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Oz S15 Team of the Season

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Richo

John Thornett (49)
Unfortunately for Delve, Dennis and Higginbotham were both better and Higgers plays 8 as well as 6.
 

Proud Pig

Tom Lawton (22)
Dennis is primarily a Blindside and not a number eight, Higginbotham is also more effective at 6 than 8 but in order for the Reds to fit both he and Schatz in he had to play 8. I would also argue that Delve has out performed them both this year. He has been far and awy the Rebels best player.
Pocock should also be ahead of Hooper and by quite some way. I would also have Gill ahead of him but that is a line ball call. Beale or Mogg should also be ahead of Mafi. Kepu and the Pot plant Palmer ahead of Slipper too in my opinion.
 

Viking

Mark Ella (57)
First names that come to mind: Lealifano, White, Hooper/Gill, Dennis, Higgers, Moore, Spreight.

Thought Nic White had a better overall season then Genia (from Super XV), up until about round 8 Genia was very poor and Nic White hadnt had a bad game, in fact I think he only had 1 maybe 2 bad games all season. Genia only had 1 or 2 very good games.

Hooper/Gills also had better overall Super XV then Pocock IMO. They are hard to split, Id have to go with Hooper being a Brumbies supporter.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
White fell away a bit at the end of the season whilst Genia was a star in the back half of the season.

For good or bad, it's fairly natural to weight the end of the season more heavily than the start.
 

Viking

Mark Ella (57)
White fell away a bit at the end of the season whilst Genia was a star in the back half of the season.

For good or bad, it's fairly natural to weight the end of the season more heavily than the start.

Good point. But Genia's final game was pretty poor. which means at most he had 6 good games.

Its a close call with Nic White but I guess it doesnt have too much bearing, Genia should and will be the wallabies 9.
 

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
OK want to do a piece for the blog on this, just want to get some input from the masses.

Always like to throw in a few curveballs, which explains a few controversial choices.

Here is my draft team of the season:

1. Benn Robinson
2. Stephen Moore
3. James Slipper
4. Scott Fardy
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Dave Dennis
7. Michael Hooper
8. Scott Higginbotham
9. Will Genia
10. Christian Lealiifano
11. Dom Shipperley
12. Pat McCabe
13. Nick Cummins
14. Henry Speight
15. Alfie Mafi

So 0 Rebels, 2 Tahs, 3 Forcers, 4 Reds and 6 Brumbies.

Thoughts?
.

1. Benn Robinson
2. Stephen Moore
3. Kepu - equal best THP in the country (with Palmer) on form at being a THP and better around the field
4. Scott Fardy - I still struggle with picking two loose locks, I would prefer Douglas as Horwill was wounded so early for balance
5. Nathan Sharpe
6. Dave Dennis
7. Pocock
8. Scott Higginbotham
9. Will Genia
10. Cooper - the Reds were average this season until he got back there, with him they made the semis
11. Dom Shipperley
12. Pat McCabe
13. Nick Cummins
14. Henry Speight
15. Alfie Mafi
 

Scoey

Tony Shaw (54)
Good point. But Genia's final game was pretty poor.

I've read a couple of times now, people saying Genia's last game was quite poor. For a guy that was playing out of position, it's hard to judge him on his abilities at 9 which is what we are doing here. Regardless, apart from the intercept he threw, I don't think he played bad at all! :confused:
 

barbarian

Phil Kearns (64)
Staff member
Nah Genia over White. White had a great first half of the season, and Genia a great second half. In that scenario I always go with the bloke who made it count in the back end when everything was on the line, so Sanchez gets the nod.

As for Cooper vs Lilo, you'd think the above scenario would again apply, but I don't think Cooper played enough to justify a spot. Lilo carried that Brumbies side to the top of the table, and in his absence they struggled (well, for a couple of games anyway). But again it's a close one.
.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
In that scenario I always go with the bloke who made it count in the back end when everything was on the line, so Sanchez gets the nod.

That sounds almost like the old Waratahs theory that bonus points were worth more in the latter half of the season :p
 

Viking

Mark Ella (57)
4. Scott Fardy - I still struggle with picking two loose locks, I would prefer Douglas as Horwill was wounded so early for balance

This is all about picking the best players on form, not the wallabies squad. Balance should not be considered. Cooper only played 1 games and should not be considered for "best team of the season". Different story if we are picking a wallabies squad. Lealifano was the number one 10 without a doubt.

I thought Robinson had a fairly poor season? (Well his June test were definitley below his usually high standard). Kepu/Palmer/Slipper all had good seasons. Gill/Hooper had better overall seasons then pocock (apart from the June tests). Wingers are a tough choice Spreight/Tomane/Shipperly/Cummins were all great. Locks are hard too with Fardy/Sharpe/Pyle?
 

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
. Lealifano was the number one 10 without a doubt.

Here I can disagree, he did great at the start of the season, but that is when this comp is easier. Cooper was great at the back end, when it gets hard and I always factor that into these conversations.

Now could have Lealifano continued on, maybe, but he didn't, and he could have finished like Mogg and looked a bit tired.
 

Viking

Mark Ella (57)
Here I can disagree, he did great at the start of the season, but that is when this comp is easier. Cooper was great at the back end, when it gets hard and I always factor that into these conversations.

Now could have Lealifano continued on, maybe, but he didn't, and he could have finished like Mogg and looked a bit tired.

I can definitely see how the back end of the season can have more bearing on games, I accept that point of the arguement. This point is great support in the Genia Vs White debate.

However I cannot see how Cooper can be seen above Lealifano, Cooper played maybe one and half games? or 2 and half games? And the games he played were good but not great, and were at Suncorp? theirs lots of less pressure for Cooper at his home ground. Lealifano was immense at the start of the season, lots of GREAT games, lots of those were some very tough games including a successful tour in South Africa. Even if we picked only 2 of lealifano's games Vs the 2 Coopers games, then Id still go with lealifano.

How can u pick a "player of the season" from 1 game? it just doesnt make sense.
 

the sabanator

Ron Walden (29)
I'm surprised Liam Gill hasn't really warranted a mention? Sure he plays on a crap team with way too much pressure on his immense shoulders, but Pocock is a much better test player than Super player (merely because of his teammates), and I'd say Gill had a better Super Rugby season than both Pocock and Hooper.

As a better (and I'm sure slim will disagree) long term prospect than Hooper, whilst having a stronger second half of the season, I'd pick Gill in the Aus Super 15 team of the year. Also I'd pick, out of OP's original team, Greg Holmes over Robinson (who I don't think really had that much of a season) and Palmer over Slipper.
 
P

Paradox

Guest
I can definitely see how the back end of the season can have more bearing on games, I accept that point of the arguement. This point is great support in the Genia Vs White debate.

However I cannot see how Cooper can be seen above Lealifano, Cooper played maybe one and half games? or 2 and half games? And the games he played were good but not great, and were at Suncorp? theirs lots of less pressure for Cooper at his home ground. Lealifano was immense at the start of the season, lots of GREAT games, lots of those were some very tough games including a successful tour in South Africa. Even if we picked only 2 of lealifano's games Vs the 2 Coopers games, then Id still go with lealifano.

How can u pick a "player of the season" from 1 game? it just doesnt make sense.

Yes and Lealiifano nearly picked up Oz player of the tournament. Cooper didn't poll as well.
 

Ruggo

Mark Ella (57)
Nah Genia over White. White had a great first half of the season, and Genia a great second half. In that scenario I always go with the bloke who made it count in the back end when everything was on the line, so Sanchez gets the nod.

As for Cooper vs Lilo, you'd think the above scenario would again apply, but I don't think Cooper played enough to justify a spot. Lilo carried that Brumbies side to the top of the table, and in his absence they struggled (well, for a couple of games anyway). But again it's a close one.
.

Could be scope for a possibles vs probables type match. Pick two sides.
 

GaffaCHinO

Peter Sullivan (51)
I thought cowan had a great year he was also the lhp in the super rugby aus team of the year.

Sent from my GT-I9300T using Tapatalk 2
 

Forcefield

Ken Catchpole (46)
He did have a great year until his injury. Makes me wonder if Deans would have picked him if he wasn't injured. I personally rate him above Alexander as a loosehead. I think Benn Robinson is pretty much glued in, although he didn't have a flash year this year. James Slipper would also be ahead but it would depend if Robbie wants to use him at 3.
 
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