Following the conclusion of round six of the PREM season, here is the latest Planet Rugby Team of the Week!
The weekend’s action got underway on Friday night, as Leicester Tigers and Exeter Chiefs downed Newcastle Red Bulls and Sale Sharks, respectively.
Those games set the bar high for Saturday’s two matches, which followed suit as Gloucester and Bristol Bears secured important wins over Harlequins and Northampton Saints.
Rounding off the action, Bath secured a famous comeback win over Saracens to leapfrog their way back to the top of the table.
Without further ado, here is who made our PREM XV this weekend!
Planet Rugby’s PREM Team of the Week
15 Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers): The England international ended the Autumn Nations Series in good form, and carried that over into the PREM this weekend with a Man of the Match display for Leicester. Steward set the tone for his side’s attacking exploits at Kingston Park, notching a team-high 12 carries for 67 metres, and chipped in with a try for good measure. Gloucester ace Ben Redshaw pushed him close.
14 Henry Arundell (Bath): Kalaveti Ravouvou had this shirt until Sunday evening, but Henry Arundell’s electric outing against Saracens sees him pip the Bears man into the Team of the Week. The explosive winger was a real menace across the park during his side’s comeback win, notching 119 metres from just eight carries and grabbing himself a brace – including the deciding score late on – for his efforts. Yet another reminder of his game-breaking ability, and a performance that would have caught Steve Borthwick’s attention.
13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg (Bristol Bears): It’s been a big week for the Bristol Bears man, but he certainly ended it on a sweet note with a fine display against Northampton. The soon-to-be English-qualified centre was everywhere for his side at Ashton Gate on Saturday, popping up with crucial interventions right across the park. He also threw himself into the breakdown battle, popping up with two turnovers as a result. Henry Slade pushed him close.
12 Seb Atkinson (Gloucester): A tough call between him and Nick Tompkins, but the England ace takes the jersey this time out. Atkinson was simply sublime on Saturday, setting the tone on both sides of the ball as the Cherry and Whites romped their way to victory. He led the way across the game for both tackles (12) and carries (15), while also playing a crucial linking role in Gloucester’s attack.
11 Ollie Thorley (Gloucester): Yet another reminder of his England credentials, as Ollie Thorley exploded back onto the scene on Saturday. His explosive carrying was such a weapon for Gloucester in their victory over Quins, and it became more effective as the game went on. Across his try-scoring shift, he notched a whopping 147 metres from 14 carries, and also made two linebreaks and beat seven defenders. Olly Woodburn also shone for Exeter.
10 Sam Worsley (Bristol Bears): Another incredibly mature performance from the ever-improving fly-half, and one that could see him enter the Test conversation. The 22-year-old simply iced all the big moments to power his side to victory on Saturday. His identification of space and accuracy with the boot was especially pleasing, and something Borthwick will have liked, but he was also automatic off the tee too, slotting seven kicks (five conversions, two penalties). Ross Byrne wasn’t far off, after his best performance for Gloucester to date.
9 Ben Spencer (Bath): Yet again acted as the conductor behind Bath’s orchestra, steering his side to a comeback win. Typically, he just bossed everything around the breakdown, with his distribution and kicking paramount to his side’s comeback win, dropping another reminder of his class in the process. Kieran Marmion did not go unnoticed this weekend, either.
The forward pack
8 Arthur Green (Bath): Bath are spoiled for choice right across the back-row, but Arthur Green is proving to be a proper gem. The 21-year-old, making only his seventh PREM appearance of his young career, dominated proceedings in the tight, with his abrasive carrying becoming an increasing part of Bath’s attack as the game went on. That’s told in his stats, too, notching a game-high 15 carries for 70 metres. Leicester’s Joaquin Moro and Newcastle Red Bulls ace Amanaki Mafi both came close, following strong outings at Kingston Park on Friday night.
7 Tommy Reffell (Leicester Tigers): A very good weekend to wear seven, with Miles Reid and Ethan Roots also impressing, but try-scorer Tommy Reffell really stood out for Leicester with a gritty defensive display. The Welshman threw himself into the battle up front, coming out with a game-high tackle count of 17, as well as leading the way for turnovers with two to his name. He seemed out to prove a point on Friday night, after missing out on Wales selection this autumn, but you’d think Steve Tandy might come calling soon based on this display.
6 Josh Bayliss (Bath): Another Bath back-rower makes the cut, with Man of the Match Josh Bayliss slotting in at six. The Scotland international’s all-court game was there for all to see at the StoneX, popping up both in the tight exchanges and out wide like an extra winger too. As a result, he led the way for defenders beaten across the game with six. Fitz Harding again impressed for Bristol.
5 Andrea Zambonin (Exeter Chiefs): Potentially one of the signings of the season, Italian international Andrea Zambonin again stepped up to the plate for the Devonians. The towering lock just threw his body into the battle up front, becoming more and more impactful as the game went on to drive Exeter to victory. Joe Batley can feel hard done by to miss out, though.
4 Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs): Another world-class outing from the Welsh lock, who is really pushing himself into that elite category. In true captain’s fashion, when his side needed him, he came good, and consistently made big interventions to swing momentum back towards his team in the comeback victory. He also worked his socks off on both sides of the ball, making a game-high 18 tackles alongside a team-high 54 metres ball-in-hand. Compatriot Freddie Thomas also deserves a shout.
3 Thomas du Toit (Bath): Fresh from his inclusion in the World Rugby Dream Team, Thomas du Toit shone for Bath. He looked rock-solid in the scrum when called upon, and backed that up with some typically powerful efforts in the loose. He also nabbed a try for his efforts. Joe Heyes was a close second.
2 Harry Thacker (Bristol Bears): A really hard pick this weekend, with both Luke Cowan-Dickie and Jack Yeandle impressing on Friday night, but Harry Thacker’s explosive outing against Northampton sees him get the nod. Just, may we add. The supercharged hooker was at his dynamic best at Ashton Gate on Saturday, notching 53 metres from nine carries and nailing his work in the set-piece as well.
1 Fin Baxter (Harlequins): He might have come out on the losing side, but Fin Baxter again showed real maturity for Harlequins. He was a real attacking threat in the scrum, besting both Kirill Gotovtsev and Afolabi Fasogbon, and typically threw his body around in the loose as well.