Investec Champions Cup Team of the Week: Henry Pollock ‘backs up his chat’ against ‘hapless’ Bulls while ‘Le Boss’ earns individual gong
Charles Ollivon, Adam Hastings and Henry Pollock made our Investec Champions Cup Team of the Week.
Finally, the South African sides are turning up in Europe as the Stormers and Sharks gave us the performances of the weekend, alongside Toulon’s disposal of Bath in a Mayol classic.
Here’s our Team of the Week for Round Two.
15 Mike Haley (Munster): Ignited the Munster backline and grabbed a try himself. Glasgow’s Josh McKay was another that really caught the eye in the dreich gloom of Scotstoun whilst Bristol’s Benjamin Elizalde looks like yet another brilliant piece of Puma business for Pat Lam. Toulon’s Mathis Ferte is getting a lot of attention in the French press and on Sunday’s showing, it’s easy to see why.
14 Dylan Maart (Stormers): The Cape-based outfit were on fire in Gqeberha as they crushed a below-strength La Rochelle. Bristol’s Kalaveti Ravouvou got on the scoreboard yet again in their romp against Section Paloise, whilst Bath’s Joe Cokanasiga shone in the air against Toulon despite his team’s loss.
13 Ethan Hooker (Hollywoodbets Sharks): There’s a few in South Africa that reckon Hooker’s best Test position is at outside centre, where his size and power come into their own. Toulon’s Nacho Brex is bedding in in his new club and crossed the whitewash for a crucial score at the Mayol, whilst Glasgow’s Stafford McDowall once again starred in a memorable win for the Scottish side.
12 Yoram Moefana (Bordeaux-Begles): Moefana delivered a showing that reminded us all of what France have been missing during his injury as he starred outside the mercurial antics of Matthieu Jalibert at 10. Andre Esterhuizen delivered a massive game for the Sharks as he dominated the gain line in the Durban summer rain and kudos must go to Toulon’s durable utility man Jeremy Sinzelle, as he reached 100 caps for a third Top 14 team and defended his socks off in a classic. Elsewhere, Munster’s Alex Nankivell was outstanding against an albeit under-strength Gloucester.
11 George Hendy (Northampton Saints): A hat-trick hero in a demolition, as Hendy teased the hapless Bulls defence all afternoon at Franklin’s Gardens. Louis Bielle-Biarrey got on the scoresheet once again (of course he did!) whilst Leicester’s Ollie Hassell-Collins managed to grab a defiant score despite the loss against Leinster.
10 Adam Hastings (Glasgow Warriors): Where on earth do we start at 10? Shining performances from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, Jalibert and Marcus Smith made our selectorial life so tough – but the comeback against Toulouse in the rain was the stuff of legend and we simply cannot overlook Hastings’ brilliance in the downpour. Absolutely outstanding and for the reason of quality of opposition, we’re going with Hastings.
9 Cobus Reinarch (Stormers): For the second week running the electric veteran was exceptional for the Stormers. Alex Mitchell and Raffi Quirke showed England are stacked at nine now, whilst George Horne and Baptiste Serin drove Glasgow and Toulon to memorable victories. Finally, Harlequins’ Will Porter was on fire alongside Smith as he grabbed two in the Stoop send off of Bayonne.
The forwards
8 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints): He might be a big personality but he’s got the big plays to back his chat up. Massive, entertaining and rapid were the descriptors of his performance. Glasgow’s Jack Dempsey is unlucky to miss out, as is Caelan Doris and Evan Roos, back to his best form. Finally, a word for Lucas Andjisseramatchi – the 19-year-old La Rochellean – he was thrown into the Stormers den and gave an assured display despite his team’s loss.
7 Charles Ollivon (Toulon): Le Boss is back. There’s few players able to impact a match both sides of the ball like the massive French flank and he dragged his team home versus a very competitive Bath side as he’s our player of the weekend. Paul de Villiers pushed him all the way as the Stormers openside shone once more. Glasgow’s Rory Darge managed to outplay the king of the floor battle, Jack Willis, whilst Bristol’s Fitz Harding was the heartbeat of their romp at Ashton Gate.
6 Gregor Brown (Glasgow Warriors): If ever a player was deserving of the tag ‘Warrior’ it’s the big blindside who was in monumental form in the Scotstoun deluge. Absolutely brilliant for the second week in a row. Bath may have lost the war, but Ted Hill and Lewis Ludlam had a battle royale in Toulon, both men shining in a fantastic match for their respective teams, whilst Sale’s Jacques Vermeulen is unlucky not to get selected after an excellent showing.
5 Ben Bamber (Sale Sharks): There’s a growing momentum about this massive man’s game. England need properly big locks and he’s the biggest one around. Alex Coles is another, and he grabbed a try in a great day for Saints, whilst another Englishman, Joe Batley, once again showed his appetite for the try line for Bristol Bears.
4 Kieran Treadwell (Harlequins): It says a lot about the quality of the action this weekend that 68-point Quins only get one player in the team and he’s a lock! Nevertheless, Treadwell grabbed a score and dominated the lineout, as he sees off JJ van der Mescht and Joe McCarthy, both of whom delivered big games for Saints and Leinster.
3 Zander Fagerson (Glasgow Warriors): A really tough choice between the Scottish tighthead and England’s Toulon-based Kyle Sinckler. Both men put in brilliant performances – but despite Fagerson’s early scrum issues, the way he led the Warriors through personal example was absolutely outstanding, so he takes the shirt.
2 Dan Sheehan (Leinster): The try-scoring machine did it again as he put in another world-class performance off the bench. Bongi Mbonambi was in scrummaging beast mode for the Sharks, whilst Gregor Hiddleston was another Glaswegian hero in their win over Toulouse. Finally, Teddy Baubigny crossed for a vital try for Toulon at the Mayol as he defined impact off the bench.
1 Ellis Genge (Bristol Bears): Scored the fastest try of the weekend as he crossed in the first play of the game and the floodgates opened from there as he enjoyed romping around Ashton Gate with ball in hand. UBB’s Jefferson Poirot is as important to his team as Genge is to Bears and he put in another vintage display, crossing for a try, whilst both Jean-Baptiste Gros and Dany Priso gave Toulon maximum value from the loosehead shirt as they got the better of a very good Bath front-row.
