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Champions Cup XV of the Week - Round 1

By Alex Shaw
Joe Simpson celebrates his second try against Toulouse at Kingsholm. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

The Heineken Champions Cup returned this weekend to wake the northern hemisphere from its post-Rugby World Cup blues, and we have compiled our XV of the week from an entertaining opening round.

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With Saracens focusing their attentions elsewhere, English clubs continued to struggle in Europe, with Exeter Chiefs the notable exception, as they notched up a highly impressive 31-12 win over La Rochelle on France’s Atlantic coast. The Irish provinces prospered, with Ulster and Munster chalking up away wins over Bath and the Ospreys respectively, whilst Leinster held serve at home against Benetton and Connacht saw off French powerhouse Montpellier.

A number of French teams did put down markers, though, with Toulouse and Clermont in particular looking in rich veins of form. Lyon weren’t able to upset Northampton Saints at Franklin’s Gardens, however, with the East Midlands side adding a late silver lining for English fans.

  1. Thomas Ramos, Toulouse

The full-back not only provided Toulouse with an unerring source of points from the boot, he was safe at the back for the French side and was able to launch several probing counter-attacks. After a bright start by Gloucester, Ramos gradually and consistently brought Toulouse back into the game and put them in position to steal all four points.

Silver – Mike Haley, Munster

Bronze – Anthony Bouthier, Montpellier

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  1. Teddy Thomas, Racing 92

Thomas was equally clinical in attack as he was reliable in defence on Sunday afternoon. Playing outside of the impossible-to-contain Virimi Vakatawa, the wing was the adept finisher that Racing needed to see off the challenge of the reigning champions.

Silver – Semesa Rokoduguni, Bath

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Bronze – Andrew Conway, Munster

  1. Garry Ringrose, Leinster

Ringrose grabbed a hat-trick against Benetton and was pivotal for the province in what was a spirited display from their Italian opponents. He was clinical and efficient in all aspects of his play on Saturday and had to be, to see off the challenges of the two men below, both of whom were similarly impressive.

Silver – Sofiane Guitoune, Toulouse

Bronze – Henry Slade, Exeter Chiefs

  1. Romain Ntamack, Toulouse

It was another step forward in the burgeoning career of the young French playmaker. He mixed up his game nicely at inside centre, exploiting the space as a carrier when Gloucester’s defence allowed, as well as providing plenty of service to the incisive Guitoune outside of him. Ntamack’s growth mirrors the ever-more impressive Toulouse spine.

Silver – George Moala, Clermont

Bronze – Rory Scannell, Munster

  1. Alivereti Raka, Clermont

The Fijian-born wing ran rampant against Harlequins in Clermont’s return to the top table of European rugby. With the ball in his hands and popping up off of his wing, his speed, power and footwork were all too much for Quins to deal with defensively and he was fair value for his two tries.

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Silver – Arthur Retiere, La Rochelle

Bronze – Keith Earls, Munster

  1. Johnny Sexton, Leinster

There was no RWC fatigue on show from the veteran Irishman, as he led Leinster to a solid, albeit unspectacular win over Benetton. He guided the team around the park with trademark efficiency in attack and though the province didn’t quite fire on all cylinders, his influence was significant.

Silver – Joe Simmonds, Exeter Chiefs

Bronze – Finn Russell, Racing 92

  1. Joe Simpson, Gloucester

For a large portion of the game, it looked as though Gloucester would knock off the reigning French champions and the livewire sniping and high tempo play of Simpson was a big part of that. He helped put the Cherry and Whites in a position to win the game, albeit the English side lost control in the second half and began to gift Toulouse possession and penalties.

Silver – Cobus Reinach, Northampton Saints

Bronze – John Cooney, Ulster

  1. Raphael Chaume, Lyon

Both Chaume and his replacement Hamza Kaabeche gave young Ehren Painter a torrid time at the scrum at Franklin’s Gardens. Lyon didn’t really click on their trip to the East Midlands, although they were able to bloody Northampton’s nose at the scrum on multiple occasions, frequently led by their dominant looseheads.

Silver – Eddy Ben Arous, Racing 92

Bronze – Jeremy Loughman, Munster

https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1196013022558457857?s=20

  1. Julien Marchand, Toulouse

Consistent at the lineout and a strong source of front-foot ball in attack, Marchand was a persistent thorn in Gloucester’s side. He gave his team a solid set-piece platform and a swiftness of ball in phase play that allowed his backs the time and space they needed to excel in.

Silver – Ronan Kelleher, Leinster

Bronze – Rob Herring, Ulster

  1. Rabah Slimani, Clermont

The French tighthead really turned the screw on Harlequins at scrum time in the first half, so much so that it prompted early replacements from Paul Gustard’s side. With Clermont in complete control, the prop didn’t have to do too much away from the set-piece, but what he did there in the tight was exceptional.

Silver – Marco Riccioni, Benetton

Bronze – Clement Ric, Lyon

  1. Iain Henderson, Ulster

A real vindication of Henderson’s captaincy at the province, as he led his team to a narrow and tight win over Bath at the Rec. Unsurprisingly, he prospered in the physical exchanges and was pivotal to helping Ulster control the gain-line in attack and defence.

Silver – Irne Herbst, Benetton

Bronze – Paul Jedrasiak, Clermont

https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1196025297222680576?s=20

  1. Joe Tekori, Toulouse

Despite being set to turn 36 next month, Tekori seems to age like a fine wine at Toulouse. His impact has been crucial in the club’s resurgence and his carrying presence was similarly vital at Kingsholm on Friday evening. His experience and physicality continues to be a nice complement to the youthful and elusive threats that Toulouse are building around.

Silver – James Ryan, Leinster

Bronze – Courtney Lawes, Northampton Saints

  1. Peceli Yato, Clermont

Arguably the performance of the weekend across all positions, Yato’s display against Quins was reminiscent of the destruction he wrought on Australia at the RWC, before injury saw him have to leave the field. He was unlucky not to grab a hat-trick on Saturday, although like his teammate Raka, he was superb offensively and tormented Quins throughout the game.

Silver – Dave Ewers, Exeter Chiefs

Bronze – Paul Boyle, Connacht

  1. Colby Fainga’a, Connacht

The flanker was effervescent for Connacht in their win over Montpellier, consistently popping up to stymie French attacks with dominant tackles or slowing their ball at the breakdown. He also contributed strongly as a ball-carrier in a very impressive all-round performance.

Silver – Josh van der Flier, Leinster

Bronze – Callum Gibbins, Glasgow Warriors

  1. CJ Stander, Munster

Munster weren’t at their best in Swansea on Saturday evening, but Stander’s tireless and physical performance was crucial to them eventually securing the bonus point win. On both sides of the ball, the No 8 was forcing himself upon the Ospreys and there was little the Welsh region could do to stop him winning the gain-line as a ball-carrier and a tackler.

Silver – Fritz Lee, Clermont

Bronze – Caleb Timu, Montpellier

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Jon 2 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 5 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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A
Adrian 7 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

18 Go to comments
T
Trevor 10 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
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