We select a starting XV of players that stood out from the rest during the fourth round of the European Rugby Champions Cup - we’ve done our best to avoid solely using Bordeaux-Begles and Toulouse names.
Front rankers: Dian Bleuler (Munster); Feleti Kaitu’u (Racing 92) and Carlu Sadie (Bordeaux)
Former Hollywoodbets Shark Bleuler continued his good form, remaining solid at set piece and making a massive 18-tackles. Kaitu’u hit 10 of his 11 jumpers at lineout time, produced 10 hits on defence and won a turnover for Racing 92. Another ex-shark in Sadie caused ex-teammate Ntuthuko Mchunu pain at the Chaban-Delmas.
Second row: RG Snyman (Leinster) and Cormac Izuchukwu (Ulster)
Snyman brought his Bok Bomb Squad form into Leinster’s Bath clash on Saturday, scoring two tries and carrying for 21 metres in a highly industrious 36-minute outing off the bench. London-born Irish international Izuchukwu was sensational in scoring a hattrick as well as putting in 12 tackles against Exeter Chiefs.
Honourable mentions: Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou (both Toulouse)
Back row: Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins); Elrigh Louw and Cameron Hanekom (both Bulls)
One try scored and another assisted with 13 tackles and 36 carry metres for CCS at the Stoop. Louw was his brutish self in Pretoria, thundering over for a try, carrying for 36 metres and tackling 10 times while teammate Hanekom was named Man of the Match after also helping himself to a try and 36-carry metres plus an assist and 14 tackles.
Honourable mentions: Jack Willis (Toulouse), Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)
Halfbacks: Maxime Lucu (Bordeaux) and Jack Crowley (Munster)
Lucu was the heartbeat for Bordeaux, sparking many an attack and finishing with a try, a try assists and 41 carry metres. Crowley scored 12 points, assisted two tries, carried for 52 metres, made two clean breaks and put in 12 tackles in the narrow Munster loss at Franklin’s Gardens.
Honourable mentions: Antoine Dupont and Romain Ntamack (both Toulouse), Mathieu Jalibert (Bordeaux)
Midfield: Jordie Barrett and Robbie Henshaw (both Leinster)
The Leinster duo were in superb form in the win over Bath, with the All-Black topping the carry stats with 18, making 70 metres, to go with two clean breaks and a try assist. Henshaw meanwhile bagged a brace of tries and was named Man of the Match in a performance that rolled back the years.
Honourable mentions: Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux), Adrien Seguret (Castres)
Back three: Tom Seabrook (Northampton Saints); Damian Penaud (Bordeaux-Begles) and Thomas Ramos (Toulouse)
Seabrook scored a crucial hattrick in the Saints’ narrow win and carried for 95 metres. At the same time, the untouchable Penaud bagged a ridiculous six tries against the Sharks for a second consecutive hattrick in the competition. Ramos was at his brilliant best for the defending champions, with teammate Ange Capuozzo unlucky to miss out on this list.
Honurable mentions: Ange Capuozzo (Toulouse), Rhyno Smith (Benetton)
