Five England Lads Smash It in Our Premiership Team of the Week for Round 5!

.

Newcastle set the tone for the incredible weekend of sporting drama, with Steve Diamond's side getting off the mark with a victory over Exeter Chiefs. A brace from hooker Jamie Blamire put the nail in the coffin for the men from Devon, handing Chiefs their fifth league defeat in a row - their worst ever start to a Premiership season. Northampton Saints and Sale Sharks battled it out alongside the triumph in the North East, with Tommy Freeman starring at centre in a strong win for the green, black and golds.

Saturday's action saw two nail-biting fixtures play out back-to-back, as there was late drama at Ashton Gate and the Twickenham Stoop. Both sets of visiting sides snatched late victories, with Saracens stealing a last-ditch win over Bristol by the boot of Alex Lozowski, to silence the regularly rowdy West Country crowd. Bath followed suit with Francois van Wyk's match-winning try, to wrap up a dramatic win in South West London for the blue, black and whites.

Sunday's fixture was another high scorer, and despite the best efforts of Gloucester's hat-trick hero Max Llewellyn, Leicester Tigers clawed a way back for a win at Welford Road. So, who makes it into Ruck's Team of the Week, after such a drama-fuelled round of the Gallagher Premiership. Here are our picks for the top performers of each position, from the fifth round.

Friday: Newcastle Falcons 24 - 18 Exeter Chiefs / Northampton Saints 47 - 17 Sale Sharks

Saturday: Bristol Bears 35 - 37 Saracens / Harlequins 24 - 26 Bath Rugby

Sunday: Leicester Tigers 29 - 26 Gloucester Rugby

Bristol Bears reporter Ben Thorne watched on, as Saracens sealed a dramatic win over at Ashton Gate, with England star Elliot Daly at the forefront of the action. "Daly was immense in everything that he did today and earned himself man of the match. 

"He managed the backfield brilliantly throughout the game and stepped into the first receiver role during Alex Goode’s yellow card period.  The full back also showcased his attacking ability on numerous occasions, he finished his tries brilliantly in the second half and was instrumental in the setting up of Rotimi Segun’s try in the first.  Daly should 100% be in the team of the week this week."

Harlequins wing Rodrigo Isgro was a minute away from the debut of dreams, before Bath stole their glory with a last-gasp try. Isgro was on top form for his first run out in the famous Harlequins quarters, and certainly impressed his new head coach Danny Wilson. After the match, Wilson said:

“Excellent. I thought, you know, considering he’s had a one training week. Really the Saracens week, he did a little bit, but that was his first time in the building. So on this week, he trained fully, only a six day turnaround, and went out and really pleased with his first game. He’s a great character. He’s fit in really well, but I think we saw a fair amount of what he’s capable of, which is exciting.”

There were plenty of top candidates for the outside centre jersey this week, as England talents Tommy Freeman and Alex Lozowski both starred in the 13 shirt. Lozowski's match winning penalty in the final kick of the match was a cold as ice, as he turned away after striking the ball and walked into the arms of his delighted teammates. Freeman starred for Saints at 13, and provided England head coach Steve Borthwick with a viable option should Henry Slade not return in time for the Autumn Tests.

However, we've awarded the Team of the Week spot to Max Llewellyn, with the Gloucester man taking it upon himself to bring the fight to Leicester Tigers single-handedly. Llewellyn crossed over for an impressive hat-trick, yet the Cherry and Whites could not rally upon his efforts any further on the front foot.

Stepping up to start after initially not being named in the match day 23, Bath midfielder Will Butt provided the emergency response required from Johann van Graan. Butt entered the fray shortly before kick-off, as Cameron Redpath dropped out with a tight leg muscle. Butt went on to have a storming match at the Stoop, and was ever present in the attack.

“He (Redpath) should be back in next week." Van Graan said. "And then again, it’s just next man. I thought Will Butt was excellent tonight. And we had a bit of sickness in in camp just before the game, and it’s just about getting the job done. So. Really proud of this, this playing group.”

Joining his Saracens teammate in the Team of the Week's back three, Rotimi Segun was a solid performer in the Londoners dramatic win at Ashton Gate. Segun racked up an impressive 81m with the ball in hand, and crossed over for a significant try to keep Sarries in the match. Segun was unleashed upon the Bristolian defence, as every single won of his 10 carries asked questions of Pat Lam's side.

Watching on at Franklin's Gardens was Ruck's Northampton Saints Reporter Ben Grundy, who was impressed by the efforts of the England fly half: "Great kicking throughout the game found vulnerabilities in Sharks’ defence. He unlocked the northern side many a time allowing for his teammates to put seven tries past Sale."

Having observed the performance of the Bristol Bears scrum half, Ruck's Ben Thorne wrote: "Harry Randall was selected in Steve Borthwick’s England squad this week and he justified his position very well today.  He played the role of scrum half perfectly, running fantastic cheat lines to get on the end of Bristol breaks out in the wide channels.  Randall played from all over the park as is inline with the way that the Bears play but he also kicked the ball well in the second half, putting pressure on the Saracens line-out."

Harry Randall was certainly one of the best players on the pitch this afternoon, as he is often and his coach Pat Lam was delighted with his scrum half’s performance today. The Bears Director of Rugby said: "I think he’s in hot form, he plays brilliantly within our structure and gives us so much quick ball which is instrumental to our attack."

Johann van Graan took note of his South African roots, as he unleashed the 'Bath Bomb Squad' upon Harlequins to turn the tide in the second half. The introduction of South African props Thomas du Toit and Francois van Wyk were critical to winning momentum against the run of play, as the two towering front rowers overwhelmed Quins at scrum-time. Van Wyk gets the nod for our squad, after then powering over from close range to score the match winning try.

An integral part of Newcastle's first win in the Premiership since March of 2023, was England hopeful hooker Jamie Blamire. The front rower put in an astounding effort against the Chiefs, as he twice muscled his way over the try-line. Watching the match was Ruck Reporter Jordan Jones, who said;

"Jamie Blamire scored two tries in a mesmerising display for the Falcons. The England international added himself to the short list of hookers to score a brace in a Premiership game. The driving ability of Newcastle's pack was too much foe Exeter, and Blamire was the man at the forefront of such a power."

The tight-head spot was a tricky one to chose this week, with Bath Bomb Squad member Thomas du Toit firmly in for contention. The Springbok's replacement appearence helped fizzle out Harlequins, yet we have given the accolade to Northampton Saints tight-head Trevor Davison. Davison was a workhorse in the win over Sale Sharks, and was evidently out to prove his worth to Steve Borthwick for the Autumn, following his recent call-up to the England camp.

4. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens) 

Ben Thorne gave his thoughts on Nick Isiekwe's performance, as the England lock made a milestone appearence for Saracens. "Isiekwe came off the bench this afternoon to make his 150^th appearance for Saracens and certainly made an impact when he came onto the field.  He was supremely physical during his period on the pitch and stood up as a real leader to the younger players on the field.

Saracens Director of Rugby Mark McCall then said: “Isiekwe was immense today, when he came onto the field I thought he made a real impact on the game and was probably one of the main reasons why we came back to win.”

Harlequins resident no-nonsense hard hitter had an early arrival off the bench, as Italian international Dino Lamb suffered a head knock. Lamb's head injury was a significant one, as the lock was not given the opportunity to return to the pitch, following a bypass of the HIA. Irne Herbst had a solid introduction, as he battled valiantly around the breakdown and was influential in Harlequins resolved defensive effort for the majority of the match. His three carries dug in for the hard yards, as a safe option to recycle the ball.

Despite playing on the openside for most of Saracens match against Bristol, we hand Toby Knight the six jersey. This is due to Sam Underhill being immovable from the seven spot, yet Knight impressed with strong versatility across the back row. Ben Thorne was impressed with what he saw from the young back row, and wrote the following from Ashton Gate.

"Knight was instrumental in Saracens phase play, doing a lot of hard unseen work throughout the match. The 22-year old flanker was brilliant either side of the ball, coming up with multiple turnovers in defence and carrying the ball physically.  Knight even managed to get on the scoresheet as he crashed over in the 16^th minute."

Sam Underhill set the tone of the afternoon, as he came crashing into Will Evans off the first line-out. The England back row was at his blistering best in blue, black and white, with bruising hits that left his opponents feeling the affects of their collisions.

Underhill's stand out hit of his 11-tackle effort was on Marcus Smith, with the Harlequins fly half folded up like a deck chair after carrying the ball high to the line. Underhill expressed how he even apologised to the England fly half after the hit, with all eyes turning towards the collective effort England face ahead of their All Blacks Test next month.

Rounding off the XV for Ruck's Team of the Week for Round Five of the Premiership, Fitz Harding was on brilliant form for Bristol, despite having the win pulled away from him at the last moment. Harding led from the front with a hat-trick against Saracens, and after the match his Director of Rugby Pat Lam was on hand to provide his analysis on the Bears back row. Reflecting on Harding’s performance, Lam summed up his performance, simply saying "he’s a winner, he’s a competitor, he’s a fighter, overall he is absolutely outstanding and today he showed that'"

Here’s a look at five players who’ll be hoping for a quick turnaround after a tough weekend on the pitch.

Exeter Chiefs were left reeling as Newcastle Falcons snapped their 25-match losing streak with a 25-18 win. Tuima, who’s been in the conversation for England, had a day to forget.

His biggest issue? Giving away careless penalties in the middle of the field. These gave Newcastle perfect opportunities to kick for the corner, setting up camp in Exeter’s half and ultimately piling on the pressure. For Tuima, this was definitely one of those "could’ve done better" days.

It was a rough week for Roots. Dropped from the England squad ahead of the Autumn internationals, the flanker had a chance to make a statement against Newcastle. But instead, his frustrations got the better of him.

A reckless late hit on Falcons fly-half Grayson gave away a penalty at a crucial moment, allowing Newcastle to relieve the pressure and gain valuable ground. Petulant moments like this won’t win you points in the England selection room.

Fresh off a hat-trick last weekend, Ibitoye was flying high. But Saracens brought him crashing back down to earth with a thrilling 37-35 win at Ashton Gate. Ibitoye’s downfall?

A reckless yellow card for twice taking Daly out when he wasn’t involved, followed by a moment of madness when he drove over a ruck and played Gareth Simpson’s arm, giving away the penalty that allowed Saracens to win it with a last-gasp kick. Risky play, and this time it backfired.

Gloucester’s lineout issues continued despite focused training this week. England hooker Jack Singleton had a tough time at Welford Road, with multiple lineouts picked off by the Tigers.

Despite a brilliant hat-trick from Max Llewellyn, Singleton’s set-piece struggles were part of the reason Gloucester couldn’t hold onto their 11-point half-time lead. A frustrating day for the hooker.

Mercer has been one of Gloucester’s standout players this season, but even he couldn’t leave his mark in their narrow loss to Leicester.

The number eight had a relatively quiet afternoon by his own high standards, with only one truly eye-catching run to his name. For a player with England ambitions, he’ll be hoping for a much bigger impact next time out.

Spoiler alert: it’s not a Welshman. In fact, there’s not a single Welsh player in the entire lineup! Care and fellow former England international Mark Atkinson have chosen a squad packed with English and Irish stars, leaving the Welsh out in the cold.

Williams was the only Welsh name brought up on Care's Hits Different podcast, with Atkinson saying, “I’ve seen a big impact from him joining Gloucester. He’s got 40-odd Wales caps [58 now], and if there’s one Welsh player to make the tour, it’s him.” But even that wasn't enough to earn him a place in their Lions XV.

Care, meanwhile, was clear in his verdict: Ireland’s Jamison Gibson-Park is "the best scrum-half" around, with Alex Mitchell close behind. Sorry, Tomos!

The surprises didn’t stop there – Care and Atkinson picked England’s Marcus Smith over Scotland's Finn Russell at No. 10, while the midfield saw a bruising combination of Ireland’s Bundee Aki and England’s Ollie Lawrence.

Another shocker? The Cardiff-born Immanuel Feyi-Waboso made the wing, alongside Scotland’s Duhan van der Merwe. And, to cap it all off, England’s George Furbank took the full-back spot over Ireland's Hugo Keenan

15. George Furbank: An agile fullback known for his versatility and impressive kicking game, Furbank has made a name for himself with his ability to read the game and contribute in attack and defense.

14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso: A rising star in the rugby scene, Feyi-Waboso is recognized for his explosive speed and powerful running style, making him a significant threat on the wing.

13. Ollie Lawrence: A dynamic centre with a strong physical presence, Lawrence excels in breaking tackles and creating space for his teammates, contributing both defensively and offensively.

12. Bundee Aki: A seasoned centre known for his robust tackling and strong ball-carrying abilities, Aki brings experience and leadership to the midfield, often acting as a key playmaker.

11. Duhan van der Merwe: A powerful wing with a knack for scoring tries, van der Merwe combines size with speed, making him a difficult player to stop in one-on-one situations.

10. Marcus Smith: A talented fly-half known for his creativity and tactical awareness, Smith is adept at orchestrating play and has a keen eye for gap opportunities in the defense.

9. Jamison Gibson-Park: A sharp and agile scrum-half, Gibson-Park is recognised for his quick decision-making and ability to control the pace of the game, making him a vital link between forwards and backs.

1. Ellis Genge: A formidable loosehead prop with a strong scrummaging technique, Genge is also known for his ball-carrying abilities and aggression in the contact area.

2. Jamie George: An experienced hooker, George is a key figure in the scrum and lineout, combining technical skill with strong leadership qualities, often serving as a stabilizing force in the forward pack.

3. Tadhg Furlong: One of the world's premier tighthead props, Furlong is renowned for his scrummaging prowess and ability to contribute to open play, showcasing exceptional athleticism for his position.

4. Maro Itoje: A dynamic lock with exceptional physicality and athleticism, Itoje is a key defensive player, known for his ability to disrupt opposition ball and make crucial tackles.

5. Tadhg Beirne: A versatile forward capable of playing both lock and flanker, Beirne is recognized for his work rate, breakdown skills, and ability to contribute to the team's attacking play.

6. Courtney Lawes: A powerful and athletic second-row, Lawes is known for his aggressive tackling and leadership on the field, providing both physical presence and strategic insight to the team.

7. Josh van der Flier: A tireless openside flanker, van der Flier is known for his exceptional work rate and ability to make crucial turnovers, often leading the defensive efforts.

8. Caelan Doris (captain): As the captain of the team, Doris is a dynamic back-row player known for his physicality and leadership skills, playing a crucial role in both defense and attack, while also motivating his teammates.