8 England players make first Gallagher Premiership XV of the season

The first Gallagher Premiership XV of the week has been announced with Ugo Monye selecting a side featuring no less than eight England internationals.

The team was based on standout performances in the opening round of this season's competition. All bar one of the fifteen was the winning side as the English top flight opened its doors once again.

The front row sees Sale Sharks’ Bevan Rodd at loosehead prop, joined by Saracens hooker Theo Dan and Bath tighthead Will Stuart. These three provided powerful performances at set-piece and in the loose, with Stuart and Rodd both making significant contributions to their teams.

In the second row, Harry Wells of Leicester Tigers is picked alongside Saracens’ Maro Itoje, who shone in Saracens' win over Gloucester. Itoje was named Saracens club captain earlier month, taking over from Owen Farrell who is now playing his rugby for Racing 92 in France.

The back row is made up of another Saracen pick with Andy Onyeama-Christie at blindside flanker, Bath’s Miles Reid on the openside and Sale’s Jean-Luc du Preez at No.8. Reid’s performance against Northampton Saints stood out, particularly for his work at the breakdown and in defence in what was his 100th club appearance.

At scrum-half, Bath's Ben Spencer is selected alongside England fly-half George Ford - who had a masterful display in steering Sale to a Sunday afternoon win over Harlequins at Salford Community Stadium.

In the backline, Saracens' Rotimi Segun takes the left wing spot with Will Butt at inside centre. They are joined by Bristol's Benhard Janse van Rensburg at outside centre and Exeter Chiefs' Immanuel Feyi-Waboso on the right wing; who makes the selection despite his side's loss to Leicester Tigers at Sandy Park.

A fifth Saracens player - Max Malins - slots in at fullback to complete Monye's selection.