Saturday's Star Performers

Tom McCartney

The former Blues man put in a MOTM performance today as Connacht dismantled Treviso 47-8 at the Sportsground this afternoon. McCartney was rewarded for his hard work around the park with 2 tries in the first half. McCartney's performance led the Connacht pack to a comprehensive win always being on the front foot and constantly taking the game to the Italians.

It's been a good few weeks for Connacht off the back of a tough start to the season & McCartney will be looking to continue his impressive form as the Irish side try to climb the PRO12 table.

Jonathan Joseph

The centre was a crucial cog in the England machine today and showed everyone why he must be considered as one of the best outside centres in the game today. He played a starring role in almost all of England’s tries, scoring two and setting up one for his winger, Marland Yarde. He went over for a crucial, opportunistic score in the first half, which kept England in the game.

He pounced on Owen Farrell’s kick through to score under the posts. Shortly after the break he created Yarde’s score after putting a pinpoint accurate kick in behind the Australian defence. He was clinical in defence and showed this as he picked off David Pocock’s looping pass in the final minutes of the game to run through for his second five-pointer. Joseph kept his opposite number, Kuridrani, quiet all day.

This was the first international of the Wallabies’ November series in which the centre failed to get on the scoresheet, emphasising just how well he was marshalled by Joseph for the eighty minutes.

Ben Youngs

Today’s MOTM was extremely lively and visibly got his team attacking at pace throughout the second half. He scored a trademark try from a quick tap and go and even emulated his celebrations in previous years against the Wallabies, by chucking the ball into the Twickenham crowd.

The Leicester Tigers scrum-half was an ever present threat around the ruck and almost got through on a couple of other occasions in the second half, as he showcased some of his fantastic evasion skills. Eddie Jones expressed how happy he was with his numer nine's performance after the game.

Ruan Pienaar

The South African is a regular in this review, showing just how consistent he is for his Ulster side. Again the nine was given the MOTM award. He will be sorely missed when he moves on from Ravenhill at the end of the season.

Again the scrum-half showcased his effective, well-rounded game as he got his forwards working well during phase-play, and his backs running onto the ball at pace. He was almost unblemished in his kicking performance, doing well from the hand and only missing one at the death from the tee.

Jack Conan

Jack Conan was at the forefront of Leinster's 28-15 win over the Newport Gwent Dragons tonight at the RDS. The no.8 worked non stop around the park for 80 mins and was rewarded with a try in the first half. His strong carries and intelligent lines caused trouble for the Dragons defence.

Conan's performance has put down a marker ahead of Leinster's clash with Northampton in the Champions Cup and it will be interesting to see if he can force his way into Leo Cullen's side for next weekend.