Team of the week: The best from the Champions Cup combine

By Michael Cantillon

Image: What a weekend! Find out who makes it into our star-studded XV below

The top performers from the weekend's Champions Cup action combine in our latest team of the week.

We picked our original XV before Clermont's astonishing 46-14 victory over Saracens on Monday evening, and so in the aftermath of that we've revisited our team to make any required alterations!

15. Dan Evans (Ospreys)

Image: Dan Evans crossed for two tries in Ospreys' 43-32 victory over Northampton

Jayden Hayward was superb for Benetton, making 154 metres in their last-gasp defeat at Scarlets, but Ospreys full-back Dan Evans was a class apart at Franklin's Gardens.

The 29-year-old made a phenomenal 101 metres from 15 carries, beat six defenders and crossed for two tries in a well-rounded performance.

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How has he not got a Wales cap?

Ospreys resisted a remarkable Northampton comeback to come away 43-32 winners at Franklin's Gardens

14. Leonardo Sarto (Glasgow Warriors)

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The only one of our XV to have been on the losing side, Glasgow wing Sarto was tremendous in defeat against Montpellier at Scotstoun.

Image: Leonardo Sarto crossed for two tries in defeat

The Italian, though seemingly light in build, has a huge heart and proved incredibly difficult to put to floor, making 71 metres off seven carries.

Sarto also beat seven defenders, was strong in the air and crossed for two tries in a magnificent individual performance. If all his Warriors team-mates had played to the same standard, they simply would not have lost.

Highlights of the Champions Cup round 3 clash between Glasgow Warriors and Montpellier

13. Geoffrey Doumayrou (La Rochelle)

Has there been a better back in the 2017/18 Champions Cup than this guy? Doumayrou is playing some truly outstanding rugby in a breathtaking La Rochelle side.

Image: La Rochelle's Geoffrey Doumayrou was once again superb

Sunday saw Les Corsaires dispatch of Wasps 49-29 at the Stade Marcel-Deflandre to take firm control of Pool 1. Doumayrou made the most ground with ball in hand of any player on the pitch - eating up 94 metres.

He also made 13 carries, two line breaks, beat five defenders and threw three offloads. Superb.

12. Pierre Aguillon (La Rochelle)

Doumayrou's midfield partner was equally impressive, as Aguillon proved terrific on both sides of the ball.

Image: Doumayrou's centre partner Pierre Aguillon was also one of the weekends best performers

The inside-centre trucked the ball up for 52 metres off 11 carries, made two line breaks and scored La Rochelle's first try of the match.

He also finished the game with a 100 per cent tackle completion after a robust and physical showing. La Rochelle are in rampant mood and look very tough to stop at the moment.

11. Alivereti Raka (Clermont)

Ospreys' Canadian wing Jeff Hassler was absolutely electric at Northampton on Saturday, crossing for two fabulous tries and creating another, but we had to change things up and include Raka after his display at Allianz Park.

Image: Clermont Auvergne wing Alivereti Raka was sensational at Saracens

With the game against Saracens postponed from Sunday to Monday evening, Clermont were not a happy group heading into a near-empty stadium, but my word they turned their discontent into some performance.

Raka was at the heart of it, scoring a hat-trick inside the opening 25 minutes before going on an incredible solo weaving run to set up Flip van der Merwe at the beginning of the second half. And he made 161 metres!

Image: Jeff Hassler was our original pick on the left wing, but we had to make a replacement...

The final score read Saracens 14-46 Clermont: the first ever European loss at this stadium for the double Champions Cup winners...it's fair to say Clermont won't be left waiting by anyone again!

A mention too for Scarlets wing Steff Evans, who pulled things out of the fire at the last at home to Benetton.

Scarlets left it late before seeing off Benetton with two tries at the death

10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster)

Sexton proved his class once again for Leinster as they traveled to Exeter and beat the Premiership champions on their own patch.

Image: Johnny Sexton admirably controlled proceedings at Sandy Park

His cross-kick pass for the opening try of the match - from which he eventually touched down in the corner - was a thing of beauty.

His game management was clinical, while he also chipped in with one linebreak and eight tackles. When in the mood, there are few better than the Irish fly-half.

9. John Cooney (Ulster)

Man of the match against Harlequins at the Stoop, Cooney controlled proceedings expertly in a fine Ulster win.

Image: John Cooney was the best player on the pitch in Ulster's victory at the Stoop

The scrum-half was exceptional off the tee, kicking 12 points in the 18-9 win, while he also made the incisive break and offload which led to Jacob Stockdale's crucial try.

His kicking game in horrendous conditions proved brilliant.

1. Danny Priso (La Rochelle)

Each and every time Priso lines out for La Rochelle, he never fails to impress.

Image: La Rochelle prop Dany Priso put in another mightily impressive display against Wasps

The 23-year-old loosehead has been one of the standout players in the Champions Cup so far this season, and in Sunday's victory over Wasps, he was a key man again.

The prop made 15 carries for some 63 metres - the third most of any player on the pitch - beat six defenders and made eight tackles. His combination of pace and power is outstanding.

How he has yet to earn a France cap is a mystery.

2. Rhys Marshall (Munster)

In the absence of Niall Scannell due to a thumb injury, Kiwi hooker Marshall has stepped up for Munster with several skillful displays this season, but Saturday was the display of his career so far.

Image: Munster hooker Rhys Marshall scored the opening try against Leicester at Thomond Park

The 25-year-old was everywhere against the Leicester Tigers at Thomond Park, making nine carries, beating three defenders and earning a key line break.

He also threw 10 perfect lineout throws in an impeccable set-piece display, earned three turnovers - two of which came after sensational rips - and slalomed over for the game's vital first try. Very, very impressive.

3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster)

It was not all plain sailing for the Leinster front row, but Furlong spearheaded an impressive performance from the visiting pack at Sandy Park, which resulted in Harry Williams being shown a yellow card, and Leinster scoring a try while they had an extra man.

Image: Tadhg Furlong was man of the match in Leinster's victory over Exeter

Furlong also more than contributed in the loose, carrying the ball relentlessly for the Irish province as they became the first side to beat Exeter at home for 12 months.

The tighthead made 15 carries and beat three defenders in a freakishly good display. Where does he get all his energy from?

4. Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (Montpellier)

Montpellier made mincemeat of the Glasgow lineout in their marvelous away victory at Scotstoun, and the man largely responsible for that was the towering Van Rensburg.

Image: Montpellier's South African lock Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg destroyed the Glasgow lineout

The 23-year-old South African lock was magnificent at the set-piece, claiming the ball 10 times in total and getting in the air for three super steals.

He was such a menace, Glasgow had no platform to build off, which went a long way to ensuring an away victory for the Top 14 team.

5. Scott Fardy (Leinster)

Leinster's impressive away victory at Sandy Park was a true team effort, and it was typified by the grunt and vigour shown by Fardy.

Image: The effort of Scott Fardy typified Leinster's remarkable display at Sandy Park

The second row worked like a Trojan all game as part of a dominant Leinster pack which defended strongly for long spells and attacked through exhausting phases with success.

The 33-year-old made 11 tackles, earned one turnover, made nine carries and took two lineouts, while also scrummaging powerfully for the entire 80 minutes as the Irish province got the edge at the set-piece.

6. Peter O'Mahony (Munster)

With all the contract talk surrounding Munster skipper O'Mahony this week, he headed into Saturday's clash with the Leicester Tigers under pressure to perform. But perform he did.

The blindside was fantastic in everything he did at Thomond Park, utterly ruling the breakdown where he won each and every collision and earned three superb turnovers.

O'Mahony also chipped in with 10 carries in an ultra-physical display, beating two defenders, and won three lineouts - more than any other Munster player. To top it off, he scored his first try since October 2016. Sign him up.

7. Chris Cloete (Munster)

What a start this man is making to his Munster career. Man of the match against the Ospreys in the PRO14 last week, he pushed hard for the same award against the Tigers.

Image: Chris Cloete has made a phenomenal start to his Munster career

Alongside O'Mahony and CJ Stander, Cloete excelled at the breakdown where he won three turnovers and slowed down ball at every opportunity.

The South African was a bundle of energy, buzzing around the pitch to make 14 tackles, score Munster's bonus-point try off an attacking maul and step into half-back at times when Conor Murray was sucked into contact - playing a key role in two Munster scores.

A word too for La Rochelle flanker Levani Botia, who was extremely hard to leave out after his two-try performance in victory over Wasps.

8. Louis Picamoles (Montpellier)

Quite simply, Picamoles was the standout performer of the weekend. He was incredible against the Glasgow Warriors.

Image: Louis Picamoles was outstanding for Montpellier at Scotsoun

The No 8 made a hefty 17 carries for 59 metres at Scotstoun, beating six defenders and throwing seven offloads as the Warriors found him impossible to contain.

In defence, he also contributed 11 tackles and two turnovers - one deep in his own 22 to end the game as Glasgow poured forward.

The Frenchman did all of this having been off the pitch for 10 minutes early on undergoing a HIA following a sickening off-the-ball hit to his back by George Turner. What a man.

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