Aviva Premiership Dream Team 2011/12

[psychic duck]

Selected by the ESPN pundits Austin Healey and Ben Kay

1.

Joe Marler (Harlequins)
2.

Schalk Brits (Saracens)
3.

Dan Cole (Leicester)
4.

Samu Manoa (Northampton)
5.

Geoff Parling (Leicester)
6.

Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
7.

James Scaysbrook (Exeter)
8.

Nick Easter (Harlequins)
9.

Haydn Thomas (Exeter)
10.

Toby Flood (Leicester)
11.

Alesana Tuilagi (Leicester)
12.

George Pisi (Northampton)
13.

George Lowe (Harlequins)
14.

Horacio Agulla (Leicester)
15.

Mike Brown (Harlequins)

Teams: Harlequins (5), Leicester (5), Northampton (2), Exeter (2), Saracens (1), made up entirely of the top five teams

note: neither of the centres George Pisi or George Lowe actually played a match at 12 all season

Other awards:

Aviva Premiership Rugby Player of the Season:

Chris Robshaw (Harlequins)
other nominees:

Brad Barritt (Saracens),

Mike Brown (Harlequins),

James Scaysbrook (Exeter),

Julian Salvi (Leicester),

Nick Wood (Gloucester)
note: Nick Wood and Brad Barritt werte nominated for player of the season, but missed out on the Dream Team to players who weren't which seems a bit strange

Land Rover Discovery of the Season: Owen Farrell (Saracens)
other nominees:

Jonathan Joseph (London Irish),

Matt Kvesic (Worcester),

Joe Launchbury (Wasps),

Christian Wade (Wasps),

Luke Wallace (Harlequins)

QBE Director of Rugby of the Season:

Rob Baxter (Exeter)
other nominees:

Richard Cockerill (Leicester),

Conor O'Shea (Harlequins)

MBNA Try of the Season:

Jonny May (Gloucester v Harlequins)
other nominees:

Christian Wade (Wasps v Leicester),

James Downey (Northampton v Exeter),

Luke Wallace Harlequins v Wasps,

Michael Claassens (Bath v London Irish),

Freddie Burns (Gloucester v Exeter),

Alesana Tuilagi (Leicester v Northampton)

Gatorade Game Changer of the Season:

Gonzalo Camacho (Exeter)
other nominees:

Rob Miller (Sale),

Andy Powell (Sale)

Aviva Community Player of the Season:

Bob Casey (London Irish)
other nominees:

Will Fraser (Saracens),

James Hudson (Newcastle),

Phil Dowson (Northampton)

JP Morgan 7s Player of the Season:

Luke Fielden (Newcastle)

Guinness Top Try Scorer:

Rob Miller (Sale, 10 tries)

Gilbert Golden Boot:

Tom Homer (London Irish, 253 points)

http://www.espnscrum.com/premiership-2011-12/rugby/story/163803.html

 

[cyRil]

Two quality Northampton players in that team, just surprised there aren't so many more.

 

[Saintjay]

Two quality Northampton players in that team, just surprised there aren't so many more.

With the Tigers players picking the XV I am surprised we managed two

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Not a bad XV - Not sure I agree with Marler, Flood (only really had a good 2nd half of season - though has had some very good performances in that time) and Tuilagi (who has had some very average showings, and just generally been his normal self the rest of the season).
Could make a case for Doran-Jones over Cole as well.


I don't get how Farrell is Discovery of the season considering his "discovery" was last season, and (oddly) I think Robshaw was much better last season than this.

 

[psychic duck]

Not a bad XV - Not sure I agree with Marler, Flood (only really had a good 2nd half of season - though has had some very good performances in that time) and Tuilagi (who has had some very average showings, and just generally been his normal self the rest of the season).
Could make a case for Doran-Jones over Cole as well.


I don't get how Farrell is Discovery of the season considering his "discovery" was last season, and (oddly) I think Robshaw was much better last season than this.

I rate Ayerza and Tonga'uiha as much better than Marler

maybe they were left out because they have been quality for a few years now and it's sort of taken for granted

Cole has only started 8 from 22 matches, and is second choice behind Castro

also they should have selected a proper 12, seeing as Barritt was on the "Player of the Season" shortlist, it's surprising he's not in it

I agree regarding Farrell by the way, I would say the Discovery would be Wade or even maybe Miller, nobody knew much about him in previous seasons

 

[gingergenius]

yeah struggling to see how farrell was discovered this season.

my team:

1. Wood
2. Brits
3. Mujati
4. Manoa
5. Robson
6. Robshaw
7. Salvi
8. Easter
9. Care
10. Evans
11. Tuilagi
12. Barritt
13. Lowe
14. Wade
15. Brown