Monday 24 April 2017 14:24, UK
Europe's finest rub shoulders with the best of the weekend's Super Rugby performers to make up our team of the week.
With the hotly-contested Champions and Challenge Cup semi-finals taking place as well as a full weekend of Super Rugby action, competition was fierce for spots.
Eight teams are represented including three apiece for European finalists Saracens and Clermont, along with a further trio from Super Rugby's table-toppers the Crusaders.
15. David Kaetau Havili (Crusaders)
It was a record score for the Crusaders over the South African outfit with David Kaetau Havili starring at the back.
The full-back was his side's top carrier in the match but there was quality as well as quantity from the man as he racked up an impressive 115 metres in the process, beating 12 defenders as they tore the Stomers' defence to pieces.
An honourable mention must go the Hurricanes' Jordie Barrett who pressed his All Blacks claims with a faultless seven from seven conversions as they demolished the Brumbies.
14. David Strettle (Clermont)
David Strettle continued to show why he is one of the most dangerous wingers in European rugby as Clermont booked their place in this season's Champions Cup final with a 27-22 win over Leinster.
The winger's kick ahead created Peceli Yato's try after just three minutes, before getting his own name on the scoresheet 11 minutes later.
However, it wasn't just his try-scoring exploits that caught the eye, Strettle also worked hard in defence racking up 11 tackles keeping Leinster's potent backline at bay for most of the match.
Standing in the way of Strettle, Clermont and European glory are the winger's former employers Saracens, who will be all too aware of his try-scoring exploits when they meet at Murrayfield on May 13.
13. Vince Aso (Hurricanes)
A hat-trick of tries for centre Vince Aso helped defending Super Rugby champions the Hurricanes overcome a mid-game wobble to demolish the Brumbies 56-21 on Friday.
The Hurricanes piled on 42 unanswered second-half points after trailing 14-21 at the break, including the second two scores from Aso, who is now Super Rugby's leading try scorer with 10.
Aso also starred in the stats from the game, topping the metres made with an impressive 131 from his nine carries.
12. Garry Ringrose (Leinster)
Garry Ringrose has switched from outside to inside centre in our team of the week making room for the Hurricanes' hat-trick hero Vince Aso.
His side may have crashed out of Europe against Clermont on Sunday afternoon but the centre's second-half try lit up the game; showcasing the skill, pace and intelligence that the 22-year-old possesses.
Sending out a reminder of his Lions credentials to Warren Gatland, Ringrose made a scintillating line break from inside his own half before leaving defenders in his wake, racing away to score bringing Leinster to within two points of their opponents.
11. Michela Sillari (Aylesford Bulls)
Michela Sillario ran in two tries as the Aylesford Bulls won the Women's Premiership for the first time with a 17-8 win over Bristol.
The winger crossed out wide for her side's second try after 19th minutes before she added a second of her own from an overlap in the second-half to pull away from Bristol and end their hopes of a comeback.
Sillario was not done there however as she was denied her hat-trick for a forward pass five minutes from time as her side held on to complete the double having won the Women's Cup back in April.
10. Billy Burns (Gloucester)
La Rochelle were on a 15-match unbeaten run at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre, but that came to an end when they met a Gloucester side orchestrated by Billy Burns in top form.
The 22-year-old fly-half scored all of his side's points in the hard-fought win, including a crucial try on the 58-minute mark which saw the fly-half intercept Brock James' floated pass and sprint to the line from 70 metres.
A special mention, however, has to go to Beauden Barrett who continued his spectacular run of form with a game-changing performance for the Hurricanes, who turned around a seven-point half-time deficit against the Brumbies to run out convincing 56-21 winners.
9. Morgan Parra (Clermont)
Morgan Parra was the star of the show as Clermont overpowered Leinster and booked their place in this year's Champions Cup final.
The scrum-half rallied his troops in spectacular fashion alongside the equally as influential Camille Lopez, pulling the strings and keeping them calm as thoughts of another semi-final collapse came into play.
He also contributed to his side on the scoreboard, converting Yato's early try and adding penalties to the tally in the 9th and 56th minutes.
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
While Clermont's front row did a job on Leinster's Lions duo Jack McGrath and Tadhg Furlong, Mako Vunipola showed in Dublin that there is more to props than just scrummaging, which means he just pips Raphael Chaume into our team of the week.
Forming a formidable partnership with brother Billy in the Saracens pack, Vunipola senior secured a final spot for his side with an all-round performance that included 15 tackles, seven carries and a low-probing kick into the Saracens 22 for his winger Chris Ashton to chase - the ball narrowly missing his man before bouncing out of play.
Vunipola also got his name on the scoresheet at the Aviva Stadium, rumbling over from close range near the hour mark to put his side 10 points ahead.
2. Codie Taylor (Crusaders)
Codie Taylor helped provide the moment of the match as the red-hot Crusaders humbled the Stormers.
The hooker was an influential man for his side as they ran in eight tries, contributing with 10 tackles and nine carries, but it was his part in Kieran Read's first score that really caught the eye, his ridiculous offload sending his No 8 over for the score.
3. Vincent Koch (Saracens)
Vincent Koch put in a man-of-the-match performance on his first European start in Dublin, standing head and shoulders above the rest in a front five that boasts four British and Irish Lions.
Koch landed 13 tackles in a ferocious defensive performance, and didn't miss one, whilst contributing around the park with four strong carries.
The South African tighthead was a menace to his opponents in the set-piece, ensuring Dave Kilcoyne faced a torrid time at the scrum forcing him to concede a number of penalties before driving Munster back on their own ball five metres out, forcing Tyler Bleyendaal to slice his hurried clearing kick in the build up to Vunipola's try.
4. Hugh Pyle (Stade Francais)
While many lock forwards would be enjoying a hard-earned rest on the bench by the 77th minute, Hugh Pyle was running 50 metres to secure victory and a place in the Challenge Cup final.
The lock's dash for the line proved vital in the yo-yo encounter, his tired legs out-running Bath fly-half George Ford to dot down for the converted try to take the game to 25-25, Plisson's drop-goal moments later sealing the victory for the Parisians.
5. Paul Gabrillagues (Stade Francais)
Paul Gabrillagues joins his Stade Francais lock partner Hugh Pyle in our team of the week thanks to his outstanding shift in defence against Bath.
The 24-year-old topped the tackle stats for the match putting in 17, while also contributing to a 100 per cent lineout operation for the French side as their towering option at the back.
6. Michael Rhodes (Saracens)
While many of his team-mates make the headlines and receive the plaudits, Michael Rhodes quietly goes about his work in the Saracens back row.
In a game where Munster threw everything but the kitchen sink at the reigning European and Premiership champions, Rhodes spearheaded a ferocious but somewhat trademark Saracens performance in defence.
7. Peceli Yato (Clermont)
Peceli Yato's fourth-minute try got Clermont off to a flying start in Lyon. The flanker collected David Strettle's kick ahead to dot down, outpacing the covering Leinster defence in the process.
It was a dream start for the Auvergne-based side, with the flanker also contributing 16 tackles and making 40 metres from his three carries.
8. Kieran Read (Crusaders)
An impressive two-try performance from Kieran Read against the Stormers sees him retain his place in our team of the week.
Read closed the first half with a try in the left corner on 37th minute before one on the right three minutes later, and his night was done with Crusaders coach Scott Robertson benching the All Blacks captain for the second half.
Despite only being on the field for 40 minutes, Read found himself named Sean Fitzpatrick's All Black of the week.
"He is so important to New Zealand rugby not only for his leadership but he is without question the best No 8 in world rugby" said Fitzpatrick. "I might even say he's the best loose forward in world rugby at the moment. He just demands such attention in the way he plays the game"
