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dream team

Here's our Irish team of the weekend after the last round of the Champions Cup pool stage

It was an unbeaten weekend for the Irish provinces in Champions Cup action.

15. Simon Zebo

Simon Zebo scores a try Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

There wasn’t anything at stake for Munster against Sale but Zebo still excelled at fullback, carrying the ball 18 times for 118 metres. Those huge tallies contributed to the Corkman scoring two of Munster’s ten tries on the day.

14. Fergus McFadden

He showed nice strength to fend off Tom Varndell for his try and McFadden worked hard all day for Leinster. He showed an eagerness to run back kicks, which saw him finish as one of Leinster’s top carriers on the day.

13. Darren Cave

Darren Cave runs in his second try Presseye / Darren Kidd/INPHO Presseye / Darren Kidd/INPHO / Darren Kidd/INPHO

Cave’s strong season continued with a lovely hat-trick against Leicester. None of his tries required spectacular breaks but for all of them Cave showed great awareness to track his team-mates runs and strength to finish them off.

12. Ivan Dineen

Most Munster fans probably wanted JJ Hanrahan to be sprung from the bench after Dennis Hurley got injured early on but Dineen turned in one of his best Munster performances. He made a series of half-breaks and it will give him a big confidence boost as Munster turn their attention to the Pro12.

11. Craig Gilroy

When Gilroy sets off on one of his fun-runs, it gets you out of your seat. His pirouette in the build up to one of the Ulster tries was sensational and with Dave Kearney’s injury, Gilroy might have forced himself into Joe Schmidt’s plans.

10. Ian Humphreys

Ian Humphreys dejected after his try was disallowed Ian Cook / INPHO Ian Cook / INPHO / INPHO

He is firmly entrenched as Paddy Jackson’s back-up but Humphreys’ beautiful dart and instinctive offload for Cave’s try should give Ulster fans hope that they can cope with Jackson’s injury.

9. Duncan Williams

Like Dineen, Williams has gotten a lot of stick this season but will have silenced the doubters for a little while at least with a solid effort against Sale.

1. Michael Bent

The Leinster scrum was under a bit of pressure against Wasps at the RDS but Bent was part of a much improved effort in Coventry on Saturday.

2. Duncan Casey

After the lineout debacle against Saracens, Casey was under a bit of scrutiny going into yesterday’s encounter but that part of Munster’s game was much improved as they only lost one lineout all day.

3. Marty Moore

Marty Moore tackled by Bradley Davies Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO

Over the last three weekends Moore has played himself into the Ireland side. His scrummaging was very strong against Wasps and he tackled ferociously as well.

4. Devin Toner

Leinster’s lineout was perfect on Saturday and Toner was a huge reason for that. He has been one of the most consistent performers for Matt O’Connor this year.

5. Alan O’Connor

Seven lineout successes for O’Connor gave Ulster a great platform to launch attacks and they took full advantage.

6. Iain Henderson

Iain Henderson and Mike McComish Presseye / Darren Kidd/INPHO Presseye / Darren Kidd/INPHO / Darren Kidd/INPHO

Henderson justified his selection in Joe Schmidt’s extended 6 Nations squad with a physical performance in his return from injury. He was on the bench for last year’s tournament and he staked his claim for inclusion once again.

7. Jordi Murphy

Murphy’s made a big impact since returning from injury and after great early season performances from Dominic Ryan it looks like the former Blackrock schoolboy has nudged back ahead in the pecking order.

8. Roger Wilson

Wilson was Ulster’s second highest ball carrier and made a team-high 18 tackles. A very busy performance from the number eight.

They’re out of the Champions Cup but Glasgow scored one of the tries of the season today

Here is the complete quarter-final line-up in the inaugural Champions Cup

 

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