MY TEAM OF THE WEEK

TRY OF THE WEEK

SO many contenders. Andrew Conway’s for Munster was a fine solo effort, but the defence parted in front of him. Scott Williams rounded off a stunning Scarlets raid, as did Leone Nakarawa for Racing 92, but this column’s vote goes to Peter Betham for his supreme finish, from a stunning long pass by Morgan Parra, at the end of a slick, high-octane Clermont attack.

POIGNANT FAREWELL

SIMON ZEBO was making his final European appearance for Munster at Thomond Park and it wasn’t meant to finish as it did, with an enforced early exit due to injury. But at least it allowed the locals to send him off with a rousing ovation, as the full back fought to hold back tears.

REUNION OF THE WEEK

MANY of the great and the good from Llanelli’s glory days were at Parc y Scarlets, among a full house. Tickets sold out in 45 minutes to see the fixture against La Rochelle and the Scarlets reach a first European semi-final since 2007. This was the occasion to prove that the much-derided regional system can work. If the teams perform, the Welsh public will respond.