TRU's European Rugby Champions Cup XV

European rugby was back with a bang this weekend, as the European Rugby Champions Cup Round 3 was the centre of attention in the rugby world. We poured over 800 minutes of intense, compelling rugby to bring you our XV of the week. How does our team stack up against yours? Let us know.

1. Nick Auterac, Bath
The Bath youngster put in a truly destructive performance on the boggy ground of the Altrad Stadium on Friday night. Packing down opposite Pat Cilliers, Auterac made the former Stormer, and six time capped Springbok, look like a Currie Cup reject, rather than a successful Super Rugby scrummager. Bath’s set-piece flourished for the first 60 minutes against Montpellier, allowing them to build a big lead over the French side and much of that rested on Auterac’s shoulders. Clermont’s Thomas Domingo and Quins’ Joe Marler both deserve honourable mentions for blistering starts to their games, but their contests became more evenly balanced as their games progressed.

2. Jamie George, Saracens
George hit his jumpers on 100% of his throws and put in a hugely impressive 18 tackles. Stats aren’t everything in the game of rugby, but when your hooker puts up numbers like those, you know he’s had a good game. Pat MacArthur couldn’t match George’s impact at the set-piece or in the loose, but deserves a mention for an accomplished performance at Stade Ernest-Wallon.

3. Henry Thomas, Bath

Thomas rounds out an all-English – and sub-24-year old - front row. Thomas didn’t quite do the job on Yvan Watremez that his teammate Auterac did on Cilliers, but it was still a comprehensive beating. On a European weekend where looseheads had the upper hand in almost every game, Thomas was one of the few tightheads, alongside Dan Cole, to get the better of his opposite number.

4. Dan Tuohy, Ulster
The lock had himself a big game on his return from injury, dominating at the set-piece with an unparalleled 11 takes at the lineout, whilst also making himself known defensively to the Scarlets, putting in a number of thumping hits that stopped the Welsh side’s pack in their tracks. Rory Best was not in vintage form with his throwing, but Tuohy’s aerial ability helped keep the hooker’s set-piece numbers a little more respectable.

5. George Kruis, Saracens
Saracens struggled to impose their game on Sale, having to defend for much of the game, but thankfully for them, Kruis stepped up, leading the Saracens defence with ferocity. The lock made a game-high 16 tackles and forced the game-winning turnover when Sale were camped on the Saracens’ try line and threatening to cross and win the game.  

6. Yannick Nyanga, Toulouse
He played the openside role for Toulouse, but qualifies for this spot on the technicality that he wore six on his back. Nyanga turned in a savvy, under-the-radar performance for the French side against Glasgow, excelling at the breakdown, both offensively and defensively, allowing the players around him to prosper on the back of his hard work. Honourable mentions are due for Ashley Johnson and Rhys Ruddock, too.

7. Magnus Lund, Sale Sharks
The former England flanker put in a virtuoso display against Saracens on Saturday, scoring a try, setting up another with a barnstorming run and leading his side with 13 tackles. He was also a valuable weapon at the lineout, claiming seven balls as the Sharks’ lineout flourished, laying the groundwork for their maul to gash Saracens in an area of the game that the Londoners are normally so resolute.  

8. Fritz Lee, Clermont Auvergne
Lee narrowly beats out Alex Tulou, Louis Picamoles and Nick Easter, due to the pivotal impact he had helping Clermont to victory at Thomond Park. The New Zealander got Clermont off to the perfect start, crossing the try line in the opening minute, before setting up Wesley Fofana for his score later in the first half. His unrelenting defence then helped Clermont survive a spirited comeback from Munster in the second half.

9. Rhys Webb, Ospreys
Peter Stringer, Charlie Davies and Ruan Pienaar all deserve honourable mentions, but Webb’s second half performance, with his balanced distribution, smart kicking and darting runs, brought the Ospreys back into the game, ultimately helping them salvage a 19-19 draw against Racing Metro.

10. Owen Williams, Leicester Tigers
There will be cries for this spot to go to George Ford, who managed awful conditions exceptionally in Montpellier, or Dan Biggar, who resurrected his side in their second half, but Williams was superb against Toulon. Williams accounted for 20 of Leicester’s 25 points, putting on a show with the boot, as well as guiding a much-improved Tigers side to a memorable victory over the defending champions.

11. Maxime Medard, Toulouse
The diminutive Frenchman narrowly pips Craig Gilroy and Asaeli Tikoirotuma, stepping up, as he so often does, in the big games. The winger caused the Glasgow defence more problems than the rest of the Toulouse back line combined and his impact resulted in Toulouse taking control of the pool for at least the next week.

12. Wesley Fofana, Clermont Auvergne
Fofana narrowly saw off competition for the spot from Luther Burrell, showing glimpses of the attacking incision which many thought would make him one of the very best in the world a couple of years ago. He took his try very well, fending off the desperate diving tackle of Peter O’Mahony and generally enjoyed an efficient attacking game against the Munster midfield.

13. Darren Cave, Ulster
Tom Stephenson had a nice game against Treviso, but like his teammate Burrell, narrowly misses out due to the quality of his opposition, whilst Alapati Leiua was a force for Wasps in Castres, but neither quite turned in the performance that Cave did. The centre was a vital cog in an Ulster back line that looked dangerous throughout the game and grabbed his side’s first try, setting the tone for the rest of game.

14. Tommy Bowe, Ulster
Another good outing for the Ulster wing, who maintains the run of form that saw him play pivotal roles in Ireland’s victories over South Africa and Australia. Bowe showed great strength to power over for his try, but was also a creative force, creating Darren Cave’s try with a nice pass inside off his wing. His trademark ability under the high ball was also on show, as Ulster dominated field position with their tactical kicking.

15. Mike Haley, Sale Sharks
It’s rare these days that a player of real talent slips through the age-grade international net, but that is just what has happened with Sale’s Haley. He’s still a diamond in the rough, but showed against Saracens his dangerous running and offloading ability, as well as his solid defence. The full-back has shined for Sale so far this season, with his impressive display against Saracens perhaps the best game of his budding career.