FOY'S EUROPEAN VERDICT: Hassell-Collins stars while Minozzi has howler

CHRIS FOY’S EUROPEAN VERDICT: Ollie Hassell-Collins stars in dramatic victory for London Irish, Wasps’ Matteo Minozzi suffers agonising howler… and Seb Davies shows off his attacking repertoire

  • There was a late try for London Irish’s Ollie Hassell-Collins in the Challenge Cup
  • Wasps were left to rue a blundered try during their tight defeat to Clermont 
  • Seb Davies and Jamie George impressed for very different reasons this weekend
  • Edinburgh capitulated in a thumping 56-3 defeat to Racing 92 on Sunday

There was some dramatic action in the latest round of games in the European Rugby Challenge Cup.

There was a late win for London Irish against Cardiff, several players starred while Edinburgh suffered a humiliating defeat against Racing 92.   

Sportsmail’s Chris Foy gives his verdict on the weekend’s action and also names his team of the week.

London Irish secured a dramatic late victory in the European Challenge Cup against Cardiff

OLLIE GOOD SHOW 

The most dramatic game of the weekend came in the Challenge Cup as London Irish snatched a last-gasp victory over Cardiff.

They did so with a superb long-range try, as Ollie Hassell-Collins burst out of his own half to launch a dynamic raid which ended with Curtis Rona touching down.

Ollie Hassell-Collins burst out of his own-half to score the game winning try for London Irish

WASTED MAGIC

Wasps started superbly against Clermont and Matteo Minozzi appeared to conjure one of the best solo tries of the season as he carved through in midfield, chipped ahead, regathered and dived over the line. 

But replays showed he had spilled the ball in a tackle. 

It was an agonising howler.

Matteo Minozzi was left to rue spilling the ball when scoring a try in defeat to Clermont

SEB’S BOOT-IFUL MOMENT 

The Irish-Cardiff clash was awash with creativity but one highlight stood out, when visiting lock Seb Davies showed the unexpected scope of his attacking repertoire.

The former centre galloped clear, carrying one-handed, then had the skill to deliver a precise cross-kick for Josh Adams to score. Brilliant.

GEORGE IS SCREEN STAR 

Jamie George was impressive as a pundit for BT Sport at the Wasps-Clermont game on Saturday. 

The England hooker is yet another articulate and intelligent front-row forward — offering real insight and a natural, relaxed style on camera. Whenever he stops playing, a broadcast career beckons.

Jamie George impressed as a pundit during Wasps game against Clermont on BT Sport

LITTERED WITH CLASS

Cheslin Kolbe was a star of South Africa’s World Cup triumph and his electric running for Toulouse illuminates the French and European club scene. 

But he remains a down-to-earth figure, as he proved with some post-match litter-picking to clean up the Thomond Park pitch on Saturday.

SCOTS’ BIG COMEDOWN  

Edinburgh capitulated against Racing 92 on Sunday — losing 56-3 and shipping seven tries. 

Their Scotland contingent were back in Paris, nine days after beating France there, to endure a grim comedown. Richard Cockerill, Edinburgh’s head coach, is coveted by rich French clubs and this may convince him it’s time to move on.

Racing 92 were utterly dominant during their Round of 16 victory over Edinburgh on Sunday

TEAM OF THE WEEK

K Matsushima (Clermont); T Thomas (Racing 92), G Moala (Clermont), L Botia (La Rochelle), K Earls (Munster); R Ntamack (Toulouse), A Dupont (Toulouse); B Harris (Wasps), C Chat (Racing 92), C Faumuina (Toulouse); W Skelton (La Rochelle), J Hill (Exeter); G Coombes (Munster), J Joseph (Racing), J Vermeulen (Exeter).




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