Sent to Coventry no bad thing
Wasps 32 Toulon 6
Wasps are a dominant force once again
Can bricks and mortar really make that much of a difference? Even the most ardent Wasps fans will be pinching themselves at this turn of events, many, many of them unsure initially about the move to the Ricoh Arena almost exactly 12 months ago, a distant bowl of a stadium that has become a throbbing backdrop to a great success story.
It was move or go bust, according to Wasps' powers that be, but few, if any, imagined the upturn would be so dramatic.
James Gaskell shone against Toulon Photo: GETTY IMAGES
It is as if the club have thought big and the players have bought into that concept. This was a decisive victory, probably Wasps' best performance since they actually won the European Cup in 2007. There was a rejuvenated performances from lock James Gaskell, keen to show the new England head coach, Eddie Jones, that he should be considered in dispatches, while No 8 Nathan Hughes continues his march towards eligibility and a future England career - Mick Cleary
Player of the Week
David Strettle (Clermont)
David Strettle is another Englishman shining in France Photo: AFP
Another Englishman heads to France and immediately plays like one of the continent's finest. The former Saracen scored twice against Ospreys; both tries were sensational.
Try of the Week
Tom Habberfield (Ospreys)
Tom Habberfield scored the try of the round
This try was worth two points to Ospreys and it was a stunner as they broke from their own half, offloaded at will and the scrum-half crashed over for one of the tries of the season.
Team of the Week
Hero of the Week
Dai Young (Wasps)
Dai Young has done wonders at Wasps
Young's achievements at Wasps are little short of miraculous. Having once paid for the cash-strapped side's petrol, the Welshman deserves says such as Sunday.
Villain of the Week
Bernard le Roux (Racing 92)
Bernard le Roux was shown red
The red card may have been a little harsh but Le Roux's stamp on Scarlets' Paul James was petulant and needless, particularly with his side 26-0 ahead and cruising.
Toulon v Bath simply must happen
Both Toulon and Bath want to play their cancelled fixture
So when will the postponed Toulon v Bath match be played? That is now becoming an even more eager question given that Pool 5 is shaping up to be one of the great European Pools with Wasps' two stunning victories so far, the champions Toulon to improve, Bath sure to get better and even Leinster might still have a say, however small.
At least it seems that the match will be played, after Bath chairman Bruce Craig at one stage had suggested it would not.
EPCR said as much last week: "To assist clubs from the three leagues with their short-term planning, all parties are in agreement that the postponed matches will not be scheduled for the weekends of 27/28/29 November or 4/5/6 December.
"However, as previously clarified, EPCR and the leagues remain adamant that all postponed fixtures in the European Rugby Champions Cup and Challenge Cup will be played."
Mourad Boudjellal's idea of playing it during the Six Nations won't happen Photo: AFP
And then Bath's head coach Mike Ford said on Saturday night: "It will definitely be played; but not in the two league rounds coming up or the Christmas period. Early January is the most likely and there is no question of it not going ahead."
But when, with no free weekends because of a tighter schedule than usual after the Rugby World Cup? We can surely dismiss the suggestion of Mourad Boudjellal, Toulon's president, that it could take place during the Six Nations, but could it be played in midweek?
"There is obviously a player welfare issue with games of this intensity," says Bath captain Stuart Hooper. "But what is clear is that from the lads we obviously completely respect the decision not to play the match last week. The lads were disappointed because we wanted to play the game, we wanted to go there and challenge ourselves against Toulon. As and when the game is scheduled we will be ready and excited to play."
So they should be. This game simply must take place, even if some big decisions have to be made to ensure so. The whole credibility of the tournament depends upon it - Steve James
Picture of the Week
Toulon's minute silence in Coventry
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