Picking a Heineken Champions Cup XV heading into the quarters
Eight teams remain in the Heineken Champions Cup and there are plenty of standout performers who have helped carry their side to this stage in the competition.
Some have scored tries while others have gone about the less glamorous duties with precision and diligence.
As we await the quarterfinals, RugbyPass has selected a composite starting XV of the best performers in the European competition so far.
1. Ellis Genge
The resurgence of the Leicester Tigers is largely down to the prowess of their pack. Leading that charge is England prop and team captain Ellis Genge. He is a true warrior that’s imposing in the tackle and dominant in the scrum. His performances have helped transform the Tigers into a European powerhouse once more.
2. Camille Chat
Racing 92 can lay claim to having the hooker with the biggest neck. That is not the only characteristic of Camille Chat’s which is worth a mention though, as the Racing hooker also brings ferocity when carrying the ball into contact and remains a strong lineout thrower.
3. Tadhg Furlong
Tadhg Furlong is one of the best tightheads in the world and has been showing as much this season. He continues to dominate the scrum and is a remarkably deft, agile runner with ball in hand. Leinster boast one of the best front rows in the world and Furlong is the cornerstone.
4. Ollie Chessum
Leicester have had some iconic second rows over the years but few have been as versatile as Ollie Chessum. The young Englishman can play as a lock, as well as flanker and is impactful wherever he finds himself. An unfortunate red card against Clermont last week has slightly marred his campaign but he remains a highly reliable figure in the lineout and a physical defensive presence.
5. Paul Willemse
No team has made more tackles in the tournament than Montpellier. The French side are fortunate then to have wrecking ball second row Paul Willemse in their ranks. He helps lead these defensive efforts and against Harlequins he remained a perpetual and giant nuisance in the midfield.
6. Peter O’Mahony
A key reason why Munster were able to brush aside the Exeter Chiefs is their brilliant work at securing turnover ball. Central to this was captain Peter O’Mahony who seemed to be putting pressure on every single Chiefs’ ruck, never giving an inch. He may no longer be first choice in Ireland’s back row, but O’Mahony has plenty left in the tank.
7. Josh van der Flier
Perhaps one of the most dynamic back row forwards in the game, Josh van der Flier can carry into traffic just as well as he can delay a pass before feeding a Leinster attack. He’s already scored four tries in five games and is showing no signs of slowing down. No player works harder off the ball, both in attack and defence, than van der Flier.
8. Grégory Alldritt
Most great number eights are at their most punishing when carrying the ball. Grégory Alldritt is no different, clocking 73 carries across the competition so far, the highest by any player this season. He keeps the La Rochelle attack moving and that, paired with his intelligence at the breakdown, makes him almost indispensable.
9. Antoine Dupont
Who else could it be? The Frenchman can do things no other player can and he always comes good in the crucial moments. With Toulouse trailing Ulster by six on aggregate last weekend, and little more than five minutes to play, the scrum half darted through a gap to score under the posts to clinch the tie.
10. George Ford
He may not be Eddie Jones’ first choice, but George Ford is having a stellar year in Europe and is arguably the main reason the Tigers remain unbeaten. Last weekend he spotted a mismatch in the Clermont defence and quickly changed the point of attack, threading the ball down the line for a score in the corner. The move illustrated just how impressive his distribution has become.
11. James Lowe
No player has scored more European tries this season than James Lowe. The Irish winger has eight to his name and picked up half of them last weekend, using his power, agility and ball-handling skills to rip apart the Connacht defence. He is so difficult to stop with the ball in hand and each week looks more imperious.
12. Damian de Allende
World Cup winner Damian de Allende is a force of nature in the midfield. Throughout this Champions Cup he has demonstrated a defensive ferocity and attacking gamesmanship which few inside centres can match. He’s beaten the second most defenders in the tournament so far and scored the pivotal try which sunk the Exeter Chiefs in the Round of 16.
13. Gaël Fickou
You’d be hard-pressed to find sub-par performance from Gaël Fickou. The Frenchman is a picture of consistency and has become an indispensable facet of Racing 92, marshalling their midfield like a legionary. He is defensively sound and perfectly complements the flair of Finn Russell, giving the Parisian side stability against a challenging Stade Francais side.
14. Jimmy O’Brien
Leinster possess a double-pronged attack on their wings, with Jimmy O’Brien (5) pushing James Lowe (8) hard in the race to claim the top try scorer title in this season’s Champions Cup. Like Lowe, O’Brien has scored four tries in a single game this season, his coming against Bath, and he always looks to threaten with his pace out wide.
15. Michael Lowry
Sometimes a player doesn’t deserve to be on the losing side. Michael Lowry is one such player. The Ulsterman has been in scintillating form in the Champions Cup, having beaten the most defenders and made the most metres and clean breaks this season. His electric feet light up any contest and it’s a shame he won’t be seen in the latter stages of the competition after Ulster lost to Toulouse.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
13 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
13 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
13 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
13 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
13 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
13 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
13 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
13 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. At least Andrew Kellaway is like “Woah, yeah it’s great, but settle down there guys” having endured years of the Aussie media, fans, and often their players getting ahead of themselves only to fall flat on their faces. Have the “We'll win the Bledisloe for sure this year!” headlines started yet? It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
13 Go to comments