Super 15 XV

[Joe Mac]

I realise that we are still 2 rounds from a winner but I thought I would try and construct a Super 15 1st XV based purely on form this season.

1 Crockett (Cru)
2 Mealamu (Blu)
3 O Franks (Cru)
4 J Horwill (Red)
5 A Bekker (Sto)
6 A Thompson (Hig)
7 B Robinson (Red)
8 K Read (Cru)
9 S Pretorius (Che)
10 Q Cooper (Red)
11 D Ioane (Red)
12 SBW (Cru)
13 J Fourie (Sto)
14 R Ranger (Blu)
15 K Beale (War)

Discuss...

 

[chief]

Agree with most of that however, Sharpe for Horwill. Genia for Pretorious. I'm also skeptical about Robinson's place.

 

[Joe Mac]

Thank Chief.

Pocock is the better player but Robinson has been the stand-out 7 in the big games. I thought that warranted the jersey...

 

[Bullrush]

I realise that we are still 2 rounds from a winner but I thought I would try and construct a Super 15 1st XV based purely on form this season.

1 Crockett (Cru)
2 Mealamu (Blu)
3 O Franks (Cru)
4 J Horwill (Red)
5 A Bekker (Sto)
6 A Thompson (Hig)
7 B Robinson (Red)
8 K Read (Cru)
9 S Pretorius (Che)
10 Q Cooper (Red)
11 D Ioane (Red)
12 SBW (Cru)
13 J Fourie (Sto)
14 R Ranger (Blu)
15 K Beale (War)

Discuss...

Bloody hard to dispute I reckon.

Maybe Toeava for Beale but I'm a Toeava fan so probably a bit biased....

 

[tigerland12]

Looks about right, Thompson dropped off later in the season, so I'd have Schalk Burger. Pocock and Robinson a toss up. And definatly Genia over Pretorious.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

1 Crockett (Cru)
2 Mealamu (Blu)
3 O Franks (Cru)
4 J Horwill (Red) - A Boric (Blu)
5 A Bekker (Sto)
6 A Thompson (Hig) - L Messam (Chi)
7 B Robinson (Red) - S Burger (Sto)
8 K Read (Cru)
9 S Pretorius (Che) - W Genia (Red)
10 Q Cooper (Red)
11 D Ioane (Red)
12 SBW (Cru) - D La Grange (Lio)
13 J Fourie (Sto) - J Payne (Blu)
14 R Ranger (Blu) - Z Guildford (Cru)
15 K Beale (War)

Good team, I think those bolded would be very close to selection also.

 

[Henry]

As of this week this is the foxsports fantasy first 15. (have just gone for top two props and locks, not worrying about loosehead/tighthead. Points in brackets.

1. Coenraad Oosthuizen 280
2. Keven Mealamu 478
3. Ben Alexander 278
4. Andries Bekker 377
5. Dean Mumm 340
6. Liam Messam 552
7. Adam Thomson 415
8. Victor Vito 396
9. Sarel Pretorius 370
10. Quade Cooper 519
11. Patrick Lambie 411
12. Matt Giteau 479
13. Wynand Olivier 455
14. Digby Ioane 411
15. Kurtley Beale 625

Team is a bit suspect with foxsports only have inside backs and outside backs but is pretty much the highest in each position.

http://superrugbyfantasy.foxsports.com.au/M/stats.mc?element_filter=&stat_filter=10

 

[qwerty51]

Oosthuizen and Alexander, two of the best running props - two of the most penalised at scrum time too. Fox needs to take more points off for penalties.

 

[MajorlyRagerly]

7... how on earth do you pick?

From NZ - Messam, Thompson & Todd all put their hands up
From Oz - Robinson & Pocock (of what he played)
From SA - Burger, Brussow

It's simply not possible to pick the best one.

(for the sake of this, 7 is openside flanker, regardless of which country)

 

[Set piece magic]

genia for pretorius anyday of the week. Pretorius' game is not complete.

Other than that it's about right.

If the Reds win the tournament I think genia would be the favourite for player of the turnament

 

[qwerty51]

(for the sake of this, 7 is openside flanker, regardless of which country)

Then why do you have Messam and Thomson? Messam was the best blindside. Todd and Pocock were the best opensides.

 

[Brumbies Guy]

As far as opensides go, Luke Braid from the Blues has had a pretty underrated season, he deserves an honorable mention too.

 

[Athilnaur]

As of this week this is the foxsports fantasy first 15. (have just gone for top two props and locks, not worrying about loosehead/tighthead. Points in brackets.
12. Matt Giteau 479
13. Wynand Olivier 455

Team is a bit suspect with foxsports only have inside backs and outside backs but is pretty much the highest in each position.

http://superrugbyfantasy.foxsports.com.au/M/stats.mc?element_filter=&stat_filter=10

This highlights how poor the FF (Folau Fainga'a) points calculations are imho. SBW and Nonu should be at the top of that list by any read of the FF (Folau Fainga'a) stats. Granted I am a big believer in the Frank Bunce style of Centre, but Giteau's tackling has been limited at best this year, and for a centre tackling is 50% of the game or more, surely.

Of the Aussies I'd have McCabe or Carter (assuming Carters tries this year weren't aberrations) based on FF (Folau Fainga'a) stats. O'Connor if you want offense and can wear a fragile centre defense.

 

[ACT Crusader]

I'd have Thompson at 6 even if he dropped off towards the end of the season after he came back from injury. IMO he was the standout player in the whole competition for the first 5 rounds of the comp. I don't think there are many if any other player that was such a standout over an equivalent period.

 

[MajorlyRagerly]

Then why do you have Messam and Thomson? Messam was the best blindside. Todd and Pocock were the best opensides.

Thompson was widely regarded as the clear number 2 to mccaw in nz after about round 6.

Messam has played the entire back row, all oustandingly during the s15.

That's why I said what I did.

 

[#1 Tah]

Super 15 15?

Whoa.....

 

[Gnostic]

Agree with most of that however, Sharpe for Horwill. Genia for Pretorious. I'm also skeptical about Robinson's place.

Agree with that except for the part about Robinson. For mine he has been the standout 7 in the competition. PLayed hard on the ball and provided a real option as a link and ball carrier. He should be considered for the Wallabies but I doubt he will make the cut as someone like Brown will get the nod as he covers all backrow spots.

 

[Joe Mac]

I think Robinson will go. They need a specialist replacement for Pocock and he is the stand-out. While he only covers 7, Samo, McCalman, Elsom all cover 4,5,6,8 so its not like they are short of cover in those positions...

The other likely outcome is Hodgson which is a good option but the physicality brought to the game by Robinson is pretty hard to ignore...

 

[tigerland12]

i think it sucks that it is probably gonna be Hodgson or Robinson who misses out from the WC squad, both outstanding players.

 

[Elfster]

i think it sucks that it is probably gonna be Hodgson or Robinson who misses out from the WC squad, both outstanding players.

Yes, it is a pity, but Australian Rugby must be happy that there is now serious competition for more places in the team. One of those Catch-22 situations.