Best XV in World Rugby for Weekend of May 8-10

World rugby's focus now rests firmly in the domestic spectrum, and both hemispheres account for a 50-50 divide in representatives to make this week's dream XV.

With Toulon's Champions Cup triumph in the rearview mirror, Europe's giants are making their final dashes all across the continent. That pressure to perform conjured up some special displays this weekend.

Super Rugby is never one to let the team down, however, and the Southern Hemisphere's elite contest also threw up a raft of stellar displays, the best of which make our best XV.

Back Three

15. Israel Folau, Waratahs

The Waratahs may not have been at their best on Saturday as they slumped to an 18-11 loss in Perth, but Israel Folau remained one of the team's most motivated entities against Western Force.

There were no points to his name, admittedly, but the full-back beat five defenders from three clean breaks, managing four offloads and making three turnovers for 117 metres carried—each of those statistics was the highest recorded by any featuring player.

14. Yoann Huget, Toulouse

Switching to the right flank from his favoured left side, Yoann Huget is the only player in our lineup to have scored a hat-trick this past weekend, running three past Brive en route to a 67-19 win.

The Toulouse trickster was in a dominant streak of form as he appeared to improve every forward probe he became involved in, carrying for 129 metres in all from just eight carries.

11. Nemani Nadolo, Crusaders

When the Crusaders get as many as eight tries on the board, one can rest assured Nemani Nadolo will be among that number. The Fijian grabbed two as his side trounced the Reds 58-17 on Friday.

Not only that, but the winger also managed to take on his supplemental role once again and set up another couple of tries for the Christchurch hosts. He finished with 140 carrying metres and no tackles missed.

Centres

13. Wesley Fofana, Clermont Auvergne

Clermont midfielder Wesley Fofana moves one spot wider to accommodate out lineup this week after playing a hand in three of his team's five tries against Grenoble, scoring two of them himself.

This was Fofana at his penetrative best, showcasing what a catalytic asset he can be when accelerating out of a small pocket and leaving the Grenoble defence in his wake by and large. 

12. Luther Burrell, Northampton Saints

It took the bruising Luther Burrell some time to make a dent against London Welsh, but a six-minute brace of tries in Saturday's second half led to him playing a pivotal role.

Thanks to Burrell's aid, Northampton Saints finished the season on top of the Aviva Premiership for the first time in their history.

Half-Backs

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10. Colin Slade, Crusaders

A number of fly-halves might be capable of making the Queensland Reds defence look infantile, but Colin Slade was nevertheless the maestro as Crusaders ran rampant against their Australian foes.

The All Blacks playmaker was surpassed only by his wingers in terms of metres carried. He beat six defenders in total to raid for more than 100 metres and one try, making all eight of his attempted tackles.

9. Lee Dickson, Northampton Saints

The other Saints figure who managed two tries against London Welsh this weekend was Lee Dickson, who grabbed his side's first score in either half to get the ball rolling on both occasions.

That use of initiative is why some believe the scrum-half should be causing more of a stir in the England camp, and surefire displays such as this will do Dickson's candidacy no harm.

Back Row

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8. Thomas Waldrom, Exeter Chiefs

Exeter's 24-20 win at Allianz Park on Sunday didn't come without its share of star performances, and Thomas Waldrom ranked as the team talisman thanks to his two-try contribution.

Touching down either side of half-time, the No. 8 was a carrying fiend and broke for 130 metres with ball in hand, albeit coming up slightly short in defence with three missed tackles.

Scott Higginbotham of the Rebels, Leroy Houston of Bath and Wasps starlet Nathan Hughes—who came close to carrying for 100 metres in defeat to Leicester—all deserve special mentions this week.

7. Julien Bardy, Clermont Auvergne

Julien Bardy possesses a reserve of energy that allows him to compete for as long as his heart desires, and the open-side was typically unyielding when Clermont made their successful trip to Grenoble on Saturday.

A haul of 21 tackles saw the Portuguese ascend high above any other participant defensively, with team-mate Damien Chouly the next-highest contributor at just 14.

6. Matt Todd, Crusaders

Matt Todd is often overlooked as the driving force that keeps the Crusaders ticking when their internationals are absent, but Friday's outing against the Reds was a loud, in-your-face statement of what he's capable of.

While his tally of 16 tackles stands out, Todd also injected some attacking dynamism into his play, touching down for one of his own and assisting to give a terrifically rounded account of his abilities.

Second Row

5. Sam Whitelock, Crusaders

After every match, the aforementioned Nadolo and Sam Whitelock seem to the last names left hanging on the tongue of any spectator—and for good reason.

Fans are throwing about "Try of the Year" following Whitelock's superb carry to score against the Reds on Friday (above), as he beat six defenders for a metre total of 74.

4. Joe Tekori, Toulouse

It's not every day we see Toulouse put up 67 points on the scoreboard, and it's not every day we see Joe Tekori display the deft hands of the slickest centre, but this past Saturday seemed to defy those odds.

The Toulouse lock found himself at the core of many a Toulouse movement and set up two tries against Brive. While he didn't score himself, he made four offloads and provided a firm foundation in attack.

Front Row

3. Ben Franks, Hurricanes

Ben Franks' inconsistency can sometimes be a bugbear of the prop's play, but the structure he gave the Hurricanes scrum against the Sharks on Saturday illustrated his value when at his best.

Franks missed only one of his attempted 13 tackles during the Canes' 32-24 victory and managed to help his side win without surrendering a single pack-down.

2. Damien Fitzpatrick, Lyon

Rory Best of Ulster and Tom Youngs of Leicester did their most to claim a spot in this weekend's lineup, but Lyon hooker Damien Fitzpatrick eclipsed the pair, scoring once from his 38 metres made in the 16-16 draw with La Rochelle.

Fitzpatrick also counted up 15 tackles, the third-highest total managed by any player in the fixture.

1. Tendai Mtawarira, Sharks

Just as the Hurricanes were unwavering come scum time in Wellington this Saturday, so too were the Sharks, with Tendai Mtawarira functioning as one part of the South Africans' well-oiled machine.

The Beast was constantly a source of yardage around the fringes, and his security at the set piece was aided only more by a decent contribution of 10 tackles.

All statistics come courtesy of ESPN Scrum.