Ranking Europe's Top 15 Club Teams After Weekend of November 20-22
The European season moved into its second week, and with the fall of the mercury came the rise of the red rose.
All six English participants in the European Rugby Champions Cup recorded victories in the continent's premier competition, giving incoming England coach Eddie Jones plenty of performances to assess when he sits down with the DVDs from the weekend's action.
First on his running order will doubtless be Wasps' stunning performance against Toulon, whose trophy cabinet has provided the silverware with a roof over its head for the last three seasons.
Wasps, therefore, make the biggest progression up the ladder this week, with several other English clubs also making headway.
This ranking is based on the weekend's result, the context of the opposition and the sides' overall standings so far this season.
15. Leinster (New Entry)
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Leinster are enduring a nightmare start to their European season.
Leo Cullen's men have now lost their first two Champions Cup fixtures but still have a healthy five-from-seven record in the Pro12 as their World Cup stars get their feet back under the table.
It is in Europe where the three-time champions measure themselves, however, and back-to-back matches against Toulon will provide the answer as to whether the Dubliners can fight their way out of a section that is already well out of their control.
14. Munster (Last Week, 5)
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Munster tumble as a result of their inactivity this week.
They also face a confident Connacht side this weekend in the Pro12 and have plenty of injury woes to furrow Anthony Foley's brow, per Charlie Mulqueen of the Irish Examiner.
Peter O'Mahony, Duncan Casey and Mike Sherry are all out, while scrum-half Conor Murray is doubtful.
The coach is also keen to see a weekend date found for the postponed game against Stade Francais.
Foley said:
"I think a midweek match would be unfair to both sides, it needs to be a weekend.
Also, everybody loves round six of the European Cup because of the permutations.
It’s one of the traditions of the competition and it would be slightly unfair on other teams who’d be looking at it and unfair on supporters and people around the game.
"
13. Stade Francais (New Entry)
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Stade Francais opted not to play their home tie with Munster last weekend while Paris continued to piece itself back together.
The French champions were poor at Leicester in the first round of Champions Cup fixtures, and they also languish in 11th place in the Top 14.
Stade travel to Grenoble on Sunday, where a win will pull them closer to the side from the foot of the Alps as they bid to rebuild a shaky start to a season that will, in all likelihood, struggle to escape the shadow of what has happened in their home town.
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12. Connacht (9)
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A second win in as many Challenge Cup games—allied to six from seven in the Pro12—has left league leaders Connacht in high spirits this weekend.
Pat Lam's side dispatched Brive 27-17, despite their hellish trip back from Siberia that carried on well into their preparation week.
The men from Ireland's west coast have a true test ahead of them this weekend when they travel to Munster. Pass it, and they could stick around the upper reaches of the Pro12 table well into the new year.
They move from ninth to 12th this week on account of a return to action of more sides playing in the premier European competition.
If they keep their guns blazing on both fronts, though, a higher ranking is not beyond them.
11. Toulon (7)
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Toulon tumble down the order this week. Bernard Laporte's men haven't been handed a hiding like the 32-6 loss at Wasps since they started dominating Europe three seasons ago.
They were unable to cope with the marauding Wasps back row and the sheer pace of their back three.
If anyone can bounce back to win the group after a hammering, though, it is the reigning champions and three-time winners. They will now face a wounded Leinster in back-to-back games in the next two rounds of competition.
We have now seen how to expose the holders.
10. Exeter (New Entry)
6 of 15Exeter recovered from their opening-round defeat to Ospreys with a bonus-point 34-19 win over Bordeaux-Begles.
Olly Woodburn was the star of the show with two tries and a try-saving tackle, per the Express and Echo.
Rob Baxter's men sit second in the Premiership with three wins from four. In December, they have back-to-back clashes with Clermont to negotiate.
If they can win well against the poor travellers when they pitch up at Sandy Park, limiting the damage the following week on French soil may well be enough to stay ahead of Les Jaunards in their group.
9. Ospreys (New Entry)
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The Ospreys may have lost in Clermont, but four tries and a losing bonus point was not a bad return from a trip to one of rugby's toughest arenas.
Clermont have won 24 straight matches in this competition at home, per BBC Sport.
Added to the opening round win over Exeter, six points make for a good start to the Ospreys' Champions Cup campaign.
8. Toulouse (6)
8 of 15Toulouse shook off a heavy loss to Saracens to defeat Oyonnax 24-18 and keep themselves in contention in Pool 1.
They looked in good touch against their domestic rivals, with a fine individual try from centre Gael Fickou certain to have pleased former coach and now French boss Guy Noves.
Fabian Pelous' men also sit second in the Top 14 ahead of a testing visit to Racing 92 this weekend, but they fall a little in this ranking with other sides above them making it two wins from two and facing stiffer opposition.
The fixture has been moved from its original location of Stade de France following the recent terrorist attacks at the venue, per Agence France-Presse (h/t Yahoo.com).
7. Bath (New Entry)
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Bath's George Ford kicked a late penalty to secure 19-16 win over Leinster at the Rec.
Their forwards dominated the Irishmen, and only a late Josh van der Flier try had put Leinster level before Ford's boot stole the victory.
Much of the post-match praise went to centre Kyle Eastmond, but Bath prop Nick Auterac also earned plaudits.
Per Sam Peters of the Daily Mail, coach Mike Ford said:
"Nick has the potential to be awesome. He is a modern day prop forward who can handle, tackle and is quick. In our fitness sessions in training, we put him in the backs. We have seven outstanding front-row players at Bath. Some of our scrummaging sessions are awesome to watch.
"
Bath sit second in their pool behind Wasps, with a date yet to be fixed for their postponed clash with Toulon. Back-to-back rubbers with the Ricoh Arena side will now form the centrepiece of this pool.
6. Racing 92 (8)
10 of 15Racing began their delayed campaign in Europe with a visit to west Wales and a display of forward grunt that was too weighty for Scarlets to withstand.
A 29-12 win was facilitated in no small part by a monstrous forward effort, as outlined by the Guardian's Eddie Butler, who wrote: "Racing’s heavyweight pack did a real number, winning clean possession and making yards through the tackles. This was French rugby at its most dominant, the very style that allows the clubs of the Top 14 to rule Europe."
No one would begrudge one of Paris' top sides a decent run in the tournament this season, but if Racing are to go deep into the competition, their game will need to be founded on sufficient forward dominance to allow Dan Carter to provide the artistry.
The All Black is set to be unveiled this weekend ahead of their home Top 14 clash with Toulouse, per the New Zealand Herald.
5. Northampton (New Entry)
11 of 15A poor start in the Premiership has been cast aside with two wins from two for Northampton in Europe.
They followed victory over the Scarlets with an impressive win over Pro12 champions Glasgow for only their third win all season.
The Guardian's Michael Aylwin was impressed with the Saints' English contingent: "Kieran Brookes, a regular in England’s matchday squad, must now be pushing for a starting place at tighthead. He was awarded man of the match, but the rest of the pack were not far behind, and nor were Luther Burrell and Ben Foden behind the scrum."
Jim Mallinder's men pulverised Glasgow up front and will look to take that aggression back into domestic duties when they take on Gloucester at Franklin's Gardens.
4. Leicester (2)
12 of 15It was a contest between Treviso and the horrendous conditions to see which would prove the hardiest foe for Leicester Tigers.
In the end, both were negotiated with maximum rewards by the Tigers, who have taken their pool in hand after Stade Francais elected to postpone their home tie with Munster out of respect for the ongoing grief currently enveloping their home town.
The east Midlanders got on with business against the side destined to become the whipping boys in this difficult group.
Leicester slip this week as a result of playing weaker opposition than any of the sides ranked above them.
3. Clermont Auvergne (3)
13 of 15Clermont played in unfamiliar black trimmed with the Tricolore in their own tribute after recent events, and they set about restoring a few smiles to the French faces inside Stade de Marcel Michelin with a 34-29 win over Ospreys.
David Strettle showed he has settled well in the Massif Central with two tries, the first courtesy of an outrageous swerve that left Dan Evans on the seat of his shorts.
The Top 14 league leaders will carry confidence into their key league clash next weekend with Toulon, eager to avenge last season's European final defeat.
2. Saracens (1)
14 of 15The English champions crossed the Irish Sea to add Ulster's scalp to that of Toulouse in their pool. Saracens are barrelling along nicely on all fronts.
A clutch of Englishmen performed well to put former Sarries boss and new England head coach Eddie Jones on notice and take a firm hold of their section after just two games.
They lose top spot owing to the jaw-dropping performance from their once-London rivals Wasps.
1. Wasps (4)
15 of 15Wasps make the big move to the top of the pile this week with an incredible win over Toulon.
First, Leinster were laid low in Dublin, and now the European champions have been torn apart. The force is with Dai Young's men, and this collective form could propel a number of his charges into the thoughts of the new England coach.
Joe Simpson at scrum-half caught the eye, as did Nathan Hughes, who will qualify to play for England next summer.
They were not to be outdone by Elliot Daly, who reaffirmed his ability to go long off the tee with a successful penalty from halfway.
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