CLOSE-UP

LEWIS LUDLOW Gloucester blindside v MAX NORTHCOTE-GREEN London Irish openside

Ludlow is the league’s top tackler and he produced another standout performance here, with 14 tackles and a hugely energetic display. He was at the heart of a near perfect Gloucester forward operation that laid a platform Irish could not deal with. By contrast, Northcote-Green struggled to get into the contest and was subbed. A clear verdict to Ludlow.