A thrilling Round One of the Investec Champions Cup saw victories for the three favourites, as Leinster, La Rochelle and Toulouse all recorded resounding wins.
With Saracens and Northampton flying the flag for the Premiership, and only the Sharks recording a win for the South African teams, France dominated with eight representatives.
Without further ado, here’s our Champions Cup Team of the Week after Round One.
Backs
15 Louis Bielle-Biarrey (Bordeaux-Begles): Not a team of the week selection seems to go by without the flying French wing being named somewhere in our back three. Once again superb for Bordeaux, with Thomas Ramos also shining for Toulouse and Shane Daly grabbing a score for Munster. Max Spring impressed for Racing 92 too.
14 Ange Capuozzo (Toulouse): A brace for the diminutive Azzurri winger was a feature of the Toulouse crushing of Ulster. Jordan Larmour‘s try opened the floodgates for Leinster at Bristol as the discarded Irish wing enjoyed an impressive outing.
13 Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors): Jones is almost certain to be the Lions 13 and had another fine outing in the centres. His rival for the shirt, Garry Ringrose, started by melting AJ McGinty’s ribs and delivered an all-action display, whilst Nicolas Depoortere had a fine day for Bordeaux as he scored once again.
12 Jordie Barrett (Leinster): Impact personified as the All Black legend made his debut for his Dublin side and inspired a second-half rout at Ashton Gate. Sione Tuipulotu was solid alongside Jones for Glasgow, whilst Jonathan Danty reminded us all of his class for La Rochelle. Fraser Dingwall sent out a timely reminder to the England selectors as he shone for Saints.
11 Gabin Villiere (Toulon): Toulon pulled off the performance of the round winning on the road at the Stormers and Villiere delivered an all-action performance. Our runner-up is the fantastic Springbok Makazole Mapimpi, who got on the scoresheet once more for Sharks as they smashed Exeter Chiefs.
10 Matthieu Jalibert (Bordeaux-Begles): After his much publicised disagreement with the French management, the impish fly-half was in superb form for Bordeaux. Romain Ntamack also returned to action with an impressive display, whilst Ihaia West controlled La Rochelle’s win at the Rec.
9 Baptiste Serin (Toulon): The performance of the weekend from the Toulon nine as he drove his star-studded team to a famous victory. George Horne misses out despite a hat-trick for Glasgow and in a great week for French-based nines, Antoine Dupont was his usual brilliant self, whilst Tawera Kerr-Barlow and Nolann le Garrec were pivotal for La Rochelle and Racing 92 respectively.
Forwards
8 Tom Willis (Saracens): Were you watching, Steve Borthwick? Another massive display from the Wasp-turned-Saracen. Gregory Alldritt gave us diesel 4×4 power in the Bath mud, whilst Facundo Isa was a key part of the Toulon victory on the road.
7 Josh van der Flier (Leinster): Another superb shift as the Lions favourite for the seven shirt shone. His opponent, Bristol’s Fitz Harding, matched him blow for blow, whilst England hopeful Henry Pollock also scored for Saints.
6 Siya Kolisi (Sharks): Siya started at eight then moved to six as he scored his first EPCR hat-trick in an all-action display. Peter O’Mahony was his usual dogged self for Munster, whilst Toulouse’s Jack Willis reminded us all of what England are missing now he’s unavailable. Cameron Woki was all-action for Racing 92 as he reminded the French selectors of his talent.
5 Emmanuel Meafou (Toulouse): Immense. A huge performance from a huge man as the big French lock powered over for a couple of tries. Will Skelton was as abrasive as ever for La Rochelle, and Scott Cummings showed once again his Test class as he crossed for Glasgow.
Toulouse v Ulster: Five takeaways as ‘pack of lions’ inspire ‘deluge’ over ‘learning’ visitors
4 Peceli Yato (Clermont): Playing in his less favoured lock position, Yato was the power in the Clermont eight as he crossed for a score. Toulouse’s Thibaud Flament had a powerful outing whilst Saints’ Temo Mayanavanua grabbed an early score for his side.
3 Neethling Fouche (Stormers): Fouche may have finished on the losing side but was immense in the tight despite the defeat. At the Rec, both tightheads, Uini Atonio and Will Stuart, left nothing on the park as they put in immense shifts. Max Lahiff was a popular try scorer for the Bears.
2 Curtis Langdon (Northampton Saints): Mr Consistent made some crucial interventions and gets a reward for a great personal performance as he sees off Glasgow’s Gregor Hiddleston for the number two shirt. Jamie George had a fine outing for Sarries, whilst Dan Frost was one of Exeter’s better performers.
1 Redi Wardi (La Rochelle): A try-scoring display in the Bath downpour sees Wardi take this week’s shirt, but James Cronin had a powerful outing in defeat for Leicester Tigers and Thomas du Toit once again gave all for his club, despite the defeat.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/champions-cup-team-of-the-week-jordie-barretts-dream-debut-while-england-outcasts-massive-display-sends-message-to-steve-borthwick
