Rugby union team of the week: Five Bath players feature

Nemani Nadolo was unstoppable for Montpellier as they beat Glasgow in the Champions Cup

Five Bath players feature in our latest team of the week following their brilliant win at home to Toulon.

15. Antony Watson (Bath)

Image: Anthony Watson scores his first try for Bath in their Champions Cup clash with Toulon

Scott Spedding stepped up late for Clermont to kick a huge penalty from distance in their 24-21 win at home to Saracens, and in Welford Road, Matthew Tait shone in dreary conditions despite defeat to Munster.

But most impressive was England wing Watson who delivered a performance of rare quality at full-back for Bath in their 26-21 victory over Toulon.

In front of the watching Eddie Jones, Watson produced a performance full of attacking pace and registered two tries. Watson ran for 113 metres which was more than anyone else on the pitch.

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Highlights of the Champions Cup round 4 clash between Bath and Toulon

14 Elliot Daly (Wasps)

Image: Elliot Daly scored two tries for Wasps before departing with an ankle injury

In Dublin, 24 hours previous, Leinster captain Isa Nacewa kicked the competition favourites back into contention against Exeter with five vital penalties.

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But if his performance - and that of his team-mates - was marked by a stubborn refusal to bend, then in Coventry, Daly best-exemplified Wasps' brilliance in their 21-3 win over La Rochelle.

The England and Lions winger eventually had to depart with an ankle injury but not before he crossed for two clinical tries which gave the hosts a lead they never looked like surrendering.

Highlights of the Champions Cup round 4 clash between Wasps and La Rochelle

13. Garry Ringrose (Leinster)

Image: Garry Ringrose of Leinster made 14 carries after returning from injury to line out against Exeter

The Leinster centre made his return to the starting XV against Exeter and admitted post-match that the 22-17 win was one of the most bruising encounters he has played in.

Ringrose made 14 carries, finished with a black eye and was roundly praised for his ability to adjust to the contest's vigorous tempo after his absence.

Highlights of the Champions Cup round 4 clash between Leinster and Exeter

12 Stuart McCloskey (Ulster)

Image: Stuart McCloskey touches down for Ulster's opening score against Harlequins

Ulster's six-try 52-24 win over Harlequins on Friday night leaves the province well placed to challenge for a quarter-final spot and the abrasive McCloskey was among the scorers on a memorable night for the hosts.

Ulster had a heap of notable performances and McCloskey's flick-on and touchdown from Christian Lealifano's cross-field punt was one of the highlights of the weekend.

11. Nemani Nadolo (Montpellier)

Nemani Nadolo was unstoppable for Montpellier as they beat Glasgow in the Champions Cup

The flying Fijian again showed an abundance of strength and power with the kind of brute force attacking play that has become his hallmark.

In the first quarter of Montpellier's 36-26 win at home to Glasgow, Nadolo crossed for his fifth try in four Champions Cup matches.

10. Christian Lealifano (Ulster)

Image: Christian Lealiifano game management set Ulster on course for victory over Harlequins

Danny Cipriani delivered an accomplished performance at fly-half for Wasps in their win over La Rochelle, while the boot of Ian Keatley was crucial in securing Munster's 26-15 win over Leicester.

But Christian Lealifano was in fabulous form for Ulster in their 52-24 win against Harlequins.

Set to return to Canberra and the ACT Brumbies in January, it's hard to imagine this Ulster side minus a player who has been a star of their season to date.

9 Morgan Parra (Clermont)

Image: Morgan Parra has now broken 500 points scored in European Rugby

Dan Robson had a cracking game at nine for Wasps in their win over La Rochelle. His desire to run at the French defence and his general leadership saw him finish man of the match.

But Clermont's Parra posted a performance of gritty substance that was more telling in terms of his side's narrow 24-21 win over Saracens.

Scott Spedding may have knocked over the winner at the death. But he was only in the position to do so after Parra kicked six penalties to keep Clermont in the game on an evening when the scrum-half surpassed 500 European points.

Highlights of the Champions Cup round 4 clash between Clermont Auvergne and Saracens

1 Beno Obano (Bath)

Image: Beno Obano scores Bath's first try against Toulon

Bath enjoyed a host of stand-out performances in their 26-21 win over Toulon. Among them, prop Obano who crossed to score in the first minute. That try lit the touch paper on a blistering 80 minutes and Obano knuckled down to the grind thereafter.

2. Tom Dunn (Bath)

Image: Bath hooker Tom Dunn celebrates victory over Toulon

Luke Cowan-Dickie was at the centre of Exeter's high octane first-half performance against Leinster in Dublin. But Bath's Dunn posted some exceptional stats in his side's win over Toulon at the Rec.

The Bath hooker registered an incredible 33 tackles and that appetite for work was part of Bath's winning undercurrent.

It's the second week in a row the hooker has broken the Champions Cup record for tackles in a game having made 31 away at Toulon.

3. Tadhg Furlong (Leinster)

Image: Leinster's Tadhg Furlong was in defiant form against Exeter

Trailing 17-3 to Exeter and with Cian Healy and Scott Fardy serving terms in the sin-bin, Leinster needed the kind of solid anchor to give them a footing in the game that their international tighthead has so often provided in the past.

When the chips were down the Leinster number 3 proved defiant.

4 Bradley Davies (Ospreys)

Image: Bradley Davies of Ospreys helped provided the ballast that paved the way to victory over Northampton

The Ospreys posted back-to-back winning bonus-point performances in the Champions Cup after their double over a dispirited Northampton on Sunday.

The Saints were without some of their front-liners, Dylan Hartley and Courtney Lawes among them.

But Davies' experience, alongside Alun Wynn Jones provided the necessary ballast for a team now in contention for a quarter-final spot following their 32-15 win.

Highlights of the Champions Cup round 4 clash between Ospreys and Northampton Saints

5. Charlie Ewels (Bath)

Image: Charlie Ewels' 22 tackles made was the second highest tackle count of any player against Toulon

A remarkable 11 players in the Bath squad made it into double figures with their tackle-count against Toulon at the Rec, and second-row Ewels registered 22, second only in the charts to Tom Dunn's count of 33.

6 Peter O'Mahoney (Munster)

Image: Munster's Peter O'Mahony who made two crucial lineout steals against Leicester

The Munster captain was totemic yet again, delivering the kind of performance that makes him feel indispensable to his side in their 26-15 win over Leicester at Welford Road.

O'Mahoney made two crucial lineout steals at vital times and was an inspirational presence throughout. It was the kind of abrasive display that has become O'Mahony's calling card.

7. Francois Louw (Bath)

Image: Francois Louw returned from international duty with South Africa to deliver a man-of-the-match performance against Toulon

Justin Tipuric's high energy link-play stood out for the Ospreys, but considering Bath were without the back-row skills of Taulupe Faletau against Toulon, the performance of Bath's Francois Louw was even more notable.

The South African thwarted the French time and again at the breakdown, particularly in the second-half when he delivered a man-of-the-match game-winning performance.

8 CJ Stander (Munster)

Image: CJ Stander made 19 carries for 42 metres gained in Munster's win over Leicester

Nathan Hughes delivered another physical display from the back of the scrum in what has been a standout season so far for the 26-year old.

But Munster's CJ Stander proved immense when the game was in the fire against Leicester in Welford Road.

On a wet night when every metre gained represented some small victory, Stander maintained Munster's momentum with 19 carries for 42 metres gained.

Among his highlights was a crucial turnover in the game's closing stages.

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