10. Marcus Smith (Harlequins)
In the battle of the Smiths that took centre stage on Friday night, Marcus and Fin faced off as the two fly halves led out their respective Harlequins and Northampton Saints. Whilst it was Fin’s Saints that marched triumphantly on with the win, Marcus put in the better performance of the too halfbacks, with two tries, solid kicking and an all-round classy playmaking approach, taking him up a rung in the perceived England fly half pecking order this Autumn.
9. Tomos Williams (Gloucester)
The Welsh scrum half is another player to retain their spot in Ruck’s Team of the Week, after being the best man on the pitch in Gloucester’s epic 44-41 win over Bristol. Williams kicked on with such momentum, and was over to score two tries in Gloucester’s hard-fought defeat to Sale Sharks this past Friday night.
1. Rhys Carre (Saracens)
The third and final player to retain their place in Ruck’s Team of the Week, Saracens prop Rhys Carre is amongst the most consistent loose-heads in the Premiership at the moment. The Welshman could well get the nod for an inclusion in Warren Gatland’s Autumn Series squad, as he once again got the better of his opposite man, as the Sarries pack overwhelmed the travelling Chiefs forwards.
2. Luke Cowan-Dickie (Sale Sharks)
With three tries in his past two Premiership matches, there is plenty of backing behind Luke Cowan-Dickie’s recent re-calling to the England training squad. Re-wind a year and it looked like the hooker was finished with the England team, following his link to Montpellier, but now he is paving the way as Alex Sanderson’s first choice hooker, with a brace against Newcastle.
3. Max Lahiff (Bristol Bears)
The Bristol tight-head was tasked to go head-to-head with Ben Obano at the scrum, and proved his qualities by getting the better of the England fringe prop. Obano has since been left out of the England squad for the Autumn Series camp, and you would wander how much of the final decision came down to Lahiff’s impressive manhandling of the Bath loose-head.
