Following the conclusion of round 12 of the PREM season, here is the latest Planet Rugby Team of the Week!
On a weekend of big games, across various destinations, there were vital wins for Exeter Chiefs, Leicester Tigers, Harlequins, Northampton Saints and Bath.
Without further ado, here is who made our PREM XV!
PREM Rugby Team of the Week
15 Louis Rees-Zammit (Bristol Bears): It was a good day for full-backs at the Principality Stadium on Saturday, with Jamie Benson also going well, but Rees-Zammit just sneaks in ahead. The Welshman was once again electric ball-in-hand, making 21 carries for 137 metres alongside a tally of seven defenders beaten and three linebreaks, proving exactly why Pat Lam has shifted him over to 15 this season in the process. His side might not have come out with a win, but it was no fault of his.
14 Paul Brown-Bampoe (Exeter Chiefs): A lot of the focus on Brown-Bampoe centres on his attacking prowess, but he put in a real all-court display on Friday night to help his side come away with a win against Newcastle Red Bulls. Alongside grabbing two typical poacher’s tries, he came up with some huge defensive efforts to deny the hosts both tries and chances, which showed just how far he has come since bursting onto the scene last year. Gabe Hamer-Webb also impressed for Leicester.
13 Will Wand (Leicester Tigers): Simply superb again from the impressive centre, who is certainly pushing his name up the Test ranks looking towards the July campaign. Always managed to make something happen ball-in-hand, tallying a game-high 83 metres from his nine carries while also making three linebreaks and beating seven defenders, and got the reward of a try as a result. Louie Hennessey caught the eye for Bath as well.
12 Tom Litchfield (Northampton Saints): There really is a lot to like about Litchfield’s game, and that was on full display at Spurs. He just charged around the pitch for fun against Saracens, and crucially always found himself cutting the exact right line that was needed to break through the gainline, which helped him bag a nice try alongside 79 metres from his nine carries. Orlando Bailey wasn’t far off, while Northampton’s actual number 12, Rory Hutchinson, can also feel hard done by to miss out.
11 Campbell Ridl (Exeter Chiefs): Another year, another Exeter winger enjoying a breakthrough season, and boy is Ridl taking to the PREM well. This felt like yet another statement display from the South African-native, grabbing two tries alongside a game-high 88 metres from just seven carries, while also making four linebreaks and beating three defenders. Rodrigo Isgro was a close second.
10 Billy Searle (Leicester Tigers): Yet another inclusion in the Team of the Week for Leicester man Searle, who was again ridiculous. Again just offered that dual threat across the park as he grabbed two assists alongside 30 metres from his three carries ball-in-hand, and just acted as the ultimate puppet master for the Tigers in their win. He’s becoming hard to ignore from an England perspective now, too, looking towards the Nations Championship campaign.
9 Archie McParland (Northampton Saints): A really mature performance from the Saints scrum-half, arguably his best at senior level to date. McParland just seemed to boss the big moments for his side on Saturday evening, in a very similar way to Alex Mitchell it has to be said, injecting proper tempo into their attack while adding his own layer of threat in the carry – which resulted in his brace. Stephen Varney had the shirt until Saturday evening, though.
The forwards
8 Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins): A big performance in a big occasion from the Quins man, who seemed back to his best this weekend. Was always on hand to make a huge play for his side, reflected in his 13 carries, 14 tackles and three turnovers, and led from the front to drive his side to victory. Olly Cracknell put in yet another monster shift for Leicester.
7 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints): He made headlines in the week after signing with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom agency, and he again made headlines at Spurs to shush his rather vocal critics. Pollock just made consistent big efforts on both sides of the ball, reflected in his tally of 16 carries for 45 metres and a turnover, and again always looked to take the positive option for his side. Ethan Staddon was superb for Bath too, and can feel hard done by to miss out given Pollock actually wore eight on his back this weekend.
6 Guido Petti (Harlequins): Tom Hooper was again in good touch for Exeter, but we couldn’t ignore Petti’s shift at the Principality. The Argentina ace just added another layer of steel to Quins’ efforts in Cardiff to get them over the line, making eight tackles, six carries and a turnover for good measure, and again showed himself as a key leader in this side.
5 Hanro Liebenburg (Leicester Tigers): Seems to be loving life in the engine room, with another huge effort in Leicester’s win over Gloucester. Just never stopped working for his side all afternoon, making 10 carries, 13 tackles and winning a turnover while also beating three defenders in the process. Andrea Zambonin was again on top form for Exeter.
4 Maro Itoje (Saracens): A tough call at four, with Kieran Treadwell impressing for Quins, but we’ve got the England skipper in ahead. He seemed a touch more refreshed following his week off last time out, giving Saracens that extra edge in defence with 14 tackles and a turnover to his name.
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3 Jimmy Roots (Exeter Chiefs): He’s come into some serious form in recent weeks, hasn’t he? J. Roots had potentially been in his brother’s shadow with Exeter since joining from Ealing, but he has exploded into life in recent weeks and his display against Newcastle was arguably his best in Chiefs colours. Held his own in the scrum and chipped in with a game-high 14 carries and seven tackles. Thomas du Toit also made a huge impact for Bath off the bench.
2 Kepu Tuipulotu (Bath): Jamie Blamire was incredibly close to this side, but Tuipulotu’s introduction flipped the game on its head on Sunday and helped drive Bath to victory. Was always willing to put his body on the line for the cause, on both sides of the ball with a game-high 13 carries for 32 metres alongside five tackles, and showed that little flash of flair with a gorgeous kick-assist as well. Another one in this side who could be banging at the England door.
1 Nicky Smith (Leicester Tigers): Beno Obano’s efforts off the bench nearly saw him leapfrog into this spot, but Leicester’s Smith just gets in ahead. His work in the scrum played a crucial role in Leicester’s record-setting start, milking penalties out of the Gloucester pack for fun in the process.