Best XV from Weekend's Rugby Matches

Rugby season is back in its groove after a pre-World Cup lull in proceedings, with international warm-ups, French league action and ITM Cup entertainment all on the schedule this past weekend.

Wales clinched a memorable 16-10 win at the Aviva Stadium on Saturday before Scotland stepped their own World Cup training up a notch thanks to a 48-7 drubbing of Italy at Murrayfield.

A host of individuals did their part to sizzle in those matchups, but the star performances stretched over both sides of the equator as Canterbury and Waikato soared in New Zealand's ITM Cup.

We select our best XV from the weekend's rugby action, where representatives for both club and country stood out from the pack.

Back Three

15. Stuart Hogg, Scotland

While Leigh Halfpenny kicked 11 points to fire Wales to victory over Ireland, Scotland's Stuart Hogg had a more glamorous time of things against the Azzurri in Edinburgh.

The Glasgow star raced for more than 100 metres from just eight carries on Saturday, beating four defenders from three breaks—although his defensive wit was hardly tested against a limp Italy attack.

14. Ken Pisi, Samoa

Samoa were unfortunate to leave the Olympic Stadium in defeat on Saturday, losing to Barabarians 27-24, where Northampton Saints man Ken Pisi starred for the Pacific Islanders as the joint-most frequent point of attack.

Only team-mate Jack Lam could match Pisi for carries made, while some quick Kahn Fotuali'i wit led to a well-taken try for the wing ace, who racked up more than 100 metres overall.

11. Tim Visser, Scotland

Recently signed Harlequins wing Tim Visser was the other member of the Scottish back three who soared this weekend, grabbing two of his side's six tries as he enjoyed his run of the field for 80 minutes.

Visser was the most effective carrier this weekend after making 143 metres with ball in hand from eight carries of his own—an average of just under 18 metres per carry—to go along with his brace.

Centres

13. Mark Bennett, Scotland

A burgeoning stock of talented Scottish centres currently has Mark Bennett sat somewhere among the best of their bunch, and the 22-year-old showed Italy why he deserves a World Cup start with a terrific outing on Saturday.

From a match-high of 12 carries, the youngster rallied for 113 metres against Italy to beat more defenders than any other player at Murrayfield (five), finishing his day off with a deserved 79th-minute try.

12. Ryan Crotty, Canterbury

It was from outside centre that New Zealand's Ryan Crotty made his impact for Canterbury this weekend, but the versatile back switches to his usual No. 12 in our lineup after dazzling Auckland on Saturday in a 27-21 victory for his side.

Starting on the right foot, it was Crotty's try that opened the scoring at Eden Park, but the midfielder was effective in every aspect of the game, making 12 tackles and missing none, carrying for 125 metres from 16 runs.

Half-Backs

10. Nicky Robinson, Oyonnax

Nicky Robinson's Welsh compatriots did the business in Dublin hours before he kicked 17 points and helped create two tries in leading Oyonnax to a morale-boosting 37-19 victory over Bordeaux on Saturday.

The fly-half is enjoying his time in the Top 14 and made 11 tackles against a threatening attack—the most of any Oyonnax back—as his side revived their fortress-like home form.

9. Brad Weber, Waikato

Waikato's ITM Cup hopes received a major jump this weekend after they blew Bay of Plenty away with a 43-10 win in away territory, thanks in large part to an inspired Brad Weber display.

The scrum half was directly involved in three of his team's six tries, grabbing two of his own as he ravaged for a match-high 101 carrying metres—more than any other player—as he posed a threat with every touch of the ball.

Back Row

8. Peter Saili, Bordeaux

Bordeaux's defeat at Oyonnax didn't cover many of their players in glory, but No. 8 Peter Saili was one of the few players from that side of the pitch who did pose a challenge to their Top 14 hosts this weekend. 

The Auckland native is starting his first full season in France and looks to already be making yardage both literally and figuratively, rampaging for 92 metres against Oyonnax from a massive total of 17 carries.

7. Justin Tipuric, Wales

The irrepressible flankers of Wales were so crucial to Saturday's superb victory in Dublin, where Justin Tipuric made 20 tackles and missed none against an Ireland team who hammered Wales' door for lengthy stretches.

Tipuric's influence was particularly important in a second half where the hosts enjoyed 61 per cent possession, not to mention scoring Wales' only try from close range in a man-of-the-match display.

6. Dan Lydiate, Wales

Dan Lydiate was the other flanker technician working at optimum standards against the Irish, where his tally of 23 tackles stood out as something almost inhuman.

The chopping back rower cut Ireland's best carriers down to size at just about every corner and missed only a couple of tackles on the day, but without him the win may not have been Wales'.

Second Row

Peter Morrison/Associated Press

5. Alun Wyn Jones, Wales

A captain's display if there was one this weekend, with Alun Wyn Jones trudging around the Aviva Stadium on Saturday with the look of a man motivated to give his nation their best shot at a World Cup this year.

Wales' improvements, by no coincidence, came in line with the lock's own step up in performance levels, where he made 16 tackles and was a reliable component of a set piece that did show cracks at times.

4. Iain Henderson, Ireland

The only Ireland player managing to make our XV, Iain Henderson may indeed be living up to the expectations of those who see him as the successor to Paul O'Connell, following a match in which he outperformed the veteran.

Ulster's Henderson stood up well under the pressure and showed great stamina to clinch a well-timed score deep in first-half injury time, not to mention looking menacing every time Wales threw at the lineout.

Front Row

3. Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Wellington

A stingy defensive display saw Wellington fail to concede a single point to Northland at home on Saturday in a 29-0 victory, and who might have guessed it would be Jeffery Toomaga-Allen leading that charge? 

The tight head notched 10 tackles in all as team-mate Ardie Savea was the only Wellington player to amass more (11), and Toomaga-Allen also made light work of a spotless set piece for the home outfit.

2. Corey Flynn, Toulouse

Agen walked away from a 20-9 home defeat to Toulouse knowing that the brace of tries scored by visiting hooker Corey Flynn were entirely as a result of their own embarrassing defence.

The New Zealander grabbed the only scores of the fixture with a couple of barrelling runs inside the Agen 22 in what was a clinical outing with ball in hand. 

1. Loni Uhila, Waikato

While Weber was an attacking dynamo for Waikato, prop Loni Uhila also got in on the offensive action at Bay of Plenty, making the joint-most carries of any travelling player (14).

Uhila missed a couple of tackles in defence, but opposing tight head Pingi Talaapitaga had a woeful outing under the pressure of his prop opponent, who earned some valuable penalties for Waikato and carried for a haul of 36 metres, beating four defenders.

All statistics come courtesy of ESPN Scrum.