Team of the Week

Our last weekend focused on domestic rugby until the end of March was an interesting one. With no Premiership or Pro 12 we were given the two French divisions and the Anglo-Welsh cup to pine over, with no players coming from the Championship. Thankfully there were plenty of decent performances to put together a respectable side. Next week, the return of the Americas Rugby Championship!

1 – Eric Fry (Vannes) Can hold his head high after making a positive impression as an early second half replacement in the loss to Dax. Held his own in the scrum and notched his second try of the season on a pick-and-go from close range.

2 – Joe Taufete’e (Worcester) Driven over at the back of a maul for this first try in European rugby. Has started his overseas adventure with a bang and is now nominated for Warriors player of the month. Great news indeed for Eagles fans.

3 – Jerónimo Negrotto (Mont-de-Marsan) Piled into the Montauban forwards in a support role and rock solid in the scrums. Part of a complete dominant Montois pack that earned a vital five-point victory that knocked Montauban off the top of the table.

4 – Jamie Cudmore (Oyonnax) Le capitaine led from the front as his side crushed Albi to move into pole position in the Pro D2, two points shy of Agen. In the middle of a ruthless pack effort that ground les Albigeois into submission.

5 – Rodrigo Capó Ortega (Castres) Not as prominent as a week ago but still a commanding presence up front in the big win over Montpellier. Helped drive the scrum forward and a nuisance in the trench battles that featured throughout.

6 – Evan Olmstead (Newcastle) No complaints about the appalling conditions at Rodney Parade, the big Canadian just put on the boots and got stuck in. Played at second row but with a few options there we’ve bumped him to the blindside.

7 – Martín Chiappesoni (Dax) Asked to play a tighter role than usual in the soft ground at the Stade de la Rabine. Put in a typical 80-minute performance with numerous tackles and strong presence at the lineout.

8 – Samu Manoa (Toulon) Not the blockbusting display we’re used to nor the result Manoa would have wanted, but a solid performance nonetheless from the Eagles star. Smashed into the breakdown and defended well.

9 – Agustín Ormaechea (Mont-de-Marsan) High tempo service kept his team moving forward as they shocked Montauban with a classic performance at home. First half try put the game virtually out of reach before the break.

10 – Sebastián Poet (Charente) Landed all 12 of his team’s points in a losing effort at home. Could only watch in frustration as Tim Giresse raced away untouched down the sidelines in the 76th minute to steal the win for Biarritz.

11 – Taylor Paris (Agen) Looks to be back in his groove having fully shaken off his knee complaints. His best performance of the season saw him create one try and break through for another, amazingly his first domestic try since early 2015. Now set to thrill in the ARC, though likely only for a couple games.

12 – Juan Pablo Socino (Newcastle) Not a game for the fancy blokes out wide with mud up to the ankles and a totally waterlogged pitch. At least he knew what his options were. Defended well and executed with precision when it was on.

13 – Horacio Agulla (Castres) Didn’t get on the score-sheet like brother Belisario, but created two scores with a lovely offload from the deck and an incisive run up the middle that put Rory Kockott away. Played on the wing but we’ve drafted him into the midfield on account of his passing display.

14 – Takudzwa Ngwenya (Brive) Outstanding in a losing cause against Bayonne. Miraculous cover tackle dislodged the ball to prevent a certain try early on, and his brilliant running was finally rewarded with a consolation try on full-time.

15 – Martín Bustos Moyano (Bayonne) Johnny on the spot to pick up a loose ball in-goal to score late in the game against Brive. Played very well overall especially considering it was his first game back from a three-month injury-enforced absence.