URC Week 7 was derby week and the fans were treated to fierce rivalries across the board. Leinster mounted a superb comeback, sparked by the entrance of their powerful bench, against high-flyers Ulster, while the Sharks did similar against an out-of-form Bulls outfit. Elsewhere, Glasgow and Benetton both staked a claim to the Scottish-Italian shield. However, the result of the round came in Newport as perennial bottom dwellers, the Dragons picked up their first URC victory in more than a year (and first victory over a non-Welsh side in close to two years), having dominated Connacht.
Team of the Week
OB: Rio Dyer – Dragons (1 try, 1 try assist, 3 line breaks, 8 defenders beaten) – Player of the Round
A simply wonderful performance from the rapid Welsh winger to inspire his side to a much-needed and confidence-boosting win. His skill as a strike runner was on full show as he used his pace to score, and then later to create, a try. Along with his impact on the scoreboard, he carried 10 times for 122 meters, notched up 2 offloads, and made his mark on defence with a dominant tackle – 86 points
On a day when Benetton struggled to get their attacking game going against their local rivals, Mendy stepped up with a beautiful solo effort, utilising his silky running to beat a number of defenders before hightailing it to the tryline. He is a winger who thrives on coming off his wing and having many touches of the ball. This is highlighted by his 13 carries and 5 passes – 52 points
Perhaps not a vintage performance for James Lowe; however, his hand in two tries solidifies his position in TOTW 7. While his try was an easy finish in the corner, his assist proved his quality. He gets the ball out the back, puts on a bit of footwork causing the widest defender to lose his footing, before slinging an excellent long pass to Kenny – 51 points
Although listed as a centre in-game, Grady most often plays on the wing for Cardiff. However, this week, his tally of 60 points would have been enough to earn a spot as a centre or an outside back. Grady was a standout in a disappointing loss for Cardiff. He used his size well on the wing, including finishing a try in the corner when the Scarlets were down to 13 men – 60 points
CE: Bundee Aki – Connacht (4 defenders beaten, 11/14 carries crossing the gainline, 2 dominant tackles)
Round 7 featured a classic Aki performance with supreme physicality on both sides of the ball. 6 of his 14 carries were dominant, yielding a remarkable 69 post-contact meters. He was equally effective on defence, with 2 dominant tackles and a breakdown turnover won – 50points
While Dyer was the strike runner, O’Brien was the heartbeat of the Dragons’ impressive attacking performance. His assist demonstrated his excellent distribution skills, with a long pass to put Rosser away for his try. Over and over, he sparked the Dragons’ attacks when running back Connacht kicks, typically beating a defender in the process. He also kept the scoreboard ticking with 5/5 conversions and 2/2 penalty kicks – 84 points
In a game where Glasgow dominated possession and territory, it makes sense that the scrum-half would earn a spot in the TOTW. Horne facilitated their relentless attack, and eventually earned a try assist with a simple pass, to score the bonus point try – 70 points
It was a true leader’s performance from Conan in his first URC appearance of the season. Leinster were not at their fluent best against Ulster, but eventually their physical superiority told, and Conan was at the heart of that effort. He carried a heroic 24 times – often with little to no space. He kept his team on the front foot as he continued running into heavy contact. He was also flawless on defence, making all 10 of his tackles, and in the lineout with 3 takes – 78 points
In what proved to be a disappointing evening for Connacht, Prendergast was the bright spot. The Connacht captain galvanised his side to rally, and attain what could be a crucial 4-try bonus point. He scored both the 2nd and 3rd of the game for Connacht. His first try demonstrated his ball-carrying ability as he found weak shoulders to run through; and his second demonstrated his quick thinking, as he dotted down smartly from a maul – 75 points
Two tries from close range solidified Venter’s selection in TOTW 7. He is a very difficult man to stop close to the line – especially without a set defence. Outside of his tries, he carried gainfully all game long, earning close to 3 post-contact meters per carry. He also put in 9 tackles, of which 1 was dominant – 59 points
Edinburgh were under the cosh for most of this derby game. All three Edinburgh players featuring in this side put in remarkable defensive efforts. Young completed 23/24 tackles but also shone in the lineout with 11 takes – 53 points
Gilchrist went one better than his locking partner with not only an immense defensive effort of 22 tackles, but also crossing the try line himself. The finish was far from simple as he had to make his way through bodies and extend his long arm over the line – 52 points
First URC appearance: first TOTW appearance. One of the premier tighthead props in world rugby made his return to the URC stage and it was as if he had never left. Carried a herculean 23 times earning an impressive 42 post-contact meters – 66 points
HK: Tom Stewart – Ulster (1 try, 2 defenders beaten, 16 tackles)
An industrious outing for the dynamic Ulster hooker. The moment of his evening was steamrolling James Lowe before finishing in the corner. He made all 16 of his tackles with 1 being dominant. He was also mistake-free at the lineout with all 10 of his lineout throws being claimed by his side – 69 points
Schoeman was the exact opposite to his Test compatriot Fagerson. While Fagerson carried all game long, Schoeman tackled. He contributed 24 tackles, including 1 dominant, and also forced a breakdown turnover – 57 points
