TRU's Gallagher Premiership XV of the week: Round 3

More tries and even more talking points. It was another thrilling week in the Gallagher Premiership and TRU's Joe Harvey has picked out the players that shone in Round Three.

1. Josh Hohneck (Gloucester) – Coming in for Val Ravapa Ruskin, who has enjoyed an impressive start to the season, is no easy job and Hohneck has put his line in the sand to be his club’s starting loosehead prop.

Standing up to John Afoa extremely well at scrum time, Hohneck didn’t allow his opposite number to get any advantage at scrum time.

Bristol are relying on their forward dominance to secure their place in the Premiership, Afoa being a key part of this and players such as Hohneck are going toe-to-toe with him and coming out on top.

2. Jamie George (Saracens) – What’s so impressive about George is his ball carrying and passing ability. This was never more evident than when he put David Strettle through for his second try of the afternoon.

Reliable when throwing the ball in at the line-out, George is such an instrumental cog in the way that Saracens play.

Nearly playing all the game as well, George has always put a shift in for Sarries, which was clear for all to see on Saturday afternoon.

3. Vincent Koch (Saracens) – Koch is proving himself to be one of the most athletic props in the league’s history.

The South African is now in his third season at Sarries and has been pretty much ever-present in the club’s squad since arriving from the Stormers.

He was involved in nearly every ruck for the champions, helping them gain advantage at every given opportunity that he had.

4. Joe Launchbury (Wasps) – 13 tackles and 10 carries as well as a turnover is a very good afternoons work for England international Launchbury.

Launchbury did all the simple things for Wasps very well, protecting debutant Lima Sopoaga very well on the All Black’s first start for his new club.

In addition to this, his personal battle with his opposite numbers in the Leicester pack was aided by Will Spencer’s red card just before half-time, but Launchbury was easily the pick of all the forwards on Sunday afternoon.

5. Ed Slater (Gloucester) – Gloucester’s captain, Slater, is possibly the definition of lead by example. The former Leicester player has been key in the battle of the forwards that takes place in every Premiership game.

Athletic and strong, Slater is the heart of this Gloucester side. Making 10 tackles underneath the Friday night lights as well as winning a turnover that put his side back on the front foot.

Even getting a try after making all the hard meters, Slater’s performance could not be ignored after his performance in this round of the Premiership.

6. Jake Polledri (Gloucester) – With carry upon carry, Polledri was sensational and was always going to be in team of the week. Polledri made 20 carries on Friday night and was also named BT Sport’s Man of the Match.

The Italian international has largely being on the bench this season and on his first start, put in a brilliant display against Bristol.

On top of this, the former Hartpury man put in 13 tackles, and overall contributed massively to Gloucester’s win. England have missed out with this young man.

7. Lewis Ludlow (Gloucester) – A second member of the Gloucester back row in this week’s team of the week.

Making 70 meters with ball in hand in just 10 carries, that was only part of Ludlow’s fantastic performance for the Cherry and Whites.

Making 13 tackles like Polledri, ludlow also made two vital turnovers for Gloucester, helping massively to secure his side’s victory.

8. Tom Lawday (Exeter Chiefs) – A former University of Exeter and BUCS Player of the Year, Lawday made his first Premiership start for Chiefs at the weekend.

Lawday played like he was an established Premiership player and barely missed a beat in the Chiefs back row. Making 13 strong carries, the Number 8 got a try as his reward for an impressive debut performance.

In addition to this, Lawday completed 17 tackles for Chiefs, proving how invaluable he was on Saturday. Rob Baxter has dug up another backrow gem by the looks of things.

9. Ben Spencer (Saracens) – Kicking a conversion, a penalty and scoring a try, scrum-half Spencer’s 48-minute performance was as solid and reliable as you’ll find from the weekend.

Now an England international, Spencer has been impressive for his club ever since he moved there after one season with Cambridge in National One.

With all of his 61 passes finding their mark, Spencer is an extremely reliable player who carries out his role to the letter and never disappoints.

10. George Ford (Leicester Tigers) – Another good performance from George Ford in successive weeks does make you wonder who will be England’s starting fly-half when the Autumn Internationals kick-off.

Seemingly playing with more freedom under Geordan Murphy, Ford linked really well with Manu Tuilagi and the whole of the Leicester back-line.

He kicked three penalties and three conversions for Tigers, and that’s before mentioning that he made over 50 meters and even made a turnover in his side’s loss at the Ricoh. Safe to say that Ford is back to his best.

11. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath) – This was, possibly, Cokanasiga’s best Premiership performance in his young career so far.

Scoring two tries at the Stoop on Saturday, Cokanasiga displayed what a strong ball carrier he is, not being upended by Harlequins tacklers regularly. Selfless as well, Bath teammates who run lines with Cokanasiga will no doubt benefit if he has ball in hand.

Making an astonishing 151 metres as well, this was a really impressive performance from the 20-year-old. Hopefully, there is more to come from him.

12. Jamie Roberts (Bath) – The former Quins player had an afternoon to remember as he returned to the Stoop for the first time after his move to Bath.

Carrying the ball 17 times, Roberts helped to break down Harlequins with the ball in hand. His performance got the try that it deserved too. His efforts contributing greatly to Bath’s first win of the season.

13. Juan de Jongh (Wasps) – A strong performance against Leicester that included two remarkable tries for Wasps, Juan De Jongh sprung into life this weekend.

Using brilliant footwork to beat his man for his second try, De Jongh’s afternoon was cut short after he failed a HIA not long after his second score of the game.

14. Charlie Sharples (Gloucester) – Remarkably, Sharples made less meters than every member of Gloucester’s backrow, but still had a really good game for Gloucester at the weekend.

Scoring two tries, Sharples looks to be playing back to his best after a couple of indifferent seasons. With lots of space now being created by the Gloucester forwards dragging the opposition into a battle, it has allowed Sharples the opportunity to score tries.

15. Elliot Daly (Wasps) – Scoring a magnificent try last weekend, Daly has started to send tongues wagging about what his best position is for club and country.  

A truly blessed rugby player, Daly has pace, power, vision and a hell of a left boot. Capable of slotting penalties from far beyond the halfway line, Daly did grace the Ricoh with a long range effort at the weekend. 

Beating his opposite numbers for fun at times on Sunday, Daly’s performance simply had to be praised. Eddie Jones has some difficult selection decisions ahead of him.