Best XV in World Rugby for Weekend of January 2-4
The new year began much as the old one was seen out in England.
Wasps picked up where they left off after their opening match at their new Coventry home, demolishing Sale Sharks at the Ricoh to keep the new ground buzzing, while Leicester Tigers ground out another win, this time gaining revenge for their heavy loss at Bath earlier this term.
In France, Stade Francais followed a rousing win at home to Toulon with a dismal defeat at Lyon, while Toulon lost their second straight game, this time away to a resurgent Montpellier. Clermont Auvergne won the weekend’s heavyweight clash in the Top 14 with a home romp against Toulouse.
In the Pro 12, leaders Ospreys were grounded by the Scarlets as Leinster and Connacht dispatched Ulster and Munster respectively.
Plenty of points scored and plenty of performances to admire. Here’s your team of the week.
Back Three
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15. Gaetan Germain
Gaetan Germain scored all Brive’s 25 points as they beat Bayonne 25-9 in the Top 14. His try on 66 minutes broke Bayonne’s resistance and added to his six penalties and conversion made for a landmark afternoon for the former Racing Metro man.
14. David Strettle
It has been a lean season for David Strettle on the Saracens wing, but he recaptured his scoring touch with a brace for Saracens as they downed London Irish 22-6. The tries were the England man’s first since day one of the campaign, per BBC Sport.
11. Tim Visser
Edinburgh upset the odds to topple Glasgow and win the 1872 Cup, per BBC Sport, and had a double from Scottish international Tim Visser to thank.
Centre
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13. Robbie Henshaw
Connacht outside centre Robbie Henshaw took another step towards sealing his place as the successor to Brian O’Driscoll in the Irish No. 13 jersey, as the men from the West of Ireland enjoyed a red letter day against Munster. Henshaw earned the following assessment Munster legend Tony Ward in the Irish Independent:
"Robbie Henshaw got the official man of the match award and I find it difficult to argue with that—he was outstanding and in many ways came of age as a leader despite his tender years.
…
From an Irish perspective, the No. 13 issue has already gone way beyond "who for O'Driscoll"? to "who alongside Henshaw"? The inside centre slot is now becoming the most difficult of all to fill. Yes Schmidt could go back to Jared Payne and Henshaw wearing 13 and 12 respectively, but all recent evidence points conclusively in the direction of former Marist schoolboy Henshaw taking over from the great one.
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An honourable mention for Luke Fitzgerald, whose move to outside centre also continues to earn rave reviews. His performance in Leinster’s 24-11 win over Ulster was the latest display to catch the eye, as the Irish Independent ’s David Kelly wrote: "Fitzgerald's dancing feet were the only aspect of Leinster's play that were getting the largely subdued crowd near to rising to theirs."
12. Luther Burrell
Northampton Saint’s Luther Burrell reasserted his claims to win back a place in England’s midfield with a try and all-round excellent display against Newcastle Falcons. Burrell made 40 metres, two clean breaks and put in 10 tackles as the Saints clipped the Falcons’ wings 39-31.
Half-Backs
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10. Ian Madigan
Leinster playmaker Ian Madigan gave the Dubliners’ fans cause for excitement at the prospect of his link-up with Jonny Sexton next season.
Madigan may well move to No. 12 to accommodate the Lion when he returns from Racing Metro this summer, but for now the younger man is making a fine job of the pivot role. He scored an instinctive try, a conversion and four penalties in Leinster’s 24-11 win over Ulster. Honourable mention for Stephen Myler, whose 17 points helped Northampton to a 39-31 win over Newcastle.
9. Joe Simpson
Wasps' No. 9, Joe Simpson, scored twice as his team romped to another comprehensive win at the Ricoh Arena, 41-16 over Sale.
Honourable mention for a fine solo effort from Glasgow’s Wasps-bound scrum-half Niko Matawalu, who demonstrated why the men from the Ricoh want the Fijian to join them next season. He beat Jack Cuthbert to his own kick for a try that couldn’t stop Scottish rivals Edinburgh taking the 1872 Cup.
Props, too, to Kieran Marmion of Connacht. The young man scored his try and comprehensively got the better of Irish first choice No. 9 Conor Murray in their win over Munster.
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Back Row
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8. Billy Vunipola
Saracens' England No. 8, Billy Vunipola, wants his starting spot back from Ben Morgan, and went about showing why he might deserve it with 61 metres made against London Irish, beating six defenders in the process. He also lasted the distance, which he never does for England.
Morgan had a decent weekend himself, with 51 metres made and six tackles.
7. Matt Kvesic
Gloucester openside Matt Kvesic had an excellent evening as Gloucester edged out Exeter 26-25. The England hopeful made 19 tackles and also forced three turnovers, as well as making 40 metres with ball in hand. Food for thought for Stuart Lancaster as Chris Robshaw recovers from surgery.
6. Jack Conan
Leinster flanker Jack Conan collected his second Man of the Match award for his display in their win over Ulster. Conan beat eight defenders and made 40 metres as well as seven tackles.
His attacking performance edges out Montpellier’s Fulgence Ouedraogo defensive shift against Toulon that wrought 16 tackles from the France international.
John Muldoon deserves a shout for a totemic performance as Connacht skipper in their defeat of Ulster. Fifty-two metres run, 13 tackles made. Job done.
Second Row
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5. Paul O’Connell
Connacht’s dominance of possession made for some impressive tackling numbers on Munster’s side in their clash on New Year’s Day, but none more so than the 28 amassed by Paul O’Connell. The Irish skipper is always first into the trenches when his troops need him, and he did not shy away from that duty on this occasion.
Other notable performances: Jake Ball ran well and made two offloads as well as 10 tackles in the Scarlets' 22-10 win over the Ospreys. In doing so, he outshone Lion Alun Wyn Jones on the other side.
And Gloucester’s Tom Palmer put in 16 tackles for the Cherry and Whites in a solid display that helped the men from the Shed beat Exeter on their own patch.
4. Josh Furno
Newcastle’s Melbourne-born lock Josh Furno pilfered two Northampton line-outs, per Richard Rae’s report in the Guardian, and also made 15 tackles and ran for 37 metres with the ball. His copybook was blotted by a yellow card, but the 25-year old epitomized the regalvanised spirit in Dean Richards’ improving side.
Front Row
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3. Samson Lee
Samson Lee has progressed rapidly as a senior Welsh prop and showed why again against Ospreys. His scrummaging was strong against former Wales international Duncan Jones, and his energy in defence was evidenced by 11 tackles made.
2. Remy Bonfils
Stade Francais hooker Remy Bonfils may have been on the losing side at Lyon, but an industrious night’s work was punctuated by 11 tackles and two defenders beaten for his 26 metres made.
1. John Ryan
Munster’s loose head John Ryan was on the losing side in Galway, but his 14 tackles against Connacht mark him out as one of the weekend’s most hard-working forwards.
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