Investec Champions Cup Quarterfinal Team Of The Week
Investec Champions Cup Quarterfinal Team Of The Week
The Investec Champions Cup quarterfinal team of the week includes players from Leinster, Munster, Bordeaux-Begles, Toulouse, Toulon and Northampton.
Only the fittest will survive!
As ever, the Investec Champions Cup has seen the cream rise to the top with two blockbuster semifinals locked in.
In the blue corner, we have a rematch of last season’s epic clash between Leinster Rugby and the Northampton Saints. In the red corner, we have an all-French affair between Bordeaux-Begles and Stade Toulousain.
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Punching their tickets to the semifinals in largely dominant fashion, bar of course the titanic struggle between Toulouse and Toulon, the semifinals are as predicted by most when the playoff map was laid out.
Reflecting on the round that was, we dove into which players stood above the rest and compiled them into our team of the round.
So, without further ado, here is FloRugby’s Investec Champions Cup team of the quarterfinals:
1. Cyril Baille – Stade Toulousain
French Rugby’s stalwart loosehead is working his way back to his absolute best form. Taking control of the battle in the trenches against the exceptional Beka Gigashvili, Baille was an unsung hero for his side.
2. Curtis Langdon – Northampton Saints
Rounding into form as a top-notch operator at 27 years old, Langon is eerily similar to club legend Dylan Hartley in his style of play.
With Jamie George (34) and Luke Cowan-Dickie (31) the two senior hookers for England at the moment, the Saints man should be competing with Saracens’ Theo Dan over the coming seasons.
3. Tadhg Furlong – Leinster Rugby
Similar to Baille, the Ireland tighthead is working his way back to his very best form and just in time for the Lions tour and push toward the next World Cup.
Facing genuine competition from Rabah Slimani and Thomas Clarkson for his place in the Leinster team will drive him to even loftier heights.
4. Joe McCarthy – Leinster Rugby
Big Joe was a big problem for Glasgow in the quarterfinals, as he made a mess of just about anything the Warriors tried to achieve. Carrying with ferocity, McCarthy was close to unplayable at times.
5. Emmanuel Meafou – Stade Toulousain
Similar to his Leinster rival, Meafou was a monster against Toulon. Making telling carries (15), timely offloads (four) and tough yardage, it could be argued he was the difference between winning and losing for his side.
6. Max Deegan – Leinster Rugby
This was just the opportunity the backrow had been crying out for, and he took it with both hands.
Scoring two tries, dominating the line-out and generally being a menace for Glasgow to deal with, the 28-year-old could be in for a big second half of his career.
7. Henry Pollock – Northampton Saints
Taking English Rugby by storm, the Saints backrow has become rugby’s marmitie.
For his supporters, he is a swagger-filled star in the making. For opposing fans, he is a cocky upstart who has plenty to prove. Whatever your opinion of Pollock, he is a certified baller and has the potential to be an all-time talent.
8. Caelan Doris – Leinster Rugby
Coming off the bench early in relief of Jack Conan, Doris went on to top the carry charts (16), was second in tackles (15) and once again was Leinster’s go-forward machine.
Quite possibly, at this stage, he is the only nailed-on starter for the Lions this summer.
9. Maxime Lucu – Union Bordeaux-Begles
Firmly stepping out of the absent Antoine Dupont’s shadow, Lucu has carried his Six Nations form back to the club game.
His kicking game against Munster was pinpoint and amped up the pressure on the Irish side’s shaky line-out. It was about as close to a perfect scrumhalf performance as you will see.
10. Sam Prendergast – Leinster Rugby
Edging the exceptional Fin Smith for the No. 10 shirt this week, Prendergast made the most of the armchair ride the Leinster pack provided him.
Whatever side of the ever-increasing divide in Irish Rugby you fall on, the 22-year-old has something about him that is undeniable.
For Ireland, his emergence, combined with Jack Crowley’s class and the potential of Ulster’s Jack Murphy, is to be celebrated.
11. James Lowe – Leinster Rugby
Irish Rugby’s powerhouse winger proved once again why he is so dangerous.
Bumping off Glasgow defenders, walking in for an easy try from a superb Jamison Gibson-Park pass and booming clearance kicks, Lowe is in a sweet spot of his career right now.
12. Jordie Barrett – Leinster Rugby
A class above everyone on the pitch, which is saying something. The All Blacks star is playing the game at a transcendent level.
If he plays a key role in getting Leinster over the line in the URC and Champions Cup before returning to New Zealand, it will be the best short-term signing in history.
It's too early to call, but he is our favorite for World Player Of The Year this season.
13. Leicester Fainga'anuku – RC Toulon
Another All Black returning to Kiwi shores at the end of the season, Toulon’s powerhouse utility back was a handful against the reigning champions.
Topping the carry charts with 10 for 84 meters, he looked like the most likely player to rip the match open for the home side.
14. Tommy Freeman – Northampton Saints
Fast becoming one of the best utility backs in World Rugby, the Saints powerhouse was unstoppable against Castres Olympique.
He's in a serious groove. Every ball bounced his way, but it is his work rate, both with and without the ball, that sets him apart.
15. Melvyn Jaminet – RC Toulon
Nailing all six of his penalties to score all of Toulon’s 18 points, it should’ve been a day of celebration for the former Toulouse fullback. Instead, he had to watch his opposite number overcome the yips to nail the match-winner.
Sport can be cruel, but Jaminet had a monstrous day all around.
Replacements: 16. Dan Sheehan (Leinster Rugby), 17. Josh Wycherley (Munster Rugby), 18. Ben Tameifuna (Bordeaux-Begles), 19. RG Snyman (Leinster Rugby), 20. Pete Samu (Bordeaux-Begles), 21. Alex Mitchell (Northampton Saints), 22. Fin Smith (Northampton Saints), 23. Andrew Smith (Munster Rugby)
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