European Rugby Champions Cup Team of the Week: Semi-Finals

15. Leigh Halfpenny

In an afternoon of up and unders, Halfpenny was once again infallible under a torrent of rain-soaked high balls, despite Leinsters’ unrelenting kick chase. Proved that he is human by missing two penalties, but he always looked more confident and composed than his opposite man. Slotted six penalties and a conversion to register a 20-point haul.

14. Chris Ashton

If the TMO had actually watched the first half, then Ashton would have conceded a penalty try and been sent to the sin bin for his shoulder charge on Napolioni Nagala. However, he was astute and aggressive in defence and solid under the barrage of high balls. Given very little room to work but kicked well.

13. Marcelo Bosch

It was a tos sup between the Argentinean and Jonathan Davies, but Davies only began to make in roads into Saracens’ territory late on, whereas Bosch looked dangerous throughout. Sarries’ quarter-final hero was the only man in a black shirt who attacked the wider channels with real intent and when he did stretch Clermont’s defensive line, he jinked through the space he created.

12. Wesley Fofana

Fofana gave a solid defensive display which was punctuated by a few moments of adept attacking. He didn’t miss a tackle in the midfield, hammered Brad Barritt with a huge hit in the second half and thwarted Saracens’ most threatening advance into the Clermont 22 by snaffling the ball in mid air. Looked as lively as ever with the ball in hand and converted his only chance into a try.

11. Bryan Habana

It was not a vintage weekend for wingers in the Champions Cup and Habana was not the most consistent performer on Sunday afternoon, but with one moment of pure class the South African scored the try which took Toulon into their third-straight European final. He was left out in the cold for 90 minutes but then pounced on Ian Madigan’s looping pass and raced over the line for the decisive score.

10. Brock James

Saracens’ were dogged, determined and well-disciplined in defence but they were ultimately undone by the precision of James’ right boot. His perfectly-weighted chip put Fofana over for the only try of the match and his 100% accuracy from the kicking tee gave Clermont the win. Deservedly named MOM.

9. Sebastien Tillous-Borde

It was a weekend for the kick chasers rather than the player makers, so none of the scrum halfs got many opportunities to attack. Tillous-Borde desperately tried to generate some quick ball but his swift service was either dropped or kicked away so he then decided to fight like a forward. Topped the Toulon tackle chart with 15, won two turnovers and bullied Jamie Heaslip and Isaac Boss at the base of the Leinster scrum.

1. Mako Vunipola

Mako looked extremely lively in the loose early on, made an array of barreling runs and caused the Clermont defence a lot of problems. Scrummaged well and had an edge over David Zirakashvili.

2. Benjamin Kayser

He may not have been Clermont’s most ferocious forward but he was definitely their most willful ball carrier. Made more carries than any other player in the Clermont pack and frequently forced his way through the heart of the Sarries’ wolf pack and over the gain line. Kayser was just as industrious in defence and accurate at the lineout.

3. Mike Ross

Ross was the cornerstone of a dominant Leinster set piece. In the first half, which was riddled with handling errors, Toulon struggled to gain a foothold because Xavier Chiocci was bulldozed backwards by the Ireland international in a succession of scrums, albeit with a fair bit of help from Sean O’Brien.

4. Devin Toner

Ross gave Leinster the edge in the scrum while Toner gave them a clear advantage at the lineout. He led Leinster’s lineout and enabled them to set up a series of effective rolling mauls, as well as disrupting Toloun’s ball. Outplayed the illustrious Toulon locks and tackled tenaciously.

5. George Kruis

Immensely physical at the breakdown and always got off the line with pace to confront the Clermont ball carriers. Athletic and assertive at the lineout.

6. Maro Itoje

The 20-year-old once again proved that he can replicate his promising domestic displays on the European stage. Itoje was fast and forceful with the ball in hand, competitive at the breakdown and a towering presence at the lineout.

7. Julien Bardy

Without the help of a slow-motion replay, many spectators will have struggled to identify the whippet in the white shirt, who was hurtling around the pitch hammering everything in black. Left his entire team behind to rush up and tackle any Saracens player that attempted to return a Clermont kick on numerous occasions. He may have been sent flying by Itoje in the first half, but he continued to interrupt the Sarries’ advances with plenty of high-velocity hits. O’Brien obviously deserves a mention.

8. Billy Vunipola

Vunipola spearheaded the Saracens’ attack with some bullish carries. Kept his side moving forward throughout by bullying his way through Clermont’s fringe defence and offloading deftly, once he got in behind the white wall.

By Nathan Hyde (@NathanHyde2)

Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images