PREM Rugby Team of the Week: England ace’s ‘starring role’ serves as timely reminder while number eight answer emerges for Steve Borthwick
Henry Slade and Henry Pollock impressed over the weekend.
Following the conclusion of round five of the PREM season, here is the latest Planet Rugby Team of the Week!
The weekend’s action got underway on Friday night, as Northampton Saints tightened their grip on top spot with a strong win over Saracens.
There were four more intriguing games on Saturday, too. Harlequins thumped Newcastle Red Bulls, Exeter Chiefs got revenge over Gloucester for last year’s horror show with a resounding win and Bath also hammered local rivals Bristol Bears in a gritty West Country derby. Rounding off the action, Leicester Tigers held off a late Sale Sharks resurgence to take the spoils.
Without further ado, here is who made our PREM XV this weekend!
15 Tyrone Green (Harlequins): A special performance to cap off a special occasion for the South African back. Green has been a real standout for Quins across his time at the Stoop, so on the day of his 100th appearance this display was rather fitting. He was devastating in attack, ripping through Newcastle’s defence with ease with 116 metres to his name from just 10 carries, while also beating seven defenders. His brace was the cherry on top of the cake. Luke James‘ hat-trick didn’t go unnoticed.
14 Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints): It seems it doesn’t matter where you play Freeman. Get him on the pitch and he will shine. Returned to the position of wing, a week after being deployed at 15 and amid his own words on a switch to 13, he stole the show in Northampton’s win over Saracens. Aside from his four-try haul, he notched 150 metres from his 12 carries ball-in-hand, while also beating eight defenders and making seven line breaks. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso was a close second.
13 Henry Slade (Exeter Chiefs): Boy he’s playing well at the moment isn’t he? Yet again, Slade took a starring role in a thumping Exeter win, notching 22 of his side’s 39 on the day (two tries, three conversions and two penalties). Around that, he also notched 11 carries for 34 metres. This felt like another message from the Chiefs gun to England boss Steve Borthwick ahead of the Autumn Nations Series.
12 Ollie Lawrence (Bath): I know, I know, I know. He played at 13 this weekend, and Len Ikitau and Fraser Dingwall can feel aggrieved to miss out as a result, but Lawrence was again exceptional for the Blue, Black and White in a roaring West Country derby. His powerful strike running was crucial in the win, with him notching 55 metres from 11 carries in the process.
11 Rodrigo Isgro (Harlequins): On any other week, Adam Radwan walks into the team after his stellar showing, but Isgro’s heroics mean he gets the nod this time. The Quins ace was a real menace for his side in their win over Newcastle, again showcasing his rare blend of aerial prowess and ball-in-hand magic. Across his shift, he notched 132 metres from 12 carries, beating four defenders in the process. Henry Arundell also deserves a mention.
10 Fin Smith (Northampton Saints): A good weekend to be an English fly-half, with Marcus Smith and George Ford impressing too, but we’ve just got Fin ahead. The Saints number 10, who slotted four conversions in the win, was simply excellent on Friday night, getting his side playing that balls-to-the-wall attack we all know and love. His eye for space also helped his side convert chances too, grabbing two assists in the process. He also threatened ball-in-hand too, notching 10 carries for 28 metres for good measure.
9 Will Porter (Harlequins): Again, a good weekend to be an English nine, with Alex Mitchell going well, but Porter’s performance deserves some flowers. The Quins ace looked back to that all-round threat on Saturday, getting his side playing with serious tempo and offering some lovely carries of his own with 39 metres to his name. Around that, he also grabbed a try and an assist to round off a fine day’s work.
The forwards
8 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints): Just as England begin their search for a new number eight, Pollock drops this spellbinder with that number on his back. The Lions tourist was excellent in every department for the Saints in their win over Saracens, even besting Tom Willis in the process. He was a key man in the Northampton attack, making 16 carries for 85 metres as well as two line breaks, and backed that up in defence with 11 tackles and two turnovers. Simply brilliant. Miles Reid also caught the eye this weekend.
7 Guy Pepper (Bath): It was a day for flankers at the Rec on Saturday, with Fitz Harding‘s 28 tackles nearly getting him into this side, but Pepper gets the nod. The Bath man just threw himself into the battle up-front, making 41 metres from 12 carries in the process, in an effort which helped get his team on the upper hand and eventually runaway winners.
6 Greg Fisilau (Exeter Chiefs): We’re cheating here, given he actually played at eight, but it was just a really classy all-round display from the ever-impressive Fisilau. His efforts on both sides the ball for Exeter helped lay the foundations for a big win over Gloucester, notching 11 carries for 46 metres ball-in-hand and then making 12 tackles and winning two turnovers in defence. Hanro Liebenberg also impressed for Leicester once again.
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5 Ollie Chessum (Leicester Tigers): A really industrious display from the Lions tourist, who beats out Guido Petti into this side. His gritty efforts in the tight played a key role in Leicester’s eventual win over Sale Sharks, making 13 carries ball-in-hand and seven tackles in defence to boot.
4 JJ van der Mescht (Northampton Saints): His arrival at Northampton was heralded as a change of tactic for the Saints, but if anything he’s just giving them a consistent platform to play from. He’s just so willing to get his hands on the ball in the tight, backed up by his tally of 14 carries for 34 metres in Friday’s win, but it was just his consistent ability to break through the gain line that impressed the most. He also got stuck into the defensive efforts too, with nine tackles to his name. Exeter’s Dafydd Jenkins was again close to selection.
3 Will Stuart (Bath): Fellow Bath tighthead Thomas du Toit wasn’t far off this side, but we’ve just got Stuart ahead. His work in the scrum, against fellow England international Ellis Genge for that matter, helped the reigning champions set a platform to build from. Very pleasing to see him return to his best so close to England’s autumn campaign.
2 Tom Dunn (Bath): He’s ageing like a fine isn’t he, dropping another classy performance for the Blue, Black and White in their win over Bristol. Dunn was typically unrelenting in the carry, notching 17 carries for 25 metres ball-in-hand, while also nailing the set-piece to help his side on the front-foot. Joseph Dweba and Luke Cowan-Dickie also enjoyed strong outings this weekend for Exeter and Sale respectively.
1 Scott Sio (Exeter Chiefs): Just pipping England duo Fin Baxter and Beno Obano into the Team of the Week is Sio, who hit the ground running on his return to PREM action with the Chiefs. His work in the scrum was a reminder of just what he brings to this Exeter pack, and he backed that up with some tidy defensive efforts too with seven tackles to his name. He also nabbed an assist as well.