After a busy opening weekend, who makes our Gallagher Premiership Team of the Week? Unsurprisingly, Bristol and Harlequins stars headline our selection...
Gallagher Premiership Team of the Week
Fullback: Aaron Morris (Harlequins)
With Mike Brown deployed on the wing it was up to 23-year-old Morris to run the game from fullback. He carried superbly and established a good chemistry with new signing, winger Nathan Earle.
Winger: Luke Morahan (Bristol Rugby)
With Charles Piutau out of action, winger Luke Morahan stepped up to the task and delivered as Bristol defeated Bath in the opening match of the new season
It was a moment of magic from Morahan that sealed the win for Pat Lam's side. Picking the ball up just outside the 22, Morahan nipped between two Bath defenders before off-loading to Alapati Leiua, who crossed for the game-clinching score.
Centre: Joe Marchant (Harlequins)
Centre: Ben Tapuai (Harlequins)
The Australian centre, who made the switch from Bath during the summer, led Quins in clean breaks (three) and defenders beaten (six) and was in the right place to finish off two team moves in the first half.
Winger: Alex Lewington (Saracens)
Joining from London Irish in the summer, the speedster came on during the opening 40 to score his first Saracens try with his first touch of the ball before diving over for a second in the second half.
Lewington is probably the best uncapped English winger in the Gallagher Premiership.
Fly-half: Danny Cipriani (Gloucester)
The fly-half put his off-field problems behind him as he played a crucial role in helping his new Gloucester side to an opening round 27-16 victory at Kingsholm, also receiving the man of the match award from BT Sport.
Cipriani brilliantly orchestrated Gloucester’s attacks and showcased his sublime talent with a flick of those golden wrists for a sumptuous long pass that set up Charlie Sharples a try.
An honourable mention to Harlequins Marcus Smith for his 26 points against Sale Sharks.
Scrum-half: Danny Care (Harlequins)
Back to his best. He had magic in his hands all afternoon but his pass to Marcus Smith for his try particularly stood out for us.
Prop: Val Rapava-Ruskin (Gloucester) -
While Cipriani took the headlines, Rapava-Ruskin was also deserving of the plaudits after his storming display.
He also came out on top in his enthralling head-to-head battle - against two-time New Zealand World Cup winner Ben Franks no less - as the Georgian-born loose-head exerted his authority in the scrum.
Hooker: Jamie George (Saracens)
The England hooker was in fine form, scoring a great try in the first half before making the crucial break for the match-winning try for the reigning champions in the closing stages at Kingston Park.
Bristol's Harry Thacker was a close second after his superb debut against Bath on Friday night.
Prop: Will Stuart (Wasps)
Wasps academy product Stuart enjoyed a meteoric breakthrough season last campaign, making his Premiership debut and scoring against La Rochelle on his Champions Cup debut.
The tighthead stepped up once again on Saturday against Worcester in the scrum and was exceptional around the pitch, putting himself about.
New signing and England international Kieran Brookes will have a difficult time displacing him in this sort of form.
Lock: Chris Vui (Bristol)
A contender for man of the match against Bath. Journalists in the Ashton Gate press box gasped at just how mobile and active the Samoa captain was.
He was a prime ball carrier and seemed to get over the gain line on a regular basis as Bristol kicked off their season with a somewhat shock victory.
Lock: Will Skelton (Saracens)
15kg lighter, the powerhouse (yes still) looked almost unrecognisably lean yet was the deserved man of the match as Sarries overcame Newcastle.
He carried relentlessly, putting the reigning champions on the front foot consistently, while he remained a reliable line-out option as always. A different animal.
Flanker: Steve Luatua (Bristol Rugby)
The skipper came up big in the biggest game he has played since making the switch from the Blues.
In the post match press conference Lam said he made Luatua skipper because it brings the best out of him and he was not wrong here.
He was a one man wrecking ball in the first half with every other tackle he made dislodging the ball due to the ferocity.
Flanker: Matt Kvesic (Exeter Chiefs)
Kvesic, so long the coming man and recently in danger of becoming the forgotten, rediscovered his best form as he shone for the Chiefs as they smashed Leicester Tigers.
The renowned defensive work was in evidence as ever but here Kvesic brandished an attacking dimension to his game, his breaks paving the way for both Exeter’s first-half scores and his close-quarter physicality earning the fifth for himself.
Number 8: Sam Simmonds (Exeter Chiefs)
Like Kvesic he tore it up against the Tigers on Saturday. The man is everywhere - and looks to have beefed up a little.
Eddie Jones will be pleased with what he saw from the young number eight this weekend.
