Team of the Week: Champions Cup and Challenge Cup Round 4

Yesterday at 12:18 PM

The fourth round of the 2024/25 Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup is in the books, and the battle lines have been drawn for the knockout stages of the competition. The Round of 16 is steadily filling up within the competitions, with the latest round of action providing all the high stakes thrills and spills of cross-continental rugby.

Here are our picks for the Team of the Week, from the fourth round of the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.

15. Tom de Glanville (Bath)

Ruck reporter Ruben Picardo Ashworth covered Leinster’s win over Bath, and picked out Tom de Glanville as a standout in blue, black and white. “Probably the best Bath player today, scoring twice to help his side stay in the game. Gave great support in the attacks, showing off his clinical finishing and was defensively sound.”

14. Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks)

Ruck’s Sale Sharks Reporter Charlie Elliott was at the Salford Community Stadium, and enjoyed watching Tom Roebuck’s impressive finishing against Toulon. “A couple of tidily finished tries and in general put himself in very advantageous positions multiple times.  Could have had another if he managed to keep the ball under control after a grubber kick out wide.”

13. Robbie Henshaw (Leinster)

“Scoring an early first half brace to get Leinster back into the game, the centre was a standout performer in keeping the Irish sides 100%-win streak going. Henshaw's work rate ended up being too much for the Southwest side to handle.” – Ruben Picardo Ashworth.

12. Bundee Aki (Connacht)

Ruck Reporter Matt Priest was over at the Cardiff Arms Park, for Cardiff’s clash with Connacht in the Challenge Cup. Ireland centre Bundee Aki was a stand out player from the hard fought win for the Irish province. “Aki was in a league of his own tonight, easily the best player on the pitch and instrumental in all of Connacht's tries, a class act and just a joy to watch.”

11. Ange Capuozzo (Toulouse)

As exciting as ever, the enigmatic pocket rocket known as Ange Capuozzo was at his very best in Toulouse’s emphatic win over Leicester Tigers. The 80 point hammering has once again made the six-time Champions Cup winners look like the team to beat in this year’s competition, with two well taken tries from the Italian maestro complementing to his team’s overall impressive triumph.

10. Tomoz Albornoz (Benetton)

After a heartbreaking defeat a week ago at Ashton Gate, the pressure was on Benetton to deliver in their underdog battle against La Rochelle. Argentine international Tomoz Albornoz led the Italian’s attacking line with great aplomb, and orchestrated a stunning game plan that recorded an unexpected 35-26 victory. Sharpshooting off the tee was essential to the success, as the Treviso side defeated Ronan O’Gara’s men.

9. Antoine Dupont (Toulouse)

It took just five minutes for Antoine Dupont to get on the score-sheet, as the French magician led from the front in the desmantling over Leicester Tigers. It was a cool brace of tries from Dupont in his side’s enormous 80-point win, with the Tigers looking down and out every time the scrum half sewed the seeds of another attacking onslaught. Dupont was at his brilliant best, and looks like a terrifying asset for Fabien Galthie to unleash in the 2025 Six Nations.

1. Tarrek Haffar (Northampton Saints)

Down at Franklin’s Gardens for Ruck was reporter Ollie Watson, who was impressed by the efforts of the Saints loose-head, in the green, black and gold’s win over Munster. “Northampton's scrum was solid but Haffar came to play with ball in hand. 14 carries and seemingly from first receiver at times saw the loosehead destruct Munster and give Saints quick ball.”

2. Lucas Martin (Bayonne Aviron)

Turning our attention back to the EPCR Challenge Cup, and hooker Lucas Martin was pivotal in Bayonne’s win over Gloucester. The front row was a hulking presence around the park, and crossed over for a try of his own, to cap of a stunning shift at both the set-piece and in the loose. The Cherry and Whites struggled to contain the Portugese international, who gets the nod for the number two jersey this week.

3. Rabah Slimani (Leinster)

Back over to Ireland, and Ruben Picardo Ashworth highlighted Leinster’s tight-head prop Rabah Slimani as a strong performer in the win over Bath. “The Frenchman was quality in that front row. His strong scrummaging was too much for Bath at times, which helped ease the pressure for his teammates.”

4. Cormac Izuchuckwu (Ulster)

There is an honorable mention in store for Toulouse’s Thibaud Flament, as the lock worked his way over for two tries against Leicester Tigers. However, we give the nod to Ulster’s Cormac Izuchuckwu, who will be pushing for more Ireland minutes in the 2025 Six Nations. The lock scored a stunning hat-trick, in the one-sided hammering of Exeter Chiefs.

5. RG Snyman (Leinster)

Our third and final Leinster entry, with the URC leaders running out an exemplary performance this past weekend. “The South African giant made an incredible impact off the bench. Scoring twice through his dominate carries and enormous reach, the Bath defence was too tired and couldn't handle his strength. He also recycled the ball well and proved himself in the lineouts, as usual.” – Ruben Picardo Ashworth

6.  Chandler Cunningham-South (Harlequins)

Down at the Stoop was Ruck Reporter Paul Wilkinson; “When CCS turns it on, it appears he's unstoppable. The former London Irishman has struggled to get into the Quins team recently owing to the strong performances of Kenningham and Chisolm on the flanks, but there is simply no-one quite like him as far as the home side are concerned. Scored the first try of the evening and was instrumental in keeping the ball alive with a silky offload out of contact in the second score. Highlight of the game for him came with a crunching hit on Kyle Rowe into touch. Man of the Match.”

7. Ben Curry (Sale Sharks)

Back up to the North West, with Charlie Elliott delighted with Ben Curry’s shift; “Player of the Match. Like his brother, was absolutely everywhere on the pitch and even showcased a bit of skill with his feet, clipping past for himself to put the game beyond doubt at a time which gave Sharks the momentum needed to secure the bonus point. Hugely physical off the ball and was a proper enforcer. Has put in a huge claim recently that he should be starting in the Six Nations for England.”

8. Feibyan Tukino (Castres Olimpique)

Rounding off the Team of the Week is Castres Olimpique back row Feibyan Tukino, who scored in just the second minute of the match against Saracens. It was a crucial win for the French side, that was ignited by the early efforts of their eight-man. Tukino backed this up for the rest of the match, as he won the personal positional battles against Tom Willis, despite a starring role from Ben Earl.

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