may have stole the show for Racing in an impressive win over Northampton this weekend but Arous showed the raw power & strength that he has in his locker with a try and hard work around the field for his team mates.
2. Rory Best
The hooker showed his leadership qualities on Friday night leading Ulster to a thumping 36-0 win over Toulouse at the Kingspan. This was the first time the 4 time Champions have been kept scoreless in Europe and Best's hard shift contributed to this.
3. Ben Tameifuna
The All Black showed his class at the weekend bursting holes in the Saints' defence all day with hard ball carrying. His bump and one handed offload for Dulin's try was the cherry on top of an impressive performance.
4. Maro Itoje
Eddie Jones will be sure to be looking at this young talent in the lead up to the 6 Nations as his stock rises with performances like this in Europe. Standing in at lock rather than backrow this weekend was a show of his versatility and talent at such a young age.
5. Joe Launchberry
Launchberry will be dispappointed with the late performance to Bath on Sunday but an impressive individual performance will be slight consolation for the English second rower.
6. Steffon Armitage
Two tries & causing Leinster havoc at the breakdown can be added to Armitage's performance at the weekend. It's hard to see how England are playing without this man for the foreseeable future but rules are rules I guess.
7. Francois Louw
The springbok has an engine that never seems to stop, coming out the better in a southern hemisphere battle with George Smith. A win over their premiership rivals Wasps is always a good day at the office.
8. Thomas Waldrom
Exeter's massive win over Clermont was one of the biggest talking points of the weekend and no.8 Waldrom was a massive performer in Exeter's win with a brace against the Auvergne based side.
9. Ruan Pienaar
It was tough to leave out Leicester's Ben Youngs after his performance against Munster but Pienaar showed his value and class against Toulouse on Friday. Controlling play from the fulcrum of every ruck and setting up a lovely try with a cross field kick were the moments that find him a place in our team of the week.
10. Dan Carter
What World Cup hangover? In his first game for Racing Metro & his first game since New Zealand's triumph over the Wallabies in Twickenham, Dan Carter showed everyone why he is rugby's first £1 million man. A man of the match performance in a win over Northampton on your debut isn't exactly a bad start.
11. Taqele Naiyaravoro
This was an easy call, a hattrick and some devastating runs with ball in hand showed us what all the fuss over this Fijian monster is.
12. Elliot Daly
It would be a shame if Eddie Jones isn't taking a look at Elliot Daly for this year's 6 Nations. A string of impressive performances for Wasps this season and his versatility surely have put him in contention. Unlucky to suffer defeat against Bath.
13. Jack Nowell
Another young English man who is impressing in the lead up to the 6 Nations. A strong showing at an unfamiliar role at centre will do his reputation with Eddie Jones no harm.
14. Olly Woodburn
A late addition to Exeter's starting lineup showed balance and consistency in his performance against Clermont with strong showings in attack and defence. Maybe Bath will regret letting him go if he continues to impress.
15. Alex Goode
Goode was creative in attack for Saracens against Oyonnax in their first home game of this year's Champions Cup. Could he give Mike Browne a run for his money for the England no.15 shirt in the next few months?
