Team of the Season So Far (Pro 12)

I'm bored. Here we go, then.

My Page, My Rules:

1. What I'm trying to determine is players who have played consistently well over the first half of the season.
2. By nature, this means that if you select players who have missed chunks of the season with injury, it's going to be a harder 'sell'.
3. European club and international form counts.
4. Naming more than 5 players from the same side means that other posters will probably arouse suspicion of partisanship.
5. Without prejudice to 4, be nice.
6. No complaining about other people's spelling or grammar. We all make mistonks, you know.

*****

01 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh)
02 Rory Best (Ulster)
03 Samson Lee (Scarlets)
04 Rynard Landman (Dragons)
05 Ben Toolis (Edinburgh) 
06 CJ Stander (Munster)
07 Dominic Ryan (Leinster)
08 Josh Strauss (Glasgow)

09 Rhys Webb (Ospreys)
10 Dan Biggar (Ospreys)
11 Lucas Amorosino (Blues)
12 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow)
13 Robbie Henshaw (Connacht)
14 Simon Zebo (Munster)
15 Liam Williams (Scarlets)

16 Marc Thomas (Ospreys)
17 Sean Cronin (Leinster)
18 Wiehahn Herbst (Ulster)
19 Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
20 Robin Copeland (Munster)
21 Conor Murray (Munster)
22 Ian Madigan (Leinster)
23 Gareth Anscombe (Blues)

*****

So that makes:

- 2 from Edinburgh
- 2 from Ulster
- 2 from the Scarlets
- 2 from this year's league winners
- 4 from Munster
- 3 from Leinster
- 4 from Ospreys
- 2 from the Blues
- 1 from Connacht
- 1 from the Dragons

Jeff version here: https://www.606v2.com/t57259-team-of-the-season-so-far-jeff

George Carlin wrote:I'm bored. Here we go, then.

My Page, My Rules:

1. What I'm trying to determine is players who have played consistently well over the first half of the season.
2. By nature, this means that if you select players who have missed chunks of the season with injury, it's going to be a harder 'sell'.
3. European club and international form counts.
4. Naming more than 5 players from the same side means that other posters will probably arouse suspicion of partisanship.
5. Without prejudice to 4, be nice.

*****

01 Alasdair Dickinson (Edinburgh)
02 Rory Best (Ulster)
03 Samson Lee (Scarlets)
04 Leone Nakarawa (Glasgow)
05 Ben Toolis (Edinburgh) 
06 CJ Stander (Munster)
07 Dominic Ryan (Leinster)
08 Josh Strauss (Glasgow)

09 Rhys Webb (Ospreys)
10 Dan Biggar (Ospreys)
11 Lucas Amorosino (Blues)
12 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow)
13 Robbie Henshaw (Connacht)
14 Simon Zebo (Munster)
15 Liam Williams (Scarlets)

16 Marc Thomas (Ospreys)
17 Sean Cronin (Leinster)
18 Wiehahn Herbst (Ulster)
19 Alun Wyn Jones (Ospreys)
20 Robin Copeland (Blues)
21 Conor Murray (Munster)
22 Ian Madigan (Leinster)
23 Gareth Anscombe (Blues)

Anyone fancy doing one for the Jeff?

Robin Copeland (Blues) ?

Oops. Corrected. Off to take a long, hard look at me life.

Strauss has been average this season for Glasgow, so Copeland is a better shout with Harley on the bench.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Strauss has been average this season for Glasgow, so Copeland is a better shout with Harley on the bench.

I agree, though Nalvidi has been great, really surprised a lot of people how easily he has switch from the flanks to number eight. Had several man of the match awards for his efforts too.

funnyExiledScot wrote:Strauss has been average this season for Glasgow, so Copeland is a better shout with Harley on the bench.

Average for whom, chief?
By Glasgow's standards? OK, so consistently excellent.
By Josh Strauss's standards? Again, that's still rather good.
By the standards of the league? I guess every other no.8 must be scoring tries and winning man-of-the-match awards...

maestegmafia wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Strauss has been average this season for Glasgow, so Copeland is a better shout with Harley on the bench.

I agree, though Nalvidi has been great, really surprised a lot of people how easily he has switch from the flanks to number eight. Had several man of the match awards for his efforts too.

Agree that Navidi has really kicked on and I thought about him. Maybe I should have an 'honourable mention' section.

George Carlin wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Strauss has been average this season for Glasgow, so Copeland is a better shout with Harley on the bench.

I agree, though Nalvidi has been great, really surprised a lot of people how easily he has switch from the flanks to number eight. Had several man of the match awards for his efforts too.

Agree that Navidi has really kicked on and I thought about him. Maybe I should have an 'honourable mention' section.

Alex Dunbar has been superb. Tough competition to as Matevasi (Ospreys) and Scott Williams (Scarlets) have been superb too.

maestegmafia wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Strauss has been average this season for Glasgow, so Copeland is a better shout with Harley on the bench.

I agree, though Nalvidi has been great, really surprised a lot of people how easily he has switch from the flanks to number eight. Had several man of the match awards for his efforts too.

Why do you persist in spelling his name with a letter L ?

LordDowlais wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Strauss has been average this season for Glasgow, so Copeland is a better shout with Harley on the bench.

I agree, though Nalvidi has been great, really surprised a lot of people how easily he has switch from the flanks to number eight. Had several man of the match awards for his efforts too.

Why do you persist in spelling his name with a letter L ?

Fair point Mr Dowlais but I have now added Rule 6 to the OP.

I've noticed it on other threads as well George, I suppose I should not be so pedantic mind.

Also, how can we do this thread without putting mostly Ospreys and Glasgow players in the team ?

I have tried to give credit where it's due.
In total, I have:

- 2 from Edinburgh
- 2 from Ulster
- 2 from the Scarlets
- 3 from Glasgow (which I thought was v restrained of me)
- 4 from Munster
- 3 from Leinster
- 4 from Ospreys
- 2 from the Blues
- 1 from Connacht

and I know full well this will not satisfy and large number of our colleagues.

George Carlin wrote:I have tried to give credit where it's due.
In total, I have:

- 2 from Edinburgh
- 2 from Ulster
- 2 from the Scarlets
- 3 from Glasgow (which I thought was v restrained of me)
- 4 from Munster
- 3 from Leinster
- 4 from Ospreys
- 2 from the Blues
- 1 from Connacht

and I know full well this will not satisfy and large number of our colleagues.

Can I add, if Marc Thomas is the 2nd best loosehead in the League, this League is in a very bad place, for ALL his courage he has been dominated in most of his matches for us, he is at best our 4th best and probably our 5th best, there are surely better 1s in this League than him.

Whatever happened to Stuart McClosky at Ulster? He had an absolutely barnstorming start to the season and looked like he would be the next big thing for Ireland.

He's not played much since.

Roddy Grant's recent form for Edinburgh has been outstanding, but he did miss part of the season with a broken jaw (a whole 3 weeks!). Hamish Watson had an excellent start to the season but again has missed a large chunk due to a fractured face.

Ok, if we are to do an honest one, regardless of who they play for, this would be my 1st 15:-

1. Ryan Grant
2. Rory Best
3. Samson Lee
4. AWJ
5. Johnny Grey
6. James King
7. Josh Navidi
8. Dan Baker

9.Rhys Webb
10. Dan Biggar
11. Sean Lamont
12. Alex Dunbar
13. Scott Williams
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Liam Williams

wayne wrote:

George Carlin wrote:I have tried to give credit where it's due.
In total, I have:

- 2 from Edinburgh
- 2 from Ulster
- 2 from the Scarlets
- 3 from Glasgow (which I thought was v restrained of me)
- 4 from Munster
- 3 from Leinster
- 4 from Ospreys
- 2 from the Blues
- 1 from Connacht

and I know full well this will not satisfy and large number of our colleagues.

Can I add, if Marc Thomas is the 2nd best loosehead in the League, this League is in a very bad place, for ALL his courage he has been dominated in most of his matches for us, he is at best our 4th best and probably our 5th best, there are surely better 1s in this League than him.

Yes, you may add.

Marc Thomas has done very well. But I would pick Rob Evans, Gethin Jenkins and definitely Nolicky Smith ahead of him

LordDowlais wrote:Ok, if we are to do an honest one, regardless of who they play for, this would be my 1st 15:-

1. Ryan Grant
2. Rory Best
3. Samson Lee
4. AWJ
5. Johnny Grey
6. James King
7. Josh Navidi
8. Dan Baker

9.Rhys Webb
10. Dan Biggar
11. Sean Lamont
12. Alex Dunbar
13. Scott Williams
14. Tommy Bowe
15. Liam Williams

The majority of Glasgow and Scotland fans would say Ryan Grant has been a shadow of his former self since the Lions tour, and he's missed a large part of the season with injury too. He's been getting better of late, but I don't think he's anywhere near the best team so far.

Dickinson has been in the form of his life for Edinburgh the last few months, dominating scrums and putting in massive shifts (30 tackles against Connacht) and is almost certain to start for Scotland - Grant might not even make the squad at this rate.

The best hooker has been Elliot Dee and the best lock Landman. Considering who they play for as well and the fact they have performed in a struggling team and played a part in an improved scrummaging and mauling team, to leave them out is just sheer Dragonism

maestegmafia wrote:definitely Nolicky Smith ahead of him

Risca Rev wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:definitely Nolicky Smith ahead of him

Restricted to iPad and IOS 9's sense of humour

Seeing Shlong make the list brings a tear to my eye!

Mon the Shlong!!!!!

Would have Navidi at No8 possibly but come someone tell me what I am missing just so I can then understand why Anscombe has made the bench.

I'll level with all of you.

I may have made one or two contentious selections just to encourage a bit of banter.

IanBru wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Strauss has been average this season for Glasgow, so Copeland is a better shout with Harley on the bench.

Average for whom, chief?
By Glasgow's standards? OK, so consistently excellent.
By Josh Strauss's standards? Again, that's still rather good.
By the standards of the league? I guess every other no.8 must be scoring tries and winning man-of-the-match awards...

By the standards of the league. Since Denton returned he's been better than Strauss (who has looked jaded this season), and Copeland has been more consistent.

Sorry to offend Glasgow sensitivities (easily done), Strauss has been a great player, but just less so this season.

What about Adam Ashe? Surely he'd be in the mix no??

My team so far:

Dickinson (Edinburgh)
Dacey (Blues)
Herbst (Ulster)
Landman (Dragons)
Nakarawa (Glasgow)
Conan (not Coman) (Leinster)
Navidi (Blues)
Stander (Munster)

Murray (Munster)
Biggar (Ospreys)

Seymour (Glasgow)
McCloskey (Ulster)
Bennett (Glasgow)
Dirksen (Ospreys)
Williams (Scarlets)


Ford (Edinburgh)
Buckley (Connacht)
Arhip (Ospreys)
Muldowney (Connacht)
Vosawai (Blues)
Webb (Ospreys)
Carlisle (Treviso)
Sarto (Zebre)

I d like to give Dennis Buckley (Connacht) at loose head and Duncan Casey (munster) at hooker a shout. May not make the team of the year but both deserve a mention.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Whatever happened to Stuart McClosky at Ulster? He had an absolutely barnstorming start to the season and looked like he would be the next big thing for Ireland.

He's not played much since.

Injury and 12 is the most highly contested position at Ulster. Stuart Olding is probably better.

Landman definatly has to be in there, carried us this season

VinceWLB wrote:My team so far:

Dickinson (Edinburgh)
Dacey (Blues)
Herbst (Ulster)
Landman (Dragons)
Nakarawa (Glasgow)
Conan (not Coman) (Leinster)
Navidi (Blues)
Stander (Munster)

Murray (Munster)
Biggar (Ospreys)

Seymour (Glasgow)
McCloskey (Ulster)
Bennett (Glasgow)
Dirksen (Ospreys)
Williams (Scarlets)


Ford (Edinburgh)
Buckley (Connacht)
Arhip (Ospreys)
Muldowney (Connacht)
Vosawai (Blues)
Webb (Ospreys)
Carlisle (Treviso)
Sarto (Zebre)

An extremely important distinction!!

dragon4life wrote:Landman definatly has to be in there, carried us this season

Okay - I've done my homework now. Very impressive stats - in he goes.

funnyExiledScot wrote:

VinceWLB wrote:My team so far:

Dickinson (Edinburgh)
Dacey (Blues)
Herbst (Ulster)
Landman (Dragons)
Nakarawa (Glasgow)
Conan (not Coman) (Leinster)
Navidi (Blues)
Stander (Munster)

Murray (Munster)
Biggar (Ospreys)

Seymour (Glasgow)
McCloskey (Ulster)
Bennett (Glasgow)
Dirksen (Ospreys)
Williams (Scarlets)


Ford (Edinburgh)
Buckley (Connacht)
Arhip (Ospreys)
Muldowney (Connacht)
Vosawai (Blues)
Webb (Ospreys)
Carlisle (Treviso)
Sarto (Zebre)

An extremely important distinction!!

Murray is having a good season at Munster but Webb has been the form player at nine. Look at all the tries he has scored.

maestegmafia wrote:
Murray is having a good season at Munster but Webb has been the form player at nine. Look at all the tries he has scored.

If he didn't get injured i would have put Gareth Davis, he is a cracking player, much much better than Webb imo.

VinceWLB wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:
Murray is having a good season at Munster but Webb has been the form player at nine. Look at all the tries he has scored.

If he didn't get injured i would have put Gareth Davis, he is a cracking player, much much better than Webb imo.

I would have agreed with you last season, but Webb has played well this term.

The injury to Gareth Davies is a huge disappointment. The first few weeks of the season they were both competing at such a high level.

Hopefully Gareth recovers soon and by the end of this season he might be the form scrum half in the GP12

ickle Jonny has to be in there

LordDowlais wrote:

maestegmafia wrote:

funnyExiledScot wrote:Strauss has been average this season for Glasgow, so Copeland is a better shout with Harley on the bench.

I agree, though Nalvidi has been great, really surprised a lot of people how easily he has switch from the flanks to number eight. Had several man of the match awards for his efforts too.

Why do you persist in spelling his name with a letter L ?

Spell checker not me.. To hard to see what the iPad is up to... Just ignor it, it really doesn't matter.

RDW_Scotland wrote:Whatever happened to Stuart McClosky at Ulster? He had an absolutely barnstorming start to the season and looked like he would be the next big thing for Ireland.

He's not played much since.

He's injured, broken arm I think...can't keep track we've so many long term injured.....

Going by the fantasy pro12 page, which takes points scored and game time into equation, the team of the season so far is-:

Buckley (Connacht)
Dacey (Blues)
Hurbst (Ulster)
Van Der Merwe (Ulster)
Snyman (Scarlets)
Stander (Munster)
Navidi (Blues)
Strauss (Glasgow)

Hidalgo-Clyne (Edinburgh)
Madigan (Leinster)
Zebo (Munster)
Hayward (Treviso)
Horne (Glasgow)
Prydie (Dragons)
Leader (Connacht)