LATEST: Leinster, Harlequins, Bath, and Bulls lead the way as Marcus Smith shines in this week’s Champions Cup Team of the Week.

After the first round of the Champions Cup is over, we had a conversation and decided on our Team of the Week.

After the first round, Leinster is in the lead with four players on our team. Harlequins is next best with three players, followed by the Bulls and Bath with two each.

So without further ado, let’s examine the people who were chosen.

Champions Cup Team of the Week

15. Hugo Keenan (Leinster): Despite his opponent, Brice Dulin, also performing admirably, the Ireland full-back was a beacon of safety against the fierce wind and tempest of the Atlantic coast. He was courageous and unmatched at the back for his team against La Rochelle. Blair Kinghorn scored two goals in Toulouse as his team easily defeated Cardiff.

14. Joe Cokanasiga (Bath): Bath made an impression against Ulster with to a strong showing from the England winger who was cut. He finished with two braces. During that performance, Cokanasiga unsheathes the shirts of two Rugby World Cup stars: Damian Penaud of Bordeaux-Begles, who seems to score tries for every team he plays for, and Kurt Lee Arendse, who starred for the Bulls in Pretoria.

13. Tommy Freeman (Northampton Saints): With his move to outside center, Freeman appears to be a potential issue player for his nation, which has many talking. In the Glasgow downpour, he put on an incredible show, grabbing a pair of tries. Henry Slade of Toulon put on a cool performance as he converted a try in the last seconds to record an unexpected victory, while Virimi Vakatawa of Bristol led the Bears to a victory over Lyon.

12. Solomone Kata (Leicester Tigers): It was a literal toss-up between three players: Kata’s two-try mastery at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, David Kriel’s impressive strength for the Bulls in Pretoria, or Andre Esterhuizen’s brilliance during Quins’ unforgettable night at Paris La Defense Arena. However, it’s the tries that matter, and Kata was the most impressive of the bunch.

11. Canan Moodie (Bulls): Moodie ran around freely, making one and taking another for himself. He caused chaos. For Toulouse, Arthur Retiere was in deadly form, and Rich Lane of Bristol attracted attention as he crossed for the Bears.

10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins): Smith responded to those who criticized his game management with a masterful demonstration of control as he destroyed Racing 92 in Paris during one of his best club games. Smith is our player of the round. Other highlights included Callum Sheedy’s outstanding performance for Bristol, Handre Pollard’s outstanding performance for the Tigers with 20 points, and Fin Smith’s outstanding performance for the Saints in Glasgow during a vintage weekend for 10s.

9. Nolan Le Garrec, the 92nd racer: Le Garrec, a hat-trick hero in the loss, demonstrated France’s nine caliber depth. The Saints’ scrummie, Alex Mitchell, was in his customary spicier mood in Glasgow. Since joining the international scene, Mitchell has reached new heights. Of course, Antoine Dupont was outstanding as usual for Toulouse, and Ben Spencer reminded everyone of his global experience with a powerful performance for Bath.

8. Alex Dombrandt (Harlequins): It was another extremely close call, but Dombrandt is a fan of the La Defense Arena’s rough surface, and his running angles badly hurt Racing 92’s defense as he over for another vital try. Caelan Doris of Leinster put on an outstanding back-row show during the coastal storms, while Cameron Hanekom, the incredibly agile player for the Bulls, appears to be a starlet for the team.

7. Jacques Vermeulen (Exeter Chiefs): The Chief put on a barnstorming show against the best in the field, Charles Ollivon, who also had a tremendous performance. The Chief’s try ended Toulon’s hopes of winning. Josh van der Flier, who replaced Leinster’s Will Connors, contributed significantly to the team’s victory. Toulouse’s large Test flank Anthony Jelonch also gave a fantastic performance and looks to be playing at his best again.

6. Ryan Baird (Leinster): Baird is an unheralded hero among Leinster’s star-studded back-row players. He put in an amazing shift, so it would take Hercule Poirot’s skills to figure out how he didn’t win Player of the Match in La Rochelle. Sam Dugdale excelled for Sale, scoring the game’s biggest point in a jaw-dropping back-row performance, while Courtney Lawes scored a rare try for the Saints in yet another outstanding performance.

5. James Ryan (Leinster): The pinnacle of abrasion, the Leinster lock was in a combative frame of mind as he ultimately defeated his bitter rival Will Skelton in a decisive head-to-head match. For Sale Sharks, Jonny Hill put on a spectacular display as he crossed the whitewash, and for Quins, Dino Lamb maintained his form by switching back to lock.

4. Janko Swanepoel (Bulls): Jake White has opted to start young players up front, and Swanepoel’s growth is evident when he scored against Saracens. Dafydd Jenkins, the captain of the Chiefs, is playing at a new level and had a major impact on Exeter’s victory in Toulon. Richie Arnold and Cameron Woki both had outstanding seasons for Toulouse and Racing 92, respectively.

3. Thomas du Toit (Bath): In a roaring performance at the Rec, the versatile prop put on another incredible display, wreaking havoc in both the tight and the loose. While Michael Alaalatoa, his opposite number, was excellent in the park and brought in the melancholy of western France, Uini Atonio was a vital cog for La Rochelle, and it was no surprise that as he faded, so did his team’s prospects.

2 Harry Thacker (Bristol Bears): The versatile hooker has been very good for his team and seems to be unable to stop scoring, but the England selections never seem to notice it. Tom Dunn, who extended his good play with a try against Ulster, may perhaps agree, as Dan Sheehan’s accurate line-out proved to be a crucial factor in Leinster’s victory in La Rochelle.

1. Joe Marler (Harlequins): There was some discussion over this one at Planet Rugby Towers, but this time it was the England prop’s work in the tackle and carry areas of the play that won him the game, along with a turnover that notably stopped a Racing 92 comeback. Our second option was Beno Obano, who deserves special recognition for his significant development in scrambling.