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Leicester get most picks in Greenwood's Premiership XV of the year
Leicester, Saracens and Harlequins were the dominant contributors in the Gallagher Premiership team of the season named by retired England and Lions midfielder Will Greenwood. Those three clubs, who are all set to contest the semi-finals on June 11, made up ten of the players in the Greenwood XV published in the UK Telegraph ahead of this weekend’s final round of the regular season.
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Reflective of how they are topping the Premiership table and will enter the playoffs as the No1 ranked side, Leicester garnered the biggest representation as their four picks – Ellis Genge, Hanro Liebenberg, George Ford and Nemani Nadolo – trumped the three-strong contingent provided by Saracens and Harlequins.
Whereas the Leicester representation was evenly split between forwards and backs, the Greenwood Premiership XV reflected the renewed power of the Saracens pack – Vincent Koch, Ben Earl and Billy Vunipola were named – and the continued poise of the champion Harlequins backs, as Danny Care, Andre Esterhuizen and Tyrone Green all made the cut.
The selections of Vunipola and Earl particularly caught the eye as both players were excluded by England boss Eddie Jones from his Test squads throughout the course of the 2021/22 season, but they have each shown their quality by getting stuck in for the Saracens cause despite their respective disappointments.
About Vunipola, Greenwood wrote: “Some serious firepower didn’t make this team. Alex Dombrandt, Dan du Preez, Jasper Wiese, Sam Simmonds, Fitz Harding. But Billy has rolled back the clock. George Ford and Billy have hardly ever made my team of the season, always away on England duty, never done the week in week out club grind.
“Billy has been magnificent for Saracens, every week. I was staggered not to see him get a look in for the Australia tour. Huge on restarts, massive from the base, gain line denting around the fringes, not afraid of a jackal or an offload. And the league table doesn’t lie. (Max) Malins, (Nick) Tompkins, (Alex) Lozowski all went close. Saracens had to have lads in this team finishing right up there and top of the contribution list is Billy. Huge admiration for players who handle disappointment and get right back in the saddle.”
On scrum-half Care, another player overlooked by England despite his excellent Premiership form this season, Greenwood added: “Alex Mitchell fans may think I have lost my marbles. Part of me is thinking the same thing. Alex has been fabulous for Northampton again this season. I just think he has come up against a lad in Care who has been totally knockout from start to finish.
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“I also felt I couldn’t have a team of the season without one of Quins’ Holy Trinity of Dombrandt, Care and (Marcus) Smith. Care has been razor-sharp, has the endurance to run all-day, top-notch skill set, supremely aware of the state of play or opportunities available. Mitchell is so unlucky to miss out.
“Mitchell has been simply brilliant all season. He has played 23 times for Saints and on 16 of those occasions, I had him in the top three scrum-halves of the week. I know this is all very subjective. But I trust my charts. Danny Care has won games on his own and been able to dig Quins out of any hole they found themselves in.”
The other five places in the Greenwood XV of the Premiership season are taken up by two players from Gloucester, winger Louis Rees-Zammit and lock Freddie Clarke, while Newcastle (George McGuigan), Wasps (Elliot Stooke) and Northampton (Fraser Dingwall) each got one representative.
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
25 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
25 Go to comments