Overall S15 Team of the Season

[Brisbok]

Yes, I realise Barbarian has started a thread for the OZ team of the season, but I think it's also worth discussing the overall team of the season so far. Perhaps finals form should weigh more heavily and therefore I am jumping the gun a bit, but interested to see what peoples thoughts are at this point. Mine would look something like the following:

1 - Sona Taumalolo
2 - Bismarck du Plessis
3 - Owen Franks
4 - Eben Etzebeth
5 - Nathan Sharpe
6 - Siya Kolisi
7 - David Pocock
8 - Kieran Read
9 - Will Genia
10 - Aaron Cruden
11 - Julian Savea
12 - SBW
13 - Conrad Smith
14 - JP Pietersen
15 - Israel Dagg

Yes there are some controversial selections there. In terms of the primary functions of a loosehead prop, Taumalolo would probably struggle to crack the top 5. However, it's hard to ignore his try scoring form this season and I don't think there has been one other standout loosehead this year.

Siya Kolisi plays as a 6 or openside flanker for the Stormers, but he is not a fetcher type flanker and plays more like a blindside IMO (just a pity he's not taller!). There are a few other players who have a strong case to be named here (Higginbotham, Coetzee, Thompson etc.) but I think Siya has been close to the best player all season in a Stormers team that lost only two games, so he gets the nod.

Thoughts?

 

[Jiggles]

Agree with that team but I would swap out Etzebeth for Retallick who has been a bit more consistant, however there isn't much in them.

JP has been hot as of late, but he was pretty quiet at the start of the year. Perhaps Ben Smith could also play on that wing. He has been a stand out in a team pretty content on playing a forward orientated game, but again there isn't much in that selection either.

Kolisi would have to go close as Super Rugby Rookie of the year. He has been awesome.

 

[barbarian]

BB I would make these changes:

3. Werner Kruger
5. Brodie Retallick
6. Marcell Coetzee
7. Siya Kolisi
8. Nasi Manu
13. Tamati Ellison
15. Andre Taylor
.

edit: mixed up my Retallicks

 

[FrankLind]

I would not have Dagg there. he has not played well.
Carter ahead of Cruden.
Brodie Retallick (not Callum) and Luke Romano make strong cases for inclusion.

I would choose Digby Ioane over Savea at this stage.

Barbarian - you really rate Tamati Ellison ahead of Conrad Smith?
I agree with you on Andre Taylor

 

[tigerland12]

I'd have any of Coetzee, Daniel and Higginbotham on form over Kolisi.

I agree with Taylor over Dagg, he hasnt been that impressive as FrankLind said. Apart from that, the backline looks about right. Ioane, Basson and Hougaard have all had good seasons aswell.

 

[barbarian]

I would not have Dagg there. he has not played well.
Carter ahead of Cruden.
Brodie Retallick (not Callum) and Luke Romano make strong cases for inclusion.

I would choose Digby Ioane over Savea at this stage.

Barbarian - you really rate Tamati Ellison ahead of Conrad Smith?
I agree with you on Andre Taylor

Firstly, Carter over Cruden? Really? I'd say Cruden has been the form player of the whole comp. Carter was injured for a large part then largely ineffectual when he was fit. He only really started firing in the last couple of weeks.

I don't rate Ellison over Smith as a player, but think he has had a better 2012. There is not much in it though, both have had great seasons.
.

 

[Jiggles]

Jean de Villiers has had his best season in a while and could be up for the 12 spot. SBW while being good, has fluffed some key opportunities in big games.

 

[FrankLind]

Firstly, Carter over Cruden? Really? I'd say Cruden has been the form player of the whole comp. Carter was injured for a large part then largely ineffectual when he was fit. He only really started firing in the last couple of weeks.

I don't rate Ellison over Smith as a player, but think he has had a better 2012. There is not much in it though, both have had great seasons.
.

I could perhaps agree with you on Cruden vs Carter. I'll see after this Friday's game.

Why do you think Ellison has had a better season than C.Smith?
Smith has not put a foot wrong captaining the Hurricanes.

 

[barbarian]

Why do you think Ellison has had a better season than C.Smith?
Smith has not put a foot wrong captaining the Hurricanes.

I think he has made more impact from 13, especially considering the 10-12 combination inside him is not as good as the Hurricanes (IMO). He is a hard ball-runner, big defender. As I said both have had great seasons, in the end it's sort of a gut feel thing I suppose.
.

 

[PaarlBok]

This team selection thing is a bit tit for tat. Anyway my c worth.

Etsebet- anyday he'll be in my team. Its his debut season and his S15 form got him national honours. He sure was huge for the Stormers all season.
Kolisi-Ditto, not Bok colours yet but surely massive for the Stormers.
Cruden- ?? I'll give Goosen a go here. He dominate all stats this year till he got injured. Grant also have a good season.
Jean- Should be there. Not just for his play but his leadership qualities.

 

[PaarlBok]

15-Willie le Roux. Dagg surely a better player but Willie had one hell of a season.

 

[barbarian]

Jeez Paarl, I understand your......... ah......... perspective, but I will repeat Aaron Cruden was the linchpin and 5/8 of the 2nd place team, and IMO the best player in the comp. Goosen played half the season for a low-table side. He was good, sure, but a fair way from the form 10 of the comp overall.

And while le Roux had some good moments, Taylor was consistently outstanding all season. Once again I don't think they are that close.
.

 

[Ruggo]

As far as players in losing sides go, Dave Dennis takes the cake. He has been sensational in 2012 despite the Tahs being below par.

Accross all three countries their have been some damn good form players in losing teams.

 

[Viking]

Has Genia really played that well this season?
I can re-call only a handful of good games the rest average. Wasnt it up to about round 10 when Nic White was the consistant aussie half-hack (some even argued he might deserve test selection over Genia). Genia was struggling to find form until he pulled out a great win (just before the June tests) then for the Reds to go onto 6 game streak until the quarter where he was once again was poor. (excluding all the wales tests - as he was superb there). I can't re-call all the games, but im pretty sure was average for most of the season.

 

[tigerland12]

Yeh you're not wrong, Genia was pathetic for the first 8 or so rounds

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

It's all subjective really unless someone wants to go over all the stats 5 times. From the games I've seen names that come to mind: Taumalolo, Strauss, Kruger, Retallick, Sharpe, Coetzee , Gill, Manu, Hougaard, Cruden, Savea, De Villers, C,Smith, Gear, Taylor

It might even be better just to list the best 3 from every position, hard to pick just 1 when so many players are in good form right now.

 

[fatprop]

1 - Ben Franks
2 - Bismarck du Plessis
3 - Owen Franks
4 - Eben Etzebeth
5 - Brodie Retallick
6 - Jacques Potgieter
7 - David Pocock
8 - Kieran Read
9 - Tawera Kerr-Barlow
10 - Aaron Cruden
11 - Zac Guildford
12 - SBW
13 - Conrad Smith
14 - JP Pietersen
15 - Israel Dagg


The Franks brothers are the best props around, great scrummagers and effective around the field

I like Potgieter's work this year, he just does everything hard and makes things happen

I also really rate Tawera Kerr-Barlow, a real bustling threat from 9, a good pass, my kind of 9.

I also like Zac Guildford, he works so hard off the ball and makes good decisons with it. To me he is a real team player. Now he may not crash through 15 players too often to score one off tries, but he will finish, be there to chase every kick, be there to give his 15 support and runs great lines off the ball to give the attacker quality options.

 

[Dan54]

Think I have to agree with Barbarian on Taylor and especially Cruden, who I think has been outstanding, this is not to say he would go ahead of carter in tests etc as team is being selected on S15 games. Also I am prepared to admit I there maybe a couple more Saffa players in team, especially in loosies, as I haven't seen as many of their games as Aus and kiwi ones. I not sure I would have pocock in team, same as Carter not doubting his ability but I don't remember many games where I have been talking about how good he was after wards as I have say even the Sharks loosies etc, but don't shoot me ,only an opinion.

 

[Scoey]

I think it is a massive rap for the man but of the XV I think there is only really one player that almost everyone would pick and that is Bismarck at 2. He is an incredible rugby player and a helluva bloke as well!

 

[vismyr]

Bismarck at 2. He is an incredible rugby player and a helluva bloke as well!

Oh god -- no! Yes, he's a great rugby player...no question, but he constantly niggles, irritates and is the one rugby player I would most like to punch in the mouth.

Crudan over Carter on form. Conrad Smith my first player picked in any team of the season this year...he's been an inspiration. I've never rated Pietersen, but he's the form winger of the comp for sure!