Team of the Week: Investec Champions Cup Round 4

The 16-team field of knock-out stage qualifiers reads as a decorated list of Champions Cup heavyweights, albeit with some high profile exemptions that have fallen from grace. The likes of La Rochelle and Munster and Clermont Auvergne have all dropped out of the pinnacle competition, which optimises how this year's Champions Cup has been the closest in recent memory.

We kick off our Team of the Week for the final round of the Champions Cup pool stages with a stand-out Springboks sensation. Aphelele Fassi is back to his best, with the flying fullback playing a pivotal part in the Hollywoodbets Sharks' emphatic win over Clermont Auvergne. The Durban outfit drubbed Clermont with a one-sided 50-12 landslide, with Fassi on hand to bag himself two tries at Kings Park Stadium. After a lengthy injury lay-off earlier this season, South African fans of any franchise preference will be delighted to see the enigmatic outside back in such fine form.

Partnering Fassi in the back-three is a Northampton Saints' wing Edoardo Todaro. There is plenty of excitement around the 19-year-old ahead of the 2026 Six Nations, with the Italian set to build upon his Azzurri debut, which he accrued against Chile in the Quilter Nations Series. Todaro was tremendous in Northampton's rampant win over the Scarlets, as he scored a stunning hat-trick in the 43-28 triumph over the Welsh region. The Saints march on to a place in the Round of 16, with Todaro's fine form likley to be rewarded by Gonzalo Quesada in the months to come.

We hand honourable mentions to Bath's Joe Cokanasiga for his stunning brace against Edinburgh, and also agknowledge the impressive efforts from Munster's Thaakir Abrahams, as the South African dazzled upon every carry against Castres. Another worthwhile shout-out goes to RC Toulon wing Gael Draen, who crossed over for two tries in the impressive win against Gloucester.

Moving on to the midfield, we hand the outside centre jersey to Vuate Karawalevu of Castres Olimpique following his dynamic performance in the hard-fought win over Munster. The seven-capped Fiji man was explosive from the get go, as he crossed over for the opening score with a dominant line break after just 10 minutes at Thomond Park. The former Waratahs and Fijian Drua star brought the Super Rugby style to this Champions Cup clash, with a litany of offloads adding to his power game as he was dutifully awarded the Player of the Match accolade for his efforts.

Up next is the heart-beat of the Scotland midfield, that any rugby fan from North of the border will be excited to see don the fabled tartan and blue once again. Sione Tuipulotu continues to spearhead a memorable Champions Cup campaign for Glasgow Warriors, which has witnessed the Scottish side collect stunning victories over Stade Toulousain and Saracens in the pool stage. Tuipulotu's tireless work rate upon both sides of the ball was once again stellar for the Warriors, who battled valiently through a broken nose to hand a tough loss to the men from North London this past Sunday.

Two flyers from the French Top 14 impressed upon the left wing this week, with an honourable mention in store for Matthis Lebel of Toulouse. The wing crossed over for a well taken brace of tries, as Toulouse ran rampant on a rotated Sale Sharks outfit. However, we hand the Team of the Week mantle to Les Bleus speedster Louis Bielle-Biarrey, who is lining up another blockbuster Six Nations with Fabien Galthie's side. The wing scored a magnificent hat-trick in Bordeaux's end-to-end win over Bristol, as the defending Kings of Europe took a significant step forward to keeping their crown.

If Andy Farrell was picking his match day 23 for Ireland's 2026 Six Nations opener against France today, then you could argue that Harry Byrne has at least played his way above Jack Crowley in the out-half pecking order. Whilst it was an uncharacteristically inconsistent day for the Munster man, Byrne shone in Leinster blue, as the Irish province rallied from behind to secure a breathless comeback win over Bayonne.

Entrusted by Leo Cullen to lead Leinster's line over Sam Prendergast, Byrne's tide-turning assist for his competitor's try geared the Irish province towards a stunning victory in France. There's an honourable mention in store for Harlequins hot-stepper Marcus Smith, who orchestrated the statement making win over La Rochelle, to dump the two-time Champions Cup winners out of the top competition.

Completing the back-line is the maestro of Stade Toulousain, who was turning everything into tries this past weekend. Whilst Sale did field an academy-heavy side in the South of France, Toulouse still had to get the bonus point win to secure progression into the Round of 16. Dupont spearheaded this offensive with a brace of tries and countless assists in the 77-7 thrashing. Honourable mentions for the nine jersey include Munster's brace-bagging Craig Casey, and a tremendous effort from Glasgow's George Horne.

Moving onto the front row now, with Bath bruiser Beno Obano taking down the mantle upon the loose-head of the pack. The England international was out to make a statement of Six Nations intent, as Bath handed Edinburgh a one-sided 63-10 hammering under the Rec's Friday Night Lights.

Obano was on hand to muscle his way across the whitewash, and flexed his scrummaging muscles with a dominant display of power against young Edinburgh tight-head Ollie Blyth-Lafferty. Whilst the narrative of this match was Finn Russell earning the bragging rights ahead of the Scottish camp, Obano's efforts may well have snuck back onto Steve Borthwick's radar for a Six Nations inclusion of his own.

Whilst it was certainly a tough break for Section Paloise to see their Investec Champions Cup run come to an end this past Friday night, the French club could now consider themseleves amongst the front runners for the EPCR Challenge Cup. Pau drop down into European rugby's secondary competition following their fifth-placed pool stage finish and the narrow defeat to the Bulls, despite the best efforts of hooker Youri Delhommel, who scored two tries for the Top 14 side. Delhommel opened his side's account from the back of a rolling maul, to immediately nullify the Bulls early score.

This was one of the toughest picks of the week, as two of the toughtest tight-heads from across the British Isles put on a serious scrummaging clinic for their respective clubs. We hand a close-second honourable mention to Bath prop Thomas du Toit, as the South African starred with a try-scoring performance in the home hammering of Edinburgh. However, we hand this week's plaudits to Glasgow's Zander Fagerson, following a breathtaking effort at both the set-piece and in the loose in the gritty win over Saracens up at Scotstoun.

Moving onto the engine room now, and we give a tip of the cap to JD Schickerling of the Stormers. The lock powered over for a 66th minute score, that helped the Cape Town side establish their authoirty in the latter stages against Leicester Tigers. The versatile lock-come-back row star has continued his impressive run of form, that could one day lead to a long overdue Springboks debut for the 30-year-old. Immovable over the breakdown, Schickerling once again laid the winning foundations for the URC's high-flying side.

Onto one of the most eye-catching cameos of the week, as Edwin Edogbo furthered his claim for an Ireland debut in the 2026 Six Nations. The 23-year-old exploded off the bench at the 50 minute mark, as Munster chased down Castres for a place in the Round of 16.

Edogbo had an immediate impact as he grounded a wayward line-out over the French side's try-line, to spur Munster on into the closing moments. His 78th minute score from close range ignited a profound sense of belief around Thomond Park, albeit before Munster ran out of time for a famous comeback win. Already on Andy Farrell's radar, we could well see Edogbo pull on the fabled Emerald for the first time in the coming weeks.

We kick off the back row with another break-taking performance from the bench, as Phepsi Buthelezi upped the intensity for the closing half hour against Clermont. The versatile back row scored the try of the round, as he pounced on a loose ball in his own half, and showcased some impressive wheels to race along the left wing for a phenomenal solo effort. This was just one of Buthelezi's brace of tries, which coupled his tireless work rate around the park. It's certainly exciting times ahead for the one-capped 'Bok.

Partnering the multi-tool Buthelezi in the back row, is a man who helped Glasgow put Saracens to the sword on Sunday. Scotland back row Rory Darge has emerged into a true leader of men, with Gregor Townsend's entrusted vice-captaincy of the Scotland side only bouying the back row to be the catalyst for Glasgow's undying efforts. Relentless at the break-down and ever-present in defence, Darge pulled no punches in Glasgow's gutsy win over Sarries, with his eyes set on a strong Scotland squad return for the 2026 Six Nations.

Before we dive into the final entry of our Team of the Week, let's hand an honurable mention to another stand-out Warrior from Glasgow's triumph over Saracens. Jack Dempsey was immense in the back row, and earns his recognition. However, we've handed the eight jersey to Alfie Barbeary, who reminded all England fans of what he is truly capeable of this past Friday. Barbeary was a battering ram across the gain line, that Edinburgh simply could not contain. With Tom Willis out of the England picture, Barbeary is a solid option for Steve Borthwick to unleash in the Six Nations.