{"id":320981,"date":"2025-12-01T17:35:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-01T17:35:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/320981\/"},"modified":"2025-12-01T17:35:11","modified_gmt":"2025-12-01T17:35:11","slug":"european-rugby-team-of-the-week-brilliant-barre-is-the-best-of-the-bunch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/320981\/","title":{"rendered":"European Rugby Team of the Week: Brilliant Barre is the Best of the Bunch"},"content":{"rendered":"

The weekend saw a full
\ncomplement of fixtures across Europe, find out which players
\nimpressed most, according to the Opta Index.<\/p>\n

After a month of international action, the Prem and URC both
\nreturned at the weekend, joining the TOP 14 \u2013 which had resumed one
\nweek earlier \u2013 to provide fans with a full set of fixtures across
\nthe Big Three leagues.<\/p>\n

There was drama aplenty in France, with Stade Rochelais picking
\nup the earliest red card in TOP 14 history on Sunday, along with a
\nsending off for Head Coach Ronan O\u2019Gara. Arguably that wasn\u2019t the
\nstrangest sending off of the weekend though, with Racing 92\u2019s
\nJanick Tarrit seeing red for a flying headbutt against Toulouse \u2013 a
\nmatch which saw the return of Antoine Dupont after eight months
\nout.<\/p>\n

In the Gallagher Prem, Northampton Saints\u2019 unbeaten run came to
\nan end against Bristol Bears \u2013 another game which saw an early red
\ncard, while Bath\u2019s dramatic late win against Saracens saw them move
\ntwo points clear at the top of the table.<\/p>\n

There was a top of the table clash in the URC, with Munster
\nhosting the Stormers \u2013 the only teams with a 100% record going into
\nthe weekend. The Irish province took a 15-point lead into halftime
\nbut 21 unanswered points in the second half saw the Cape Town
\noutfit extend their unbeaten run. Meanwhile, Cardiff\u2019s win away to
\nZebre saw them move up to second place to ensure it wasn\u2019t all doom
\nand gloom for Welsh rugby at the weekend.<\/p>\n

But which players stood out across Europe? We used the Opta
\nIndex to pick out the top performances from the weekend.<\/p>\n

\"Rugby
\nOpta\u2019s
\nStar Player of the Week<\/p>\n

Although he may have ultimately ended on the losing side, due to
\nan 82nd minute try, Leo Barre was the standout man
\nthis week and couldn\u2019t be blamed for Stade Fran\u00e7ais not holding out
\nfor the win.<\/p>\n

The French fullback scored twice in the final quarter of the
\ngame to haul his side back level with ASM Clermont Auvergne, after
\nthey had trailed by 14 points at one stage, with the Parisians
\ntaking the lead shortly after before being denied by a last-gasp
\ntry.<\/p>\n

Barre\u2019s tally of eight defenders beaten from his 12 carries was
\nthe second most by any player in the French top flight (Setariki
\nTuicuvu \u2013 10), as was his 82 post-contact metres (Salesi Rayasi \u2013
\n118).<\/p>\n

He was solid in defence too, making 100% of his tackles, as well
\nas winning a turnover for his side in a valiant effort which
\nunfortunately wasn\u2019t quite enough to give Stade Fran\u00e7ais the four
\nmatch points.<\/p>\n

\"Leo
\nThe Best
\nof the Rest<\/p>\n

Union Bordeaux-Begles\u2019 Salesi Rayasi was the only player to gain
\nmore metres post-contact that Leo Barre in the TOP 14 at the
\nweekend and his tally of 168 metres gained overall was the best of
\nany player in Europe. His four line breaks were also a joint
\nmatch-high, alongside Bristol\u2019s Max Malins and Sale\u2019s Alex Wills,
\nhelping him take the number 14 jersey in our team.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere in the back line, Ulster\u2019s Jude Postlethwaite slots in
\nat inside centre after a fine display against Benetton. He beat
\neight defenders in the URC at the weekend, a joint-high alongside
\nteammate Jacob Stockdale, while no one bettered his three line
\nbreaks (level with Stravino Jacobs). 91 metres gained, 2 try
\nassists and 100% tackle completion rate underlined a fine
\nperformance from the 23-year-old.<\/p>\n

At fly half, Matthieu Jalibert gets the nod after slotting 4\/4
\nkicks at goal against Bordeaux-Begles, as well as registering a try
\nassist. As ever, the Bordeaux-Begles playmaker was electric with
\nball in hand \u2013 his seven defenders beaten and two line breaks were
\nthe most by any fly half across Europe, while no one bettered his
\nfour offloads (level with Jimmy O\u2019Brien).<\/p>\n

In the pack, Dafydd Jenkins gained 54 metres with ball in hand,
\nthe joint most of any tight five forward in Europe (level with
\nHarry Thacker and Renzo Du Plessis) and his overall work rate was
\nimmense \u2013 he tallied a combined 61 carries, tackles and ruck hits,
\nmore than any other player across the Big Three leagues.<\/p>\n

It was a fine weekend for another Dafydd, with Cardiff hooker
\nDafydd Hughes dotting down three times for the only hattrick by any
\nplayer across the European top-flight leagues at the weekend. His
\nwork at the lineout was almost flawless too, finding a teammate
\nwith 16 of his 17 throws. In the back row, Lenni Nouchi was perhaps
\nthe standout, crossing for two tries for Montpellier. From his 12
\ncarries he gained 73 metres, beat four defenders and made three
\nline breaks \u2013 no forward broke the line as often at the
\nweekend.<\/p>\n

\nCheck out our
\nother\u00a0Rugby
\nUnion content on Opta
\nAnalyst<\/a>.\u00a0You can also follow our
\nsocial accounts over on\u00a0X<\/a>,\u00a0Instagram<\/a>,\u00a0TikTok<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Facebook<\/a>.<\/p>\n