Team of the HEC Weekend according to Planet Rugby

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Team of Round Three:

15 Delon Armitage (London Irish) - It didn't long for the England full-back to find his feet on his return to the Exiles back three, attacking from all over the park and sowing panic in the Racing-Métro ranks. He also chipped in the with penalty. It was a tough choice as Mike Brown had another cracking game for Harlequins, scoring their only try, while Romain Teulet was influential for Castres.

14 Romain Martial (Castres) - In his first start of the season, 104kg Martial was simply outstanding, giving the decisive pass for Steve Malonga's opening score before touching down twice himself. Solid in defence, he was a worthy Man of the Match.

13 Ashley Beck (Ospreys) - Although he started with a 12 on his back, we felt obliged to find a place for the 21-year-old. (There weren't really any 13s that stood out either). Beck was the star of the show for Ospreys at Wembley, scoring two tries as the visitors claimed a crucial losing bonus point.

12 Wesley Fofana (Clermont) - The talk of the town in Clermont-Ferrand, and many other parts of Europe for that matter, Fofana makes our team for the second consecutive week. Immovable on defence and the author of two tries, the Man of the Match in Sunday's big game is being tipped as a international debutant during the Six Nations.

11 Timoci Matanavou (Toulouse) - Despite a glitch or two in defence, the Toulouse flyer showed off all the skills of a born finisher. He has now scored a third of all Toulouse's tries in all competitions this season! Yet another try-scoring Fijian wing...do they have a factory for these guys in the South Pacific? We'll soon find out just how important Adam Thompstone's late intercept try (his second of the match) will prove as it gave the London Irish an unexpected but crucial bonus-point on top of their victory in Paris.

10 Jonathan Sexton (Leinster) - Six penalties from the Man of the Match saw Leinster maintain their unbeaten run in Bath. Sexton controlled the game well and made sure his forwards' work in a bruising encounter was not for naught. Once again, Luke McAlister impressed for Toulouse.

9 Danny Care (Harlequins) - Probably the toughest choice of all this week. He might have been on a losing team but Care caught the eye with his decision making and initiative. His passing was accurate and he never stopped trying to find a crack in the Toulouse defence. Likewise, Ben Youngs stood out in difficult cicumstances for Leicester. His opposite number Morgan Parra also had a huge influence in les Jaunard's win.

8 Louis Picamoles (Toulouse) - One of the easiest picks this week, Picamoles was breathtaking, smashing everything in his path and often showing the skills to offload rather than just go to ground when he was eventually pulled down.

7 Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse) - We've come to expect so much from France's captain that he sometimes doesn't get the kudos he deserves. Omnipresent at the Stoop, his tireless graft did not go unnoticed this time. He gave an wonderful off-load for Matanavou's first try.

6 Stephen Ferris (Ulster) The Man of the Match at Ravenhill, Ferris put in a yet another impressive, try-scoring performance in the white jersey, showing off his power for the first score of the night. A mention too for Clermont's hyperactive flank Gerhard Vosloo, who produced his best performance since arriving in the Auvergne a few months ago.

5 Jim Hamilton (Gloucester) - In difficult conditions in Galway, Gloucester were made to fight tooth and nail to get the better of Connacht. Second row Hamilton was consistently in the front lines of the battle. A deserved Man of the Match award for the Scotland international.


4 Paul O'Connell (Munster) - He may be 32, but, like Ronan O'Gara, POC is still a key part of the Munster side. Another Man of the Match performance made our choice easy.


3 Martin Castrogiovanni (Leicester) - Not much went right for Tigers on Sunday, but at least the visitors' scrum was dominant thanks in no small part to Castro doing, well, what Castro does best. You can't put a price on his experience at Europe's highest level. A mention too for Munster's BJ Botha.


2 Schalk Brits (Saracens) - Wow, hookers aren't supposed to have great hands but that reverse pass to set up Chris Wyles's try was out of the top draw. He didn't look too chuffed when he was brought off after 55 minutes, but it's perhaps a measure of his importance to the Sarries cause that he was conserved for the return leg in Wales. Dylan Hartley provided a silver lining to a dark day for Saints.


1 Michele Rizzo (Treviso) - Treviso's front row had a great day against Biarritz - especially at scrum time - and Rizzo got on the scorecard for the second time in as many appearances. Try-scoring Saracens loosehead Rhys Gill also had a strong game.

very good Don. That was only in the last ten mins. The rest of the game he was very good (including discipline) and that's a Tigers fan saying that (we don't like to praise the Bath lot, gives them ideas). To be fair the first of the penalties was a bit unlucky where as the second was just a tired player getting up from a ruck and sticking and trying to make a tackle as a player went past (he was offside).

It was just the way it was wriiten - couldn't resist a bit of stirring.

But these lists should usually more honestly refer to the Team of the Week of the Televised HEC.

I thought Ospreys best player was their no 15. Beck is getting all the glory for his tries but one was a very fortunate ricochet off Hodgson whereas his other try was scored against 13 men (Hodgson was on the floor injured and Farrell sin binned).

That number 15 I think it was Fussell deserves more plaudits.

Agree that Fussell had a good game. I've never really rated him before, but he impressed last weekend.

Niall Ronan had a brilliant game at 7 for Munster against the Scarlets. He or BJ Botha should have been motm IMO. Damien Varley had a great game at Hooker too.

Actually Beck's try was set up by himself with a grubber wich then ricochet off hodgson where he then handed off and outsprint the rest of the defence.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Louw over Ferris? Really?.

Louw did have a cracking game against one of the best backrows going (Leinster's) and only blotted his copy book by giving away two penalties and getting sin binned late on. Other than that he was a thorn in Leinster's side all game. Where as Ferris was up against the ferrocity of .... erm Arioni? Now Arioni aren't the push overs they used to be and I know you Irish boys go a bit weak at the knees when Ferris is mentioned but Louw clearly had the tougher challenge.

I partly agree that he may have had the tougher challenge, but Ferris still scored a try and has been on exceptional form lately. Louw gave away 2 penalties and was sin binned late on. I think it is obvious which player played better, but if it is only the opposition that matters when it comes to how well you play, then I suppose you could say Louw. I think that is a strange way to judge a performance however.

Louw played well but blew it in the end. So I wouldn't put him in the team. I wouldn't have O'Brien either despite being great for most of the game. The butchering of a 4 on 1 was just to bad.

6 Ferris
7 Ronan
8 Heaslip

.....

Sorry rodders but not this time, Picamoles was way too good to leave out at 8. Did you catch him play?

No I didnt Rory. I only managed to catch the Munster and Leinster games hence my back row ......Ferris gets an automatic pick at 6

Understandable! Well you would have enjoyed watching Picamoles I think.. he did quite a few incredible runs knocking defender after defender to the ground. Really impressed by him! The french backrow this year is going to be very dangerous.. especially with the young guy coming through who looks like Harinordoquy mk II.. unfortunately I have forgotten his name *facepalm*

but if it is only the opposition that matters when it comes to how well you play, then I suppose you could say Louw. I think that is a strange way to judge a performance however

Well both clearly played well. It was just a mention as to a way to split them, both played well for their teams but Ferris pulled it off against arguabley the worst team in the tournament where as Louw but in his performance against the reigning champs. Adds context to the overall performance.

but Ferris still scored a try and has been on exceptional form lately

What has current form got to do with a one off performance? He could have been dire all season but played a blinder at the weekend and hence deserved a spot in team of the weekend.

Including that game in which he scored a try then

The only people fit to judge are those who saw the performances of both Ferris and Louw.

Which basically comes down to a bunch of Ulster fans who were at Ravenhill on Friday, who also have the time to watch full HEC games not involving Ulster on the TV.

Ferris was better in all honesty. Of course playing against aironi might be easier but if you want to know who was the most impressive 6 between those two there is only one answer.

SOB was good but i agree with Feckless that 4 on 1 was so bad he couldnt be considered.