Power Ranking Europe's Top 15 Teams After Weekend of January 30-February 1

This week’s rankings are weighted in favour of the French clubs, which had the most meaningful weekend in terms of fixtures.

They all did battle in the Top 14, while English and Welsh sides rolled out their reserves to compete in the LV Cup and the Irish and Scottish provinces rested up.

Here is how they stand as we await the main event of the season in the shape of the Six Nations kick-off.

Weight is given to European progress and league position to give us each team's position.

15. Leicester (Premiership)

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Any win over Northampton is one to warm the hearts of the Welford Road faithful, so Leicester’s 17-8 success in the LV Cup would have been welcome.

The Tigers have had horrendous injuries to cope with this season, but their extra experience told against the Saints.

Out of Europe but still in the hunt for the Premiership play-offs, Richard Cockerill’s men are never out of the fight.

14. Toulouse (Top 14)

Toulouse edged into fifth place in the Top 14 with a win over lowly Castres.

They contrived to eject themselves from Europe with a defeat in Montpellier, having led their pool from Week 1 to the end of the phase.

As a result, they now have a narrower focus than the four teams above them in the Top 14, which could spell danger for those title hopefuls.

13. Exeter (Premiership)

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The Chiefs were heavily represented in the England Saxons side that triumphed over the Irish Wolfhounds on Friday.

Meanwhile, their colleagues did a job over the Dragons in the LV Cup, and they are fifth in the league.

Their Challenge Cup season is also alive and well with a quarter-final against Newcastle on the horizon.

12. Munster (Pro 12)

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Munster are out of Europe but in contention in the Pro 12, two points off the leaders in third.

A clean bill of health for their internationals after the Six Nations concludes will do their domestic hopes the world of good.

Any season that does not see them reach the latter stages in Europe is a failure by Munster's standards, though, so this campaign already has a lame-duck feeling to it for the Red Men.

11. Glasgow (Pro 12)

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Glasgow, so close to the next round in Europe, are still second in the Pro 12.

They next face a trip to Zebre before going up against leaders Ospreys on February 21.

They have provided 15 players to the Scottish Six Nations squad, which is a mark of their success this season, but will also have Gregor Townsend watching through his fingers, hoping his injury list doesn’t end up longer than his weekly shopping list.

10. Ospreys (Pro 12)

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Ospreys’ second string lost away to Gloucester in the LV Cup, but they remain top of the Pro 12 with Europe now a distant memory.

This was their third straight loss in this tournament, one blamed by defensive coach Dan Griffiths on a loss of concentration, per Wales Online:

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'In the first half there were too many penalties,' conceded acting Ospreys backs coach Dan Griffiths.

'We gave Gloucester field position, we didn’t make them work to get into our 22 and we also put ourselves under a lot of pressure from our exits. We were left chasing the game because of unnecessary mistakes.

'That’s all part of the learning process for a young group, having clarity when we are under pressure and knowing how to relieve it.'

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9. Wasps (Premiership)

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Wasps are fourth in the league and in the quarter-finals of the Champions Cup but rank behind Stade and Leinster this week for the crazy performance they put in this weekend in the LV Cup.

They were 21-0 up at home to Cardiff after 22 minutes and somehow contrived to lose 45-42.

8. Stade Francais (Top 14)

Stade achieved two improbable feats at the weekend: losing at home to Oyonnax and moving top of the pile in the same breath.

The Parisians are top after Clermont lost to La Rochelle and Toulon beat Bayonne. Having done the double over the European and French reigning champions this season, the men from the capital take first place in the league.

For those wondering why top spot in Europe’s toughest league doesn’t merit a higher ranking than seventh, it’s because they have had a dismal campaign in the European Challenge Cup and are out of it altogether.

Every club above them is in the last eight of the Champions Cup.

7. Saracens (Premiership)

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Sarries sent an experienced side to South Africa for a friendly against the Bulls, leaving the younger members of the squad to do battle in the LV Cup, where they beat London Welsh 15-20.

Scrum-half Ben Spencer caught the eye with a try and 10 points from the boot.

With Owen Farrell on the long-term crocked list, Brad Barritt struggling for fitness with England and the Vunipola brothers both on Six Nations duty, the deep pockets of the Fez Heads at least mean that they more than most should be able to muddle through this tricky spell.

6. Northampton (Premiership)

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The Saints are still top of the league and in this international window sent a vastly underpowered side to Leicester, where they were beaten 17-8.

Phil Dowson was the only mainstay from the first team to get a run-out.

5. Leinster (Pro 12)

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No action for Irish sides this week, as the LV Cup occupied their Welsh rivals and the Pro 12 took a break.

Many of Leinster’s players were involved when the Wolfhounds lost to the Saxons.

Leinster tick over, then, awaiting a home quarter-final with Bath in the Champions Cup and poised in fourth place in the Pro 12.

4. Bath (Premiership)

Bath are second in the Premiership behind Northampton, but momentum is with the West Country club.

The remainder of their squad traveled to Harlequins and battled to a 23-21 LV Cup win on Saturday.

Matt Banahan was the most experienced player in their side and led the way with a powerful performance from inside centre.

3. Racing Metro (Top 14)

Johan Goosen’s conversion was the only difference between the two sides as Racing edged a 13-11 away win at Lyon.

They occupy fourth spot but have a six-point gap between them and the top three.

Their recruitment drive for next season appears to be continuing, with Dan Carter set to be joined by fellow Super 15 regular Ben Tameifuna from the Chiefs, per ESPN.co.uk.

Metro move up to third here with that victory and the fact they performed so well in Europe, setting up a home quarter-final with Saracens.

2. Clermont Auvergne (Top 14)

Another away-day disaster befell Clermont, costing them top spot and sending them down to third in the Top 14.

Les Jaunards have not won away from home in the league since September.

1. Toulon (Top 14)

Toulon took a share of the lead in the Top 14 and return to No. 1 in the power ranking with a 24-17 win over Bayonne.

Bryan Habana was on the scoresheet again with Juan Martin Hernandez—in on a six-month deal following the departure of James O’Connor—knocking over three penalties on his debut.

The Toulonnais are second in the table due to their inferior record in a head-to-head with Stade Francais.