Best XV in World Rugby for Weekend of December 11-13
A man-of-the-match performance from Exeter Chiefs No. 8 Thomas Waldrom drove his side to a momentous win over Clermont Auvergne on Saturday to highlight the Champions Cup's comeback.
The competition's pool stage resumed this weekend, and stars of the Premiership, Top 14 and Pro12 dazzled from all angles in what was a very mixed round for the continental elite.
French outfits Toulon and Racing 92 came out with their reputations intact, while Ospreys and Glasgow Warriors gave the Pro12 a glowing advertisement and Premiership leaders Saracens flew a strong flag for their division.
Read on as we break down this weekend's brightest performers, and be sure to tell us who you think should have made our best XV in the forum below.
Back Three
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15. Brice Dulin, Racing 92
Racing 92's winning start to the Champions Cup campaign saw them waltz to the top of Pool 3 on Saturday with a 33-3 win over Northampton, and France full-back Brice Dulin lead the assault with two tries separated by the half-time whistle.
It was the Racing forwards who laid the foundation for their victory, but Dulin dazzled as the brightest spark in the back line, racking up more than 150 metres with ball in hand from 12 carries.
14. Taqele Naiyaravoro, Glasgow Warriors
It's a rare occasion for a player to carry for more than 200 metres in a Champions Cup game, yet it's taken Australian import Taqele Naiyaravoro just a few weeks to bust down that landmark since arriving at Glasgow Warriors.
The Fiji-born brute scored a hat-trick of second-half tries in Glasgow's 43-6 win over Scarlets on Saturday, making 231 metres from six breaks—more than the rest of his back-line team-mates combined—and beating eight defenders.
11. Charles Piutau, Wasps
Wasps truly have got a special player on their hands, it seems, and while Charles Piutau ended up on the losing side against Bath, his individual display was that of a veritable champion.
Forward team-mates Nathan Hughes (20) and James Haskell (14) were the only Wasps players to best his 14 carries, bounding for 160 metres en route to a tough 23-25 loss against their Pool 5 opponents.
Centres
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13. Jack Nowell, Exeter Chiefs
If the calls for Jack Nowell to suit up in Eddie Jones' England squad weren't bellowing loudly enough already, an inspired performance at outside centre in Exeter's win over Clermont will only have boosted his chances.
The 22-year-old's wing roots came to the fore as he beat seven defenders and ate up 89 metres with ball in hand, taking on the French side's back line with astonishing comfort.
A display beyond his years, Nowell was dubbed the "best player on the pitch" by Aviva Premiership communications director Paul Morgan.
12. Stu McCloskey, Ulster
A standout display against Toulouse led ex-Ireland fly-half Ronan O'Gara to suggest Ulster's Stu McCloskey could be headed for an international call-up, a suggestion it's difficult to argue with on current form.
Midfielder McCloskey was a crucial linchpin for the northern province in their 38-0 thrashing of Toulouse, beating eight defenders in total and averaging just over six metres for each of his 10 carries, not to mention making nine tackles and missing just one.
Half-Backs
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10. Dan Biggar, Ospreys
Bath fly-half George Ford is worthy of a special mention this week after steering the West Country team to their two-point win at Wasps, but Dan Biggar's timely influence in Ospreys' beating of Bordeaux was arguably even greater.
The Wales No. 10 scored all his side's points in a 19-16 triumph at the Liberty Stadium, crossing over for Ospreys' only try in the 51st minute to go along with his four penalties and a successful conversion. As if that wasn't enough, Biggar also made two turnovers and five tackles, missing none.
9. Ben Youngs, Leicester Tigers
Both Youngs brothers make our lineup this weekend, and Leicester Tigers scrum-half Ben grabbed a superb individual try to settle the Tigers' 31-19 win over Munster at Thomond Park.
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Back Row
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8. Thomas Waldrom, Exeter Chiefs
What more can be said of a player who scored a brace of tries for the second weekend in succession—and against Top 14 titans Clermont Auvergne, no less?
Following last weekend's hat-trick display against Wasps, the marauding No. 8 made a magnificent 23 carries, grinding his way to 81 metres. In more specific terms, that tally's equal to fewer than four metres per carry, but in a way shows Waldrom's willingness to hit the small, hard yards all the more.
7. Josh Navidi, Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues fans won't forget Friday's 37-27 win over Montpellier in a hurry, and flanker Josh Navidi is one of only two Challenge Cup players to make our lineup thanks to his two tries against the Top 14 side at the Arms Park.
6. Steffon Armitage, Toulon
The sole Toulon entrant in our lineup also happened to score both the team's tries in their 24-9 win against Leinster, plumping down for his first after just 10 minutes before adding a second in the final minutes of the match.
That span of quality depicts just how inexhaustible a talent Steffon Armitage is, making more carries than any other player at the Stade Felix-Mayol on Sunday (16).
Second Row
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5. Maro Itoje, Saracens
Maro Itoje is an increasingly regular fixture in our best XV, and the youngster capped off a fine performance in Saracens' 45-10 win over Oyonnax with a second-half score to go along with his three turnovers—more than any team-mate—and seven tackles.
4. Leone Nakarawa, Glasgow Warriors
Leone Nakarawa couldn't join Fijian compatriot Naiyaravoro on the scoresheet against Scarlets this weekend, but the Glasgow lock was nevertheless a constant driving force for the Scots in their bonus-point win.
The Fiji international made 16 carries—more than any other player at Scotstoun on Saturday—for a total of 55 metres, managing three offloads, nine tackles and two turnovers to boot.
Front Row
6 of 63. Ben Tameifuna, Racing 92
Ben Tameifuna's transition to the European arena continued along a strong path after the former Chiefs prop barged his way 33 metres against the Saints, beating an impressive five defenders along the way.
Northampton's scrum gave a strong account, but Tameifuna did well to hold his own as Racing maintained a pristine set-piece record, losing just one lineout all game.
2. Tom Youngs, Leicester Tigers
Tom Youngs continues to prove his worth as one of the most mobile hookers on the European circuit, and the former centre lugged his frame about Thomond Park for a massive 17 tackles against Munster, more than any other player.
Lineout throwing has been cited as a weakness for Youngs in the past but not on Saturday as he failed to miss the target all evening.
1. Phil Price, Newport Gwent Dragons
The Newport scrum was close to faultless in a 22-0 battering of Top 14 newcomers Pau, but it was in the loose that prop Phil Price had his biggest impact, mustering an impressive haul of 15 tackles altogether.
All statistics come courtesy of ESPN Scrum.
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