Wednesday, 9 May 2012

Rugby Matter’s Premiership Team of the Year.


As is the fashion at this time of year Rugby Matter’s names it 100% conclusive and unarguable selection.

15. Mike Brown
Mike’s early season form gets him the nod here ahead of Ben Foden and Geordan Murphy.

14. Horacio Agulla
Agulla’s general play has been exceptional and his moments of magic against Worcester and Northampton will bear the test of time.

13. Manu Tuilagi
Manu might have had an injury hit season but he is still a force of nature.

12. Anthony Allen
Tony Allen has been in storming form the past month as Tigers secured a home quarter final, he is arguably the key to Tigers midfield with the balance he brings between Manu and Flood.

11. Chris Ashton
Ash the Splash might have been grounded around new year with injury and the ructions from his summer switch to Saint’s hated rivals Saracens but his quality still shines through.

10. Toby Flood
Leicester have only lost one match Flood has started this season and gained 8 try scoring bonus points in 12 wins.

9. Ben Youngs
Ben Youngs has been back to his effervescent best this season and his play directs Leicester’s style and tempo.

1. Marcos Ayerza
Ayerza is one of the rocks that the Leicester game is built on.  A pillar of strength in the scrum with the hands of a centre he is a truly modern prop.

2. Schalk Brits
Brits is a mould breaker.  There isn’t another one like him anywhere in the world.  Like an extra flanker at the breakdown, a full back on the counter and with the efficacy needed in the set piece.

3. Dan Cole
Cole has really improved as a player this season displacing Castrogiovanni from Leicester’s first choice team.  The last professional to emerge from Robert Smyth was Martin Johnson and Cole is certainly a player in his image.

4. Jim Hamilton
Big Jim is an enforcer of a lock, known for his confrontational play his only real challenger for this spot is Harlequins Ollie Kohn.

5. George Robson
Robson is a canny lineout operator and good round the field, Quins rise up the table is based on a set piece solidarity of which he is a crucial part.

6. Steve Mafi
Super Steve has an ever growing fan club at Welford Road and it is easy to see why; eye catching tries against Gloucester, Quins and in the LV cup final against Saints and allied with a prodigious work rate and an efficient presence in the lineout.

7. Chris Robshaw
Robshaw has captained Harlequins to the top of the table for the first time and has proved an inspiration to his team.  Hard work at the break down and an improving linking game make him a stand out option at 7.

8. Roger Wilson
The Ulsterman is steadying presence at the base of Northampton’s scrum and provides powerful impetus to any attack in danger of stagnating.  Solid under the high ball and with a real appetite for work in defence.

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