Tuesday 11 April 2017 16:03, UK
After an action-packed weekend during which the weather also played ball, our team of the week houses representatives from Super Rugby, TOP14, Guinness PRO12 and the Aviva Premiership.
While the Stormers and Chiefs were embroiled in a Super Rugby match that was one of the games of the season, we also saw high-tempo clashes across all of the other competitions.
With the days ticking by before Warren Gatland names his British & Irish Lions squad on April 19, he's sure to have taken note of some of the big performances as the competition for tour spots hots up.
15. Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
The Chiefs may have lost against the Stormers but they played their part in a thrilling contest, and in-form full-back Damian McKenzie turned heads.
McKenzie was the one to start 'that' try and was instrumental in the early throws of its build-up.
A short time later, just before the half-hour mark, his searing break through the middle of the park created Toni Pulu's second score.
The 21-year-old made 132 metres, beat four defenders and showed his work rate with 16 carries.
In all, it was a great performance in a game that won't be forgotten for a while.
14. Toni Pulu (Chiefs)
Another that played a key part in the Chiefs' afternoon was winger Toni Pulu.
He's entering only his second season with the outfit but looks right at home. Pulu's support lines were on the money and he coupled them with blistering pace.
The winger had the honour of finishing the Chiefs' sensational team try and completed McKenzie's break to achieve the brace. In short, it was impressive work on his return from a hamstring injury.
13. Julien Fumat (Pau)
In Paris, Pau pushed Racing 92 all the way to the final whistle as they scored four second-half tries.
Pau were 8-34 down before they turned it up a gear and when they did Fumat was punching holes in Racing's defence left, right and centre.
In total, the back made 13 carries, beat five defenders and notched up 94 metres, however Pau were left to wonder what could have been had they started a little quicker in Paris.
12. Ma'a Nonu (Toulon)
In Marseille, Richard Cockerill's tenure as head coach of Toulon started with a victory as his side navigated themselves past Toulouse.
During an undulating season, Ma'a Nonu's power has been a constant and once again he provided the energy and spark needed.
Nonu's try on 66 minutes was a piece of individual class that saw him cut the field in half and then cut a great angle to deliver the five points.
Throughout, he looked hungry for work and will be key as the TOP14 moves into the business end of proceedings.
11. Dillyn Leyds (Stormers)
Before this weekend, the name Dillyn Leyds wasn't perhaps universally known, but his moment of brilliance in the 51st minute against the Chiefs changed that.
Rightly so, the brilliance has flown across social media and there are now rugby players everywhere, young and old, looking to 'do a Leyds'.
Aside from that, the winger's statistics weren't quite as dramatic as he beat one defender and made seven carries but for that pure moment of genius he takes a spot in our team of the week.
10. George Ford (Bath)
Despite a slow start, Bath's big day at Twickenham Stadium finished positively and their fly-half had an extremely assured outing.
The dynamic for both George Ford and Freddie Burns must have been a strange one yet they each handled it superbly and Ford in particular showcased his all-round game.
The fly-half opened his box of attacking tricks and used his first-class decision-making skills to select the right ones at the right times.
His goal-kicking was decent at 5/6 and that included a couple of challenging conversions from out wide.
At the home of England rugby, Ford showed what a consummate professional and talented fly-half he is and Bath kept their play-off ambitions alive.
9. Rhys Webb (Ospreys)
While it proved to be a disappointing afternoon for the Ospreys, Rhys Webb was one of the players that continued to show good personal form for the region.
Webb's distribution was on point throughout at the Liberty Stadium and as the audio showcases, he lead his players well.
It was the scrum-half's snipe that got them to within inches before Justin Tipuric did the rest and the half-back's form continues to stay strong despite the results not going Ospreys' way.
1. Matt Mullan (Wasps)
Wasps left it late, very late and it was thanks to prop Matt Mullan that they cemented their place at the top of the Aviva Premiership.
Inside the ground, the try-scoring plaudits were initially given to a player on loan with Wasps - Paul Doran Jones - before Mullan corrected the situation and shared that he was the man at the bottom of the pile.
Elsewhere, the prop put in seven hits without a miss and kept Wasps' set-piece functioning throughout.
2. Sean Cronin (Leinster)
At the Liberty Stadium, Sean Cronin drove Leinster from the front row and scored a try that will take pride of place in his highlights reel.
On 23 minutes, Cronin found himself out wide and did not disappoint.
The ball shifted from Joey Carbery to Robbie Henshaw, who fixed a couple of defenders and offloaded to Cronin.
The prop then stepped on the gas and cut in-field, leaving Dan Biggar clutching at thin air.
Cronin also had a hand in the side's second try, and when he left the field after 55 minutes it had been a solid shift on all fronts.
3. Ben Tameifuna (Racing 92)
Another forward that showed his all-round game was Racing 92's Ben Tameifuna.
With temperatures soaring in Paris, you'd think it perhaps wasn't going to be a fun day for the 134kg prop, yet he looked like he enjoyed himself at the Stade Yves-Du-Manoir.
In an open game, Tameifuna embraced both sides' joué, joué and set up Juan Imhoff in style.
Mid-way through the first half, Tameifuna charged menacingly forwards and at full pace flicked a deft offload to Imhoff.
In the same manner as Sean Cronin, he did his job in the tight as well and on 57 minutes retired to the sidelines to watch the final quartet unfold.
4. Joe Launchbury (Wasps)
The meeting between Wasps and Northampton Saints at the Ricoh Arena delivered no less than eight tries in the sunshine.
Once again Joe Launchbury led the way in terms of his work rate as he made ten carries and was their go-to man in the lineout.
The lock's leadership also came to the fore in a game that Wasps had to win a few times over.
While his block on Luther Burrell saw a try ruled out for Wasps it didn't blot the 25-year-old's copybook hugely as he continues to push himself into British & Irish Lions contention.
5. Leone Nakarawa (Racing 92)
The Parisian sunshine was the perfect place for Leone Nakarawa to show off his outrageous skill-set and he did so as Racing 92 eventually prevailed.
Nakarawa often defies gravity with the quality of the offloads that he makes out of contact and one of their four tries.
The Fijian also made 11 tackles and alongside enjoying that victory he will have been pleased to see his country taking the title at the Hong Kong Sevens.
6. Michael Rhodes (Saracens)
At the home of football, Saracens continued their quest to retain their Premiership title and did so in some style against Harlequins.
Not for the first time, and most definitely not for the last, Michael Rhodes put in a stellar shift that included scoring and setting up a try.
He's an abrasive defender, excellent at the breakdown and lineout and is always a threat in the loose.
Rhodes made 21 tackles and 43 metres on the day and showed exactly why he's one of the first names on Mark McCall's team sheet.
7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys)
Another individual that went about their business well at the Liberty Stadium was Justin Tipuric who continues to remind us of his athleticism and prowess around the park.
Tipuric was rock-solid in defence as he made 12 tackles without missing and added two turnovers taking his tally to 13 so far in the PRO12.
It was the flanker's try on 62 minutes that put the hosts into their promising position but it wasn't to be and they now head to the Principality Stadium for Judgement Day V.
8. Taulupe Faletau (Bath)
The final spot in our team of the week is reserved for Bath's Taulupe Faletau as he lit up the field at Twickenham Stadium.
Faletau's early months at Bath were marred by more injuries than he'd like but on Saturday he was fighting fit and looked like he's getting back to his very best.
The No 8 punched holes in Leicester's defence, distributed out of contact and was a constant threat.
He was a key part of the build-up of their first try and the provider of Anthony Watson's score on 68 minutes.
In short it was a head-turning performance on an important day for Bath and Warren Gatland is likely to have taken note.
