With another breathless festive weekend of Premiership action behind us, Wallabies legend David Campese joins us to select his Team of the Week for Round Nine.

eToro Premiership Team of the Week

15 Freddie Steward (Leicester Tigers): I was half tempted to pick Marcus Smith here as he had his best moments when playing from the backfield! But Steward has been working on his attacking game and it shows. Saints’ George Hendy and Chiefs’ Josh Hodge both need a shout out for excellent showings.

14 Tom Roebuck (Sale Sharks): A try scorer in the most impressive result of the weekend – Roebuck is heading for Test honours when Steve Borthwick names his squad on January 14. Joe Cokanasiga was great with ball in hand despite some defensive errors in the air.

13 Ollie Lawrence (Bath Rugby): As sharp as a tack and looking a Lion in the making, he grabbed another try and made several others in a great display. Saints’ Tom Litchfield worked well in their midfield, whilst Rob du Preez was once again magnificent for Sale Sharks.

12 Luke Northmore (Harlequins): I’d have Northmore alongside Lawrence in the England midfield. Outstanding in defence and he just edges the shirt over Saints’ Fraser Dingwall and Exeter’s Tamati Tua. A shout out too, to Cam Redpath, who scored for Bath.

11 Will Muir (Bath Rugby): A hat-trick hero in the Sarries thrashing, Muir was big, quick and powerful. Cadan Murley and Ollie Hassell-Collins both impressed as they scored three tries between them in the Big Game.

10 Fin Smith (Northampton Saints): Whenever I pick my Premiership 10 it’s either a Fin(n) or a Smith. This week we’ve got both as the Saints playmaker shone. George Ford was outstanding for Sale, Finn Russell his usual brilliant self for Bath and a mention to Henry Slade, thriving at 10 for Chiefs.

9 Raffi Quirke (Sale Sharks): Quirke demonstrated just how much England are missing his support to Alex Mitchell, another who shone in a big win for Saints. Ben Spencer also impressed in a great week for scrum-halves, but I was almost tempted to go for a man on the losing team, Tomos Williams, who was brilliant for Gloucester in defeat.

The forwards

8 Olly Cracknell (Leicester Tigers): The big eight is doing his best to fill the massive shoes of Jasper Wiese. Given Wales’ issues, they’d do worse than look at him since he’s dual qualified. Greg Fisilau carried tirelessly for Chiefs, and Henry Pollock gave us another cameo for Saints.

7 Ben Curry (Sale Sharks): The lesser Curry was as hot as you like as he inspired the nilling of Bears. England have a lot of sevens, but they don’t have many that have the size and lineout s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s of Tom Pearson, who grabbed two in the Saints romp. Lewis Ludlow almost inspired a Gloucester fightback at Exeter.

6 Ethan Roots (Exeter Chiefs): A display of real abrasion for the Chiefs blindside sees him take the shirt this week. Ted Hill was another six that shone, as did Roots’ opposite number, Jack Clement, a man that often goes under the radar in England selection debate.

5 Jonny Hill (Sale Sharks): How England need a fit, firing and focused version of the huge Hill. Test rugby is about big, big locks these days and he’s exactly that. Alex Coles is more of a hybrid five cum six but equally essential to England’s plans.

4 Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter Chiefs): Just as England need a firing Hill, so Wales need Jenkins back to his very best and he was close to it on Sunday. Sale’s Ernst van Rhyn dug deep in a 80 minute shift for Sale.

3 Trevor Davison (Northampton Saints): A toss-up between Davison and one of the best players on the planet, Thomas du Toit. But big Trev’s brace against his former club Newcastle Falcons just seals the deal as he presses for international honours.

2 Dan Frost (Exeter Chiefs): An all-action display from a remarkably mobile hooker, Frost epitomised Chiefs’ belief and started the rot with a try from short range and is my Player of the Week. Julian Montoya gave everything for Leicester in their draw at Twickenham, whilst Luke Cowan-Dickie also shone for Sale.

1 Bevan Rodd (Sale Sharks): Is there a more mobile prop around? He’s like a fourth back-rower and if his scrummaging continues to improve, he’ll be there or thereabouts for England. Scott Sio repelled all that Gloucester threw at him, whilst Beno Obano enjoyed a spirited outing for Bath.