15. Nick Abendanon (Clermont Auvergne)
It is testament to just how good Abendanon was at the weekend that he has been added to the list of England players abroad that could be considered for the World Cup (a list that previously stood at just one name: S Armitage). The former Bath man was electric on the counter, but showed great tenacity in defence not only to rip the ball from Pisi before sprinting the length for a try, but also in one crunching, try-saving hit on Christian Day.
14. Noa Nakaitaci (Clermont Auvergne)
There were glimpses of how dangerous Nakaitaci can be during the Six Nations, but this weekend saw him take it to a different level. The second of his finishes was a walk in, but the first he had no right to score, ducking and weaving beyond flailing Northampton limbs as he wrong-footed man after man.
13. Marcelo Bosch (Saracens)
Elliot Daly impressed in a losing cause for Wasps, but the simple fact of the matter is that Saracens would not be in the semi-final were it not for the right boot – and sizeable cojones – of Marcelo Bosch. His last gasp penalty, into a strong wind, was a lesson in remaining calm under pressure.
12. Wesley Fofana (Clermont Auvergne)
This was the Wesley Fofana we know and love. Every time he carried he induced panic in the Saints defence, but most impressive of all was the timing of his support runs, that allowed others to offload without breaking stride and saw him cross for a score that looked easy but was anything but.
11. Napolioni Nalaga (Clermont Auvergne)
It wasn’t really a vintage weekend for left wingers, and while Nalaga was overshadowed by the bloke on the other flank scoring a brace, he was still a key part of a Clermont back-line that destroyed Northampton. The big man himself finished with a commendable three clean line-breaks and 73 metres made.
10. George Ford (Bath)
Ford almost single-handedly dragged Bath back into the game with two moments of brilliance that led to tries. Spotting mismatches he glided through gaps in the line, before rounding Rob Kearney (no slouch) without a hand being laid on him, and later throwing a glorious offload for Hooper to score. Michalak was imperious from the boot and instrumental in Toulon winning, but in terms of individual genius, no fly-half came close to Ford this weekend.
9. Joe Simpson (Wasps)
Simpson possesses such raw pace that when he was shifted to the wing in the second half after a mini-injury crisis, he did not look out of place. Before that he had always been a threat around the fringes, beating would-be defenders left, right and centre. An England call-up should surely beckon.
1. Cian Healy (Leinster)
Back in the starting line-up and back to his powerful best – in the tight at least. He may have fallen off a few tackles but his relentless strength in the tight was far too much for third choice Bath tight-head Kane Palma-Newport, who had a torrid day at the set-piece. It ultimately allowed Madigan to boot Leinster to victory.
2. Guilhem Guirado (Toulon)
One of France’s more positive performers in the Six Nations, Guirado continued his good form here. The set-piece was solid and he has the intelligence of a centre – if not quite the agility – when he carries, allowing him to beat more defenders than most front row forwards.
3. Mike Ross (Leinster)
Ross seems to be back in favour at Leinster after his solid showing for Ireland in the Six Nations, and on this outing it is easy to see why. He did little of note in the loose but his scrum dominance allowed Leinster to build a lead that proved ultimately unassailable. He was substituted on 50 minutes knowing he’d completed a job well done.
4. Sebastien Vahaamahina (Clermont Auvergne)
One in a long list of names who performed 100% better this weekend for Clermont than at any stage during the Six Nations for France. Vahaamahina was a pillar of physicality at the heart of the Clermont pack, and proved his worth with a couple of finely-snaffled turnovers at the breakdown.
5. Ali Williams (Toulon)
Yes, he should have been yellow-carded for cynically pulling back Elliot Daly’s shirt, but the fact that he wasn’t is almost proof of what a canny operator Williams is. He rubbed salt into the wound by popping up to score the game-sealing try later on, but also contributed hugely in the loose, ending as his side’s top carrier and tackler.
6. Wenceslas Lauret (Racing Métro)
It was a reasonably quiet weekend for blindside flankers but Lauret’s powerful effort in a losing cause for Racing was the best of an average bunch. In six carries he beat five defenders – more than any other forward this weekend – and made 30 metres, and was also a useful source of line-out ball.
7. Jacques Burger (Saracens)
It was far from pretty from Saracens in Paris, but it was exactly the kind of game that Burger excels in. He smashed everything that moved in a white and blue shirt, finishing as his side’s top tackler with 15 and epitomising the dogged effort that dragged them over the line.
8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)
Heaslip showed all of his experience at the business end of European tournaments as he orchestrated Leinster’s win over a Bath side who played far more of the rugby. He was a useful source of line-out ball but more importantly was part of a pack that scrapped for everything at the breakdown, and ultimately won that key battle.
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images