CJ Stander starred for Munster against Leicester Tigers
When you consider the calibre of opposition, it is perhaps the Guinness PRO12 clubs’ most successful weekend in Europe.
Leicester, two-time European champions and the most successful club in English Premiership history were dismantled by Munster, held to nil for the first time in Europe for 13 years.
Clermont Auvergne lead the Top 14, are packed full of French internationals and have been one of the Champions Cup’s most consistent teams in years gone by, while Ulster put five sterling tries past them.
Glasgow Warriors claimed just their eighth away win in Europe’s top flight against last year’s finalists and Top 14 champions, while Edinburgh turned over French giants Stade Francais from 17 points back.
Here is all you need to know about a stunning weekend of Champions Cup and Challenge Cup action across the continent:
Munster make history:
Conor Murray was at the heart of Munster’s brilliant 38-0 victory over Leicester Tigers at Thomond Park, condemning Richard Cockerill’s side to their heaviest ever European defeat.
Ireland’s No. 9 pressed his British & Irish Lions claims with a stellar all-round performance, in which his inside ball to Simon Zebo for a excellent score was the highlight.
Tyler Bleyendaal contributed 18 points, while Jaco Taute crossed twice and a penalty try sealed the bonus point, while Rassie Erasmus’ side have won seven on the bounce and lead Pool 1 by a point from Glasgow Warriors with a game in hand.
CJ Stander was exceptional in every phase of the game, making 18 carried for 59 metres, as well as seven tackles.
Brilliant Russell and relentless Gray inspire Warriors:
Finn Russell outplayed All Black great Dan Carter on the way to controlling Glasgow’s 23-14 win over Racing 92.
Gregor Townsend praised his fly-half for the way he rose to the occasion, boosting Glasgow’s chances of a first-ever place in the knockout stages as they moved to within a point of Pool 1 leaders Munster.
Jonny Gray made 19 tackles without missing a single one as Townsend’s captain continues to push his Lions credentials.
Ali Price and Alex Dunbar crossed for tries, with Russell kicking the rest in a man-of-the-match performance.
Ulster triumph in nine-try thriller:
Paddy Jackson scored a superb individual try as Ulster sealed a 39-32 victory that blew Pool 5 wide open.
Luke Marshall, Iain Henderson, Paddy Jackson and Charles Piutau all scored as they moved within three points of pool leaders Clermont ahead of next week’s return fixture.
Henderson pushed his Lions claim with a supremely physical performance at No. 6, while Piutau showed his immense quality with a fine try.
Benetton Treviso have too much for Bayonne to end long wait:
Benetton Treviso ended a nine-year wait for an away win in Europe with a 28-15 win at French Top 14 side Bayonne in the Challenge Cup.
Tries for David Odiete, Alberto Sgarbi and Luca Bigi were backed up with 13 points from Italy fly-half Tommaso Allan.
Edinburgh turn the tables for dramatic fightback:
Duncan Hodge’s side battled back from 20-3 down to maintain their unbeaten start to the Challenge Cup with a 28-23 triumph at BT Murrayfield.
Sam Hidalgo-Clyne got the match-winning score, but Duncan Weir provided a crucial 13 points from the tee, while Ben Toolis and Damien Hoyland also crossed.
The Scottish capital side are now two points clear of Harlequins at the Pool 5 summit.
Jones and Giles maintain Ospreys’ perfect start:
Talisman Alun Wyn Jones became the Ospreys’ most prolific forward in history with his 21st try in regional colours, declaring himself ‘reasonably satisfied’ with their 59-7 victory over Grenoble.
Keelan Giles continued his almost unparalleled European introduction with two more tries – taking him to seven in his first three games, fellow winger Dafydd Howells also grabbed a double as Dan Biggar notched 19 points to leave Steve Tandy’s side with a perfect 15 points from 15 in Europe this year.
Kieron Fonotia scored a debut European try, while in-form Josh Matavesi and Sam Parry also got over.
Tadgh Furlong pushes on as Leinster beat Saints:
In truth, Leinster always looked in control and they led 20-10 when Dylan Hartley was red carded for a dangerous tackle, but Leo Cullen’s side were clinical as they scored three more tries to claim a bonus-point 37-10 win.
Ireland’s Tadhg Furlong, who enjoyed a standout autumn in Green, was ferocious in the scrum, athletic in the loose and well deserving of his man of the match award.
Garry Ringrose scored after a minute before Sean O’Brien’s second score took Cullen’s side 20-10 ahead, then Rory O’Loughlin, Jamison Gibson-Park and Isa Nacewa crossed as Leinster dismantled their 14-man hosts.
Cardiff cream Bath:
The only thing missing from Cardiff Blues’ dominant win over Bath – third in the Premiership – was the bonus-point score as they overpowered the Englishmen at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park.
Matthew Morgan, Alex Cuthbert and Scott Andrews all crossed for Danny Wilson’s side, with Steven Shingler in fine fettle from the tee.
Blues are five points clear in Pool 4 ahead of a return fixture at The Rec on Thursday.
Unlucky losers:
Scarlets went down 31-20 at the Stade Felix Mayol as the three-time champions Toulon were at their bruising best to stay in touch with Saracens in Pool 3.
Ken Owens and John Barclay scored for Wayne Pivac’s side, but it was not to be as double World Cup winner Ma’a Nonu excelled and Mathieu Bastareaud was named man of the match.
Connacht fought hard with Wasps, playing with all the pace and vigour that took them to the Guinness PRO12 title last year, before eventually falling 32-17 at The Ricoh Arena.
Wasps now lead that pool by three points as Kurtley Beale scored a try in a man-of-the-match shift on debut, but Connacht will be buoyed by the return of Matt Healy – who looked superb on his return from injury.
Toulouse had too much for Zebre in a 36-6 win at the Stadio Sergio Lanfranchi, while Newport Gwent Dragons fell to a Worcester Warriors comeback performance in a 33-20 loss at Sixways.
Starring role for CJ Stander:
CJ Stander’s remarkable form continued with a man-of-the-match outing in Munster’s 38-0 win over Leicester Tigers at Thomond Park.
The numbers behind his performance underline his almost supernatural work-rate and physicality.
He made eight more carries than any other player on the pitch – Simon Zebo – trucking the ball up 20 times for 67 metres in the Guinness PRO12 leaders’ historic win.
Zebo made five more metres than Stander, but given that a large proportion of the full-back’s came from fielding high-balls in the back-field, the back-rowers numbers are all the more staggering.
What’s more, Stander also topped the Munster tackle-count with ten, only two less than Tigers’ Brendan O’Connor who made 12 – again, when you consider that Munster had 60% possession, it is hard to imagine where Munster’s talisman found ten tackles to make.
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