Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Champions Cup XV of the Week - Round 2

Marcell Coetzee was in fine form against Clermont in Round 2 of the Heineken Champions Cup. (Photo by Charles McQuillan/Getty Images)

It was a weekend of consolidation in the Heineken Champions Cup, as a number of teams backed up impressive wins in Round 1 with similar results a week later, giving themselves a strong grip on their respective pools and healthy representation in our XV.

ADVERTISEMENT

Ulster, Exeter Chiefs, Leinster, Northampton Saints and Toulouse all went two from two, whilst Munster and Racing 92 played out an entertaining 21-21 draw at Thomond Park, after both teams recorded wins in the opening round.

We have selected our XV of the week from the 10 matches, as teams begin to eye up the back-to-back fixtures in December and the potential quarter-final consequences and permutations that will come as a result of them.

  1. Mike Haley, Munster

An excellent all-round display from Haley who was as reliable as the last line of defence for Munster, as he was creative and efficient in his attacking responsibilities. Racing found success against Munster in the battle for the gain-line up front, though Haley made the most of the defensive and offensive opportunities that came his way, despite that advantage for the French side.

Silver – Elliot Daly, Saracens

Bronze – Thomas Ramos, Toulouse

Continue reading below…

Watch: Dave Rennie faces the press after being confirmed as Wallabies head coach

Video Spacer

  1. Teddy Thomas, Racing 92

Racing’s wide man was in typically incisive form at Thomond Park and he repeatedly gave the Munster defence cold sweats. His footwork and turn of pace was usually good for making at least one would-be tackler miss, whilst he held up well defensively, too. It was a clean and clinical performance from the wing.

Silver – Rotimi Segun, Saracens

Bronze – Jack Nowell, Exeter Chiefs

  1. Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Sale Sharks

The South African’s ability to get over the gain-line was arguably the difference for Sale against La Rochelle, as the home side struggled to make the most of their one and two-man advantages during the game. Although Sale didn’t click fully in the game, Janse van Rensburg did his job well and gave Sale the early momentum that they maintained in the second half.

ADVERTISEMENT

Silver – Henry Slade, Exeter Chiefs

Bronze – Sofiane Guitoune, Toulouse

  1. Sam Johnson, Glasgow Warriors

Although Glasgow were well-beaten by surging second half from Exeter, Johnson can hold his head high. The inside centre frequently broke the line and created attacking opportunities for his side, though most were stamped out by resilient and effective Exeter defence. Nevertheless, Johnson gave the English side their fair share of anxious moments.

Silver – Charlie Ngatai, Lyon

Bronze – Robbie Henshaw, Leinster

  1. Tom Collins, Northampton Saints

Collins was clinical against Benetton and his two tries were pivotal in ensuring Saints could come back from a slow start, secure the win and head into the December back-to-backs with two wins from two for the English club. He offered a contrasting but equally effective threat to usual standout Taqele Naiyaravoro.

ADVERTISEMENT

Silver – Tom O’Flaherty, Exeter Chiefs

Bronze – Keith Earls, Munster

  1. Finn Russell, Racing 92

When given a platform to perform, there are few, if any more incisive operators in world rugby than Russell. The Scotsman came up with a number of moments of class at Thomond Park and helped his side leave Ireland with two points that could prove vital when the quarter-finalists are ultimately decided.

Silver – Dan Biggar, Northampton Saints

Bronze – Marcus Smith, Harlequins

  1. John Cooney, Ulster

The scrum-half continues to push his claim for a role with Ireland, as he guided his side to an impressive win over Clermont in Belfast on Friday evening. He tested the fringes, distributed the ball accurately and quickly and was a key component in ensuring that Ulster played the game in the right areas of the pitch.

Silver – Cobus Reinach, Northampton Saints

Bronze – Faf de Klerk, Sale Sharks

  1. Mako Vunipola, Saracens

Vunipola didn’t take long to shake off any potential post-Rugby World Cup rust, as he went about giving Saracens set-piece dominance and very handy platform for his cousin, Manu Vunipola, to operate from at a fly-half. His tireless work in the loose, not mention that efficiency with which he executes, continues to set him apart among loosehead props.

Silver – Etienne Falgoux, Clermont

Bronze – Alec Hepburn, Exeter Chiefs

  1. Hame Faiva, Benetton

The hooker bagged two tries as his Benetton side came within inches of a morale-boosting draw – or even a win – against Northampton. His lineout throwing was also relatively accurate and his contributions in the loose were telling. He led the way in another performance that underlines Benetton’s credentials at this level, after the encouraging display against Leinster in the opening round.

Silver – Corne Fourie, Gloucester

Bronze – Rob Herring, Ulster

  1. Levan Chilachava, Montpellier

The Georgian tighthead constantly put Gloucester under pressure on Sunday afternoon. He turned the screw at the set-piece and the English side really had no answer for the lesson in scrummaging that he put on. It wasn’t the most open game and Chilachava’s performance suited Montpellier’s game plan perfectly.

Silver – Demba Bamba, Lyon

Bronze – Charlie Faumuina, Toulouse

https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1198588256885063683?s=20

  1. Alex Craig, Gloucester

Craig played with energy and work rate against a Montpellier pack that generally had the advantage on Gloucester physically. His match-up with Jacques du Plessis was fun to watch and the South African went well into he saw red for elbowing a Gloucester player in the face during a maul.

Silver – Ultan Dillane, Connacht

Bronze – Romain Sazy, La Rochelle

  1. James Ryan, Leinster

A powerful and decisive display from the Leinster lock. The Irish province were not at their best out in Lyon, but Ryan’s contribution was particularly significant in ensuring that they returned home with a haul of four points. His ball-carrying was pivotal, whilst his defence on the gain-line was physical and unrelenting.

Silver – Jonny Hill, Exeter Chiefs

Bronze – Jean-Luc du Preez, Sale Sharks

https://twitter.com/RugbyPass/status/1198532992186175488?s=20

  1. Dave Ewers, Exeter Chiefs

A second dominant and physical performance in as many weeks for Ewers, who looks like he is well passed his injury issues and showing the kind of form that had him linked with a regular role with England. He was too powerful at the contact area and in the defensive line for Glasgow to deal with and he helped disrupt the usually effective high-tempo style of the Scottish side.

Silver – Wenceslas Lauret, Racing 92

Bronze – Chris Robshaw, Harlequins

  1. Ben Earl, Saracens

The openside ran rampant at Allianz Park against the Ospreys and it took a performance of the highest quality to see off the challenges of the two prominent Irish opensides below. The Ospreys may not currently be the sternest of competition currently, though this was another marker put down by Earl, both with and without the ball, that he is ready to step up to international rugby and should be in contention for a back row spot with England.

Silver – Jordi Murphy, Ulster

Bronze – Josh van der Flier, Leinster

  1. Marcell Coetzee, Ulster

The South African’s bid to make the Springbok squad for the British and Irish Lions tour goes from strength to strength, with yet another physical and disciplined display in Europe. He showed all his assets as a back rower on Friday evening, dominating the breakdown, carrying with menace in the tight and not giving an inch in defence.

Silver – Carl Fearns, Lyon

Bronze – Sam Simmonds, Exeter Chiefs

Watch: The Season with Hamilton Boys High School – Episode 3

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

B
Bull Shark 3 hours ago
David Campese names his Springbok world player of the year winner

Why is Joe Schmidt the best option for Australia? (LONG READ)


An essay for @OJohn with love from South Africa.


OJohn keeps banging on about kiwis and Saffers and everyone else seeking to undermine and bring down Australian rugby… Blah, Blah, Blah. It’s boring and not worth responding too 99 days out of 100.


He misses the point completely that Australians either are or are not the masters of their own destiny. So to blame anyone else but themselves for what the state of Australian rugby is in - is hypocritical.


But recently, Australia has shown signs of life. Personally, I always believed they would be back at some point. At the beginning of this year I predicted that the wallabies would bounce back this year. I predicted that they would overtake England in the world rankings. I am predicting that they could finish second in the RC, could win the Lions series and could make it to a RWC final at home.


I tend to get ahead of myself when I’m excited... Ask my wife. But forgive me for getting excited about the Wallabies looking good! Is it so bad?


Like OJohn, I believe that Australia’s lands abound with natures gifts, including athletic specimens across any sporting code the Aussies compete in. It’s one of the reasons most of us don’t like Aussies. They win sh1t. Regularly. And look smug when they do...


But back to OJohn. And his banging on about the need for Australia to have an Australian coach. Here are a few highlights of his argument:


Several times I've given a list of half a dozen Australian coaches who would be more Australian than Schmidt and just as successful.

Tell me which Australian coaches would be acceptable to coach the All Blacks ......?

Because South Africans and Kiwis and Welshmen and Scotsman are all s.... scared that if an immensely talented and athletic team like Australia is ever able to harness nationalistic Australian passion with an Australian coach, you'll all be s.c.r.e.w.e.d.


And then finally – the list of 6 🥴:


Ewen McKenzie, Less Kiss, Stephen Larkham, Jim McKay, David Nucifora, Scott Wisenthal, Ben Mowen, Rod Kafer, Mick Byrne, John Manetti, Jason Gilmore, Dan McKellar.

Plus, a special request:


Keep in mind Rod MacQueen never won a Super Rugby title before he was appointed Wallaby coach but he ended up the greatest rugby coach the world has ever seen. Better than Erasmus even. Who is probably the next best.

Right. I don’t care about the tinfoil hat theories. I want to assess OJohn’s list and determine whether any of them fit the mold of a Rod Macqueen.

 

Like Rod Macqueen the following world cup winning coaches never won a Super Rugby Title:


·       David Kirk, 1987 (17 appearances for New Zealand)

·       Kitch Kristie, 1995

·       Rod Macqueen, 1999

·       Clive Woodward, 2003 (21 Appearance for England)

·       Jake White, 2007 (School Teacher)

·       Graham Henry, 2011 (School Teacher)

·       Steve Hansen, 2015 (Policeman)

·       Rassie Erasmus, 2019 (36 Appearances for South Africa)

·       Jacques Nienaber, 2023 (Physiotherapist).


I couldn't find out what Rod or Kitch did other than coach.


The only coach who has won a Super title and a World Cup?

·       Bob Dwyer, 1991 (A Tahs man wouldn’t you know!)


In fact coaches that have won super rugby titles have not won world cups. Robbie Deans. Heyneke Meyer to name just two.


I know I’m being childish, but I needed to bring this list in somehow because it’s quite obvious that whatever these coaches did before they became international level coaches is largely immaterial. Or is it?


Interestingly Ewan McKenzie (A Tah Man!) has won a Super title. And despite being a Tah Man made it into OJohn’s list. That’s two strikes for Ewan Mckenzie based on OJohn’s criteria so far. Not to mention his 50% win rate as head coach of the Wallabies between 2013 and 2014 (and the laundry list of off the field fcuk ups that swirled around the team at the time).


So Ewan is out.


I find it interesting that, as we speak, eight out of the ten top ranked men’s teams are coached by former international players:

1.      South Africa, Rassie Erasmus (36 appearances for South Africa)

2.      Ireland, Andy Farrell (8 appearances for England)

3.      New Zealand, Scott Robertson (23 appearances for New Zealan)

4.      France, Fabien Galthie (64 appearances for France)

5.      Argentina, Felipe Contemponi (87 appearances for Argentina)

6.      Scotland, Gregor Townsend (82 appearances for Scotland)

7.      England, Steve Borthwick (57 appearances for England)

8.      Australia, Joe Schmidt (School Teacher)

9.      Fiji, Michael Byrne (Aussie Rules Player)

10.  Italy, Gonzalo Quesada (38 appearances for Argentina).


It would appear as though we have entered an era where successful international coaches, largely, have played rugby at international level in the professional era. Or are ex school teachers. Much like Jake White and Graham Henry! Or a policeman.

 

Back to OJohn’s List. That leaves us with:


·       Less Kiss, (I like the look of)

·       Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)

·       Jim McKay, (Very little to write home about)

·       David Nucifora, (Too old)

·       Scott Wisenthal, (I literally can’t find anything on him on the Google).

·       Ben Mowen, (Too young, no coaching experience)

·       Rod Kafer, (No coaching experience)

·       Mick Byrne, (He’s coaching the Fijians, Aussie rules!)

·       John Manetti, (Can’t find him on the google)

·       Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)

·       Dan McKellar, (Not much to write home about, but could be an option).


Applying some logic, I would say the following are viable options based on age, experience in coaching AND the fact that they have played rugby for Australia in the professional era:

·       Less Kiss, (I like the look of)

·       Stephen Larkham, (I like the look of)

·       Jason Gilmore, (Seems to be working through the ranks, coaching Wallabies A)


After having done all this research, I think it’s fair to say that none of these three have the same pedigree as Joe Schmidt, the teacher. Who took a sh1tty Ireland team to no.1. Won a few 6 Nations and helped get the All Blacks to a world cup final in 2023.


Joe’s the best option for now. But if Kiss, Larkham and Gilmore are the business for the future for Australia get them in now as assistants to Joe and stop moaning!!


And, for the record, NONE of the above are good enough to coach the All Blacks. The All Blacks have the guy that hasn’t won a single Super title. He’s won 6.


Errors and Ommissions Excepted. Mispelling of names is OJohn's fault.

12 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones Why England's defence of the realm has crumbled without Felix Jones
Search