Premiership Team of the Week: ‘Sumptuous’ Finn Russell shines while Lions bolter brings the ‘wow’ factor with Kolbe-esque try

With Round 13 of the Premiership season now in the books, here is James While’s Team of the Week.

For the second season in a row we have partnered with eToro, the official investing and trading partner of Premiership Rugby, to bring you a best XV from every Premiership round, each one chosen by a famous face from the world of rugby.

There’s nothing that excites me more than the run-in to the Premiership Finals and once again we find ourselves in a situation where any of eight teams can move into the play-offs.

Whilst my money is on Bath and Bristol leading the charge, Saracens have timed their form perfectly once again and I reckon they’ll be there or thereabouts. Joining them will be one of Sale or even Gloucester. I love what the Cherry and Whites are doing and they gave us the standout performance of the weekend in a thrilling win against the Bears.

Anyway, here’s the 15 that caught my eye this weekend.

eToro Premiership Team of the Week

15 Santi Carreras (Gloucester): Carreras was simply sensational for Gloucester in a thrilling display at Kingsholm. Sale’s Joe Carpenter is a rock at the back and someone that I am amazed hasn’t been looked at by England and Elliot Daly was as classy as ever for Sarries.

14 Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks): Harsh on Christian Wade who got a hat-trick but I had to weigh up overall match impact and Roebuck was the man to provide that.

13 Max Ojomoh (Bath): A brilliant intercept and a great all-round display from a guy I am sure will tour Argentina with England. Chris Harris, a man not needed by Scotland, showed his absolute class in a great tussle with Benhard Janse van Rensburg in the Gloucester v Bristol derby.

12 Seb Atkinson (Gloucester): You don’t often score three as a midfield back, especially an inside centre, so a day to celebrate by another that I am sure will travel with England to South America. Exeter’s Will Rigg is another knocking on the door and he starred for Chiefs against Max Clark of Falcons, who also had a good outing.

11 Will Muir (Bath): The man they call horse galloped everywhere. He’s brilliant under the high ball and he dominated the airways. Josh Hathaway was another Gloucester player to get a shout out, but he looks as if he’s injured himself exactly at the wrong time. I was very impressed by young Angus Hall on debut for Saracens too.

10 Finn Russell (Bath): Sumptuous. When Finn is at his best it’s the variety of his passing that shines – short, long, pop, string – he has it all. Fergus Burke is growing into the 10 shirt at Saracens and is my runner-up.

9 Tomos Williams (Gloucester): For a man largely anonymous in the Six Nations he’s been the shining light of the Premiership. His basketball pass is one to pin up on the wall! Ivan van Zyl was superb driving Sarries forward, whilst Ben Spencer did exactly the same for Bath in their win.

🚨Competition: Win Premiership final tickets, signed ball and more with eToro🚨

The forwards

8 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints): Just wow. I think Kolbe or Bielle-Biarrey would have been proud of the try the youngster scored against Sale. Is he a Lions bolter? For sure. Greg Fisalau had another impressive outing for Chiefs, whilst Tom Willis was nails for Sarries in his carries.

7 Juan Martin Gonzalez (Saracens): One of the very best flankers in the world – a real athlete and such an intelligent player. It says something about Bristol’s Fitz Harding that he shone despite the scoreline, whilst England’s Tom Curry was simply huge as he always is against Saints.

6 Jack Clement (Gloucester): This lad really goes under the radar in terms of Test chances but he’s right up there in every stat in the Premiership. I thought that Theo McFarland had a great game against Tigers, and a word for his opponent, Hanro Liebenberg, one of the most consistent around.

5 Maro Itoje (Saracens): Massive man, massive presence, massive performances – that’s the bare default with Itoje and once again he was magnificent. Jonny Hill is a forgotten man in test terms but was impressive for Sale against Saints.

4 Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs): Super consistent – but will he make the Lions tour? I am not sure he will unless it’s to cover the whole of the back five. Ben Bamber, another Sale boy, is impressing me every time I see him and is a huge man that’s Test ready.

3 Marco Riccioni (Saracens): The man that loves cooking put in a simply massive shift for his club when Fraser Balmain limped off after a minute. Do follow his Instagram – his recipes are incredible – quite right for a prop! Asher Opoku-Fordjour (Sale) and Afo Fasogbon (Gloucester) both showed their promise in impressive performances in the tight.

2 Tom Dunn (Bath): Mr Consistent doubled his career metres in a frolicking display at the Rec. Jamie George thundered over for Saracens and the man who replaced him, Theo Dan, wasn’t bad either despite some lineout wobbles!

1 Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks): Few loosehead props can be called match-winners, but Rodd is so good around the park he’s exactly that. It’s no coincidence that Gloucester’s form run is happening just as Val Rapava Ruskin is returning – how this man remains uncapped is a mystery that even Alfred Hitchcock couldn’t rival and he was brilliant once again both sides of the ball.

The Premiership Team of the Week is brought to you by eToro, the official investing and trading partner of Premiership Rugby.

Tackle investing the smart way and join millions of UK investors on eToro today. The friendly platform for serious investors.

eToro is a multi-asset investment platform. The value of your investments may go up or down. Your capital is at risk.

READ MORE: Finn ‘the muscle’ Russell in classy gesture after booming kick sends female fan to A&E