Europe’s premier competition returned with a number of impressive results over the weekend, as the PRO12 dominated.
Those big wins for Munster, Leinster, Ulster and Glasgow Warriors didn’t go unnoticed with all four teams well represented in this week’s XV.
See who made the cut below.
Fullback: Leigh Halfpenny (Toulon)
Wales full-back Halfpenny scored a try and was inch-perfect from the tee with 11 points as Toulon recorded a 31-20 bonus-point victory against Scarlets.
Wing: Sean Maitland (Saracens)
The Scotland flyer touched down a deserved brace in his Sarries thrashing of Sale Sharks at Allianz Park.
Centre: Luke Marshall (Ulster)
Centre: Kurtley Beale (Wasps)
Seven months on the sidelines, then a try after just seven minutes – Beale certainly knows how to make an entrance. He was also named man of the match despite a yellow card
Wing: Timoci Nagusa (Montpellier)
Fly-half: Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors)
The Scot was named the man of the match after Glasgow’s historic 23-14 win against Racing 92 in Paris. Russell had an all-around inch-perfect performance and contributed 13 points to his team’s tally with three penalties and two conversions.
Scrum-half: Conor Murray (Munster)
The best scrum-half in the world on current form undoubtedly. Murray had another sublime outing against Leicester with two superb try-assists.
Prop: Jack McGrath (Leinster)
Hooker: Jamie George (Hooker)
Prop: Tadhg Furlong (Leinster)
Since being linked with a Lions spot, Furlong has gone from strength to strength with a series of phenominal performances.
Lock: Maro Itoje (Saracens)
The second-row hasn’t taken long to get back to his best; dominant in the lineout and aggressive in the carry.
Lock: Jonny Gray (Glasgow Warriors)
Following an outstanding Autumn, Gray took his form into the Champions Cup clash with Racing 92. The Scot made an incredible 19 tackles in one of the standout defensive performances of the weekend. He’s right now a must for the 2017 British & Irish Lions.
Flanker: Iain Henderson (Ulster)
Flanker: Simone Favaro (Glasgow Warriors)
Italian international Favaro was relentless in defence as Glasgow recorded their famous win in Paris.
Number 8: CJ Stander (Munster)
Stander was named Man of the Match in Munster’s 38-0 win over Leicester, largely thanks to his strong ball carrying with 18 runs.
