Monday 26 March 2018 12:04, UK
After the intense Six Nations Championship, domestic rugby returned with a bang in the northern hemisphere and the Super Rugby season continued in earnest.
Key performers from all of the domestic leagues make up our team of the week, so check out our full XV below and have your say on the player that you think made the greatest contribution to the weekend's rugby...
15. Jordie Barrett (Hurricanes)
We start our team of the week with a full-back selection from Super Rugby.
Together both Barrett brothers had a telling influence on the encounter and the younger Jordie looked sharp throughout.
Not only did the full-back knock over a 51-metre penalty, he threatened continually and created Vince Aso's 65th-minute try.
A word here too for Toulon's Chris Ashton after he scored his 21st try of the season and as a result drew level with Napolioni Nalaga's Top 14 season record. Highly impressive work from the 30-year-old.
14. Vereniki Goneva (Newcastle Falcons)
On a significant day for Newcastle Falcons, Vereniki Goneva's 21st-minute try, and his celebration, will not be forgotten for a while.
Goneva wriggled his way out of the ruck and ran over the line unopposed. There's no question that he'll score more challenging tries this season but his celebration won't get any better.
The winger dotted the ball down and continued his run towards the corner flag with this right arm aloft, saluting the St James' Park crowd in an ode to Alan Shearer.
In a special black and white striped kit, with the My Name'5 Doddie Foundation on the front, it was an outstanding moment during Falcons' 12th victory of the domestic season.
Next stop for Dean Richards' side is a meeting with Brive in the European Rugby Challenge Cup quarter-finals on Friday night, a match you can see live on Sky Sports Action from 7.30pm.
13. Malakai Fekitoa (RC Toulon)
Toulon warmed up for their European Rugby Champions Cup quarter-final at Munster by thumping fellow quarter-finalists ASM Clermont Auvergne 49-0 in the Top 14.
Our team of the week's midfield includes both Toulon centres because both were excellent individually and as a unit.
Fekitoa scored two of the side's seven tries and looked firmly at home in a team that are turning up the heat, match by match.
12. Mathieu Bastareaud (RC Toulon)
RC Toulon's captain imposed himself on the game from the opening moments.
He delivered his trademark bulldozing runs along with the deft hands that we've seen plenty of recently.
On a day that Clermont will wish to forget, they struggled to contain Bastareaud's physicality and with so many threats around him the centre enjoyed himself.
He set up two of their early tries, first releasing Eric Escande, before sending Ashton on his way for the back's record-equalling score.
11. DTH van der Merwe (Glasgow Warriors)
At Scotstoun Stadium, Dave Rennie's side were ruthless in attack and scored 10 tries in a 68-7 rout of Zebre.
It took returning international van der Merwe just eight minutes to get back on the board for the Warriors. Adam Hastings floated a lofted ball out and the record try-scorer enthusiastically flew over the line.
His second, and Warriors' fourth, came off a well-constructed set move and as a result the winger sliced through the middle of the Italians' line like a knife through butter.
10. Damian McKenzie (Chiefs)
Fly-half was a hotly-contested position this week with a number of individuals stating strong cases for our jersey.
Jarrod Evans' man-of-the-match performance for Cardiff Blues, Barrett's work for the Hurricanes and Toby Flood's 20-point haul at St James' Park being just three of those cases.
However, our 10 jersey goes to Damian McKenzie who was sensational during the Chiefs' 61-10 win over the Sunwolves.
In short, it was a masterclass from McKenzie and a class that included breaks, delightful passes, chip kicks and a try as he dominated the game.
The 22-year-old combined with his brother for the Chiefs' first of nine scores and after a stunning 80 minutes he finished with a personal points tally of 26!
9. Tomos Williams (Cardiff Blues)
At Cardiff Arms Park, the Blues recorded their ninth win in 11 matches in all competitions and their scrum-half was a livewire throughout.
Williams kept the Blues' tempo high from start to finish and provided rapid service out from the breakdown throughout.
He created Blaine Scully's try with a wonderful overhead pass and would have had five-pointer of his own, had it not been for the TMO spotting a forward pass in the build-up.
1. Dave Kilcoyne (Munster)
At Thomond Park, Munster's pack helped the Irish province get themselves out of a hole against the Scarlets.
The Welsh region dominated the opening quarter and played the game at a million miles an hour. However, the home side were able to claw it back largely through their pack's productivity.
From the loose-head side Kilcoyne helped to ensure a 100 per cent success rate at their own scrum and contributed to the considerable pressure put on the Scarlets' set piece.
The strength of that platform set James Hart on his way for Munster's first try and in all Kilcoyne's shift was a powerful one.
A word too for the impact of Ellis Genge on his return to action - his 28-minute appearance off the bench was a barnstorming one. Genge's introduction was a key factor in Leicester's victory over Wasps as he helped to turn the screw at scrum time.
2. Quentin Lespiaucq (Pau)
Over in the TOP14, while Bismarck Du Plessis delivered a brace for Montpellier, Quentin Lespiaucq gets the nod for his performance against Oyonnax.
Pau have won seven of their eight encounters since the turn of the year and are going into a home Challenge Cup quarter-final in fine fettle.
On Saturday, they did the damage in the first 40 minutes by putting four tries on the board and Lespiaucq scored their third. The hooker was busy around the park making 11 tackles, 68 metres and 11 carries during the course of the game.
3. Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
As previously mentioned Genge arrived onto the field in the second-half at Welford Road and the man that spent 70 minutes in the front row, Dan Cole, also put in a shift.
In the 68th minute, the prop was still packing in the power as he, and his pack, rumbled their visitors off the ball at their own put in.
It was reminiscent of Leicester in their pomp and once again the Tigers are timing their surge for the end of season play-offs perfectly.
4. Maro Itoje (Saracens)
In front of a packed house at the London Stadium, Saracens' lock delivered a performance that was hailed as 'brilliant' by his Director of Rugby Mark McCall.
After 31 minutes, the 23-year-old caught Harlequins off guard and scored his first try of the Aviva Premiership season.
The lock burst through the clutches of two Quins defenders and then couldn't be caught as he went through the gears.
He made 44 metres off seven carries, an average gain of 6.3, and that rate was only bettered by three members of his side's back line.
5. Tyler Ardron (Chiefs)
Partnering Itoje in the second-row is a lock who made a staggering 124 of his side's 689 metres during his first start for his Super Rugby franchise.
After just four minutes he scored their opening try from close range and was ever-present in support as they struck from all over the park.
The Canadian international particularly excelled in the build-up to their 52nd minute try as he broke from inside his own 22 and was halted just short of the same spot at the other end of the field.
6. Pablo Matera (Los Jaguares)
Los Jaguares' flanker led his side to victory in an 84-point thriller against the Lions at the Estadio José Amalfitani Stadium.
Matera set up Bautista Delguy after just 44 seconds and went from there.
It was a captain's knock from the flanker who was his side's top carrier and joint top tackler. Alongside those stats, his leadership helped them to navigate their way through the high-scoring encounter.
7. Justin Tipuric (Ospreys)
At the Liberty Stadium, a man who will shortly be heading off to the Commonwealth Games shone.
The flanker was instrumental in their first score as he showcased the type of pace that will come in handy on the Gold Coast.
The 28-year-old released Hanno Dirkson who in turn found try-scorer Dan Evans.
Not only did the pace of Tipuric impress, his outstanding work-rate could have fooled you into thinking there was more than one of him on the field!
The flanker combined excellent work in the loose with a solid set piece and breakdown efficiency. He'll certainly be missed by his region while he's away with the Team Wales sevens side.
8 Robin Copeland (Munster)
At Thomond Park, Robin Copeland picked yet another man-of-the-match award after he put in a determined performance for the Irish province.
The No 8's 48th-minute try highlighted his immense power and the build-up to the score started from his turnover back on his own 22.
Copeland notched up 10 tackles, two turnovers and six carries as the Irish province powered their way to victory. Next, Toulon await in the Champions Cup and you can see that match on Saturday live on Sky Sports Action.
