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.