Team of the Week: Investec Champions Cup Round 2

After Munster were well-beaten on the road for the Champions Cup opener against Bath, the Irish side were able to restore the faith with a solid victory over another side from the English West Country. Mike Haley was paramount in Munster's impressive 31-3 drubbing of Gloucester, as the fullback crossed for a second half try that ignited the province's dominance across the latter 40 minutes.

Kicking off our entry to the number 14 slot, there is an honourable mention in store for a pair of PREM Rugby wings. Sale's Tom O'Flaherty and Northampton's Ollie Sleightholme both put in tremendous try-scoring performances in their respective wins over Clermont and the Bulls. However, we hand the wing spot to Stormers flyer Dylan Maart, as the South African sensation continues to rise through the ranks, as his brace-bagging efforts against La Rochelle included a try after just two minutes.

Whilst there was plenty for Sale to celebrate following their 35-14 win away to Clermont, it was an extra special occasion for midfielder Joe Bedlow. The 23-year-old notched a major career milestone as he made his Investec Champions Cup debut, as the former Caldy and Doncaster Knights loanee is steadily pushing to prominence within Alex Sanderson's set-up. Bedlow had a barnstorming outing in France, and capped off his maiden European venture with a well-taken try. There is an honourable mention to Ethan Hooker of the Sharks, who continues to make game-breaking strides towards an extended Springboks run.

The man of the hour in one of the Warriors' most memorable wins at Scotstoun Stadium. Glasgow pulled out all the stops to stun Stade Toulousain, as the Scottish side fought valiantly to achieve their 28-21 win, after the French visitors had raced to a 21-0 lead. In a match that witnessed Antoine Dupont returning to try-scoring ways, it was Sione Tuipulotu that shone brightest on the day. The Scottish bulldozer made his mark upon the Toulouse defence and upon the score-sheet, with a commanding performance as he marched his men on for a famous victory.

The ginger-haired highlight reel was back to his very best this past weekend, as George Hendy completed a marvellous hat-trick for Northampton Saints in their crushing win over the Bulls. It was hardly a contest against the rotated South African side, as Hendy contributed three of a total eight tries in the 50-5 win. Hendy was on fire for the men in green, black and gold, yet there is an honourable mention for his East Midlands rival Ollie Hassel-Collins. The Leicester man put in a solid performance in the Tigers' losing effort to Leinster at Welford Road.

The number 10 jersey could have gone to one of several outstanding fly halves this week, with a solid cohort of honourable mentions to work through. Marcus Smith pulled the strings for Harlequins' biggest ever Champions Cup win, whilst Stormers 10 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu reminded once again why he is the future of South African rugby. Adam Hastings also starred for Glasgow, yet we've backed Matthieu Jalibert of Bordeuax after he scored two tries and slotted a further nine points in the demolition job on the Scarlets. Jalibert looks in poll position for an extended run in the French 10 jersey should he keep this flying form rolling into the 2026 Six Nations.

We look to Leinster now for the entry at scrum-half, with Ireland international Jamison Gibson-Park taking the spot for the second round's Team of the Week. Gibson-Park was at his electric best in Leinster's tough trip to Welford Road, as the halfback kept the tempo high and even skipped free for a try in the Tiger's den. JGP looks set for another international campaign at the helm of the back-line, with performances like this set to keep Munster nine Craig Casey at bay upon the bench.

Looking to the forward pack now, we've handed the number one shirt to arguably the most in-form loose-head prop in the world right now. England front row Ellis Genge continues upon his rampant run of top performances, with the Baby Rhino back at his stampeding best for the Bears. Prolific scrummaging made short work of Section Paloise's forward offensive, with Genge delighted to also be unleashed for some cascading runs through the battered down French defenses.

A tough one to call this week, as a good few hookers had stand-out performances for their respective sides. Dan Sheehan answered Leinster's call for a late winning effort, as the Ireland hooker exploded off the bench to bag the crucial score against Leicester. Bongi Mbonambi also returned to his top form, with the Springboks man eyeing up an international return for the 2026 Nations Championship. However, we have handed the two slot to Sam Riley, as the Harlequin crossed for two tries against Bayonne, and ran out an all-round star making effort at scrum-time and with an accurate dart at the line-out.

Re-united in the front row with his former England teammate Ellis Genge, Kyle Sinckler takes the tight-head slot for our Team of the Week. Sinckler showed England fans what they were missing this past weekend, as the 68-capped prop starred in Touloun's triumph over Bath. Sinckler out-scrummed his opposite man Beno Obano to establish Toulon's dominant field presence, and also provided some of his fabled neat touches to unleash the French sides' flying outside backs. It was a tough 45-34 loss for Bath to take on the road, with Sinckler immovable upon his 80-minute effort.

It was another class act from one of the world's best locks this past weekend, as Munster's Tadhg Beirne put in a commanding shift to see his side over the line in Cork. Beirne was tireless around the park, with a engine that constantly found the extra-gear for a clattering hit into the Cherry and White defensive line. Beirne's blue scrum cap was routinely spotted at the bottom of the rucks, before the second row fought his way across Gloucester's try-line for a statement try. The Lions' Man of the Series continues his top class form that rightfully landed him in World Rugby's Team of the Year.

We head back out to France for Tadhg Beirne's second row partner, with Brian Alaninu'uese of RC Toulon handed the honours of packing down the engine room this week. With an honourable mention in store for Glasgow's Scott Cummings, Alaninu'uese was a definitive physical presence that proved too much for the men in blue, black and white to contain. Bath were repeatedly met at the gain-line by the Samoan international, who wrapped up his afternoon with a well taken try and a solid showing at the set-piece.

We head down to Durban now, with Springboks captain Siya Kolisi the next name on our Team of the Week following his ever-present efforts in a sodden South African clash. The rain fell hard in Durban as the Sharks edged out Saracens in a real Champions Cup arm-wrestle, with Kolisi at the heart of the action with a tank-emptying shift against the North Londoners. Kolisi opened up the scoring after just three minutes in Kings Park, and despite the rumours of his upcoming move to Japan, wore his heart on his sleeve to guide the Sharks to victory.

We return to England for the final two entries for this week, with Benjamin Grondona taking the openside flanker slot following a brilliant display for Bristol. Grondona lit up Ashton Gate as the Bears made light work of Pau, with the Argentine unleashed for some wrecking ball carries against the Top 14 visitors. The Pumas man made a formidable back-row partnership with number eight Fitz Harding, and even got his name upon the ever-mounting score-sheet for the one-sided win in the West Country.

Last up, but by no means least, is the enigmatic Henry Pollock. The England sensation was once again a star attraction for Northampton Saints, as the East Midlanders enjoyed the partisan atmosphere of a dominant win in front of a packed-out Franklin's Gardens. Pollock was at the heart of the celebrations, thanks to his tireless work over the ball and blistering breaks through the battered Bulls defence. Pollock brought his usual spark to the fray which culminated in a try for the blonde-haired dynamo.