RUCK’s Team of the Weekend: The best from Round Two of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup
Rugby NewsMonday, 23 October 2017 at 09:26
The cream of the crop from the Champions and Challenge Cup's combine in our latest team of the week.
Fullback: Stuart Hogg (Glasgow Warriors)
The Scotsman, whose last appearance was with the Lions in New Zealand, was making his long-anticipated return from injury and impressed with a superb try. Despite his standout performance, Leinster were the worthy 34-18 winners up at Scotstoun.
Honourable mentions: Telusa Veainu (Leicester Tigers), Anthony Watson (Bath), Blair Kinghorn (Edinburgh), Charles Piutau (Ulster)
Wing: Liam Williams (Saracens)
The Welsh wing-wizard makes our team for the second week in a row after a dazzling performance as Saracens edged past Ospreys at Allianz Park. Williams, who made 100 metres in the match, took his try superbly off a sensational Nick Tompkins offload. He is one of the best in the world.
HM: Tommy Seymour (Glasgow Warriors)
Centre: Robbie Henshaw (Leinster)
The Ireland centre has stepped up as a real leader this season. He followed up an outstanding performance against Montpellier last weekend with another all-action display. Didn't have the best Lions tour, but is getting back to his best in the run-up to the Autumn Internationals.
HM: Matt Toomua (Leicester Tigers), Sam James (Sale Sharks)
Centre: Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs)
Slade did his England hopes no harm with another all-round performance. Carried the ball powerfully, showed the usual sleight of hand in attack, made his tackles and lit up the first half with a classy outside break. Started at 13, but we need him in our XV.
Wing: Christian Wade (Wasps)
The Wasps speedster played an influential role in his side getting back to winning ways against Harlequins with two tries. The pace he displayed for the first try was just phenomenal. Surely has to be on Eddie Jones radar.
HM: Chris Wyles (Saracens), Topsy Ojo (London Irish), Jonny May (Leicester Tigers), Nemani Nadolo Montpellier)
Fly-half: Johnny Sexton (Leinster)
Johnny Sexton, back in the Leinster starting fifteen having recovered from injury, put in a world-class display ad they overcame Glasgow. The Ireland outhalf was heavily involved in play throughout, kicking two penalties and two conversions, as well as getting in on the tries himself early in the second half. Also backed his forwards with some right decisions to turn down a kick at posts in favour for the corner which paid off.
HM: Charlie Cassang (Clermont), Dan Biggar (Ospreys), Finn Russell (Glasgow Warriors), Ian McKinley (Treviso), Rhys Priestland (Bath), Toby Flood (Newcastle Falcons)
Scrum-half: Conor Murray (Munster)
A gripping battle with Racing was swung in Munster's favour when Conor Murray blocked a kick on halfway before collecting the bobbling ball to run in a superb try. The try changed the momentum of the game, which finished 14-7 to the Irish province. He has to be one of the best No.9's in the world.
HM: Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers), Kahn Fotuali'I (Bath)
Prop: Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
The loosehead continues to press his claims for a place in the England squad for the Autumn Internationals with another imposing display as Leicester overcame a disjointed Castres. Solid scrummaging, powerful drives and a number of monstrous tackles made him a man of the match contender when he was replaced on the hour.
HM: Cian Healy (Leinster), David Kilcoyne (Munster)
Hooker: Benjamin Kayser (Clermont)
The Clermont had a really enjoyable tussle with Saints hooker Dylan Hartley, and definitely came out on top. Kayser also had a busy afternoon as he was the only English speaker, meaning he had to spend more time then he would have liked translating Ben Whitehouse's many lectures.
HM: Sean Cronin (Leinster), Ashley Johnson (Wasps)
Prop: Tadhg Furlong (Leinster)
A prop has NEVER won World Player of the Year. There is legitimately no reason why the Ireland, Leinster and Lions tighthead shouldn't be in the running after an outstanding year so far. Furlong's performance against Warriors once again highlighted his brute force in the scrum while he was, as always, a menace at the breakdown.
Lock: Scott Fardy (Leinster)
The Australia flanker was exceptional for Leinster. Not only was he doing the heavy lifting with some big carries and big tackles but he also produced a wonderful behind the body pass that totally caught out the Glasgow defence and allowed Sexton to go over for his try.
HM: Tom Savage (Gloucester), Cory Hill (Dragons)
Lock: Jonny Hill (Exeter Chiefs)
Hill gets the nod for his defensive and carrying abilities against Montpellier. Put in a enormous shift around the pitch and tackled his heart out. He's looklike the the latest future England international to come out of the Chiefs academy.
HM: Api Ratuniyarawa (Northampton)
Flanker Don Armand (Exeter Chiefs)
Like teammate Hill, the back-rower led the brave defence for the Chiefs and carried well. Two good short-range finishes for his tries, but it was his dominant defence and constant presence in the loose that really caught the eye. He's pushing to be part of Eddie Jones plans in the Autumn.
HM: Courtney Lawes (Northampton), Rhys Ruddock (Leinster)
Flanker: Sam Underhill (Bath)
Surely soon to be an England regular, Underhill put in another highly physical display as Bath recorded an unexpected away win again the reigning PRO12 champions Scarlets. As well as utterly dominating the breakdown, he demonstrated tremendous pace, athleticism and clever hands in perhaps is best Bath performance to date. Eddie WILL be calling.
HM: Julian Salvi (Exeter Chiefs), Kevin Gourdon (La Rochelle), Sam Cross (Ospreys)
Number 8: Fritz Lee (Clermont)
The Samoan powerhouse posted a week high 21 tackles as Clermont powered past Northampton on Saturday. Lee, who was making his 100th appearance for the yellow army, also scored a try off the back of the scrum in the first half.
HM: Taulupe Faletau (Bath), Nick Williams (Cardiff Blues), Victor Vito (La Rochelle), Nathan Hughes (Wasps)
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- Jordie Barrett over Damian de Allende is far from being correct. The hype around Dupont is also overreaching, he's probably 4th in the world and has been since the 2023 WC. He also avoids certain matchups which is strange. The rest of the list is pretty good apart from minor subjective biases.JasonMarlow16-09-2026
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