Round Two First XV
By DC

Some fantastic games this weekend, high scoring entertaining thrillathons, in my opinion some of the best viewing I have seen since the paparazzi caught Kelly Brook sunbathing topless. I had originally intended to write a review of the best game, but come on there were some serious classics. Instead I have decided to try and pick the key performances, the stand out players, the ones that stole the show and made the difference.

15. Paul Warwick (Munster): when your backs are against the wall you need someone to stand up and make the difference – step up Paul Warwick. With the mighty Red Army ten points down and the game already twenty minutes old, Warwick came to the party. He moved the chains with clinical kicks and hard running. He lit the blue paper and changed the game – an unexpected role model to drag the team and the crowd out of the daze caused by a petulant Treviso.

Also considered: Scott Hamilton (Leicester) – three tries, a serious asset to the Tigers attack great game.

14. Takudzwa Ngwenya (Biarritz): It has to be, plain and simple – there were some other standout performances but for me Ngwenya was sublime. When he first dusted Habana in the World Cup he attracted the eye of many a coach and critic – he was a straight-line dynamo. But back then he lacked defence and a rugby brain – he has been to the University of Wing play and passed with flying colours. He crossed for a hat trick and always looked dangerous with the ball in hand, a soul shattering performance.

Also considered: Napolini Nalaga (Clermont) the massive winger bashed and crashed his way through tackle after tackle, if not for a brilliant cover tackle by Shane Williams the game could have had a different outcome.

13. Matt Carraro (Bath): He was in the middle of it all, dangerous line breaks and a thirst for the ball you would want from an outside centre. He broke the game line, danced around and powered through countless tackles. He has some serious skills to pay those bills and thoroughly deserved his try.

Also considered: David Marty (Perpignan): quick thinking and dangerous with the ball in hand, showed some blistering pace for his try.

11. Matt Banahan (Bath): Sunday’s performance, without a doubt put the Human Hummer into a starting place on the wing in the upcoming internationals. He was always looking for the ball and for the lion’s share of the game was a constant destructive threat to Stade. One of the finest performances I have seen from the young man mountain, there are some touches of genuine class to his game as well as the obvious destructive running.

Also considered: Yves Donguy (Toulouse) another big performance from the battering ram winger.

12. Lee Thomas (Sale): for me the performance of the weekend, he was at the heart of everything that Sale did well – he managed to keep Lions and fellow Welsh man Jamie Roberts very quiet. Thomas stepped up to the plate and into the Welsh squad in my opinion – the man has talent, great hands, hard running, a big boot and a serious tackle – could you want for anything more in an inside centre? Thomas was simply awe-inspiring.

Also considered: Ashley Smith (Dragons) – the young Dragon continues to impress, his tackling defies his size while his running has a certain cerebral quality to it.

10. Steven Jones (Scarlets): Jones pulled the strings of the only real upset of the round, he was at his game controlling, level headed, cool as Fonzy best. He held his nerve and made all the right moves at all the right times. Jones is a big game player and he brings class to any side a massive influence in a Scarlet’s side that has exploded into form since the return of the Count. You can never write him off, a great in the game that does not get anywhere near the praise he should have.

Also considered: Nick Evans (Quins) – he barked and bossed his side all around the park a brilliant performance.

9. Dimitri Yachvili (Biarritz): the little General bossed and controlled the game like a genius – he moved the Biarritz battle tank around with the expert cunning of Panzer Commander. He was the heartbeat of a dominating destructive Biarritz performance, after a performance like that both Dragons and Glasgow will not be looking forward to their away fixtures.

Also considered: Julien Dupuy (Stade Francais) once again a performance that broke Bath hearts from the Tintin look alike.

8. Ryan Jones (Ospreys): Back to his dominating best, he broke the gain line every single time, I never saw him go back only forwards. The Welsh captain is back to his defence bashing best, for those who doubted him – shame on you. If the Ospreys had 14 more players with his heart, they would be capable of World domination. A Goliath of a performance.

Also considered: Sisa Koyamibole (Sale Sharks): Like a Rhino on a motorbike he smashed through everything.

7. Thierry Dusautoir (Toulouse): The man is powered by tackles, every time he hits hard it vitalises him, seems to spur him on to hit more and more, harder and harder. He has just been made French captain, if he leads his country with the same passion and power he plays with then the Six Nations better watch out. Never backs down, never tires, never gives up – like a French Terminator.

Also considered: Gavin Thomas (Dragons) – the Dragons own Terminator, another honest shift from the ex Scarlet.

6. Jerry Collins (Ospreys): Collins turned back the years to put on a stunning performance, he was always in support and devastating on the front foot. Even with a yellow card he still managed to produce a stunning performance, many have criticised the Ospreys for signing Collins – he has proved that he would fight and die for the cause.

Also considered: Dan Lydiate (Dragons): did the youngster do enough to attract the attention of the Welsh selectors – I think so.

5. Luke Charteris (Dragons): A fine performance from the giant Welshman, a true captain’s performance. He dominated the line out and was at the heart of the defence; he rallied the Dragons to stave off the Warriors constant second half pressure. Sealing an excellent performance with a well-worked try.

Also considered: Pelu Taele (Biarritz): a strong, hard working performance in the Biattitz battle tank engine room.

4. James Gaskell (Sale Sharks): 19 years old and already being tipped as a superstar of the future, looked equally at home in the second row or the back row where he ended the game. Scored one and was integral in Schofield’s try – a massive performance from such a young talent – the future is bright the future is Gaskell.

Also considered: Leo Cullen (Leinster) yet another fine performance from the Leinster troll.

3. Deacon Manu (Scarlets) He held his own against an impressive London Irish front five, great in the tight and an option in the loose. Huge performances in the last two games have led to him being touted as a possible replacement for the injured Adam Jones in the rapidly approaching Autumn Internationals.

Also considered: Thomas Domingo (Clermont) came off bench to change the game and almost the result.

2. Matthew Rees (Scarlets): the returning Lion was immense, he was solid and abrasive – he was a pure example of the Scarlets mentality – gritty, hard and in your face. He brought his Lion’s form to the game and was superb.

Also considered: Mario Ledesma (Clermont) the old warhorse was hard hitting and dominating.

1. Andrew Sheridan (Sale) – until the injury he was dominating in the scrum and dangerous in defence. His shoulder injury means he could possibly miss the Six Nations, a massive loss for England and Sale. A true giant of a man, that plays with his head up, he is a monster in the scrum and adds his weight to the rucks and mauls.

Also considered: Gethin Jenkins (Cardiff Blues): great to see the big man back, on his day he is simply the best loose head in the world.

Some massive performances and I hope that I have started a debate, I would hate to think I had been predictable, but feel free correct me where I have gone wrong on my message board.