Fantasy Aviva Premiership season 4

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Teams

Bath RFC	InTheFastLane
Exeter Chiefs	Driver - RIP 606
Gloucester	Anonmattyt
Harlequins	Steven_Sharks
Leicester Tigers	LukeLovesLuka
London Irish	stnick88
London Wasps	Arry
Newcastle Falcons	Sgt_Pooly
Northampton Saints	Dammit_Chris
Sale Sharks	SirJohnnyEnglish
Saracens	LDCPete
Worcester Warriors	prop_lyd

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Waiting List
1. Sam
2. pullthestrings
3. Bathite

There's a lot more league converts that don't make it than do, be interesting to see where they think he'll play.

Seem to remember Chev Walker coming over for big bucks and making zero impact, serious gamble really.

Tbh, the little I've seen of Joel he looks nothing special. His brother is a totally different story though, serious talent.

My understanding is that they are looking at him being a 13.

He got homesick - did well in pre-season at Wasps but then just wanted to go back to Leeds. He was ok at league but nothing special. Not even in the England squad these days.

Always felt it was a shame we didnt bring Andy Farrell across earlier and that he got injured early on at Sarries, he could have been a sensational union player.

I can see more and more young league players being taken across from league as they make ideal centres in terms of tackling, power and offloading. Let;s hope it works as England are in dire need of someone to come through good.

Would love Sam Tomkins to come across too, he is an incredible rugby player, one of my favourite players.

Farrell would have been fantastic at 8.

See Sarries have actually linked up with Wigan, not just a one signing thing.

He never had the explosive speed needed for no8. Think 12 was his ideal position as defensively he was superb, the way he managed and organised players was brilliant and his kicking game was top level. Would have needed a very fast 13 though!

How come you like league Chris? I thought it was generally the M62 corridor that were into it

I grew up watching Wigan play when they have Offiah, Edwards, Connelly, Robinson, Betts, Clarke, Farrell etc. Think that club had so much influence on union at the start of professionalism.

They had some great matches back then, don't think I've seen so many world class players in a single team before - joy to watch in those days! Since then league dropped in standard as most of the best players opt for more money in union.

I only watch the big games these days, should be a cracker Eng v NZ this weekend.

I remember the Wigan/Bath dual code contest, was a great watch

I was going to go and play league after I came back from breaking my leg when I was 18, so would have been 20 or so, but didnt want to move that far away from home - spoke to a few of the clubs in the Championship, did a couple of trials but even at that level it was brutal

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/15626082.stm

bad news

JOC to take over Cooper at 10?!?!

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/07112011/58/australia-turn-o-connor-fly-half.html

Whilst he's injured. Can't see it long term tbh. Think he will be a 13

I meant in the short term, thought Barnes would have been the obvious choice

bad news for luke too

Should hold a bit of form if only 6 months, missing 6N is the biggy though I guess. Earls to 13?

Apparently he was injured during the WC - credit to him for that, was still Ireland's best back.

Whats the bad news for luke?

Oh I see. That is a shame

Scrub that JOC to play 12 and Barnes 10:

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/national/national/sport/flair-go-oconnor-comes-in-off-wing-at-last/2350113.aspx

I've never understood why JOC was made to play wing, yeah he's a good talent there but he would be so much better in the midfield for Aussies. Could be a world beater there.

i believe its due to age and physicality. Its easy to forget how young he is.

He will end up in the midfield somewhere.

Absolutely Steven. Think 13 rather than 12 crime to waste that potential outside break

What are we thinking about a current world 15. World Cup only really rocketed Dagg and Kaino into the line up for me.

1. Tony Woodcock
2. Bismark Du Plessis
3. Martin Castrogiovani
4. Brad Thorn
5. James Horwill
6. Jerome Kaino
7. Richie McCaw
8. Sergio Parisse
9. Will Genia
10. Dan Carter
11. Digby Ioane
12. Maa Nonu
13. Aurelien Rougerie
14. Vincent Clerc
15. Israel Dagg

Couple of difficult positions, 13 and 15 inparticular. A lot of players struggling for form at Loosehead.

Surely Fourie or Smith at 13 over Rougerie!?

Both a class above.

And surely got to be a place for the World Player of the year in there, either at 6 or 7.

be tempted to put him in at 7. he isnt as good a 6 as kaino but probably has had a better year than mccaw.

Woodcock got a pasting wc. Would go steenkamp. Would also if based on
Wc go mas or franks at TH.


Think Jane, warbs, kahui, Fourie and read could be argued for

its not based on just world cup, just a world 15 in general, if you could pick any players.

I am going on form but still taking general ability into it.

Warbs had a great WC and was playing better rugby but isn't at Mccaw level yet so went for McCaw.

I have been impressed everytime I've seen Rougerie I thought he was great last season. Fourie and Smith haven't been at there best.

Pete I completely forgot about Dusatoir. I don't know where he'd fit in to be honest. Tricky. I wouldn't have said that Steenkamp as any better than Woodock. I can't think of a single loosehead who was particularly impressive at the world cup.

Steenkamp? Either Healy, woodcock or Jenkins.

Servat at hook. BdP hasn't played enough. I'd have McCaw and Pocock over Dus.

'Sale to announce a major signing tomorrow morning fans are going to like this one'

From an MEN reporter. I remain dubious.

Edit: Sale Media man says he's a World Class signing. One of Two Diamond has made. I am assuming its for this season rather than next season.

disagree thought fourie and smith both had good S15's especially Fourie. neither disappointed at the WC. admitedly rougerie was good but dont think he is in the same league as the other two.

I think at hooker you could put an argument for any one of Mealamu, Servat or Bismarck this year to be honest.

Neither of the prop positions are cut and dried as I don't think anyone has totally shone in those shirts this year.

In the second row Thorn and Horwill are as good a shout as any, with possibly Nallet and POC just behind.

Back row is tough as there have been many good performances and if you were selecting a team then it may be as much about who works well with who else as a unit rather than individual ability.

if you want a unit, has to be kaino, mccaw, read.

Or you could go bonnaire hari and dus who outplayed the kiwi back row in wc and were
Probably the best unit

Although on general levels would pick kiwi backrow. Although the French backrow kills oppositions lineouts

would always take the NZ back row over that one.

It's really hard to name a worlds best XV without putting your own little bias on it. I'm prob the worst on the game tbh.

A "best" team would different to a form team also I think.

McCaw wasn't great really until WC, either was Dusatoir. I thought Kaino had a pretty average S15 and came to force during the Ints.

If I was picking a best team, I'd go BdP at hook I think but Servat has been better through the year

Castro and Mas had awful season by their own high standards last season but have been firing again of late and rightly deserve to be right up there, similar with Adam Jones. Franks has been the best TH over the season but not really sure I'd take him over a firing Castro or scrum smashing Jones/Mas.

There's a good argument for every position bar 10 (Carter) and possibly 7 (McCaw) but Carter is further ahead of the field than in McCaw's case I think. Cooper had a belting S15 but the WC done him no favours so think he's still a fair way off Carter (Sell me him Matt )

All valid points there Pooly. I have to say I think Nonu is out on his own at 12 at the moment as well, although if Barnes gets gametime there that could well change as he is class.

Very disappointing that not 1 England player is even anywhere near a mention for a World XV at the moment.

Possibly Nonu could be there too Pete, not many 12's near his level.

World 15 from the RWC

1.Cian Healy
2.Bismark Du Plessie
3.Adam Jones
4.Brad Thorn
5.James Horwill
6.Jerome Kaino
7.Sam Warburton
8.Immanol Harinordiquey
9.Kahn - the Samoa 9 was fantastic
10.Rhys Preistland
11.Chris Ashton
12.Maa Nonu
13.Jamie Roberts
14.Richard Kahui
15.Isreal Dagg

Purely on form

BdP can't be in a WC team Driver surely

Clerc and Jane were so much better than Ashton. BdP didn't play enough.

Sadly didn't play enough. Was immense everytime he did, but if you are doing a World Cup team it has to be Servat or Mealamu at hooker.

What a player he is though, absolute animal. Still gets a bad press in SA for his throwing though which he sorted out years ago imo. Smit is excellent there though

Only English player I'd have near a world 15 shirt is Foden. England just need to use him more.

I think Lawes, Ashton and Tuilagi will develop, but not near world 15 status yet.

Richer Gray to Sale on a three year deal. You gotta be happy with that Steve?