Power Ranking Europe's Top 15 Club Teams After Weekend of December 26-28

The final power ranking of the year accounts for a shock in Paris, a comeback in Manchester and a despair in Dublin.

Toulon were humbled by Stade Francais in the Top 14 while the usual home-and-away Jekyll-and-Hyde form of many of the top French sides continued. In England, the leaders ploughed on while the chasing pack kept up the pursuit.

The Pro 12 sees Welsh and Scottish sides setting the pace while Ireland’s juggernauts continue to struggle for consistency.

So, as thoughts turn to the denouement of the European pool stages, here are the final power rankings for 2015.

15. Leicester (Premiership)

Leicester dug deep to overcome a 30-15 deficit to beat Sale 32-30.

Julian Salvi came up with the winning score in the 78th minute to level the contest before Owen Williams added the decisive extras.

The Tigers sit fifth in the table and edge out Bordeaux Begles here.

Raphael Ibanez and his old Wasps mate Joe Worsley guided Bordeaux to fifth spot in the Top 14 with a 46-10, seven-try demolition of Brive rounding off 2014, and ending a three-game losing run.

They are second in their Challenge Cup pool, but Leicester’s presence in the Champions Cup–albeit one that is soon to be extinguished–nudges the French team out of this ranking.

14. Exeter (Premiership)

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Exeter went down to Bath 31-14 to record their first back-to-back defeats in the Premiership this season.

It was a disappointing December for Rob Baxter’s men, having ended November with a great win over Saracens and a chance to top the table.

Still, they occupy the last play–off position with a two-point cushion over Leicester and, unlike the Tigers, look likely to keep going in Europe, too, albeit in the second-tier competition.

The Chiefs lead their pool, two points clear of Connacht, where they travel next in a clash that will likely decide the section winner.

12. Wasps (Premiership)

Wasps have crept to within three points of a play–off place after a fine 30-23 win over Gloucester.

The feel-good factor created by their resounding debut in front of a well-stocked Ricoh Arena was carried over into their trip to Kingsholm, where Christian Wade, Tom Varndell and Nathan Hughes all scored.

Europe is in the balance for Dai Young’s men who sit on 12 points, one behind Harlequins and Leinster but with both sides still to play the Black and Gold.

They must travel to the Stoop and get a win if Leinster’s last day visit to Coventry is to prove decisive.

11. Leinster (Top 14)

Derby defeat to Munster was a hard blow for the Dubliners, who seemed unable to compete with Anthony Foley’s men at the breakdown.

Injuries have hurt Matt O’Connor’s squad this season with the absence of Cian Healy and Sean O’Brien from their pack the most telling blows.

They are still well-placed in Europe with group whipping boys Castres next up at the RDS but a tricky trip to Wasps’ new home in the final round of pool play looking less inviting by the week.

10. Munster (Pro 12)

Munster are scratching around for consistency like a child looking for a final gift among the discarded wrapping paper on Christmas morning.

Defeat to Edinburgh was wiped away with a second win this season over Leinster to leave them third in the Pro 12. In Europe, consecutive defeats to Clermont Auvergne have blown their campaign off course.

In reality, they need to travel to Allianz Park and beat Saracens with a bonus point before doing the same at home to Sale, then pin hopes on a runner-up spot.

9. Stade Francais (Top 14)

A curious campaign for Stade took another unexpected twist with a 30-6 drubbing of champions Toulon that deposited the Parisians on top of the Top 14 Christmas tree.

When you consider that three games previously, they had shipped 50 points at Clermont, it is hardly surprising that any gambling enthusiasts out there would swerve the Top 14 like the plague.

Still, there they are, leading the way into 2015.

They will soon have just the Top 14 to focus on too, as they have blown their Challenge Cup pool and sit third, five points behind Newcastle and six behind leaders Newport Gwent Dragons.

As much as first place in their domestic table deserves a decent ranking, it rankles that they have thrown in the towel in Europe.

A squad with decent depth and more money than their pool rivals should be giving it a go on both fronts.

8. Glasgow (Pro 12)

Glasgow have had a merry Christmas indeed. They beat Munster 21-18, then followed that up with a 16-6 derby defeat of Edinburgh.

They are a point behind leaders Ospreys.

In Europe, two wins to kick off their campaign looked promising, but they have since gone down twice to Toulouse and are in a dogfight with Bath for second place that still may not be good enough to go through.

They host Montpellier next before traveling to Bath for what could be a shoot-out for one of those three runner-up spots in the knockout stages.

However, there are other sides three points better off than Gregor Townsend’s men already, so in reality only two bonus point wins will give them any chance.

8. Toulouse (Top 14)

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Guy Noves’ men recovered from back-to-back defeats to Grenoble and Montpellier to out-muscle Racing Metro 15-9 and narrow the gap between seventh and fourth to just four points.

In Europe, they have dominated their pool thus far and next host Bath.

A win would end Bath’s hopes and all but secure a knockout place for the three-time European kings.

7. Ospreys (Pro 12)

The Ospreys aren’t firing on all cylinders but still lead the way in the Pro 12 after a festive derby defeat of the Scarlets.

They led 17-9 at the break but failed to add anything to their total in the second half, per the BBC, coming away with a 17-15 win.

Europe is going badly, however, which keeps them mid-table in this ranking with other league leaders performing well on both fronts.

They are out of the fight for qualification barring miracles even Munster couldn’t perform.

6. Saracens (Premiership)

Saracens squeaked past Newcastle in the north-east 25-23 and are now third in the Premiership, although eight points adrift of Bath.

Indeed, they were fortunate to see Juan Pablo Socino's last-minute conversion attempt wobble wide of the right-hand post to ensure the win at Kingston Park.

In Europe, they entertain Munster in their bid to overhaul Clermont Auvergne at the top of their section, but the winner of this pool is likely to come down to the visit of Mark McCall’s team to the Stade de Marcel Michelin on the final weekend.

Someone will be left sweating over one of three best runner-up spots in the next round.

5. Racing Metro (Top 14)

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Racing fell 15-9 to Toulouse to undermine their recent progress, but they remain in fourth spot in the Top 14.

In Europe, they are a point behind Northampton but can overtake the Saints before they visit Franklin’s Gardens with a heavy win against group whipping boys Treviso, if the Saints fail to take a maximum points haul away to the Ospreys.

4. Bath (Premiership)

Bath have now won seven straight matches to stay hot on the heels of Northampton.

Their bonus point win over Exeter puts them a point behind the Saints, but a tough trip to Welford Road next will put their title credentials to the test.

We saw their ability to play more than one way in this win.

Having gone wide for tries from Horacio Agulla and Kyle Eastmond, their forward power was the source of their third try, stealing and driving a lineout from Exeter's 22 to the line.

In Europe, qualification is somewhat out of their hands.

Early losses to Glasgow and Toulouse made life difficult, but home-and-away triumphs against Montpellier have given them a slim chance of progress.

They must beat Toulouse away to hold on to that chance.

3. Clermont Auvergne (Top 14)

Clermont slip to third after a dismal 16-13 defeat away to Lyon.

Franck Azema’s team need to cure their travel sickness if they want to pick up some silverware this season.

After beating Toulouse away, they have now lost to Bayonne and Lyon in their last two away fixtures, which makes a mockery of their home form when you consider they recently hammered leaders Stade Francais 51-9 at home.

2. Northampton (Premiership)

The Saints overcame a sin-binning for Salesi Ma’afu to beat Harlequins 30-25 and retain top spot in the Premiership.

They face Newcastle at home next which should represent a chance to pick up maximum points, while chasers Bath have a much tougher test at Leicester.

Jim Mallinder’s men will be looking to carry as much momentum as possible into the finale of their European Champions Cup pool.

A tricky trip to Pro 12 leaders Ospreys is looming which they must win to set up a decider with Racing Metro the following week.

1. Toulon (Top 14)

Toulon may have suffered a 30-6 loss on paper to Stade Francais that propelled the Parisians into top spot, but in reality it was 16-6 until the 75th minute.

However bitter it must have left Bernard Laporte’s side to see Stade complete a double over them this season, the European and French champions are still in pole position in their Champions Cup pool and sit just two points behind Stade in the Top 14.

So, let’s not throw the baby out with the bath water.

They remain top dogs.