Best XV from European Rugby Champions Cup for Weekend of December 5-7
The European Rugby Champions Cup came back with a bang at the weekend with several pools remaining in the melting pot.
Leicester’s 25-21 win over Toulon kept the Tigers’ hopes alive while an Ospreys' comeback to tie Racing Metro 19-19 meant their section, which also contains Northampton, is finely balanced.
Even Bath still have a chance after a thumping 30-5 win in Montpellier, while Harlequins turned their domestic form on its head with a 24-18 victory over Leinster.
There were plenty of gripping games and a number of quality performances. Here is the Champions Cup team of the week.
Back Three
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15. Mathew Tait
England’s forgotten man was prominent for Leicester as they beat the European champions. It was Tait’s kick that caused such trouble for Drew Mitchell and led to Brad Thorn’s all-important score as the Tigers overcame the French outfit.
14. Bryan Habana
The South African veteran’s instincts are still spot on when the chance for an intercept arises, and this gift from Leicester was hungrily pounced on by the Springbok. He plucked the bobbling ball off the Welford Road turf, and it was all over from there.
11. Asaeli Tikoirotuma
We’re going this week for two out-and-out poachers on the wings. Harlequins' Asaeli Tikoirotuma showed his sharpness when his picked off a Leinster attack and darted 70 meters to score.
Centres
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13. Darren Cave
Ireland’s growing strength in depth was there for all to see as they dealt with a string of injuries to record a perfect autumn, and some of those men have carried their form back to their provinces—notably Darren Cave.
According to the Belfast Telegraph’s Michael Sadlier, Cave would not have started Ulster’s 24-9 win over the Scarlets had Jared Payne been fit. But Cave put in a stirring performance to remind everyone that there are plenty of men vying for the green No. 13 shirt once worn by Brian O’Driscoll:
"The official post-match stats brought further credit to Cave's industrious evening as he topped the carries for his side with 56 metres made - only the Scarlets' Rhys Priestland and Liam Williams had more - and he also featured on the tackle count with six, one behind Ulster's high achievers in this area Robbie Diack and Craig Gilroy.
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12. Luther Burrell
The Northampton centre scored one and made another in the Saints’ romp against Treviso. He was the standout performer in a game that didn’t overwork Jim Mallinder’s men, but Burrell's impressive 60 minutes at least confirmed that he really should have had some game time in the England midfield this autumn.
Half-Backs
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10. Owen Williams
The young Leicester fly-half was in for the biggest test of his career to date with the champions of Europe in town, and he came through with flying colours. Williams kicked 20 of his side’s 25 points as they upset the French superstars at Welford Road.
9. Danny Care
After losing his England shirt to Ben Youngs, Danny Care responded in fine fashion with a bristling performance for Harlequins against Leinster. Care kept the Irish giants busy with his pace and eye for a gap, and he had the composure to knock over a drop goal to ensure the win.
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Back Row
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8. Fritz Lee
Clermont Auvergne’s No. 8 had a splendid evening in Limerick as the French giants overpowered Munster at Thomond Park. Lee scored one try and had a hand in Wesley Fofana’s score to help ensure a 16-9 win that puts his team in command of a tough section. He edges a strong display from Nick Easter for Harlequins.
7. Chris Robshaw
England’s captain had a solid autumn in an England shirt and was required to put in another display of Test-match intensity with the visit of Leinster to the Twickenham Stoop. He delivered on his 200th appearance for the club in a ding-dong battle that saw Quins get on top of the visitors.
6. Yannick Nyanga
A smart steal from the Toulouse flanker created one try for his side, and the blindside man put in a display full of quality as his team overpowered Glasgow in France. On his day the Frenchman is the best in the business.
Second Row
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5. Yoann Maestri
It would not be out of the question to pick a pack full of Toulouse players—such was their dominance over Glasgow. Maestri put in 11 tackles and was the go-to man in the Toulouse line-out. He's solid, dependable and a massive man.
4. Brad Thorn
Former All Black and World Cup winner Brad Thorn may be in the twilight of his career, but Leicester don’t tend to take players on looking to taper down at the end of a long campaign. Three line-out takes, nine tackles and a try—plus the fact the 39-year-old played the whole match—confirm Thorn is far from pipe-and-slippers mode.
Front Row
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3. Census Johnston
Toulouse’s monstrous pack did a number on Glasgow, and Johnston was in the vanguard of that bruising effort for 70 minutes.
The Samoan may not be the roaming wrecking ball he once was, but when it comes to the grunt work he still does it better than most. The sore bodies in the Glasgow camp at the start of this week will testify to that. His 12 tackles put him second in the tackle count behind only Imanol Harinordoquy.
Here's a tip of the hat to Dan Cole for getting the better of his old mate Martin Castrogiovanni.
2. Rory Best
A try and a busy performance confirmed the fine form the Ulster’s talisman is enjoying at present. He just eclipses Toulouse's hooker, Corey Flynn, by virtue of his appearance on the scoresheet.
1. Joe Marler
In what could be a telling warning shot before the Six Nations, Quins skipper and England loose-head Joe Marler took Ireland tight-head Mike Ross to the cleaners in the scrum as Quins defeated Leinster. Marler pulverised his opposite number, and the prospect of the pair colliding again in Dublin when their international teams meet in the old championship will fill England fans with confidence.
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