ERCC XV Team of Round 5

Round 5 of the European Rugby Champions Cup was another feather in the cap of the new competition, offering up an abundance of tries, end-to-end excitement and compelling contests throughout.

We’ve rounded up some of the most impressive performances and compiled our XV of the Week, but how does it stack up against your XVs? As ever, let us know what you think!

1. Mako Vunipola, Saracens
The loosehead was in his pomp at Allianz Park on Saturday, scrummaging with real fervour, and had the Munster scrum on wheels. His efficiency and impact at the scrum since his return from injury has been remarkable and there’s a strong case to say that he’s currently the form English loosehead. Alex Waller was in fine fettle for Northampton against the Ospreys, but could not quite match an on-fire Vunipola.

2. Sean Cronin, Leinster
There were plenty of impressive performances from hookers this weekend, but none as eye-catching as the one Cronin put in against Castres. The front rower was a threat with ball in hand, crossing for a try, but was also on target at the set-piece, finding the redwood-esque Devin Toner with regularity at the lineout. Honourable mentions are due for the Leicester duo of Leonardo Ghiraldini and Tom Youngs, as well as Wasps’ Ed Shervington.

3. Martin Castrogiovanni, Toulon
The tighthead showed he’s still a force to be reckoned with at club level, helping Toulon take apart a plucky Ulster side with one of his best showings of the season. The Italian scrummaged superbly and contributed significantly in the loose, crossing the try line with a winger’s finish and setting up a further Toulon score with a well-executed wrap around pass. Leicester’s Logovi’i Mulipola and Leinster’s Martin Moore both had big nights at the set-piece, but neither was able to match Castrogiovanni’s overall impact.

4. Jake Ball, Scarlets
Ball was unlucky to be on the losing side on Friday night, such was the effort he put in and he was certainly one of the most impressive players on the pitch. The lock carried with power and purpose, defended manfully and made his presence known at the set-piece. He narrowly beats out fellow Welsh lock Bradley Davies, who was instrumental in Wasps’ defensive masterclass against Harlequins.

5. Alistair Hargreaves, Saracens
The South African filled the shoes of Steve Borthwick superbly on Saturday, exhibiting great leadership and defensive tenacity. The lock was at the forefront for Saracens throughout and though he didn’t draw the headlines in the fashion the Vunipola brothers did, his impact was every bit as important to Saracens’ performance. Devin Toner also had an enjoyable outing at the RDS and certainly deserves recognition for his impact at the set-piece.

6. James Haskell, Wasps
The flanker may have had a seven on his jersey, but he took on the archetypal blindside role magnificently and it’s a struggle to remember an 80 minutes as full of grit, determination and relentless work rate as the one Haskell put in against Harlequins. The Wasps captain chalked up an impressive 28 tackles and was the leading man in an outstanding defensive showing from Wasps at The Stoop.

7. Steffon Armitage, Toulon
Armitage was in vintage form against Ulster, dominating at the breakdown and receiving rich reward for his endeavours, bagging a hat-trick for the French side, as they put together arguably their most impressive display of the season yet. There are whispers that Armitage may be about to be welcomed in from the cold at international level and with displays such as this one, it’s not hard to see why. Francois Louw certainly deserves a mention for his impressive all-round performance against Toulouse, but it was a losing battle for all sevens trying to oust Armitage from this spot.

8. Billy Vunipola, Saracens
England’s back row resources may have taken a knock last weekend with Ben Morgan’s unfortunate injury, but Vunipola responded in just the fashion Stuart Lancaster would have wanted. The bruising eight was at his destructive best against Munster, leading Saracens in defenders beaten, offloads, tackles and carries, as well as leading all forwards in metres made. Fritz Lee, Nathan Hughes and Josh Beaumont were all impressive, but Vunipola left them in his wake on Saturday.

9. Joe Simpson, Wasps
Simpson was in imperious form at the Stoop on Saturday night, outplaying opposite number Danny Care in all facets, as well as driving his team to one of their most memorable victories in recent years. The scrum-half’s kicking was precise and effective, whilst he proves multiple times his threat with ball in hand, not least so when he crossed for Wasps’ second try of the night.

10. Nicolás Sánchez, Toulon
The Toulon fly-half was on occasion slightly too loose, opening up opportunities for Ulster, but he was also a creative force, sparking their back line with exquisite passes and defence-breaking darts. Sánchez will need to rein in that free-spirited abandon slightly in the knockout phases, but his ability to be the French side’s primary playmaker when Matt Giteau is not on the pitch makes them a truly daunting prospect for any opposition.

11. Adam Thompstone, Leicester Tigers
The Bath duo of Matt Banahan and Horacio Agulla were unlucky to miss out, as were Saracens’ Chris Wyles and Leinster’s Dave Kearney, but Thompstone just pips them all. The former London Irish winger was in good form at Welford Road, looking dangerous whenever he got his hands on the ball and capped a very solid performance with a well-earned try.

12. Ian Madigan, Leinster
Where Madigan was superb with his distribution and kicking from the inside centre spot, the Scarlets’ Scott Williams was a dynamic and dangerous running threat, but ultimately Madigan’s performance contributed to an emphatic win, unlike Williams, and his fingerprints were all over the final result. It was certainly one of the best Leinster performances of the season, particularly for the back line, and it was Madigan, not Jimmy Gopperth, who was creating mismatches all game long for the likes of Luke Fitzgerald and the Kearney brothers.

13. Jonathan Joseph, Bath Rugby
Joseph was in fine form for Bath against Toulouse, including a particularly sensational run that set up his side for their fourth try of the night and a very valuable bonus point. The outside centre was at his elusive best at Stade Ernest-Wallon and certainly put up his hand for England inclusion later this week. Toulon’s Mathieu Bastareaud can feel hard done by with his omission and on another week could well have run away with this spot.

14. DTH van der Merwe, Glasgow Warriors
The Canadian winger put on an exhibition in finishing at Scotstoun, bagging three tries and helping Glasgow to priceless win over Montpellier. Tommy Seymour, van der Merwe’s partner in crime on Saturday afternoon, was also impressive, as was Wasps’ Christian Wade, but neither could match the clinical efficiency of van der Merwe and fell just short.

15. Rob Kearney, Leinster
He may not have been taxed too heavily by a lacklustre Castres team, but Kearney was effective, composed and influential for Leinster. The full-back was never flustered under the high ball and made a number of line breaks that resulted in Leinster tries a phase or two down the line. Ulster fans will point to Kearney’s lack of opposition, especially with their own Jared Payne performing very well against Toulon, but you can only play the opposition in front of you and Kearney did that and then some on Saturday.