There were plenty of standout performances from the weekend’s rugby, and we pick out our data-powered team of the week using the Opta Index.
With the South African sides getting their respective campaigns underway in the United Rugby Championship at the weekend every club across the URC, Premiership and TOP 14 is now up and running for 2024-25.
The weekend saw statement victories, major upsets and come-from-behind wins with numerous players putting in top performances. The Opta Index assesses all players equally, meaning players from both winning teams and losing teams make the cut.
Here is our Team of the Week, with 14 different teams represented and the Lions being the only side with more than one player:
Opta’s Star Player
Lyon’s Leo Berdeu was the top player across Europe over the weekend, according to the Opta Index.
The fly-half scored 25 points as Lyon defeated Castres by just two points in the TOP 14 – kicking 8/8 goals and crossing for a try himself. It’s the fourth time he’s hit a quarter-century of points in a TOP 14 match so far this decade; no other player has managed it more than twice.
Along with his try, he also registered a try assist, one of just two number 10s in Europe to both score and assist a try at the weekend, alongside Joe Simmonds who did so for Section Paloise.
Meanwhile, his 10 carries were the most of any fly-half in the TOP 14 and he was productive with those carries, making two line breaks and beating three defenders. Throw in his nine tackles and it was a fine all-round performance from the Lyon playmaker.
The Best of the Rest
Not many will have predicted that the side who finished top of the table last season would lose to the club who ended the campaign in last place, but that was Munster’s reality at the weekend.
However, it wasn’t due to a lack of effort from Gavin Coombes, who put in the sort of shift that has become the norm for him over the last few seasons. The number 8 made 13 carries and completed 18 tackles – with his combined tally of 31 being at least two more than any other player in Round 2 of the URC.
He also crossed for two tries and certainly seems to enjoy his trips to Parma, having now scored six tries in his last two away games against the Italian outfit.
While Coombes will have been ultimately disappointed with the result of the match, the same can’t be said for Jacopo Trulla, who was instrumental for Zebre in their historic win. He gained 121 metres during the match, the most of any player in the United Rugby Championship at the weekend, making an impressive four line breaks and beating six defenders in the process.
Like Coombes, Trulla crossed for a brace of tries, while he also provided an additional try assist for the Parma outfit.
Another player who ended the weekend on the losing side was Max Malins, but it’s hard to think of much more he could have done to help his team.
He was a menace with ball in hand, making three line breaks – a joint-high for any Premiership player – and beating three defenders. He also showed he had the finishing touch to go with those impactful carries, scoring two tries and assisting two more. In fact, his four try involvements were the most of any player across Europe at the weekend.
Our XV has an all-South African midfield, with Andre Esterhuizen crossing twice for the Sharks away to Connacht, although he’ll want to forget about the second-half as much as possible. Meanwhile, it was a better outcome for Erich Cronje who didn’t get on the scoresheet but did provide one try assist and was electric with ball in hand.
From his 11 carries he beat five defenders and made two line breaks, gaining 103 metres in the process – the most by any centre in Europe at the weekend and the most by a Lions centre in top level competition since Wandisile Simelane in Super Rugby, back in 2019 (121 versus Jaguares).
Finally, how about some love for the front row union? Young Harlequins hooker, Nathan Jibulu put in a fine performance against Newcastle, featuring for the full 80 minutes and crossing for a try.
His workrate around the pitch was impressive, with his eight carries yielding 34 metres, one of only two front rowers to gain 30+ metres, while his 17 attacking ruck hits was bettered by only one other hooker (Gregor Hiddleston – 22).
He was solid at the set piece too. He had 16 lineout throws – no hooker had to attempt more – and found a teammate with all but one. At just 21 years old we’re sure to see more of Jibulu in the future.
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