PREM Rugby Team of the Week: England prodigy ‘nightmare fuel’ in latest five-try haul while Test hopeful makes Steve Borthwick ‘take notice’
Noah Caluori (left), Fin Smith (centre) and Fitz Harding (right) feature in the latest PREM Team of the Week!
Following the conclusion of round 13 of the PREM season, here is the latest Planet Rugby Team of the Week!
There were some huge results across the league this weekend, with Bristol, Leicester Tigers, Northampton Saints, Bath and Saracens coming away the victors.
Without further ado, here is who made our PREM XV!
PREM Rugby Team of the Week
15 Santi Carreras (Bath): The Los Pumas ace was in fine touch for Bath in their win over Harlequins, beating Max Malins into this team in the process. Carreras’ fingerprints were all over their win on Saturday, serving as his side’s creative heartbeat at either 15 or 10, and got himself two tries for his troubles.
14 Noah Caluori (Saracens): Absolute nightmare fuel for defenders, as the England prodigy ran riot at the CorpAcq. His haul of five tries warrants a place in this side by itself, but add in a tally of 181 metres from 19 carries, 12 defenders beaten and three line breaks, you get a story of yet another attacking masterclass from the youngster and a performance that could alert Steve Borthwick. Kalaveti Ravouvou was a close second.
13 Ollie Lawrence (Bath): A good weekend for 13s, with Henry Slade and Benhard Janse van Rensburg both impressing for Exeter and Bristol, but Lawrence is our man. The Bath ace just seemed to inject himself into the game at the right time to make something positive happen for his side, reflected in his tally of 28 metres from six carries, and also showed some nice playmaking skills with an assist as well.
12 Orlando Bailey (Leicester Tigers): He’s really taken well to life in the centres, and could really be making a push for England selection as a result. Bailey again just oozed class as Leicester’s key link-man, grabbing two assists for his troubles and making the most passes (20) of any Tiger. Fraser Dingwall was also key in Northampton’s dramatic win over Exeter.
11 Gabe Hamer-Webb (Leicester Tigers): A spellbinding performance from the Wales international, who gets in ahead of Leicester teammate Adam Radwan in the process. Hamer-Webb just dropped a proper show of attacking excellence against Newcastle Red Bulls, scoring five tries alongside a tally of 184 metres from 12 carries, five line breaks and eight defenders beaten.
10 Fin Smith (Northampton Saints): Saturday’s game at Sandy Park was crying out for a ‘big mister’ moment to win it, and Smith provided just that. His match-winning try was a really classy effort, but it was a reflection of his overall game in Devon as he iced all the big moments to get his side over the whitewash. Finn Russell also enjoyed a tidy afternoon at the Rec, while Fergus Burke can also feel hard done by to miss out after his best display of the season.
9 Charlie Bracken (Saracens): England are blessed with some properly good young nines, but if Sunday’s game was anything to go by, he’s the best of the lot. The youngster was simply superb all afternoon at the CorpAcq, injecting real speed and intent into Saracens’ attack and playing a key role in their whacking of Sale. Tom Carr-Smith impressed for Bath, in another pleasing display from a young scrum-half.
The forwards
8 Ollie Cracknell (Leicester Tigers): He might not grab the headlines, but Leicester are a completely different team when Cracknell is involved. The Wales international just charges around the park with genuine hatred and channels it into fine performance after fine performance, and Saturday was another example of that. Ended with a healthy stats sheet of 16 carries, 17 tackles, one line break and one turnover for good measure. Greg Fisilau again showcased his Test credentials for Exeter in a strong effort.
7 Fitz Harding (Bristol Bears): A display that should surely make Borthwick sit up and take notice, in keeping with some outright blockbusters this season as well. Harding was just everywhere for the Bears in their win over Gloucester, particularly on the fringes of the breakdown, and he got his rewards with a well-deserved try. Guy Pepper went well for Bath.
6 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints): A rip-roaring cameo from the back-rower, who seemed to take everything up a gear for Northampton on his arrival. Things always seem to happen around him, but Saturday was a step up from his usual levels in that department as he fizzed around the park and threw himself into every battle in the tight. His late score was fully deserved, and even prompted a new celebration. Fellow replacement Josh Bayliss was not far behind after his excellent display against Harlequins.
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5 Hugh Tizard (Saracens): While the focus of Saracens’ win will go onto their attack, Tizard was a huge part of their demolition job. Ran his blood to water in the tight, getting stuck into the breakdown and coming away with a strong 17 tackles as well. Tom Lockett had the shirt until Sunday afternoon, following a good day’s work v Exeter.
4 Charlie Ewels (Bath): A very tough call here, with Ed Prowse very close to making the cut, but the ever-classy Ewels gets the nod. The lock’s leadership was just the tonic Bath needed after the sudden loss of Ben Spencer, both with his calm demeaner but also with his actions in a strong display.
3 George Kloska (Bristol Bears): Has come on at a rate of knots this season, and Friday felt like a good reminder of that. Scrummaged very well in a pretty even battle and was always in the thick of the action in the loose too. Afo Fasogbon was also a bright spark for Gloucester, going well in a ding-dong with Ellis Genge.
2 Jamie Blamire (Leicester Tigers): Splitting hairs between Blamire and Gabe Oghre, but the Leicester man just sneaks it with his brace. He also added his customary ballast to Leicester’s win against his former side, making five carries for 14 metres alongside five tackles and a turnover.
1 Rhys Carre (Saracens): He’s in the form of his life right now, and Sunday was another example of just how destructive he can be. His try was very well deserved given his exploits in the loose, and he backed that up with some good grunt at the set-piece as well. Emmanuel Iyogun and Genge both deserve mentions here as well.