Champions Cup XV of the Week - Round 4
European rugby headed off into the Christmas break in fine fettle this weekend, as Saracens, Toulouse and Racing 92 all maintained their 100% starts to the competition.
There were important wins elsewhere for the likes of Leinster, Glasgow Warriors and Ulster, all of whom are still in the mix to top their pools or qualify as best runners-up. Munster were dealt a blow with a tough loss in a feisty encounter with Castres, whilst Exeter Chiefs bounced back, beating Gloucester, a pair of results which have thrown Pool 2 wide open.
We have rounded up the top performers from Round 4 of the Heineken Champions Cup below.
(*) denotes RugbyPass Index score
- Thomas Ramos, Toulouse (89)
Ramos is rapidly becoming one of the premier full-backs in northern hemisphere rugby and his accuracy with the boot is the cherry on top of that for Toulouse. He matched the likes of Stuart Hogg and Wille le Roux this weekend as a playmaker linking the midfield with the wide channels, whilst his strike running was in the same league as the likes of Jason Woodward and Jordan Larmour. The full-back has been one of the most consistent performers in the competition so far.
Silver – Jordan Larmour, Leinster (87)
Bronze – Francois Steyn, Montpellier (78)
- Henry Speight, Ulster (71)
The Australian might not have crossed the whitewash on Friday evening, but he was a consistent source of attacking incision and gain-line breaks that allowed Ulster to succeed at home to the Scarlets. The usually effervescent Steff Evans was kept quiet and in return the Welshman was challenged by the power of Speight.
Silver – Yoann Huget, Toulouse (84)
Bronze – Sean Maitland, Saracens (84)
- Will Addison, Ulster (80)
The Scarlets will be thankful they don’t have to see Addison again this season, with the Ulster outside centre having tormented them for the last two weeks. Again, he was incisive in wider channels, predominately as a runner, and the dynamic between himself and Stuart McCloskey was difficult for Scarlets to deal with. When McCloskey punched it up in the middle and drew defenders to him, Addison would use his pace to thrive in the next phase.
Silver – Garry Ringrose, Leinster (90)
Bronze – Manu Tuilagi, Leicester Tigers (78)
- Sam Hill, Exeter Chiefs (82)
Hill delivered an ability to break through Gloucester’s defensive line and keep Exeter moving forward, something that had been sorely lacking in the previous fixture between the two. He targeted the channels in the midfield between Danny Cipriani, Owen Williams and Billy Twelvetrees and once he had planted his foot and ran hard at those gaps, there was little Gloucester could do to stop him. Hill kept his head on a swivel once he made those breaks, too, always aware of where his support was.
Silver – Stuart McCloskey, Ulster (82)
Bronze – Brad Barritt, Saracens (86)
- James Lowe, Leinster (92)
The awareness of Lowe to take a quick tap penalty and exploit a Bath side who had turned their backs to the ball was the perfect example of a player confident in his abilities and with the self-belief to back his decision-making. Lowe will have statistically better games, but he was a constant threat and helped create multiple Leinster tries, as well as grabbing a score himself from the quickly tapped penalty.
Silver – Nikola Matawalu, Glasgow Warriors (78)
Bronze – Juan Imhoff, Racing 92 (82)
- Adam Hastings, Glasgow Warriors (86)
Back-to-back selections for Hastings in this XV, with the Scotsman hammering home his credentials as the man to start at 10 for Scotland in the Six Nations. Finn Russell will be feeling the heat in Paris, despite having a strong season himself, as Hastings once again dissected the Lyon defence with a clinical attacking performance. His ability to make split-second decisions close to the gain-line allowed him to repeatedly find holes and were it not for some very resilient Lyon defending, Glasgow would have added a bonus point, as they bid to chase down Saracens.
??? @GlasgowWarriors flexing their muscles with consecutive victories against @LeLOURugby ?@adamhastings96 piercing the defence and proving why he's the name on every Scots' lips ?@NMatawalu,the consummate finisher gratefully sliding in for a cracking #ChampionsCup try pic.twitter.com/o47dxSvVDC
— Investec Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) December 16, 2018
Silver – Owen Farrell, Saracens (92)
Bronze – Finn Russell, Racing 92 (86)
- Antoine Dupont, Toulouse (87)
A masterful performance from a ‘Petit General’ that is surely right at the top of French rugby’s envious hierarchy of gifted scrum-halves. Dupont was an attacking spark against Wasps, orchestrating his pack excellently and mixing up his game with ball in hand, both bringing into play his back line and making his own sniping breaks. His two tries were fitting reward for an outstanding performance.
Silver – John Cooney, Ulster (79)
Bronze – Ruan Pienaar, Montpellier (88)
- Alec Hepburn, Exeter Chiefs (76)
The Exeter loosehead was a big part of his side being able to turnaround the disappointing result from a week before at Sandy Park. He tore into Fraser Balmain at the scrum right from the word go and never relented, with Exeter enjoying a significant advantage in that area for the entire 80 minutes. He also played his part in a well-functioning lineout and carried strongly close to the ruck.
Silver – Mako Vunipola, Saracens (91)
Bronze – Guram Gogichashvili, Racing 92 (78)
- Jamie George, Saracens (92)
Connecting on all 16 of your lineouts in the blustery conditions of Cardiff on Saturday afternoon would probably be enough to earn this spot alone and that’s exactly what George did. In addition to that, the hooker was his usual busy self in Saracens’ defensive line, tackling efficiently in testing conditions, as well as grabbing the try in the final five minutes that killed the game off and ensured the visitors picked up four points.
Silver – Ken Owens, Scarlets (88)
Bronze – Jaco Visagie, Gloucester (59)
- Tomas Francis, Exeter Chiefs (84)
You could almost copy and paste what was said about Hepburn, here. Francis contributed significantly to Exeter’s major dominance up front and Gloucester simply had no counter for it. Along with Hepburn, Francis forced a mass of scrum penalties out of Gloucester, before Ben Moon and Harry Williams came on and carried on the effort in the second half, with Gloucester coughing up a total of seven penalties at the set-piece.
Silver – John Ryan, Munster (86)
Bronze – WP Nel, Edinburgh (83)
- Iain Henderson, Ulster (82)
Two tries for the lock at the Kingspan and a second brutally physical performance in as many weeks. Henderson helped Ulster control the battle for the gain-line and from there, they were able to stymie Scarlets in defence and expose the Welsh region in attack. He’s coming under pressure from Tadhg Beirne for his spot with Ireland – and in this line-up – but is responding in perfect fashion.
Silver – Tadhg Beirne, Munster (90)
Bronze – Jake Ball, Scarlets (78)
- Joe Tekori, Toulouse (75)
There was incredibly fierce competition at the five spot this week, but Tekori and his integral role in a surging Toulouse side was just enough to see off the other contenders. He was impacting the game against Wasps as a ball-carrier, set-piece operator and defender, bringing an old school enforcer-type performance and marrying it with the skill and ambition to be an important cog in attack, too.
Silver – James Ryan, Leinster (92)
Bronze – Jonny Gray, Glasgow Warriors (89)
- Sean Reidy, Ulster (78)
A non-stop performance from Reidy, who did plenty of the gritty and unseen work that allowed Ulster to thrive on Friday night. He was unrelenting in defence, constantly shutting down Scarlets carriers on or before the gain-line, whilst he also offered momentum around the fringes, both as a one-out runner and on the pick and go. You would struggle to find a busier back row than the one he, Jordi Murphy and Marcell Coetzee formed at the Kingspan this week.
Silver – François Cros, Toulouse (84)
Bronze – Bernard Le Roux, Racing 92 (64)
- Patrick Sobela, Lyon (76)
Lyon may have been beaten at Scotstoun on Saturday afternoon, but that didn’t stop Sobela from putting in a very polished performance. It was the stereotypical captain’s outing from the flanker, who led from the front throughout. He was the most dynamic forward in the Lyon side with ball in hand and his work in the defensive line and at the contact area helped deny Glasgow what looked as though it would be a certain bonus point win early in the first half.
Silver – Thomas Young, Wasps (80)
Bronze – Yacouba Camara, Montpellier (65)
- Jack Conan, Leinster (91)
Conan delivered the grunt work at a rainy and windy Aviva that helped win Leinster that arm wrestle at the gain-line, something which had eluded them in their match against Bath a week earlier at the Rec. He and Ryan were the two consistent sources of that front-foot ball, which then allowed the star-studded back line to take Bath apart as the game went on.
Silver – CJ Stander, Munster (90)
Bronze – Antonie Claassen, Racing 92 (84)
Watch: Exceptional Stories: Ian McKinley.
Comments on RugbyPass
Lots of discussion points, Ben, but two glaring follies IMO: 1. Blackadder at 6. Has done nothing so far this season to justify his selection. Did you see him going backwards in contact at the weekend? Simply has not got the physical presence at 6: we need a Scott Barrett or a Finau (or wildcard Ah Kuoi), beasts who are big enough to play lock, like Frizzell. If Barret played at 6, Paddy could be joined at lock by Vai’i or one of the young giants we need to promote, like Darry or Lord (if he ever gets on the field). Blackadder best left to join the queue for 7. 2. Not even a mention for Christie? Ratima gets caught at crucial times at the back of the ruck when he hesitates on the pass. The only way he starts would be if Christie and TJ are injured.
1 Go to commentsWhat a dagg in more ways than one
5 Go to commentsRegroup come back next year but sack some of the coaching team and don't be like the ABs last minute sacking. If Crusaders don't do well ABs don't do well.
5 Go to commentsProctor Definitely inform again this year had a hell of a season last year and this year is looking even better. Still mixed feelings about Ioane tho.
4 Go to commentsDagg is still trying to get enough headlines to make himself relevant enough to get a job. The Crusaders went back to square one at all levels. Shelve this season and nail the next one.
5 Go to commentsHe was in such great form. Sad for him but only a short term injury and it will be great to see him back for the finals.
1 Go to commentsAfter their 5/0 start, I had the Crusaders to finish Top 4 only…they lost the plot in Perth but will reload and back themselves vs 4th placed Rebels…
5 Go to commentsBoth nations missed a great opportunity to book a game that would have had a lot of interest from around the world. I understand these games can’t be organised in 5 minutes but they should have found a way to make it happen. I don’t think Wales are ducking anyone but it’s a bad look haha.
3 Go to commentsIt will be fascinating to see the effect that Jo Yapp has. If they can compete with Canada and give BFs a run for their money that will be progress
1 Go to commentsFollowing his dream and putting in the work. Go well young fella!
3 Go to commentsPerhaps filling Twickenham is one of Mitchell’s KPIs. I doubt whether both September matches will be at Twickenham on consecutive weekends. I would take the BF one to a large provincial stadium so as not to give them the advantage and experience of playing at Twickenham before a large crowd prior to the RWC.
3 Go to commentsvery unfortunate for Kitshoff, but big opportunity potentially for Nché to prove he is genuinely the best loosehead in the world, rather than just a specialist finisher. Presuming that if Kitshoff is out, it will also give Steenekamp a chance to come into the 23? Or are others likely to be ahead of him?
1 Go to commentsA long held question in popular culture asks if art imitates life or does the latter influence the former? Over this 6 nations I can ask the same question of the media influencing the thoughts of its audience or vice versa. Nobody wants to see cricket scores in rugby, as a spectacle it is not sustainable. With so many articles about England’s procession and lack of competition it feeds the epicaricacy of many looking for an opportunity to pounce. England are not the first team to dominate nor does it happen only in rugby, think Federer, Nadal, Red Bull or Mercedes, Manchester Utd, Australia in tests and World Cups. Instead of celebrating the achievements why find reasons to falsify it pointing towards larger playing pool, professional for a longer period or mitigate with the lack of growth in other nations. Can we not enjoy it while it is here and know that it won’t last for ever, others coveting what England have will soon take the crown, ask the aforementioned?
6 Go to commentsShame he won’t turn out for the Netherlands now they’re improving. U20s are Euro champs and in the U20 Trophy this year. The senior sides gets better every year too.
3 Go to commentsWill rugbypass tv be showing these games?
1 Go to commentsWell where do you start, the fact that England have a professional domestic league and Ireland’s is fully amatuer, that they have fully seperated professional squads at Fifteens and Sevens (7’s thinly disguised as GB), and Ireland have fully pro Sevens squad who loan some players back to the Semi-Professional Fifteens squad (moved from amateur for only a year or so) for a few games at 6N & RWC’s. The Women’s games is a shambles, and is at risk of killing itself by pushing for professionalism when the market isn’t really there to support it outside one or two countnries..
6 Go to commentsWayne Smith's input didn't have as much impact on the last final as Davison's red card for Thompson. England were 14 points up and flying when that happened.
6 Go to commentsBilly's been playing consistently well for 2 - 3 seasons now and deserves a look in at the top level. Ioane and ALB are still first choice but there needs to be injury cover and succession. His partnership with Jordie gives him first dibs you'd think. Go the Hurricanes.
4 Go to commentsIt’s not up to Wales to support Georgian Rugby. That’s up to International Rugby and Georgia. I sympathise with Georgia’s decent attempt to create this fixture. But for Wales the proposed match up is just a potential stick to beat them with and a potential big psychological blow that young Welsh team doesn’t need. (I’m Irish BTW.)
3 Go to commentsCale certainly looks great in space, but as you say, he has struggled in contact. At 23 years old, turning 24 this year, he should be close to full physical maturity and yet there exists a considerable gap in the power and physicality required for international rugby. Weight doesn’t automatically equate to power and physicality either. Can he go from a player who’s being physically dominated in Super rugby to physically dominating in international rugby in 1 or 2 years? That’s a big ask but he may end up being a late bloomer.
38 Go to comments