Team of the Week: Investec Champions Cup Round 1

The action began up in Salford, with Glasgow Warriors able to edge past a resilient Sale Sharks outfit for a narrow win at the CorpAcq. Meanwhile, the Stormers transferred their unbeaten URC form to the Champions Cup with a solid win over Bayonne under the Friday night lights. Saturday's action witnessed impressive victories for Saracens, La Rochelle, Bordeaux-Begles, Leinster, Bristol Bears and Bath, before Northampton Saints, Toulouse, Gloucester and Edinburgh all achieved success on Sunday.

Flying Leinster fullback Jimmy O'Brien is the first name on our Team of the Week, following much deliberation upon who should occupy the 15 jersey. We've backed O'Brien ahead of two honourable mentions, as Saracens' Elliot Daly and Melvyn Jaminet of Toulon both ran out superb performances upon the opening weekend. However, O'Brien gets the nod, as the Leinster man was relentless against Harlequins with an inspired attacking effort. A well-taken try capped off his day, after brushing aside the asterisk of a trip to the sin bin.

Ange Capuozzo is one of those players that always gives rush of excitment to the crowd. Whether it be in the blue of Italy, or the red and black of Toulouse, Capuozzo is a delight to watch when he hits his very best on the front foot. The Italian pocket rocket was breathless in Stade Toulousain's opening win of the fresh Champions Cup campaign, as he ran in a hat-trick against a hapless Sharks outfit.

Argentine maestro Lucio Cinti is next to join the fray, following a stellar performance for Saracens against Clermont Auvergne. Cinti showcased his versatility by attacking from a litany of angles, with his ability as a winger on display with some searing touchline breaks. Cinti raced away for two tries against the French side and was an endless issue for Clermont to address throughout an arduous trip to North London.

We return back up to Dublin, with Ciaran Frawley joining his Leinster clubmate Jimmy O'Brien in the back-line for RUCK's Team of the Week. We have an honourable mention in store for Sione Tuipulotu, after an exhaustive stint for Glasgow Warriors in their win over Sale Sharks. However, we have opted for Frawley upon this instance, as he wrecked havoc upon Harlequins and enjoyed a trip across the whitewash to boot. Frawley slotted seamlessly into his re-kindled axis with Garry Ringrose, with Andy Farrell sure to keep an eye on this possible Ireland midfield combination ahead of the Six Nations.

Arguably the best winger in the world right now, Louis Bielle-Biarrey reminded once again why he is held in such high regard with a blistering performance for Bordeaux-Begles this past weekend. LBB was on fire for UBB, as the reigning European champions triumphed upon a rare visit down to South Africa. Bielle-Biarrey bagged himself two tries as Bordeaux hearded up the Bulls, in an end-to-end match of basketball style scoring that finished 46-33 in Pretoria.

Bordeaux contribute their second entry in quick succession, with fly half Matthieu Jalibert next to join the fray. The linchpin of Les Bleus will be hoping to maintain this momentum throughout the coming months, in order to keep possession of the France 10 jersey away from form-finding Romain Ntamack. Jalibert was immense against the Bulls, with a well taken try coupling his efforts from the boot. However, Jalibert also starred in defense, with a stand-out moment marked by his try-saving tackle upon Sebastian de Klerk. An excellent all-round effort from one of the game's classiest play-makers.

The steady progression throughout the world scrum half pecking order continues for Ben White, who put his stamp upon Toulon's opening round defeat in the Champions Cup. Despite coming away on the losing side of the score-line, the Scotland star was on hand to cross over for two tries, to keep Toulon's fire alive against an impressive Edinburgh outfit. White starred in his efforts against his Scotland teammates, albeit as the bragging rights went the way of the capital city side.

Moving on into the forward pack now, and the loose-head prop mantle is handed to Beno Obano of Bath. The man in blue, black and white put in a seismic shift at scrum-time, as the Bath pack laid a dominant foundation for the formidable triumph over a well-beaten Munster side. Obano excelled in his efforts at the set-piece, as Johann van Graan's men enjoyed the spoils of a powerful rolling maul. The England international even worked his way over the line for a try, to cap off a solid effort against the province.

We return back to the six-time Champions Cup winners now, as Julien Marchand was paramount to the opening round success of Stade Toulousain. The hooker was on hand to score a brace of tries, as the French titans made short work of the incoming Sharks from Durban. Marchand is well in the discussion regarding the world's best hookers, albeit with Malcolm Marx being head and shoulders ahead of the pack. Marchand's talents will surly be monitored, in the hopes of a return to the French side next year.

19-year-old tight-head prop Ollie Blyth-Lafferty had a night to remember, as he made his debut in the Investec Champions Cup. Named to start from the off, Blyth-Lafferty lined up against ex-England star Kyle Sinckler as his opposite man in the Toulon three jersey. Blyth-Lafferty scrummed well against monstrous France international Jean-Baptiste Gros, in the midst of an incredible upset win for the Scottish side.

Moving on now to the engine room, with Munster lock Edwin Edogbo named to pack down the scrum. Whilst it was an afternoon to forget for the Irish province at the Rec, Edogbo was a rare bright spark for Clayton McMillan's men in the English West Country. On hand to muscle over for a try, Edogbo helped his side briefly turn the tide, before his team would be washed away by a torrent of blue, black and white. After his initial 54th minute exit, Edogbo returned to end the match and empty the tank for his double duty. After an injury curtailed his hopes of an Ireland debut in the Autumn, expect Edogbo to maintain this fire from now until his call-up for the 2026 Six Nations.

Another tough call for the second row, with Gloucester's Freddie Thomas just pushing beyond Hugh Tizard of Saracens. Thomas' contributions towards Gloucester's win over Castres could not be denied, as his masterful control of the fly-zone coupled a tireless work rate around the park. Thomas even popped up for a first half try, to hand the Cherry and Whites a crucial marker upon a hard-fought match. Thomas remains a future star of the England camp, yet Steve Borthwick could well look to the 24-year-old before too long should injuries necessitate for the Six Nations.

The 22-year-old back row continues to make waves for La Rochelle, with the nine-capped France international expected to take his Test tally into double digits during the 2026 Six Nations. Jegou was tremendous once again for Ronan O'Gara's side, with the back-row chopping down Leicester's gain-line threats, in what was a miserable outing to France for Geoff Parling's men. Jegou proved his might upon both sides of the ball, as he collected a brace of tries with a physical work-rate over the Tigers gain-line.

Ernst van Rhyn's efforts for Sale Sharks this past weekend, at as a stark reminder than one man cannot win a rugby match by himself. The back row put in an eye-catching performance against Glasgow, as a dizzying 31 completed tackles opitimised his endless efforts in the Sharks defence. The South African was hard done by to come out from this opening round match on the losing end of the score-line, with his body put on the line time and again for Alex Sanderson's men. A herculean effort from the back row.

We round off the forward pack with Viliame 'Billy' Mata, who was at his brilliant bulldozing best for Bristol's trip to Llanelli. The Bears drew the Scarlets for the opening weekend, with the sole Welsh side in the Champions Cup narrowly beaten 17-16 to Pat Lam's men. Mata was at full-throttle, as the Fijian struck for two tries against the hosts, to hand Bristol a blistering start with scores in the second and 17th minute.