5 vital players

[Peat]

I'm borrowing this from the International forum as a) Its fun and b) We've run out of rugby to talk about. So who are the five most vital players for your team for the season ahead?

Ulster is pretty easy. It goes like this

1) Ruan Pienaar - Paul Marshall is not reliably good enough as a replacement and Pienaar is phenomenal and key in his own right.
2) Paddy Jackson - Ian Humphreys " " Jackson is pretty bloody good and central in his own right.
3) Chris Henry - Ditto, just with Charlie Butterworth as the unreliable back-up!
4) Rory Best - Not quite as vital due to Rob Herring, but still a bastion of experience
5) Fat Nick - An in form Williams would be huge for us this season. Literally.

Honourable mentions to General Franco and Hendy.

 

[Bada-Bing!]

You do realise there's a fee for borrowing the ***le to my thread.

 

[iINDOMINUSxx]

ok then Peat i like that idea

1.) David Denton
2.) Tim Visser
3.) Jack Cuthbert
4.) Grant Gilchrist
5.) Cornell du Preez

since i do like glasgow i'll do they're's aswell

1.) Sean Maitland
2.) Pat MacArthur
3.) Jonny Gray
4.) Alex Dumbar
5.) Rob Harley

 

[Thingimubob]

Might as well chuck one up for Cardiff:

1) Sam Warburton (if he's bloody allowed to play any time soon anyway)
2) Alex Cuthbert
3) Rhys Patchell
4) Gethin Jenkins
5) Craig Mitchell (might not have played yet, but my god an experienced, solid tight head was badly needed!)

Fair few new players coming in, mostly as replacements for outgoing players. The likes Jarrad Hoeata, Josh Turnbull, Tavis Knoyle and of course Gareth Anscombe, stand a good chance at staking their claims as crucial players. Dan Fish might lose his 15 shirt to Anscombe, but I can definitely see him getting a place on the wing, looked excellent on the 7s recently

 

[Rich Taff]

Might as well chuck one up for Cardiff:

1) Sam Warburton (if he's bloody allowed to play any time soon anyway)
2) Alex Cuthbert
3) Rhys Patchell
4) Gethin Jenkins
5) Craig Mitchell (might not have played yet, but my god an experienced, solid tight head was badly needed!)

Fair few new players coming in, mostly as replacements for outgoing players. The likes Jarrad Hoeata, Josh Turnbull, Tavis Knoyle and of course Gareth Anscombe, stand a good chance at staking their claims as crucial players. Dan Fish might lose his 15 shirt to Anscombe, but I can definitely see him getting a place on the wing, looked excellent on the 7s recently

After the last 12 months, I'd add ANYONE who can play centre.

 

[Big Ewis]

You do realise there's a fee for borrowing the ***le to my thread.

2 gallons of oxygen ? Done.

 

[lynam1104]

For Leinster IMO

1. SOB
2 Healy- Althougth McGrath is a good back up
3. Heaslip
4. D'Arcy
5. Kearney

Healy and SOB are no brainer IMO perhaps 2 of the best players in Ireland atm. Heaslip and D'Arcy come into it as senior players with BOD and Leo gone they have to fill the leadership void. I think you could perhaps argue Madigan over Kearney but that all depends on form.

 

[Peat]

For Leinster IMO

1. SOB
2 Healy- Althougth McGrath is a good back up
3. Heaslip
4. D'Arcy
5. Kearney

Healy and SOB are no brainer IMO perhaps 2 of the best players in Ireland atm. Heaslip and D'Arcy come into it as senior players with BOD and Leo gone they have to fill the leadership void. I think you could perhaps argue Madigan over Kearney but that all depends on form.

Matt O'Connor does not like this argument!

 

[collace]

Ok, I'll go.
1. Pienaar – obvious really. Gets the team moving and can provide inspiration.
2. Henderson – Muller is gone and while there is another South African on the way this could be the season that Hendo steps it up and nails down a second row place for Ulster and Ireland.
3. Payne – Will he be as effective if he moves to 13? We really need him to put a marker down if he does. Big season required.
4. Williams – Wasn't fit for parts of last season and for other parts just didn't look fit. Possibly the only really destructive ball carrier we possess and a huge weapon when on form.
5. Olding – Slightly left-field but if he can come back from injury and really make an impact it would be a huge boost.

Aside from those we need our big names to step it up this year – Best, Trimble, Bowe and Henry need to have big seasons.

 

[Leonormous Boozer]

1. Heaslip - His consistency and inability to get injured help Leinster constantly.
2. O'Brien - We really struggled to get any go forward ball in big games without him.
3. Toner - Unbelievable improvement this year, his line out work and new found dynamism are integral for the side.
4. Ross - We have Moore now but Ross is the man I want playing big matches every time.
5. Kearney - Top class runner and operator, needed in the outside channels as a strike runner.

Doesn't say much for our backline....

 

[Feicarsinn]

I'd have Luke Fitz in there. As far as I'm concerned hie's the best back at the province. If we could keep him fit and firing we look a hell of a lot more dangerous with the ball.

 

[lynam1104]

I'd have Luke Fitz in there. As far as I'm concerned hie's the best back at the province. If we could keep him fit and firing we look a hell of a lot more dangerous with the ball.

Thats a big if

 

[munstermuffin]

Munster.
P. O'Connell
C. Murray
P O'Mahony
BJ. Botha
And lastly simply for the bit of magic ............ Zeeeeeeebo

 

[Feicarsinn]

Thats a big if

Well, it is when you change the font size.

It is a big if yes, but I would consider him vital. We have lots of decent backs; Dave K, McFadden, Kirchner, etc. but they all lack that extra bit of quality that makes an international quality back. Fitzgerald has that sort of class. For a backline that's lost BOD, Sexton and Isa in the last two seasons the ability to change a game with a pass or a break is so so important, and few guys outside of Fitz can do that.

 

[Thingimubob]

After the last 12 months, I'd add ANYONE who can play centre.

Definitely! Still very gutted that Owen Williams suffered such a terrible injury, him and Allen always looked very promising together in the centres. Guessing we're gonna be stuck with Daf Hewitt as our starting 12.

 

[lynam1104]

Well, it is when you change the font size.

It is a big if yes, but I would consider him vital. We have lots of decent backs; Dave K, McFadden, Kirchner, etc. but they all lack that extra bit of quality that makes an international quality back. Fitzgerald has that sort of class. For a backline that's lost BOD, Sexton and Isa in the last two seasons the ability to change a game with a pass or a break is so so important, and few guys outside of Fitz can do that.

I agree on his talent and ability its just hes at the point where you can't take his fitness as a given. When fit and on form he needs to be fit into the backline somewhere, whether thats 11 or 13 doesn't matter. I guess the point I'm trying to make is despite his talent hes to fragile to be considered vital.

 

[welshglory]

Ospreys

In order
1) Dan Biggar
World class kicker, gets us playing in the right areas, leader, consistent performer
2) Justin Tipuric
Leader, attacking spark, world class, consistent performer
3) Ashley Beck
Adds creativity and spark to a fairly lateral backline
4) Tyler Ardon
Consistent performer, versatile and growing in stature with every game
5) Alun Wyn Jones
When he actually plays, and is on top form for us he is an absolute colossus, unfortunately that's quite rare. He might even have less of an influence with a weakened tight five this season. His leadership and experience will incredibly important now.

Edit:
An honourable mention for Jeff Hassler.

 

[Thingimubob]

Ospreys

In order
1) Dan Biggar
World class kicker, gets us playing in the right areas, leader, consistent performer
2) Justin Tipuric
Leader, attacking spark, world class, consistent performer
3) Ashley Beck
Adds creativity and spark to a fairly lateral backline
4) Tyler Ardon
Consistent performer, versatile and growing in stature with every game
5) Alun Wyn Jones
When he actually plays, and is on top form for us he is an absolute colossus, unfortunately that's quite rare. He might even have less of an influence with a weakened tight five this season. His leadership and experience will incredibly important now.

Edit:
An honourable mention for Jeff Hassler.

Hassler definitely deserves that mention, he really impressed me last season. Definitely a player who I wish was Welsh

 

[profitius]

Munster

1 POM
2 POC
3 Murray
4 Botha
5 Ryan

 

[Groundhog]

For Munster I would say
1. Murray- No one capable of replacing him in the team. He's so important for marshalling our attack, and his box kicking is outstanding. He's also one of the best defending scrum-halves out there.
2. Botha- Once again, no back up. Before BJ, our scrum got walked around. Botha's now getting on a bit in age, but from what I gather he's really helped to bring along other front rows.
3. O'Mahony- He's grown into the captaincy, and while the fact that people called him a hot head were always wide of the mark, he's focused himself a lot. He realy does epitomize the ideal of Munster 'pashun', even overcoming the handicap of being from Cork.
4. O'Connell- He's being put a bit down the list because we have decent depth in the second row, and I think that a Foley/Ryan combo is still outstanding. He's still a massive presence and one of the best line out operators around
5. Keatley- He's versatile and really dependable. Throughout the season he was consistently good