Team of the week: Six Premiership players join Ireland trio
Monday 26 September 2016 16:32, UK
Three Ireland internationals are joined by six Premiership players in our team of the week while two hat-trick heroes battle it out for a place on the wing.
Southern hemisphere stars Nemani Nadolo and Adam Ashley-Cooper both scored three tries in round six of the Top 14 but only one makes the cut, while young flankers Josh van der Flier and Magnus Bradbury are both included.
15. Alex Goode (Saracens)
Harlequins ended Saracens' unbeaten run at the Stoop on Saturday but Goode edged his battle with England full-back rival Mike Brown.
Brown was excellent in the air for Quins but Goode shone with ball in hand, making 136 metres from 16 carries - which included two breaks - and beating seven defenders.
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14. Olly Woodburn (Exeter Chiefs)
Liam Williams is unfortunate to miss out after his two-try display in the Scarlets' win over Conancht but Woodburn gets the nod following a fantastic showing against Bristol.
The 24-year-old scored two tries in the opening 18 minutes to put Exeter in control at Ashton Gate and was devastating with ball in hand, making 16 carries for a gain of 112 metres and beating three defenders.
Also won a turnover in defence as the Chiefs cantered to a bonus-point victory.
13. Tom Taylor (Pau)
The All Black kicked 21 points, including an 81st-minute penalty as Pau snatched a 39-38 win at Grenoble on Saturday.
Taylor was flawless from the tee, slotting three penalties and six conversions to help Pau overturn a 13-point half-time deficit at Stade des Alpes.
Will Addison scored two tries in Sale's crazy draw with Worcester but misses out due to five missed tackles.
12. Jamie Roberts (Harlequins)
The Wales centre produced an outstanding defensive display and did well to stop Saracens at source.
Roberts made the most tackles of the Quins backs - 11 - and his influence grew as the game wore on.
He edges out Jimmy Gopperth, who again was one of Wasps' standout performers in their win at Northampton.
11. Nemani Nadolo (Montpellier)
The Fijian powerhouse helped himself to a hat-trick as Montpellier crushed Brive to close the gap on Top 14 leaders Clermont to one point.
Nadolo's two first-half tries helped Montpellier into a 13-6 lead and his 51st-minute touchdown ended any hope of a Brive fightback.
Adam Ashley-Cooper deserves a mention after his treble for Bordeaux against Lyon, but with an astonishing nine defenders beaten and 91 metres gained from 11 carries, Nadolo gets the nod.
10. Johnny Sexton (Leinster)
The Ireland fly-half looked keen to make up for lost time as he helped Leinster claim a bonus-point win over the Ospreys.
Sexton ran the show with some excellent passing and game management. He was 100 per cent from tee, slotting four conversions and penalty, and went over for a try on the stroke of half-time.
The 31-year-old was as ferocious as ever in defence, making eight tackles, and although he blotted his copybook with a late sin-binning he still gets the nod ahead of Owen Williams and Patricio Fernandez.
9. Will Chudley (Exeter Chiefs)
Chudley has made an impressive start to the season and continues to remains the form English scrum-half after helping the Chiefs claim a comprehensive victory at Bristol.
Chudley was a key cog in an impressive attacking display which secured Exeter's second successive bonus-point win, earning him inclusion ahead of Munster's two-try hero Conor Murray and Karl Dickson of Harlequins.
1. Dave Kilcoyne (Munster)
It was the Ireland loosehead who did the most damage against Edinburgh, buckling the opposition tighthead side of the scrum. He also made nine tackles and seven carries, beating one defender before being replaced on the hour mark.
A nod to Mark Lambert who replaced Joe Marler early on and went on to be Harlequins' top tackler against Saracens with 13.
2. Tom Youngs (Leicester)
The Tigers hooker scored a try and led Leicester's domination up front against Bath in what was an excellent all-round display.
Youngs' throwing was near faultless, with 11 of his 12 darts finding a Tigers team-mate, and he worked his socks off in the loose, making eight tackles and 13 carries to claim the No 2 shirt ahead of fellow England international Luke Cowan-Dickie and Treviso's Ornel Gega.
3. John Ryan (Munster)
Ryan made an impressive 13 tackles but most importantly, he was part of a Munster front row that made a mockery of the opposition, with uncontested scrums a final resort during the game.
4. Callum Green (Newcastle)
The 26-year-old tackled like a demon as the Falcons claimed their first away win in the Premiership since October 2014.
Green made a team-high 16 tackles as Newcastle stunned Kingsholm and was a useful option at the lineout, winning throws at the front, middle and tail.
5. Mamuka Gorgodze (Toulon)
The Georgian colossus was at his brilliant best against Clermont and he powered over with seven minutes remaining to secure a comeback victory for Toulon.
Twelve tackles made, one turnover won, 43 metres from 15 carries, one lineout steal, Gorgodze was hugely influential throughout. He held off three tacklers to score the match-winning try and help Toulon climb to fifth in the Top 14 table.
6. Magnus Bradbury (Edinburgh)
Bradley was deservedly named man of the match despite Edinburgh coming up short at Thomond Park.
The 21-year-old was devastating with ball in hand, beating seven defenders from 14 carries, and put in a huge shift in defence. He made 10 tackles and won three turnovers in a fine 80-minute display.
7. Josh van der Flier (Leinster)
Competition for places in the Ireland back row is fierce but Van der Flier boosted his chances of claiming the No 7 shirt with an excellent showing against the Ospreys.
The 23-year-old scored a try in both halves and carried 12 times for a gain of 34 metres, beating two defenders and offloading effectively.
He also stood out in defence, making a team-leading 18 tackles and winning a turnover, and holds off competition from Ulster's tackling machine Sean Reidy.
8. CJ Stander (Munster)
Munster rely heavily on Stander's ball-carrying ability and he once again didn't shirk his responsibilities. He topped the charts with a whopping 28 carries, 17 more than second-placed Ian Keatley, and made 90 metres.
The Ireland international also made seven tackles as Munster claimed a bonus-point win and Sky Sports viewers were able to hear his on-field leadership through player mic.
