Champions Cup Team of the Week Round 3

Champions Cup Team of the Week Round 3
Another round of the Champions Cup has come and gone! And what a weekend it was with Clermont shining on Friday evening, Munster piping Saracens on Saturday and some pulsating action on Sunday rounding out a busy weekend.
 
 
We have selected our standouts from the weekend's action.
 
 
 
 
1. Richard Barrington - Saracens
 
 
A solid 54 minute shift from Barrington making 17 tackles and 7 carries
 
 
 
2. Elia Elia - Harlequins 
 
 
A brace from the Quins hooker almost sealed victory for his side as he powered over from close range, one following a maul and the other from a sensational intercept from their own try line.
 
Elia missed his jumper on just one occasion in the clash, made all of his 12 attempted tackles and made just shy of 30 running metres from his 5 carries.
 
 
 
 
3. Stephen Archer - Munster
 
 
Making 12 tackles and 6 carries in his tim eon the park he was integral in Munsters set piece play and and 100% scrum record in their win over Saracens
 
 
 
4. Jonny Gray - Glasgow 
 
 
19 tackles made and 0 missed epitomises Jonny Gray's game and the Glasgow man was on top form against La Rochelle.
 
Hard-working on both sides of the ball, Gray was solid, effective and excellent for 80 minutes. 
 
 
 
5. James Ryan - Leinster 
 
 
It's hard to look much further than James Ryan for a place in the side as he was all over the place once again making an incredible 17 carries, 18 tackles and missed just one tackle in the win over Northampton. 
 
 
Elsewhere, Maro Itoje was superb once again making 18 tackles and three turnovers.
 
 
 
 
6. Nick Isiekwe - Saracens
 
Nick Isiekwe could well be in the England squad come the Six Nations as he continues to produce excellent performances for Saracens. This weekend was no different as he made an incredible 26 tackles, missing just one against Munster.
 
His efforts were in vain as Saracens still fell to Munster but it was an outstanding effort nonetheless.
 


 
 
Tom Wood also had a strong game against Leinster, as too did his opposite number Rhys Ruddock while Dylan Cretin was the man of the match in Lyon's win.
 
 
 
 
 
7. Josh van der Flier - Leinster
 
 
Peter O'Mahony scored what proved to be the match-winner for Munster but he is beaten to a place in the Team of the week by his fellow countryman who was nothing short of exceptional for Leinster.
 
He produced a man of the match performance making 17 tackles, without missing, three turnovers and 6 carries as he stifled Saracens attack with regular ease.
 
 
 
 
 
8. CJ Stander - Munster 
 
 
A workman like game from CJ Stander on Saturday evening as he powered Munster to victory over Saracens.
 
It was a classic Stander performance as he looks to have recaptured his form. 
 
 


 
 
Alex Dombrandt was sensational for the Harlequins and narrowly misses out while Caelan Doris performed well once again for Leinster.
 
 
 
 
9. John Cooney - Ulster
 
 
The Ulster scrumhalf can do little wrong at the moment as he proved to be the match-winner for Ulster slotting a late penalty to secure victory for his side on Saturday.
 
It wasn't just his goal kicking that was excellent, he was pinpoint with his kicking from hand and his passing was on point.
 
 


 
 
 
10. Danny Cipriani - Gloucester
 
 
 
Great display by the Cherry and Whites 10 as he moved his team around the park showing great tactical awareness along with some great execution. 
 
 


 
 
 
 
11. Maxime Medard - Toulouse
 
 
Solid performoance by the french legend as he beat 4 defenders against Montpellier and helped his side to a 23-9 win 
 
 
 
 
 
12. Stuart McCloskey - Ulster 
 
 
 
Man of the match in the win over the Harlequins, McCloskey was outstanding for Ulster making well over 100 running metres, scored a try and produced a stellar offload for another.
 
 


 
 
He pips Clermont's George Moala who also put in a man of the match performance in, in their win over Bath on Friday evening. 
 
 
 
 
 
13.Virimi Vakatawa - Racing 92
 
 
Virimi Vakatawa has been in incredible form over the past few weeks and Saturday was no different as he was named man of the match in the win over the Ospreys.
 
The French International racked up 81 running metres, beat 5 defenders and made 3 clean breaks and claimed a try assist. 
 
Elsewhere, Thibaut Regard was excellent for Lyon as too was Luke Marshall for Ulster.
 
 
 
 
 
14. Samuel Ezeala - Clermont
 
 
It's somewhat difficult to standout in a team of superstars, particularly when one of those superstars is your fellow winger Aliverteti Raka. However, Samuel Ezeala did just that on his Champions Cup debut! 
 
The 19-year-old winger did just that, scoring a brace assisting another and ripped Bath apart in their 100th game in the Champions Cup as he made 86 running metres.
 
 


 
 
Teddy Thomas also had a great game for Racing 92 scoring a brace while Vincent Rattez was incredible for La Rochelle against Glasgow.
 
 
 
 
15. Tom Marshall - Gloucester
 
 
The kiwi was in great form as he scored 2 tries for Gloucester in their 26-17 win over Connacht. He made 3 breaks, and beat 4 defenders on the day.
 
Simon Zebo and John Porch both were in the running to fill the 15 jumper for round 3

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