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Champions Cup team of the week

Updated / Monday, 16 Jan 2023 09:51
Jamie Osborne shone in Leinster's win against Gloucester
Jamie Osborne shone in Leinster's win against Gloucester

There were plenty of standout performances in the penultimate round of pool matches in the Heineken Champions Cup as the race for the last 16 heated up.

Here are our picks from round three...

15. Elliot Daly (Saracens)

There's a wealth of options at full-back this week, with South African pair Kurt-Lee Arendse and Damian Willemse both impressing, but Daly shone brightest with a seven-minute hat-trick against Lyon.

There was footwork and pace for his first, a strong fend for his second and a lovely finish in the corner for his third, with England boss Steve Borthwick an impressed onlooker from the stands.

14. Alex Cuthbert (Ospreys)

We've been told it’s strictly a Champions Cup team of the week, so that means there’s no place for Connacht’s hat-trick hero Alex Wootton.

Instead we’ve gone for another Alex, the second British and Irish Lion in our back three, who crossed for two tries against Montpellier.

Cuthbert crashed over from close range midway through the first half following a sustained period of pressure, and he stepped inside the covering defence to score a second after half-time.

13. Wandisile Simelane (Vodacom Bulls)

The 24-year-old went on the rampage against Exeter, scoring two tries and racking up 129 metres from just seven carries.

Having teed up David Kriel for the Bulls’ second try, Simelane then displayed his football skills as he hacked ahead and capitalised on a kind bounce to cross after half-time.

He wrapped up victory with a late interception score and edges out Leicester’s two-try centre Matt Scott for the No 13 shirt.

12. Jamie Osborne (Leinster)

Ireland head coach Andy Farrell names his Six Nations squad on Thursday and Osborne boosted his chances of making the cut after another impressive showing on his European debut against Gloucester.

The versatile 21-year-old displayed power, precise passing and dazzling footwork, including a mean sidestep to score Leinster’s third try at Kingsholm.

11. Alivereti Raka (Clermont Auvergne)

Shane Daly’s defensive performance was outstanding for Munster but Raka gets the nod for his all-court showing in Clermont’s loss to Leicester.

The wing was back to his attacking best, beating four defenders and offloading at will as he made 91 metres from 13 carries.

His break led to a try for Etienne Fourcade and his form could yet earn a France recall for the Six Nations.

10. Handre Pollard (Leicester Tigers)

Pollard produced his best display in Leicester colours at Stade Marcel Michelin.

Lovely hands put Dan Kelly over for the Tigers’ third try before half-time while he was strong in defence and accurate with the boot, kicking 14 points.

Pollard takes the out-half spot ahead of Harlequins’ Marcus Smith, who hit the ground running on his return from injury.

9. Jaden Hendrikse (Cell C Sharks)

Hendrikse twice caught Bordeaux-Bègles napping as he crossed for an early double in Durban.

The livewire scrum-half opened the scoring from a quick tap and sniped over for a second as the Sharks powered to a victory that confirms their place in the last 16.

CHAMPIONS CUP RESULTS, FIXTURES AND TABLES

1. Joe Marler (Harlequins)

Marler let his actions do the talking this week in an impressive 80-minute performance against Racing 92.

The loosehead dominated at scrum time, cleaned out rucks, formed part of a strong Harlequins maul and made some big tackles as they fell to an agonising late loss in Paris.

2. Johan Grobbelaar (Vodacom Bulls)

Grobbelaar scored the fifth of the Bulls’ six tries against Exeter and it was just rewards for the hooker.

He made 15 tackles, won a turnover and his darts were on the money, and crossed from a lineout drive on 51 minutes as the Bulls avenged last month’s loss in Devon.

3. Willem Nel (Edinburgh)

The veteran prop rolled back the years as Edinburgh won away to Castres to progress to the last 16.

Nel made 14 tackles during a 75-minute display and helped ensure Edinburgh were 100% at scrum time.

4. Cameron Woki (Racing 92)

Woki excelled in a crazy contest at La Défense Arena and produced a brilliant lineout steal at the death as 12-man Racing held on for a victory that keeps alive their slim hopes of reaching the knockouts.

The France forward made a searing line break during the first half and his ability to offload in contact kept Racing motoring in attack.

5. Emmanuel Meafou (Toulouse)

The 24-year-old used his sizeable bulk to devastating effect against Sale, often lining up in the midfield to attack off lineouts.

Meafou carried for a team-leading 87 metres from 13 carries, bouncing off defenders, and squeezed over for the opening try with 11 minutes remaining to put the game to bed.

6. Iain Henderson (Ulster)

The Ulster skipper led by example in dreadful conditions against La Rochelle, carrying hard and excelling at lineout time.

Having formed part of a powerful Ulster maul that should have been awarded a penalty try before half-time, Henderson popped up with two huge moments in defence after the restart when he got up in front of Ultan Dillane to steal a lineout, before a huge breakdown jackal won his side a relieving penalty inside their 22.

Henderson was forced off for a HIA on the hour mark and did not return, and Ulster missed his influence during the closing stages.

7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys)

The British and Irish Lion takes the openside slot ahead of Siya Kolisi after helping the Ospreys to back-to-back wins over Top 14 champions Montpellier.

Tipuric produced a trademark performance in defence, making 16 tackles, and teed up Alex Cuthbert for his second try.

He also scored a brilliant try of his own. It was pure desire that saw him win the race to Keelan Giles’ kick and touch down, having sparked the attack by kicking out wide to the wing.

8. Gavin Coombes (Munster)

It was a battle between two Ireland internationals for the No 8 jersey, with Coombes beating Caelan Doris in a close-run contest.

Coombes scored two first-half tries against Northampton and created another for Jack O’Donoghue, and he was heroic in defence as 14-man Munster held on for victory.

Coombes made 23 tackles and won three turnovers to keep his side on course for the knockout stages.

Watch Leinster v Racing 92 in the Heineken Champions Cup live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player from 2.30pm on Saturday

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