Pro 12 team of the season

This is bound to crop up soon enough so I'm throwing it out there to coincide with the try of the season thread. Should be based on Pro12 and not HEC performances. I haven't decided on a full team yet myself so I'm open to suggestions. My initial picks are (there will of course be an ulster tint to my team)

1. Grant/Court
2. Owens
3. Afoa
4. Pavanello
5.Swinson
6. Strauss
7. Tommy O'Donnell
8. Williams
9. Matawalu
10. Madigan
11. hard to leave out Visser (again)
12.Scott Williams
13.Dunbar
14. Trimble
15. Payne


Also nominate a player of the season.
For me Nick Williams.

I would have Ghiraldini at hooker.
Swinson and Snyman at locks, Barclay openside and possibly Diack or Strauss blindside.
Agreed with the selection above for the rest.

I think Olding could be a surprise for the 12 shirt, played very few games to be fair, but has MOTM in most of them

However DTH Van Der Merwe desevers a spot joint second top try scorer, not sure if he's mostly used at wing or center, but if center I'd give him the 12 spot (yes ahead of Olding above, due to more appearances)

Vainakolo on the wing maybe instead of Visser?

Not sure what Robert Barbieri's back row basics are like but he's got 7 tries in 10 appearances

Threw in a few I agree with above. Any Leinster fans got any suggestions? I can't think of anyone stellar other than madigan

Pavanello in the second row. Not only has he had a great season for Treviso and Italy but he's the Treviso captain and has been central to their fantastic season.

Sold me Dodger! Can't think of locks that have been standout

Kingshu wrote:I think Olding could be a surprise for the 12 shirt, played very few games to be fair, but has MOTM in most of them

However DTH Van Der Merwe desevers a spot joint second top try scorer, not sure if he's mostly used at wing or center, but if center I'd give him the 12 spot (yes ahead of Olding above, due to more appearances)

DTH has only played on the wing for Glasgow this season. Alex Dunbar has an excellent Pro 12 season and would not be a reach if he made the Pro 12 team of the year.

Ryan Grant has played in 13 of the 23 Pro 12 games, which I would say is (just) enough to justify selection in a Select team.

Standulstermen wrote:Sold me Dodger! Can't think of locks that have been standout

Tim Swinson has been impressive I think.

No Leinster standouts bar el Mago...

Ryan Grant, Ken Owens, John Afoa, Tim Swinson, Al Kellock, Josh Strauss, Robert Barbieri, Nick Williams, Niko Matawalu, Paddy Jackson, Andrew Trimble, Peter Horne, Brian O'Driscoll, Brendan Williams, Isa Nacewa

Player of the Season; Niko Matawalu

Duncan Weir at 10 for me all day, also I would have Tom Prydie as my fullback. I will rack my brain for the rest of the team and post it on here later.

Player of the Season; Niko Matawalu for me well

Its funny but looking at most of the teams, they are mostly forgien players.

I'd say its becuase the best international players don't play enough to qualify, therefore we have a Pro 12 team of the season made up of promising youngsters and non S/W/I/I players.

North is joint 2nd top try scorer and desevers a mention.

Can't say I agree with Brendan Williams Notch, he played very well against Ulster but how was the rest of his season?

Robert Barbieri deserves a place,

Would have DTH van der Merwe on the wing ahead of Visser any time tbh.

Ryan Grant, Ken Owens, John Afoa, Tim Swinson, Antonio Pavanello, Josh Strauss, Justin Tipuric, Nick Williams, Niko Matawalu, Ian Madigan, Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall, Alex Dunbar, Andy Fenby, Simon Zebo,

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Would have DTH van der Merwe on the wing ahead of Visser any time tbh.

so would I.

RuggerRadge2611 wrote:

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Would have DTH van der Merwe on the wing ahead of Visser any time tbh.

so would I.

I'll third that. Visser started the season on fire, but since December has vanished.

No Edinburgh player should even be mentioned in dispatches. A couple have been decent, but nothing approaching team of the season status.

IanBru wrote:Ryan Grant, Ken Owens, John Afoa, Tim Swinson, Antonio Pavanello, Josh Strauss, Justin Tipuric, Nick Williams, Niko Matawalu, Ian Madigan, Andrew Trimble, Luke Marshall, Alex Dunbar, Andy Fenby, Simon Zebo,

This is a decent effort. I'd have Payne at 15, switch Zebo to left wing (possibly DTH instead) and Trimble to right wing in place of Fenby (close call that).

I don't know Pavanello, but agree certainly that Swinson deserves to be there for sheer consistency. Muller or Tuouy must be in with a shout at lock, or Leo Cullen possibly.

Stuart Olding has been more impressive than Luke Marshall for me.

Olding was certainly excellent at Murrayfield for Ulster, even in defeat. Very clever centre, always ball in two hands looking for options.

Still - I rate Marshall highly as well. One missed opportunity aside, he made a couple of very decent breaks at Murrayfield against Scotland (again, in defeat ).

Ryan Bevington could be a surprise and i wouldn't be surprised at all if he feature in this dream team.

Other honorable mention could be Faloon or Navidi at 7 and Van Schalkwyk at 8.

Matawalu is also my player of the year, and what an exciting one he is.

No way has Matawalu had a better season than Khan Fotuali at 9.
Fotuali is the best 9 playing in the Rabo and the Avivva.

Very much disagree actionman - Matawalu has been absolutely sublime for Glasgow. He cuts teams to shreds at will with his darts and has great game management to go with it and a pretty nifty pass. Fotauli'i for my money has gone back to his old ways in his last few games ie; box kicking aimlessly including the box kicks he does when just outside the opposition 22. Furthermore I don't think he has as good a running game as Matawalu but may have slightly better control from 9.

actionman wrote:No way has Matawalu had a better season than Khan Fotuali at 9.
Fotuali is the best 9 playing in the Rabo and the Avivva.

Hes a more rounded and safe scrumhalf, for sure, and is undoubtedly class, but Matawalu has just provided so much magic this season, and been the talking point of most games hes played in.

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Would have DTH van der Merwe on the wing ahead of Visser any time tbh.

So would I, and Maitland too.

In fact would have Tommy Seymour before Visser

Imperialbigdave wrote:

actionman wrote:No way has Matawalu had a better season than Khan Fotuali at 9.
Fotuali is the best 9 playing in the Rabo and the Avivva.

and been the talking point of most games hes played in.

So has Khan .

Nah, not in the same way. Sorry. Fotuali'i is outstanding but sometimes you just have to take your hat off to a truly gamebreaking player. Matawalu has been remarkable.

Bevington
Owens
Afoa
Swinson
Henderson
Harley
Nalvidi
N Williams
Marshall
O Williams
Van Der Mewe
S Williams
Cave
Gilroy
L Williams

Looks like williams is the new Jones...!

actionman wrote:

Imperialbigdave wrote:

actionman wrote:No way has Matawalu had a better season than Khan Fotuali at 9.
Fotuali is the best 9 playing in the Rabo and the Avivva.

and been the talking point of most games hes played in.

So has Khan .

Nah, Matawalu gets my vote for player of the season. Scored 7 tries himself, which is rather impressive given he's only 2 tries behind the likes of North & DTH. But more importantly the number of tries he's set up / played a major part in for Glasgow this season has been unreal. Glasgow wouldn't be where they are this season were it not for the mad Fijian!

How about we agree to some ground rules to keep the 'my willy is bigger than yours' guff to a minimum? It could be two from each of top 6 plus 3 other players, or 3 from each of top 4 plus 3 other players? It would at least produce a selection that bears some relation to league ranking, and forces folk away from their own team and/or country - just a suggestion

AsLongAsBut100ofUs wrote:How about we agree to some ground rules to keep the 'my willy is bigger than yours' guff to a minimum? It could be two from each of top 6 plus 3 other players, or 3 from each of top 4 plus 3 other players? It would at least produce a selection that bears some relation to league ranking, and forces folk away from their own team and/or country - just a suggestion

I actually don’t think Leinster have had that many standout performers this year As. We’ve won a lot of games off solid team performances, not outstanding individual displays. Madigan has been excellent, Jordi Murphy was very good for us while fit, Fitzgerald was excellent while fit too, Cullen has been a rock for us and McFadden has had a good season, but of all of them I’d say only Madigan would be in with a good shout of making the team of the season.

In fact, with and %86+ kicking record (scored his last 20) and another 6 tries to his name, I’d say he’s pretty nailed on.

21st Century Schizoid Man wrote:Would have DTH van der Merwe on the wing ahead of Visser any time tbh.

I don't mean to kick up a fuss but it seemed DTH has had a bit of a slow finish to his season? Mind it's been a while since Visser has done anything remarkable (kind of hard to playing for Edinburgh). I'd rather have Seymor ahead of DTH or possibly even Lamont (purely from Glasgow POV)

Players worth a mention:

15 Tom Prydie - finally getting the game time he needs to develop at the Dragons. Had a good season and is a reliable goal kicker.

11 Eli Walker - before he got injured he was dancing round defenses, and had the Liberty stadium crowd on their feet time and time again.

3 Sampson Lee - the 20 year old has really shored up the Scarlets scrum this season, and looks like Adam Jones heir apparent, in the next few years.

Have to say I am not sure what my team would be although there are a number of players who stand out every time I watch them play in the league...

Henderson - Carries like a monster, tackles well and has an awesome engine!!

Eli Walker - Really carved up the league until the injury, was on fire and near unstoppable!!!

Madigan - best 10 in the league.

DTH - as always

Maitland - Looks great for club and country

Trimble - never able to make the step up but immense at club level.

Matawalu - since Kahn announced his move his forms dipped, but this guy just gets better and better!!!

Fenby - Tipifies what a clubman is all about!!

Owen Williams has been excellent last few months, as has Rhy Patchell.

Evans and Prydie for the Dragons are very good players in a poor team...

Infact I'm going for my team...

1. Court
2. Ghiraldini
3. Afoa
4. Swinson
5. Pavanello
6. Henderson
7. Barbieri
8. Copeland
9. Matawalu
10. Madigan
11. DTH
12. Beck
13. Trimble
14. Vainokolo
15. Liam Williams

Had a real issue at 8 and 12, I know everyone is talking about Nick but he isn't that good, his purple patch came first few weeks. I considered Marshall at 12 too, but needed a welshman in there somewhere.

1. Grant
2. Ghiraldini
3. Afoa
4. Swinson
5. Pavanello
6. Josh Strauss
7. Barbieri
8. Copeland
9. Matawalu
10. Madigan
11. DTH van der Merwe
12. Beck
13. Trimble
14. Maitland
15. Liam Williams

bluesman, I don't think Trimble likes Kidney and I certainly don't think Kidney rated Trimble. The guy is a bit of a confidence player so he may do well if the new coach gives him his backing- he was initially very good for Ireland under Eddie O'Sullivan.

Schizo is pushing it a bit with Maitland ahead of Eli Walker. He only arrived late last year and then was away with Scotland for a good few weeks. He doesn't seem to finish too many games either.
Henderson from Ulster must be in with a darned good shout

Don't know how anyone could not have nick Williams. He was to the first halfof the season what matawalu has been to the 2nd.

13 still baffles me. Has Jon Davies played enough? has Cave been good enough. BOD certainly hasn't played enough. Who is Glasgows 13? I genuinely don't know

Who's Matawalu again? Is that the Glasgow guy.

The Glasgow SH

For 13 Eoin Griffin of Connacht, very talanted player, and Connacht could have they best ever season if they manage to finish in 7th.

Because he's in a team not watched by many of us (except the two games they play against our team) he may be forgotten about, but he does pick up praise in most post game threads. Another of Connachts promising young backs.

Hasn't been great this season kings. Ulster game was seen as something of a return to form for him.

Standulstermen wrote:Don't know how anyone could not have nick Williams. He was to the first halfof the season what matawalu has been to the 2nd.

13 still baffles me. Has Jon Davies played enough? has Cave been good enough. BOD certainly hasn't played enough. Who is Glasgows 13? I genuinely don't know

For Glasgow it's mainly been Alex Dunbar at 13, who has been pretty decent this season. In my view he should certainly be playing 13 for Scotland in the summer. There's certainly no sensible basis for omitting him for NDL, S Lamont or Max Evans, with Alex Grove at Worcester his only real competition in terms of quality.

I'd say Dunbar has an outside shot at 13 in the RABO XV of the year.

fES - agree completely re Dunbar - a very good season and another reason I think Scott Johnson is a clone of Robinson as he selected Evans ahead of him ffs !

Dunbar hasnt been as good as he was in the second half of last season when he was brilliant. Hes still had a great season like, but hes flitted about both centre positions this year without nailing one down definitively.

Dunbar has been good, but Imperial is right - he was better at the tail end of last season as a 12. Swinson seems to be in a lot of peoples teams - he has been so solid.

Weird how Leinster are 2nd and other than Madigan I can't think of anyone who deserves a mention.We've had some players show great patches of form but nobody has managed it for the season.