Skip to content

Team of the week: Hat-trick heroes Tim Visser and Alex Tulou included

Tim Visser of Harlequins celebrates scoring a hat trick of tries against London Irish
Image: Harlequins wing Tim Visser scored a hat-trick against London Irish

Eleven different teams feature in our team of the week, which includes three players from Leicester after their comeback win over Worcester.

Hat-trick heroes Tim Visser and Alex Tulou also make the cut as does World Cup winner Ma'a Nonu on his Toulon debut.

15. Telusa Veainu (Leicester)

Leicester full-back Telusa Veainu is tackled by Chris Pennell of Worcester Warriors
Image: Telusa Veainu scored his fifth try of the season against Worcester

The Leicester full-back was voted the Tongan Players' Player of the Year and celebrated with a fantastic all-round display against Worcester.

Veainu scored his fourth try in three games as the Tigers came from 17-0 down to win at Sixways.

Stuart Barnes' talking points
Stuart Barnes' talking points

Exeter, Sonny Bill Williams and the arrival of Eddie Jones are all up for discussion

The 24-year-old made 150 metres from his 15 carries, beat nine defenders and also made five tackles to help Leicester claim a fourth successive victory.

14. Drew Mitchell (Toulon)

Also See:

Toulon winger Drew Mitchell scores a try against Clermont
Image: Toulon winger Drew Mitchell has scored three tries in two games

Mitchell helped himself to two tries as Toulon crushed Agen 53-23 at the Stade Felix Mayol. The Wallaby wing crossed twice in seven second-half minutes as the home side made short work of the Top 14 struggles.

Mitchell made two breaks from his 11 carries, the most of Toulon's star-studded backline, and beat five defenders to back up his try-scoring display against Clermont.

13. George Lowe (Harlequins)

Harlequins centre George Lowe in action against London Irish
Image: George Lowe was in impressive form against the Exiles

Lowe enjoyed an influential afternoon against winless London Irish and his break down the right set up Harlequins' second try early in the second half.

Lowe combined well with centre partner Harry Sloan, making seven tackles and averaging over four metres per carry.

12. Ma'a Nonu (Toulon)

Toulon centre Maa Nonu takes on Agen duo Johann Sadie and Julien Heriteau
Image: Ma'a Nonu takes on Agen duo Johann Sadie and Julien Heriteau

All eyes were on Nonu on his Toulon debut and the All Black did not disappoint. Ferocious in defence, the 33-year-old made all eight of his tackles and won a turnover, while he beat three Agen defenders with ball in hand.

Nonu was pinged for charging into a ruck but that was one of few negatives. He will look to build on this display on Sunday when Leinster visit the south of France.

11. Tim Visser (Harlequins)

Tim Visser of Harlequins scores a try during the Aviva Premiership match between Harlequins and London Irish
Image: Tim Visser dives over for one of his three tries against London Irish

Eddie Jones was in attendance at the Stoop to watch the English contingent but it was the Dutch-born Scotland wing who stole the show.

Visser took his tally to five tries in three games with a hat-trick against winless London Irish. He terrorised the Exiles with his pace and power, making three breaks and beating 11 defenders.

10. Charlie Hodgson (Saracens)

Saracens fly-half Charile Hodgson (right) competes for possession with Micky Young of Newcastle
Image: Charile Hodgson (right) competes for possession with Micky Young

The chants of 'one more year' have already begun for the retiring Hodgson after another fantastic display in Saracens' dominant win in Newcastle.

The fly-half scored 21 points and raced in for an interception try with one minute remaining as unbeaten Sarries snatched a bonus point at Kingston Park.

Live European Rugby Champions Cup

Hodgson kicked intelligently and was not found wanting in defence, making nine tackles.

9. Peter Stringer (Sale)

Sale Sharks scrum-half Peter Stringer clears his lines against Gloucester
Image: Peter Stringer clears his lines against Gloucester

The Irishman put in a no-nonsense shift as Sale went down fighting at Kingsholm. There were no sniping runs or kicking away of possession, just crisp delivery to Danny Cipriani, who was a thorn in the side of Gloucester.

Stringer, who turns 38 on Sunday, completed all 85 of his passes against the Cherry and Whites on his second Premiership start for the Sharks.

1. Ethan Waller (Northampton)

Northampton Saints prop Ethan Waller
Image: Ethan Waller caused Bath prop Henry Thomas problems in the scrum

Waller formed an integral part of a Northampton scrum that dominated Bath at the Recreation Ground. They won seven penalties at the set piece and the home side could not cope with Waller's power, which led to Henry Thomas' sin-binning.

Waller was also effective in the loose, making 29 metres from his five carries before being replaced by brother Ethan with half an hour remaining.

2. Tom Youngs (Leicester)

Leicester hooker Tom Youngs is tackled by Darren Barry of Worcester Warriors
Image: Tom Youngs is tackled by Worcester's Darren Barry

The England hooker was called into action after just 22 minutes at Sixways following an injury to Greg Bateman and helped spark Leicester's comeback.

Youngs was superb with ball in hand on his 100th appearance for the club, gaining 43 metres from his 10 carries. His darts still require improvement though, missing his target at lineouts close to the Warriors' line.

3. Dan Cole (Leicester)

Leicester Tigers and England prop Dan Cole
Image: Dan Cole played his part as Leicester came from 17-0 down against Worcester

Kieran Brookes impressed against Bath but his five penalties conceded at the Rec means we're sticking with his England team-mate Cole for the second successive week.

Worcester's woeful indiscipline was a consequence of the pressure placed on them by Leicester's pack, with Cole dominant as they won five penalties at scrum time.

The British and Irish Lion was also busy in the loose, making six tackles and five carries as Leicester rallied for their fifth Premiership win in six games.

4. Mitch Lees (Exeter)

Exeter Chiefs lock Mitch Lees scores a try against Wasps
Image: Mitch Lees burrows over for a try against Wasps

Lees was named man of the match in a dominant performance by Exeter's forwards at the Ricoh Arena.

The driving maul yielded three tries in the Chiefs' 41-27 victory and the Australian was often at the forefront of that, touching down for their third try on the half-hour.

Lees made 12 tackles and 11 carries for Rob Baxter's men and was also an effective option in the lineout.

5. Rynard Landman (Dragons)

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Highlights of the Dragons' morale-boosting win over Munster

The Dragons skipper was at his influential best against Munster and scored a late try to secure a first PRO12 victory since October 23.

Landman made a team-leading 14 carries at Rodney Parade and claimed five lineouts, while also making seven tackles and winning a turnover.

The South African was rewarded for his great all-round display with three minutes remaining when he took Taulupe Faletau's pass out wide and dummied his way through four defenders to score.

6. Loann Goujon (Bordeaux-Begles)

Bordeaux-Begles flanker Loann Goujon
Image: Loann Goujon gained 32 metres from 10 carries as Bordeaux won in Paris

The flanker will have caught Guy Noves' eye with this impressive display as Bordeaux-Begles won at Top 14 champions Stade Francais.

Goujon touched down for his side's second try following a dominant maul from a lineout and led the way in defence with nine tackles and one turnover.

7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys)

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Highlights of Justin Tipuric's excellent display as the Ospreys defeated Zebre

The Wales openside displayed electric pace as he pounced for tries in either half in the Ospreys' bonus-point win in Italy.

Having thrown a great pass for Eli Walker's try, Tipuric showed great gas to race onto Sam Davies' kick and catch Kayle Van Zyl napping.

The 26-year-old raced through a gap and beat three defenders to score his second before then turning provider for his side's fifth try.

8. Alex Tulou (Castres)

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Alex Toulou's hat-trick features in Will Greenwood's favourite five

Thomas Waldrom is unlucky to miss out after his treble against Wasps but Tulou gets the nod for us after scoring a magnificent hat-trick against former side Montpellier.

The Castres No 8 made four breaks from his 15 carries, beating seven defenders and gaining 120 metres.

Having won a turnover on seven minutes, Tulou racing 50 metres downfield and bounced off two defenders to score in the corner.

The dominance of the Castres forwards resulted in two further scores for the Samoa-born star, who brushed Demetri Catrakilis aside to complete his hat-trick.

Live European Rugby Champions Cup

Around Sky