Planetrugby.com's Team of Round 5

Heineken Cup: Team of Round 5

16th January 2012 12:02

Now that the dust has settled across Europe, Planet Rugby thought it was only right to hand out some praise to the stars of Heineken Cup, Round 5.

Some cracking games thrilled spectators over the weekend as the Ospreys, Ulster and Edinburgh started things off before Montpellier, Northampton, Cardiff Blues, Clermont, Munster, Harlequins and Toulouse also won. Sunday finished with positive results for both Leinster and Saracens, who join Munster as the early qualifiers for the last-eight.

So without further ado, here comes our offering - be sure to send in your own 15-1 team line-ups.

Team of Round 5

15 Alex Goode (Saracens) - Ben Foden was jotted down onto a scrap of paper on Sunday before Goode put in a impressively assured performance at the back. Not making errors will be a massive part of who prevails in this season's competition and the Saxon mixed efficiency with class. A mention for Mike Brown, Leigh Halfpenny, after he kicked extremely well from distance, and finally Liam Williams of the Scarlets.

14 Andrew Trimble (Ulster) - Another top performance that saw him go in for two tries on Friday. Many have been calling for Trimble to become a permanent fixture in the Ireland line-up for some time now and one hopes it doesn't fall on deaf ears going into February.

13 Matt Hopper (Harlequins) - If ever there was an advert for looking at players from the Championship rather than going abroad then Hopper is it. The former Cornish Pirate has been superb for Quins all term and has taken to Heineken Cup rugby like a duck to water.

12 Ashley Beck (Ospreys) - Immediate mention for Paddy Wallace, who returned to the Ulster line-up in good form alongside the equally impressive Darren Cave. However, for his man-of-the-match in Swansea, Beck is our man as the argument continues about whether he is Wales material.

11 Sitiveni Sivivatu (Clermont) - He has taken a couple of games to settle in yellow but was back on top form last weekend with a man-of-the-match showing that saw him claim three. With Julien Malzieu also going in for three and Lee Byrne two, Clermont's back-three was on fire.

10 Phil Godman (Edinburgh) - A tough call as a handful of number tens played well but did not set the world alight. Stephen Myler from Saints kicked strongly while Brock James directed well in Clermont's easy win in Monza. But we go for Godman who dropped a critical late goal.

9 Ruan Pienaar (Ulster) - Calls for Pienaar to take over the kicking duties from Ian Humphreys have been mooted over recent weeks and the South African repaid the faith shown in him on Friday against Leicester. As Goode was for Saracens at 15, Pienaar is such a cool customer at the base. Quality player.

8 Pedrie Wannenburg (Ulster) - From a former Shark to an ex Bull. Wannenburg was man-of-the-match in that dominant 80-minute effort from Ulster, passing fitness tests late in the day to give everything to the Ravenhill cause. One other number eight worth a mention has to be Northampton Saint Roger Wilson.

7 Chris Henry (Ulster) - Our final representative from the men wearing white claims the jersey from Cardiff Blues try-scorer Sam Warburton. Henry was a constant threat to Leicester in both defence and attack and formed what is arguably looking like one of the strongest back-row trios in the competition.

6 Alexandre Lapandry (Clermont) - While we will expect the abuse over who the French giants were up against, it is hard not to be impressed by how they dominated matters so easily against Aironi. A brace from Lapandry before he rested his legs was a top day at the office that saw him pip Stephen Ferris.

5 Al Kellock (Glasgow) - The Warriors captain was superb alongside young Richie Gray in what is a well-balanced lock partnership of strength, skill and speed. Gray didn't quite make the cut in our XV due to a certain Bath man's continued strong season, but Kellock did. Immense from the carrying forward.

4 Ryan Caldwell (Bath) - Former Ulster second-row Caldwell has proved to be an inspired signing since day one at the Recreation Ground. Much like Kellock, Caldwell gets through an impressive shift in attack for his club and two tries were his reward out in Montpellier. Mention for Munster lock Donnacha Ryan.

3 James Johnston (Harlequins) - The brother of Census seems to be catching his sibling's reputation week by week after another strong showing. Gloucester were his victims on Saturday and his man-of-the-match award meant he saw off John Afoa, who himself is enjoying an extended honeymoon in an Ulster shirt.

2 Sean Cronin (Leinster) - Few hookers put their hand up over Round 5 and we even got to the stage of almost naming a replacement at number two after how Ken Owens played when coming off the bench against Northampton. But from one hooker to another, we go for Frank Sheahan's official man-of-the-match call.

1 Allan Jacobsen (Edinburgh) - 'Chunk' has been there or thereabouts in almost every game of Heineken Cup 2011/12 and did not buck that trend on Friday. Two challengers came from Ulster, in the sizeable shape of Tom Court, and Leinster, as Cian Healy enjoyed a run in the side ahead of Heinke van der Merwe.

Thought this was looking sensible until I got to (good)Godman - a winning DG (a la ROG) does not immediately qualify a player for TofW!!

Pienaar, Wannenburg, Trimble and Henry in the team- Wallace, Court, Afoa and Ferris honourable mentions!

That'll do pig

Notch, bear in mind that the guy that usually selects the side bears the surname Kyriacou - no link, I'm sure

4 Players who wont play in the Six Nations...!

Good list of deserved candidates. Well Done Ulster, really clicked on Friday.

I personally love how Munster get through so much with so little and do it all in secret.

Read that how you will

Personally I thought Toner was the best 2nd row on the pitch yesterday. Can't argue with many of the other selections as i only saw 3 games this weekend. All Ulster players in there well worth their spot.

Double post. Ignore.

Worth repeating, Mick

Mickado wrote:Personally I thought Toner was the best 2nd row on the pitch yesterday. Can't argue with many of the other selections as i only saw 3 games this weekend. All Ulster players in there well worth their spot.

Better than Cullen most certainly, but Kellock and Gray (in particular) were outstanding around the park. It was as well as I've seen Toner play for a while, but Richie Gray was immense.

I thought Donnacha Ryan produced the best performance of his career on Saturday...well that I've seen anyway. He was colossal for Munster, overshadowing even the great man.

roddersm wrote:I thought Donnacha Ryan produced the best performance of his career on Saturday...well that I've seen anyway. He was colossal for Munster, overshadowing even the great man.

One of Munster's 5 from 5 secrets Good man, Rodders.

SecretFly wrote:

roddersm wrote:I thought Donnacha Ryan produced the best performance of his career on Saturday...well that I've seen anyway. He was colossal for Munster, overshadowing even the great man.

One of Munster's 5 from 5 secrets Good man, Rodders.

Have to agree great player in the form of his life...

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Notch, bear in mind that the guy that usually selects the side bears the surname Kyriacou - no link, I'm sure

Actually it's our hookers brother!

I'm surprised so many Clermont boys got in there from their training run on the weekend. I know they got a massive scoreline, but to me it sounds like the weakest team in the comp capitulated.

Also surprised by Goode at 15, he's looked pretty switched on but also slower then I remeber, maybe put on a bit too much muscle.

Full back of the weekend for me was between Ulsters (forgot the name) and Foden.

Stefan Terblanche?

Ha ha are you serious Notch?

Notch wrote:

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:Notch, bear in mind that the guy that usually selects the side bears the surname Kyriacou - no link, I'm sure

Actually it's our hookers brother!

I know!