Best XV in World Rugby for Weekend of April 15 to 17

This week, a our team of the weekend has a back three with 12 tries between them from their respective performances.

The Wasps' Christian Wade, who may well have been mindful of England coach Eddie Jones' comments earlier in the week, claimed half of those.

The Australian suggested a few of his Grand Slam winners had been far from impressive since returning to club action, per Chris Jones of the BBC.co.uk.

Wade's six-star display was perhaps the best way the wing could have shown the Red Rose boss if anyone isn't pulling his weight, the 2013 Lions tourist is more than willing to take a place in the squad.

There aren't too many weeks left for players to force themselves into contention for the summer tours in the home nations squads, but for the English contingent still contesting the European Champions Cup in particular, these weeks could do much to inform Jones' choice.

We also saw someone down in New Zealand put in a display that suggests the No. 10 jersey is not simply going to be handed to Aaron Cruden.

Here's the full XV.

Back Three

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15. Jared Payne

Jared Payne's place as Ireland's outside centre may be under threat from the next generation of Irish talent, but as Ulster's full-back, he is still very much the main man. The naturalised Kiwi bagged a hat-trick in the Red Hand Gang's demolition of Italian whipping boys Zebre.

14. Christian Wade

Wade's six tries against Worcester equalled the Premiership record for tries scored in a single game. And they prompted Wasps chief Dai Young to champion his star's international chances, per givemesport.com: "It was a timely reminder from him that he's still about and shouldn't be forgotten for either the Saxons or England tours this summer."

11. Joe Tomane

Brumbies and Wallabies wing Tomane also plundered three tries as the men from Canberra toppled the Waratahs. Tomane's feat was the first treble any Brumby has scored against the Sydneysiders, per the Australian.

Centres

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13. Bundee Aki

Connacht's outside centre further enhanced his burgeoning reputation with a man of the match display for the Galwaymen in their win over Munster. Aki made 126 metres with ball in hand, per ESPN, and was heralded as "head and shoulders the standout performer" by rte.ie.

12. Rey Lee-Lo

Cardiff's Samoan import scored and made plenty of dents in the Dragons' defence as the Welsh capital side felled the men from Newport.

Half-Backs

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10. Beauden Barrett

So far, the prime candidate for the All Black No. 10 jersey vacated by Dan Carter has been Chiefs man Aaron Cruden, who has been in sparkling form this season. But Cruden's seemingly unobstructed procession into the fly-half berth for Steve Hansen's side now appears to be less clear.

That's after a two-try display from Hurricanes' Beauden Barrett, whose performance prompted the New Zealand Herald's Patrick McKendry to write: "Beauden Barrett's two-try performance against the Rebels in Melbourne tonight should serve to put Aaron Cruden on notice; the race for the All Blacks' No. 10 jersey isn't over yet."

9. Sarel Pretorius

Walesonline's Simon Thomas, who wrote, "Pretorius was the game’s outstanding player for me. So quick and so hard to pin down, repeatedly breaking free," picked scrum-half Pretorius as the player of the game between the Blues and the Dragons.

Back Row

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8. Camille Gerondeau

Clermont Auvergne's No. 8 ran for over 100 metres, per ESPN and also got himself on the scoresheet with a try as Les Jaunards hammered Agen 38-10.

7. Josh van der Flier

Van der Flier, Leinster and Ireland's 22-year-old openside flanker, waltzed off with the man of the match award after the Dubliners' win over Edinburgh, which was richly deserved, per The42.ie:

"

Van der Flier scored a try, made a further nine carries for a healthy return of more than 60 metres, hit rucks willingly and led the Leinster tackle count with 17. His work rate has been immense all season and, given that he is still learning, the future is bright for van der Flier.

"

6. Sam Warburton

He played with a No. 7 on his back for Cardiff, but in this form Sam Warburton's shirt number is irrelevant. The Welsh skipper is in fine form at present.

Second Row

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5. Mick Kearney

Fourteen tackles made Leinster's lock Kearney one of the best tacklers among his fellow second-row union members this weekend.

4. George Kruis

Eleven tackles, eight carries and a try from England's lock. Whoever Eddie Jones was talking about, it can't possible have been the Saracens man.

Front Row

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3. Vadim Cobilas

Tightheads don't score many, so they deserve recognition when they do cross the whitewash. Vadim Cobilas of Sale Sharks, we salute you.

2. Harry Thacker

Leicester are used to praise being heaped in their gnarled front-row forwards, but it's the fresh face of 22-year-old hooker Harry Thacker winning the garlands at present. Coach and former possessor of the Tigers No. 2 shirt, Richard Cockerill heralded Thacker's try against North Hampton as the score of the season, per Premiershiprugby.com.

1. Cian Healy

A whopping 15 tackles from the Leinster loosehead is a huge total for a prop, per ESPN.co.uk. Healy must want his shirt back in the Irish side. Badly.