Team of the week: PRO14, TOP 14 and Premiership players feature
Wednesday 27 December 2017 16:35, UK
The top performers from a feast of festive fixtures in the Guinness PRO14, Top 14 and Aviva Premiership combine to form our latest team of the week.
With derby days across the PRO14 and a set of scintillating fixtures in the Premiership and Top 14, this group of players could certainly turn a few heads and be counted for.
15. Jordan Larmour (Leinster)
What better place to start than at Thomond Park and the scene of an eight-try inter-provincial derby that finished 24-34 in Leinster's favour.
Leinster academy member Jordan Larmour was making his first senior start and ignited the fixture from full-back with his pace, footwork and vision.
Larmour's 60-metre solo-score, that may well be crowned try of the season, put the brakes on a stirring second-half comeback by Munster and showcased his considerable talents.
The 20-year-old looked effortlessly cool throughout and right at home on the largest of derby stages. In total he beat nine defenders, made 111 metres and was solid under the high ball.
14. Christian Wade (Wasps)
At the Ricoh Arena Wasps' focused second-half performance secured their bonus-point victory over Gloucester and Christian Wade looked as sharp as a pin.
Wade's first try showcased his footwork as he weaved his way through three defenders and his second highlighted his pace after a misplaced Gloucester restart.
The winger has now scored seven tries in ten domestic appearances and that number could sky-rocket over the coming matches.
An honourable mention must also be made for Montpellier's Timoci Nagusa who bagged a second-half hat-trick against Lyon.
13. Rory O'Loughlin (Leinster)
Our centre partnership this week comes from one Province - Leinster - and starts with Rory O'Loughlin.
O'Loughlin was busy throughout and a glorious moment came on 22 minutes when he neatly picked up Larmour's flick backwards and broke away.
The break left Munster defenders clutching at thin air and the support lines from Barry Daly and Robbie Henshaw were pristine to ensure that the outside centre's hard work resulted in five points.
12. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster)
Outside of O'Loughlin, Henshaw had a physical day at the office and combined his carries with the deft hands and acceleration that he possesses.
It was only the second time this season that O'Loughlin and Henshaw have started together in Leinster's midfield and as a duo, they worked well.
Of course, we couldn't let the inside-centre position pass without mentioning the quick-thinking of Chris Dean at Murrayfield.
It was Dean who crept around the outside and capitalised on an advantage being played to Edinburgh.
His sharp work secured the match-winner for 14-man Edinburgh and as a result, sets up a fascinating second 1872 Cup fixture on Saturday.
Live PRO14 Rugby Union
11. Josh Adams (Worcester)
At Sixways Worcester recorded a potentially vital 23-8 victory over London Irish and the Warriors have now accumulated 17 points from their last five domestic matches.
Winger, 22-year-old Josh Adams, bagged himself a brace during the game and provided a glimpse of the considerable talent housed at Sixways.
For Adams' first he gathered a perfectly weighted chip through from Ryan Mills and for his second he showcased great footwork as a counter-punch to Alex Lewington's startling solo-score.
The young winger now leads the way in the Premiership try-scoring charts having scored eight in 11 domestic appearances.
10. Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Saracens arrived at Welford Road having lost their last seven matches in all tournaments and in the absence of Brad Barritt, Owen Farrell is leading the side with distinction.
The fly-half kept the visitors' scoreboard ticking along - finishing the match with 17 points - and even re-introduced the dying art of the drop-goal! Yes, it still exists!
Farrell was as physical as ever in defence and managed the dynamic of the game brilliantly.
Honourable mentions must also be made for Ross Byrne and Danny Cipriani. The former pulled all of the strings at Thomond Park and the latter's work at the Ricoh Arena was equally noteworthy.
9. Conor Murray (Munster)
The international scrum-half may have been on a losing side at Thomond Park however he still takes a place in our team of the week.
Not only did Murray deliver the conventional duties of a scrum-half to the high standards that he sets himself, he also found himself at home in their lineout.
In the build-up to Munster's first try it was the scrum-half who was lifted at the lineout and he then finished the move by sniping around the ruck and acrobatically touching down.
1. Jefferson Poirot (Bordeaux-Bègles)
At the Matmut Atlantique, Bordeaux-Bègles disrupted proceedings with a victory over high-flying La Rochelle.
The home side had to navigate their way through the final quarter with 14 men and up front Jefferson Poirot had a solid game for the side that will now be losing their head coach Jacques Brunel to the national side.
2. Stuart McInally (Edinburgh)
As mentioned Edinburgh secured their ninth win in 10 matches the hard way after Simon Berghan's early red card.
Head coach Richard Cockerill hailed it as being 'up there with anything I've ever been involved with' and on the field the leadership from hooker and captain on the day, Stuart McInally, was vital.
McInally anchored the set piece, made sure of his arrows at the lineout and steered the side calmly before being replaced in the 71st minute.
3. Dan Cole (Leicester)
Dan Cole had a tough day a the office in the European Rugby Champions Cup against Munster but bounced back extremely well against Saracens.
Cole finished on the losing side but looked to enjoy his personal set-piece duel with fellow England international Mako Vunipola and was busy around the park, delivering 10 tackles.
4. Ultan Dillane (Connacht)
Prior to Saturday's emphatic 44-16 victory, Connacht had won just one of their last 11 encounters with Ulster.
Kieran Keane's side finished their afternoon's work with six tries on the board and two of them came from a busy Ultan Dillane.
Dillane's first arrived from a driving maul and his second saw him sprint from inside his own 22 to support an intercept breakaway.
5. Devin Toner (Leinster)
Devin Toner played with a four on his back at Thomond Park but for the purposes of our team of the week we're swapping that four for a five.
Toner was one of just three players selected for the festive inter-provincial derby who had started against Exeter and the lock worked tirelessly.
From minute one to minute 80 he highlighted to us all the rigours of an inter-provincial derby. He accumulated a cool 22 tackles and as you'd expect was Leinster's go-to man at the lineout.
6. Nick Isiekwe (Saracens)
Due to the absence of Maro Itoje, 19-year-old Nick Isiekwe is being handed more game time than he would have expected to get this season and is thriving.
In the intense environment of Welford Road Isiekwe played the match with the same intensity and competitive edge that Itoje is famed for.
The teenager finished the encounter as Saracens' top tackler and was their key man at the lineout securing four of their eight lineouts won.
7. Dan Leavy (Leinster)
The man of the match at Thomond Park - Dan Leavy - made his first key contribution during the opening minute and went from there.
It was Leavy's work over the ball that secured the earliest of penalties and he was still grafting as the 80th minute approached with his turnouver halting Munster's final waves of momentum
The flanker's try, set up by Byrne's cross-field kick, was well-taken and unsurprisingly his all-around performance is a key talking point from an enthralling inter-provincial derby.
8. Jackson Wray (Saracens)
The final place in our team of the week goes to Jackson Wray who once again stood out for the back-to-back European champions.
Wray is a player that doesn't often grab the headlines but is as industrious as they come and a nuisance for any opposing side.
At Welford Road the No. 8 never ceased and finished the afternoon with a man-of-the-match medal around his neck and 22 tackles to his name.
