Now that the dust has settled after Round Six of the Aviva Premiership and Guinness Pro 12, we select the players that stood out over the weekend.
Fullback: Telusa Veainu (Leicester Tigers)
Veainu scored the try of the match as Leicester overcame Worcester 34-13 at Welford Road.
The Tongan full-back produced a phenomenal mazy run from inside his own half to score spectacularly. The Warriors defence were left grasping at thin air.
Wing: Marland Yarde (Harlequins)
The winger auditioned well for the vacant England No 14 shirt, picking clever lines in attack while showing good intensity in defence.
Centre: Jonathan Joseph (Bath Rugby)
Joseph produced an eye-catching display to help Bath to their fifth win in six matches under new director of rugby Todd Blackadder.
The centre marked his return to action after two weeks out with a dead leg by setting up Bath’s opening try for Matt Banahan with a neatly angled run before almost creating another with a testing grubber kick.
Centre: Robbie Henshaw (Leinster)
Wing: Cian Kelleher (Connacht)
The winger also made 124 metres off 15 carries, which included five clean breaks, four defenders beaten and an offload tossed in for good measure.
Newport’s Hallam Amos also impressed as he almost orchestrated a derby upset against Scarlets.
Fly-half: Sam Davies (Ospreys)
Just overshadowed Leinster’s Johnny Sexton to claim his place in the XV with a superb showing against Cardiff Blues in the Welsh derby.
The young fly-half, who beat Dan Biggar to the No.10 jersey, put in a stellar performance as the Ospreys hit Cardiff Blues for seven.
Such was Davies’ display that he still stood out despite missing three shots at goal.
Scrum-half: Kahn Fotuali’i (Bath Rugby)
Prop: Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
Hooker: Dave Heffernan (Connacht)
Prop: Kyle Sinckler (Harlequins)
Sinckler led the charge as Harlequins beat Saints 20-7 at the Stoop on Saturday.
The 23-year-old was a brutish bowling ball of bosh. In the loose he was brilliant, smashing through defences before eventually having to retire with 10 minutes to go, all his energy spent.
It is rare that a tight-head prop has such an influence but Sinckler fully deserved his man of the match accolade.
Lock: Maro Itoje (Saracens)
Lock: Dave Attwood (Bath Rugby)
Flanker: Ross Moriarty (Gloucester Rugby)
Flanker: Schalk Burger (Saracens)
Number 8: Ally Hogg (Newcastle Falcons)
