European rugby Power Rankings 2017/2018: Week seven

Rankings
Ups and downs - Northampton and Saracens, Leinster and Stade Francais

The first of several European weeks and if I'm honest, a tough one to gauge. Big wins in the Champions Cup obviously mean more, given it's a tougher competition, but does that mean the likes of Lyon and Newcastle Falcons who have upset the form book should take a slide even if they win in the Challenge Cup?

Probably not, if all's fair. Which this most certainly is not.

One tumble no one can complain about is Stade Francais after losing to Russian side Krasny Yar - hint, it's a big drop - while there is just one new face in the top ten and no change at number one.

Don't confuse those bits of information however for signifying a lack of movement overall though in the higher positions. It's been a fun week to assess and dissect.

40. Kings (0 wins-6 losses, no change from last week)

39. Brive (1-7, up two)

38. Oyonnax (1-1-6, down three)

37. London Irish (1-6, down one)

36. Worcester (1-6, up three)

No fixture for the Kings, and therefore no movement. Rooting for them to get off the bottom when the Pro14 returns. Brive's sixth defeat of the season benefited Worcester, who thanks to a Joe Taufete'e hat-trick finally get a victory under the belt in 2017/2018 and climb as a result.

Oyonnax's selection showed how seriously they're taking the Challenge Cup - not very - with a big 15-43 defeat at home therefore not a shock, while London Irish's defence remains a big worry. Time for an extra defence coach?

Joe Taufete'e
Joe Taufete'e (red scrum cap) making a tackle on a big day Credit: GETTY IMAGES

35. Ospreys (1-6, up three)

34. Dragons (2-5, down one)

33. Zebre (2-5, down three)

32. Stade Francais (3-5, down ten)

31. Agen (2-6, up three)

No win for the Ospreys at home to Clermont but some signs of life at last with that late comeback to get a losing bonus point, with a couple of nice tries for Dan Evans at full-back. Tight loss at Newcastle for the Dragons which won't worry Bernard Jackman, while Agen's 45-10 win over Zebre means a climb and a fall respectively.

But let's talk about Stade Francais. Now admittedly the Parisians had a rough travel schedule to Siberia, but even so... this is right up there for the biggest ever European shocks and full credit to Krasny, whose five tries all came from their pack including two for Viktor Gresev in the 34-29 upset. Seriously though Stade, even a weak XV shouldn't be losing these matches. Dire stuff.

30. Connacht (2-5, up two)

29. Treviso (3-4, down one)

28. Cardiff Blues (3-4, up three)

27. Edinburgh (3-4, up two)

26. Gloucester (3-4, up one)

Good wins for Connacht and Cardiff Blues over French opposition, Oyonnax and Lyon respectively, with the Blues' bonus point potentially proving very handy come the end of the pool stage shuffle. Rey Lee-Lo was such a top signing.

Treviso being nilled at Bath is tough on morale more than anything and especially given they dominated possession for so long, only to be unable to find a breakthrough. That's more of a confidence breaker than simply being pummeled defensively. Edinburgh won all too easily at the Madejski, possibly cracking a smile out of Richard Cockerill, while Gloucester's late fightback to get a losing bonus point at Pau didn't go unnoticed.

Cardiff Blues
Cardiff Blues defeated the French leaders Lyon Credit: GETTY IMAGES

25. Cheetahs (3-3, no change)

24. Pau (5-3, up one)

23. Sale Sharks (2-1-4, up three)

22. Harlequins (3-4, down two)

21. Northampton (4-3, down nine)

Cheetahs stay put, Pau edge up. Colin Slade is a class act at fly-half for Section Paloise and easily one of the best signings made in France in the last few years. Like what Sale Sharks are doing too, a 20-20 draw at home with in-form Toulouse being nothing to sniff at. Denny Solomona cannot stop scoring and the half-back combination of Faf de Klerk and James O'Connor has the potential to be box office.

No shame in Harlequins falling to La Rochelle - more on them later - but Northampton... man. What an absolute confidence shredder. Two matches against Saracens now in seven weeks and Saints have been outscored 37-112. The response was impressive last time, winning four straight. Although this week's game is no gimmie - with a trip to the Stade Marcel Michelin to face Clermont.

Northampton
One to forget (again) for Northampton Credit: GETTY IMAGES

20. Wasps (2-5, down one)

19. Castres (3-1-4, up two)

18. Leicester Tigers (4-3, down three)

17. Toulouse (5-2-1, down three)

16. Racing 92 (4-4, up seven)

Being unraveled in defence by an old friend in Charles Piutau will hardly have lifted the mood in Coventry as Wasps continue to be hit hard by injuries. This weekend's home clash against Harlequins is a must-win.

In-form Julien Dumora helped Castres to a draw at home to Munster - not a great result, not a disaster either - while Racing take a big leap after their impressive win at home against Leicester Tigers. Leone Nakarawa remains a joy to watch and he was at his best in Paris. Disappointing draw for Toulouse at Sale Sharks having impressed in recent weeks during the Top 14.

Leone Nakarawa
One-man attraction - Leone Nakarawa Credit: AFP

15. Ulster (6-1, up one)

14. Toulon (5-3, up four)

13. UBB (6-2, no change)

12. Clermont (4-4, up five)

11. Munster (4-1-2, down one)

Jacob Stockdale quite rightly getting rave reviews for his efforts out on the wing for Ulster, putting him in the frame to add to the couple of Ireland caps he earned over the summer.

Big fan of how Toulon started their home clash with the Scarlets; less so when it came to how everything petered out towards the end, nearly letting the Pro14 champions snatch a result. The hands for Guilhem Guirado's score were first rate, but this is definitely a developing team under Fabien Galthie, which will happen when you have a 21 year-old at fly-half in Anthony Belleau.

UBB showed Stade Francais how you're meant to perform in Russia with a 57-17 stroll in the park against Enisey STM, managing to rest their front-line players and also run in eight tries. Good climb for Clermont, who much like Toulon started fast in Swansea against the Ospreys before allowing a comeback.

Munster's draw at Castres is an excellent result, taking home two points, although there is no way that should have happened - how was Robin Copeland not penalised for hands in the ruck with Castres looming? Very, very lucky.

Jacob Stockdale
Jacob Stockdale - the future for Ireland on the wing? Credit: SPORTSFILE

10. Newcastle Falcons (5-2, down two)

Good to see Toby Flood make his second win for the Falcons in their back-and-forth tussle with the Dragons, with big names getting a rest as well. Their trip to Bordeaux Begles is probably the pick of the Challenge Cup fixtures in Round 2 and Dean Richards' selection choices will be interesting, with Newcastle at home to Leicester the following week.

9. Lyon (6-2, down four)

Probably too steep a drop for Lyon given how many top players were left at home for the trip to Cardiff to face the Blues, but this was their second defeat of the season going down 29-19. The Top 14 league leaders can't be blamed for focusing on domestic matters given they look a capable top six outfit this season.

8. Leinster (6-1, up three)

Lapped up Montpellier's slow start with a clinical first-half effort, and that lead was ultimately enough for Leinster at the RDS. Joey Carbery really exposed Nemani Nadolo and Jan Serfontein's lack of turning speed and Robbie Henshaw looked in good touch as well. Fascinating test next up away at Glasgow.

Joey Carbery
Joey Carbery outpaces the defence Credit: PA

7. Bath (5-2, no change)

Nilling Treviso at home wouldn't have raised many eyebrows a few years ago but Bath had to work hard in defence to keep the Italians out at The Rec - how about that Semesa Rokoduguni tackle in the corner - providing some much-needed confidence on that side of the ball. Good hands for Zach Mercer's try and Aled Brew produced a superb finish; Bath ticking along nicely.

England
Credit: Telegraph

6. Montpellier (5-3, down three)

Really hoped for a statement from Montpellier at the RDS having signaled their intent with some impressive performances in the Top 14, but it never really happened. Aaron Cruden's control was missed and in truth Leinster ran Vern Cotter's big side a little ragged. The visit of Exeter Chiefs this week is a doozy.

5. Scarlets (5-2, down one)

Defeated at Toulon but what a fightback to only go down 21-20 in the Cote d'Azur, with Leigh Halfpenny nearly getting a fairytale return to his old club. His try was almost comical, gliding through untouched. Giving Toulon that much of a head start admittedly wasn't very smart from the Pro14 champions but the response was admirable.

Johnny McNicholl 
Johnny McNicholl started the Scarlets comeback Credit: AFP

4. La Rochelle (6-2, up five)

Love this team. No Levani Botia at The Stoop, probably their best attacker, and yet La Rochelle still put on a clinic. Too late for a France call-up for Geoffrey Doumayrou? His step and fend on Kyle Sinckler before a one-two with Jason Eaton for his first try was a treat. Reckon Ulster will have a tough time on France's west coast this week.

3. Glasgow Warriors (6-1, down one)

A first loss of the season and Dave Rennie's men left Devon with nothing to show for one hell of an effort on Saturday evening. Good shift from George Turner at hooker and the cross-kick for Tommy Seymour's try was right on the money. A very good side who will expect to clinch the return result in Round 6.

2. Exeter Chiefs (5-2, up four)

Never panicked at 0-10 down against Glasgow and will be better off for the thorough examination. Attacking from close range there are few better sides around - see tries from minimal metres out by Harry Williams, Jonny Hill and the clincher from Sam Simmonds - and they will need that physicality in spades on the road at Montpellier.

1. Saracens (6-1, no change)

What a masterclass at Franklin's Gardens. So strong across the board, whether using crisp passes to pick open defences or simply pummeling them upfront. Liam Williams hasn't missed a beat since taking over Chris Ashton's poacher role and they racked up 57 points, and a sixth win of the season, also without a host of injured back-row forwards including Billy Vunipola. The team to beat.

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