Monday 24 October 2016 15:21, UK
Munster dominate this week after their emotional 38-17 win over Glasgow at Thomond Park on Saturday.
The game started with beautiful tributes to Munster head coach Anthony Foley, who died in Paris last weekend hours before the Irish province's scheduled Champions Cup opener against Racing 92, which was subsequently postponed.
Players and fans from both teams played their part on a day that will live long in the memory as they delivered a fitting tribute to Foley.
Tributes were paid before the kick-off, including renditions of 'There is an Isle' and 'Stand Up and Fight' - the rousing songs of Foley's beloved Shannon RFC and Munster - as well as an impeccably observed minute's silence and the West Stand supporters holding up cards to poignantly display his nickname, 'Axel', and shirt number, '8'.
15. Simon Zebo (Munster)
Zebo was overcome with emotion in the build-up to the game but managed to channel that into a superb performance. He finished off an excellent try after a mid-field break from Rory Scanell, and showed his pace and awareness to get over despite plenty of attention from the Glasgow defence. Saracens' Alex Goode just misses out.
14. Nemani Nadolo (Montpellier)
Nadolo played in the No 11 jersey against Leinster, but quite frankly, you could stick him anywhere in the backline and possibly in the back row, too.
The Fijian scored a brace - the first when he went through Rob Kearney and Luke McGrath and the second when he intercepted Jamie Heaslip's pass to dive over. He also showed some lovely offloads and some massive tackles - just ask Heaslip.
13. Anton Lienert-Brown (New Zealand)
A mention from Montpellier's Frans Steyn, who showed some lovely touches in their win over Northampton, but once again we could not ignore Lienert-Brown. The centre scored a superb try for the All Blacks to really douse some of the Wallaby passion and was integral as New Zealand set a record with 18 successive Test victories at Eden Park.
12. Nick Tompkins (Saracens)
Tomkins turned up at Allianz Park as a spectator and ended up replacing an injured Brad Barritt. He showed why he is so highly rated with a real attacking performance that added another dimension to Sarries' attack - and he didn't shy away from defensive duties either.
11. David Smith (Castres)
A cracking game from Smith, who was at his rampant best. He made the most of the platform his forwards carved out for him and it was nice to see the French side looking to ship the ball wide. Smith scored two brilliant tries and set one up for replacement flanker Alexandre Bias. He just pips Ulster's Charles Piutau, who was very good against Exeter.
10. Tyler Bleyendaal (Munster)
A wonderful performance from Bleyendaal that on a sad day got a smile of appreciation from Ronan O'Gara. The New Zealander scored a wonderful try and set up their second. He also showed some lovely touches and produced a flawless kicking display as well. A special mention to Owen Farrell, who was excellent for Saracens.
9. Conor Murray (Munster)
Murray played a huge part in channeling that wave of emotion that at times threatened to - and in Keith Earls' case did - boil over. He urged his forwards on in the loose and used the quality ball they won to release his backs.
1. Mako Vunipola (Saracens)
We got a bit of grief for leaving Mako out of last week's team - and he obviously wasn't happy about it either. A storming performance from him His scrumming was superb and his ball-carrying and defence was once again excellent. He even threw in a dummy on his way to the try line.
2. Rory Best (Ulster)
Ulster had to win this game to stay in the competition after last week's loss to Bordeaux-Begles and their forwards really stood up against Exeter. It was not a classic by any stretch of the imagination but they rolled their sleeves up when the rain came down. Best took the game to the Chiefs and won the arm wrestle upfront.
3. David Kilcoyne (Munster)
A magnificent performance from the prop who not only dominated at the set-piece but carried time and time again to get Munster rolling forward.
4. Donnacha Ryan (Munster)
Ryan carried with some serious intent on Saturday against Glasgow and always got over the gain line. He looked for contact at every opportunity and his physicality was once of the reasons Munster were winning the collisions. Ryan and Billy Holland were powerhouses at scrum-time, too.
5. Mamuka Gorgodze (Toulon)
A man-of-the-match performance from the Georgian giant. Toulon were far from their best but Gorgodze was excellent with ball in hand as he broke through tackles and carried very well. His break from the ruck set up the try for Charles Ollivon.
6. Peter O'Mahony (Munster)
O'Mahony claimed earlier in the week he could not do the memory of Foley justice in the press conference, but he certainly did so on the field. O'Mahony led from the front with a controlled aggression that Glasgow could just not live with. He bossed the collisions and was ferocious in defence.
7. Matt Todd (New Zealand)
Todd stole a lot of ball and carried well too. Australia had a lot of possession and territory, but Todd turned over the ball at crucial stages to stop their momentum. He also put in a shed load of tackles.
24. CJ Stander (Munster)
Nathan Hughes was right up there for Wasps, as was Kieran Read for the All Blacks, but it was Stander who gets the nod this week. In honour of Foley, Munster stood down the No 8 jersey and Stander wore the No 24 jersey. A tough game for Stander but he produced the goods with 16 carries and ten tackles.
