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Heineken Cup: Team of the week round six

We select our best XV from the final round of the group stage

Jack de Menezes

Monday 20 January 2014 12:09 GMT

15. Alex Goode England are blessed with some real talent at full-back, with both Goode and Mike Brown starring this weekend. Goode takes the spoils though, gliding through the Connacht defence as if they weren't on the pitch in his way to 177 metres and a (GETTY IMAGES)

The final round of the Heineken Cup group stages came to an end on Sunday, and we now know who will compete in the last eight after the qualifying positions were locked down.

Leinster solidified their progression on Friday night with a landslide 36-3 victory over the Ospreys, who were reduced to 14-men when Wales international lock Ian Evans was shown a red card for alleged stamping. The result meant that Northampton’s 13-3 win at Castres was only enough to see them through to the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

On Saturday, Saracens tore apart Irish side Connacht 64-6 to claim one of the two best runners-up spots, but results elsewhere means they qualified as eighth seeds and face a daunting trip to Ravenhill to take on Ulster. Toulouse struggled to a 16-6 win in Zebre, meaning they let slip a potential home semi-final draw and will have to win at the fortress that is Thomond Park when they take on Munster.

Toulon battled to a 15-8 win in Edinburgh, holding off a late comeback to book a home quarter-final with former champions Leinster. In the same pool, Exeter Chiefs salvaged some pride with a 19-13 win over the Cardiff Blues in Wales.

In the tie of the weekend, Ulster triumphed in a hard-fought war with Leicester Tigers at Welford Road, as 22 points from scrum-half Ruan Pienaar saw them booked their place as top seeds, with the Tigers going through as the other best runners-up. Montpellier saw off Benetton Treviso 24-6 in a dead rubber.

Munster kicked-off Sunday’s action looking for a bonus point win to secure a home draw, and that’s exactly what they got through a 38-6 mauling of Glasgow Warriors. Gloucester recorded an impressive 36-18 win at Perpignan to reach the Amlin Challenge Cup quarters.

Finally, Clermont Auvergne continued their unbeaten home run – now an incredible 71 matches – with a 28-3 win over struggling Racing Metro, while Harlequins secured a nail-biting 22-20 win at the Llanelli Scarlets to join Saints and Gloucester in the Amlin.

Heineken Cup: Team of the week round six

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Heineken Cup: Team of the week round six

1. Mako Vunipola - Saracens

The England loosehead made a barrelling run to set-up Saracens' first try, breaking through two defenders and making a considerable gain. Scrummaged well, which hasn't always been his strong point, but it was his presence in the loose that really impressed.

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Heineken Cup: Team of the week round six

2. Dave Ward - Harlequins

The standout hooker of the round. Hit every line-out and won every scrum, what more could you ask from the man? Beat 4 defenders which really gave Quins an impetus in attack, and reliable in defence when needed.

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Heineken Cup: Team of the week round six

3. Stephen Archer - Munster

Archer coped brilliantly in the scrum, helping to make Munster's second try for Johne Murphy with a brilliant attack on Edinburgh's Alasdair Dickenson. A major reason that the Irish stalwarts had such a dominance on their opposition.

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Heineken Cup: Team of the week round six

4. Courtney Lawes - Northampton Saints

Lawes is certainly hitting his best form. At the right time, and he looks a shoe-in for England's starting XV against France in a fortnight. The lock made plenty of charging runs, tiring out the Castres defence in the process.

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Heineken Cup: Team of the week round six

5. Jamie Cudmore - Clermont Auvergne

The veteran of a Clermont pack that looks unstoppable at present. The bonus-point win over Racing Metro showed that the French side are willing to roll their sleeves up in tough conditions and battle it out, and more often than not Cudmore will be leading from the front.

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Heineken Cup: Team of the week round six

6. Gerhard Vosloo - Clermont Auvergne

The towering South African certainly played his part this week, scoring twice for Clermont as they booked a home quarter-final against Leicester. The finish for his first was Vosloo at his powerful best, brushing off two defenders to crash over on the wing.

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Heineken Cup: Team of the week round six

7. Chris Henry - Ulster

A sublime 20 tackles from Henry helped Ulster record a memorable and exhilarating victory over Leicester. The open side had visibly given his all at full-time, and he we figure prominently I. The latter stages in what is a very strong Ulster side.

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Heineken Cup: Team of the week round six

8. Steffon Armitage - Toulon

The English flanker showed he can also be a reliable selection at Number 8, having been rightly named man of the match in Toulon's narrow win over Glasgow. With some of his teammates clearly rattled by the cold, wet conditions in the north, Armitage led by example with his brilliant defence providing turnover after turnover. A strong week at 8, with Jamie Heaslip and James Coughlan also getting a deserved mention.

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Heineken Cup: Team of the week round six

9. Ruan Pienaar - Ulster

22 points against Leicester at Welford Road? Not many players can boast that, but Pienaar is not just any player. His charge down in the first half rattled Toby Flood, before his second led to his try, and his long range accuracy with the boot was as prominent as ever.

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Heineken Cup: Team of the week round six

10. Toby Flood - Leicester Tigers

Despite his error costing Leicester the win, Flood was instrumental in keeping the Tigers in the contest. Unlocked the brilliant Ulster defence with a deft chip that allowed Niall Morris to rush onto for a try, and solid from the tee to keep the scoreboard ticking.

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Heineken Cup: Team of the week round six

11. David Strettle - Saracens

How do you respond to being continually overlooked by England? A hat-trick of tries isn't a bad start. Strettle was handed his first on a plate by Duncan Taylor, but finished his second and third tries well, with a perfect chip and chase completing his haul as Saracens celebrated their progression into the last eight.

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Heineken Cup: Team of the week round six

12. Wesley Fofana - Clermont Auvergne

A second consecutive selection for the Frenchman, and he will surely be France's most threatening player in the Six Nations. Ran for 78 metres in torrid conditions, and his breaks led to two tries for Clermont. Never mind a star in the future, his star is shining prominently now.

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Heineken Cup: Team of the week round six

13. Jonny May - Gloucester

May has that X-factor in which he needs just a second to take advantage and produce a moment of magic. Capitalising on an interception, May went on a jinking 60m run that left the Perpignan players tackling each other as he ran in to score. Not as far from England selection as you may think.

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Heineken Cup: Team of the week round six

14. Johne Murphy - Munster

Had to switch wings early on to accommodate replacement Simon Zebo, but he had already swerved back-row David Denton brilliantly to score Munster's second. Reliable in defence also allowed full-back Felix Jones break forward.

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Heineken Cup: Team of the week round six

15. Alex Goode - Saracens

England are blessed with some real talent at full-back, with both Goode and Mike Brown starring this weekend. Goode takes the spoils though, gliding through the Connacht defence as if they weren't on the pitch in his way to 177 metres and a try of his own.

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