Time to select the end of season Magners League Dream Team. If you want to nominate anyone, please choose your starting XV and email MagnersLeague@brand-rapport.com. Voting closes at midnight on Friday 15th May and the Magners League Dream Team for 2008/09 will be announced shortly after. The player who polls the most votes for his position will be included in the Magners League Dream Team for 2008/09. There will be a prize for the entry which most closely resembles the final Magners League Dream Team for 2008/09.
Just out of interest, this would be mine:
15 Kearney (Leinster) – close with Ben Blair and Mossy whose boots have both been hugely influential but Kearney offers slightly more in attack.
14 T Evans (Glasgow) – top try scorer in the league, pace to burn. Narrowly missed out on being a Lion in the season he got his first International cap.
13 O’ Driscoll (Leinster) – largely written off last season, has rediscovered fun and his form. Max Evans would probably be behind Shanklin in 3rd but has had a hugely encouraging season at 13.
12 Mafi (Munster) – another import to Munster that has given their backs an edge to match the forwards. Close, with Jamie Roberts and D’Arcy’s late run of form.
11 Danielli (Ulster) – has been scoring tries by the hatful for Ulster and is enjoying working under Matt Williams so much he has signed a new contract. Deserves points just for that. Tommy Bowe a close second.
10 O’ Gara (Munster) I suppose, but let’s face it there’s not been much to whoop about stand-off wise anywhere in Europe of late. Hopefully the likes of Sexton, Biggar and Jackson will make next season more exciting.
9 Blair (Edinburgh) – remember, the start of the season counts too. Dropped off a bit in the Six Nations, but still made numerous opponents look foolish/inferior throughout the season.
8 Heaslip (Leinster) – Hoggy has been solid if unspectacular and Powell/Jones keep getting edged out by Rush/Tiatia. Heaslip has really found his form this season.
7 Barclay (Glasgow) – close between him and David Wallace but it is the Scottish Rugby Blog after all.
6 Elsom (Leinster) – several towering performances in defence, a true class signing.
5 O’ Connell (Munster) – Lions captain, speaks for itself.
4 Tito (Cardiff) – a real talisman for the Blues, the ginger “Maori” was greatly missed in Cardiff’s HC loss – possibly not during the penalty shoot out though. A testament to his leadership that he earned the captaincy after only one season.
3 Jones (Ospreys) – has matured from a hairy figure of fun to an excellent prop.
2 Ford (Edinburgh) – better form in his Edinburgh shirt than during the Six Nations for Scotland. Powerful in the loose, not so accurate with the throwing.
1 Jenkins (Cardiff) – stand out prop in the Northern Hemisphere at the moment. Phenomenal workrate has made him leading candidate to fill the Lions 1 shirt.
