G&GR Oz S14 team of the tournament

[Viking]

http://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/super-14-team-of-the-tournament/

Ok so Noddy did a great post about the team the tournament. The crew all picked their team and then a final team at the end. Im not sure not everyone agrees and im one of those ppl. So lets pick our own Super 14 Team of the Competition.

Heres the G&GR team.
15 Kurtley Beale - Waratahs
14 Drew Mitchell - Waratahs
13 Will Chambers - Reds
12 Anthony Fainga'a - Reds
11 Digby Ioane - Reds
10 Quade Cooper - Reds
9 Will Genia - Reds
8 Stephen Hoiles - Brumbies
7 David Pocock - Force
6 Rocky Elsom - Brumbies
5 Nathan Sharpe - Force
4 Dean Mumm - Waratahs
3 Laurie Weeks - Reds
2 Tatafu Polota-Nau - Waratahs
1 Ben Alexander - Brumbies

Maybe the G&GR team can do another stat at the end after more ppl have put up their sides!

 

[kpark88]

My Team:
15 Peter Hynes - Reds
14 Drew Mitchell - Waratahs
13 Will Chambers - Reds
12 Anthony Fainga'a - Reds
11 Digby Ioane - Reds
10 Quade Cooper - Reds
9 Will Genia - Reds
8(6,7) Matt Hodgson - Force
7 David Pocock - Force
6 Rocky Elsom - Brumbies
5 Nathan Sharpe - Force
4 Dean Mumm - Waratahs
3 Laurie Weeks - Reds
2 Tatafu Polota-Nau - Waratahs
1 Ben Alexander - Brumbies

No real standout for Number 8 but def not hoiles

 

[Viking]

Id like to pick a team on the performance on the whole season.

15 James O'Connor - Force
14 Drew Mitchell - Waratahs
13 Will Chambers - Reds
12 Anthony Fainga'a - Reds
11 Digby Ioane - Reds
10 Quade Cooper - Reds
9 Will Genia - Reds
8 Wycliff Palu - Waratahs
7 Matt Hodgson - Force
6 Scott Higginbotham - Reds
5 Nathan Sharpe - Force
4 Dean Mumm - Waratahs
3 Laurie Weeks - Reds
2 Tatafu Polota-Nau - Waratahs
1 Ben Alexander - Brumbies

I most notably pick JOC (James O'Connor) over Beale as I argue that beale was not consistant over the season, in fact he couldnt even get on the starting side for most of the comp. Yes he had a few very good games and had a great impact. But id say he did maybe 10 good things in those games. Add up all of JOC (James O'Connor)'s, Hynes', AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)'s, then id say over the whole season they did more then 10 good things. Im just using 10 as an example but you can understand what i mean, If AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has an average game but does one good play each game and has played every super 14 game then he's done 13 good plays, Beale does 5 per game in his 2 games and he's only done 10 good plays. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) has therefore had a better impact over the whole season.

Notably in my side is Palu cos he was injured and missed a lot of games too, But i think he just scrapped through, His impact on their game was great and you can see the how much the tahs are missing him when he was gone. Higgers for me did more then Rocky. Hodgson was my first pick for my super 14 squad, which means no Pocock, was a hard choice but it had to be done Hodgson was outstanding. Chambers too was hard with horne but i guess chambers has played more also and no other 13's to choose from.

 

[Langthorne]

15 Kurtley Beale - Waratahs
14 Drew Mitchell - Waratahs
13 Rob Horne - Waratahs
12 Anthony Fainga'a - Reds
11 Adam Ashley-Cooper - Brumbies
10 Quade Cooper - Reds
9 Will Genia - Reds
8 Wycliff Palu - Waratahs
7 David Pocock - Force
6 Rocky Elsom - Brumbies
5 Nathan Sharpe - Force
4 Dean Mumm - Waratahs
3 Laurie Weeks - Reds
2 Tatafu Polota-Nau - Waratahs
1 Ben Alexander - Brumbies

(6 Waratahs, 4 Reds, 3 Brumbies, 2 Force)

Although Benn Robinson is generally a far superior scrummager to Alexander, the injuries did affect his overall performance so the spot goes to Alexander.

James O'Connor is probably about on par with Beale, maybe just behind, but certainly worth a bench spot.

Higginbotham had a few good games, and has great potential, but he is third at best (behind Elsom and Hodgson).

 

[RugbyReg]

yep, so it caused a bit of angst didn't it? here are some of the blogger's teams:

Noddy: 15 James O’Connor, 14 Drew Mitchell, 13 Mitch Inman, 12 Anthony Fainga'a, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Stephen Hoiles, 7 David Pocock, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Ben Alexander.

(6 Reds, 3 Tahs, 2 Brumbies, 4 Force)

Lance Free: 15 James O’Connor, 14 Drew Mitchell, 13 Will Chambers, 12 Anthony Fainga'a, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Stephen Hoiles, 7 Matt Hodgson, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Ben Daley.

(8 Reds, 3 Tahs, 1 Brumby, 3 Force)

Moses: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Drew Mitchell, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Anthony Fainga'a, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 David Pocock, 6 Matt Hodgson, 5 Van Humphries, 4 Kane Douglas, 3 Al Baxter, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.

(5 Reds, 7 Tahs, 1 Brumby, 2 Force)

Gagger: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Drew Mitchell, 13 Will Chambers, 12 Anthony Fainga'a, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 David Pocock, 6 Matt Hodgson, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Benn Robinson.

(6 Reds, 6 Tahs, nada Brumbies, 3 Force)

Newb: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Drew Mitchell, 13 Will Chambers, 12 Anthony Fainga'a, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Stephen Hoiles, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Tatafu Polota-Nau, 1 Ben Alexander.

(6 Reds, 3 Tahs, 3 Brumbies, 2 Force)

Brumby Jack: 15 Kurtley Beale, 14 Pat McCabe, 13 Will Chambers, 12 Anthony Fainga'a, 11 Drew Mitchell, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Stephen Hoiles, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.

(5 Reds, 3 Tahs, 5 Brumbies, 2 Force)

Austin: 15 James O’Connor, 14 Drew Mitchell, 13 Will Chambers, 12 Anthony Fainga'a, 11 Digby Ioane, 10 Quade Cooper, 9 Will Genia, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 David Pocock, 6 Rocky Elsom, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Dean Mumm, 3 Laurie Weeks, 2 Stephen Moore, 1 Ben Alexander.

(6 Reds, 3 Tahs, 3 Brumbies, 3 Force)

so if you want to chuck yours down I will compile and do a blog post for it as well, see if there are any differences.

 

[chief]

15. JOC (James O'Connor)
14. Mitchell
13. Will Chambers
12. Faiingaa
11. Ioane
10. Cooper
9. Genia
8. Wycliff Palu
7. David Pocock
6. Matt Hodgson
5. Van Humphries
4. Kane Douglas
3. Al Baxter
2. TPN
1. Ben Alexander

 

[fatprop]

15 Kurtley Beale - Waratahs
14 Drew Mitchell - Waratahs
13 Will Chambers - Reds
12 Anthony Fainga'a - Reds
11 Turner - Waratahs
10 Quade Cooper - Reds
9 Will Genia - Reds
8 Palu - Waratahs
7 David Pocock - Force
6 Scott Higginbotham - Reds
5 Nathan Sharpe - Force
4 Kane Douglas - Waratahs
3 Al Baxter - Waratahs
2 Tatafu Polota-Nau - Waratahs
1 Ben Alexander - Brumbies

 

[farva]

15. James OConnor (Force)
14. Drew Mitchell (Waratahs)
13. Will Chambers (Reds)
12. Anthony Faainga (Reds)
11. Digby Ioane (Reds)
10. Quade Cooper (Reds)
9, Will Genia (Reds)

8. Stephen Hoiles (Brumbies)
7. David Pocock (Force)
6. Matt Hodgson (Force)
5. Kane Douglas (Waratahs)
4. Nathan Sharpe (Force)
3. Laurie Weeks (Reds)
2. Tatafu Polatu-Nau (Waratahs)
1. Ben Alexander (Brumbies)

16. Saia Faainga (Reds)
17. Ben Daley (Reds)
18. Van Humphries (Reds)
19. Wycliff Palu (Waratahs)
20. Josh Valentine (Brumbies)
21. Mitch Inman (Force)
22. Adam Ashely-Cooper (Brumbies)

4 Waratahs, 4 Brumbies, 5 Force, 9 Reds

I think that Scott Higgenbotham showed some really good signs, but he also went missing for big parts of games.
I think that Kurtley Beale is being remembered in a fond light given his final 2 or 3 performances, over the season James OConnor and Adam Ashley-Cooper were better.
David Pocock only played half the season, but the half he did play he was best on field or close to it in every game.
One would normally think that there would be more Tahs there, given how they went in the season, but I feel that they chopped and changed the team a lot and hence no-one really stamped their authority that heavily. The Reds season petered out at the end, but I think that was more to do with injuries to the forwards - I think they would have been very competitive had this not happened.

 

[Running Rugby]

15. James O'Connor (force)
14. Drew Mitchell (tahs)
13. Adam Ashley Cooper (brumbies)
12. Anthony Faainga (reds)
11. Digby Ioane (reds)
10. Quade Cooper (reds)
9. Will Genia (reds)
8, Cliff Palu (tahs)
7. Phil Waugh (tahs)
6. Scott Higginbottom (reds)
5. Nathan Sharpe (force)
4. Van Humphries (reds)
3. Laurie Weekes (reds)
2. TPN (tahs)
1. Ben Alexander (brumbies)

 

[Lindommer]

The state bias in these selections is disappointing. In case you selectors have forgotten the Tahs finished 3, the Reds 5, the Brumbies 6 and the Force 13. The Tahs beat all three Oz teams along the way (two of them away), albeit in tight games. There are reasons why the Tahs were victorious over their Australian cousins: their players played better than their direct counterparts. My team:

15. Hynes
14. Ioane
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
12. Giteau
11. Mitchell
10. Cooper
9. Genia
8. Palu
7. Pocock
6. Elsom
5. Sharpe
4. Douglas
3. Baxter
2. TPN
1. Alexander

5 Tahs, 4 Reds, 4 Brumbies, 2 Force. If Robinson is/was fit he'd replace Baxter. Gentlemen, in case you missed it in my earlier missives: JOC (James O'Connor) IS TOO SMALL TO PLAY INTERNATIONAL RUGBY. Other than halfback that is.

 

[Geeves]

JOC (James O'Connor) IS TOO SMALL TO PLAY INTERNATIONAL RUGBY. Other than halfback that is.

I'm in agreement about JOC (James O'Connor). I'm tired of seeing small buggers play at 12. Give JOC (James O'Connor) a few years and he will get bigger and stronger. Anyone remember Mitchell when he first played for the wallabies. Beautiful breaks but then he would loose the ball in contact or at the breakdown and hey presto penalty and a net loss in ground. Now he can keep the ball and crash through the line when required.

 

[Viking]

JOC (James O'Connor) IS TOO SMALL TO PLAY INTERNATIONAL RUGBY. Other than halfback that is.

I'm in agreement about JOC (James O'Connor). I'm tired of seeing small buggers play at 12. Give JOC (James O'Connor) a few years and he will get bigger and stronger. Anyone remember Mitchell when he first played for the wallabies. Beautiful breaks but then he would loose the ball in contact or at the breakdown and hey presto penalty and a net loss in ground. Now he can keep the ball and crash through the line when required.

I agree to an extent. JOC (James O'Connor) is too small for international rugby. But we are picking teams on super 14 form not on their international ability. My wallabies team would look a bit different to the team i picked above.

 

[matty_k]

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Ben Alexander
TPN
Al Baxter
Nathan Sharpe
Kane Douglas
Rocky Elsom
David Pocock
Wycliff Palu
Will Genia
Quade Cooper
Drew Mitchel
Anthony Fainga'a
Adam Ashley Cooper
Digby Ioane
Kurtley Beale

Saia Fainga'a
Laurie Weeks
Van Humphries
Stephen Hoiles
Luke Burgess
Berrick Barnes or Matt Giteau (haven't decided yet)
Peter Hynes

 

[MrMouse]

15 Peter Hynes - Reds
14 Drew Mitchell - Waratahs
13 Rob Horne - Waratahs
12 Anthony Fainga'a - Reds
11 Adam Ashley-Cooper - Brumbies
10 Quade Cooper - Reds
9 Will Genia - Reds
8 Wycliff Palu - Waratahs
7 Matt Hodgson - Force
6 Rocky Elsom - Brumbies
5 Nathan Sharpe - Force
4 Dean Mumm - Waratahs
3 Al Baxter - Waratahs
2 Tatafu Polota-Nau - Waratahs
1 Ben Daley - Reds

I went with a couple of line-ball decisions. Baxter vs Weekes, AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) vs Turner in particular...despite being a Tahs man I don't think Beale played enough games at 15 to justify being form 15 of the whole S14...
6 Tahs 5 Reds 2 Brumbies 2 Force...

 

[#1 Tah]

15. Beale
14. Turner
13. Horne
12. Gits
11. Mitchell
10. Cooper
9. Genia
8. Palu
7. Waugh
6. Rock
5. Sharpe
4. Mumm
3. Alexander
2. TPN
1. Robinson

16. Fa'ingah
17. Baxter/Tilse
18. Douglas
19. Hogson
20. ummm....
21. Halangahu
22. Iaone

12 tahs, 3 ponies, 4 reds, 2 force.

 

[spectator]

OK, I'm going to base my selection on what I saw, and I will admit that I saw more of the Reds than any other team, and probably watched the Brumbies the least.

15. Hynes
14. Ioane
13.Horne
12. Fainga'a
11. Mitchell
10. Cooper
9. Genia
8. Palu
7.Pocock (Braid if NZ'ers are allowed to be selected)
6. Higginbottom
5. Sharpe
4. Van Humphries
3. Weekes
2. Polota-Nau
1. Alexander

16. Fainga'a S
17. Daley
18. Mumm
19.Hodgson
20. Valentine
21. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper)
22. O'Connor or Beale.

 

[rugbywhisperer]

15. Poiter Hynes (Reds)
14. Diggers Ioane (Reds)
13. AAC (Adam Ashley-Cooper) (Ponies)
12. A. Fainga'a (Reds)
11. Schmoo Mitchell (Tahs)
10. Cooper (Reds)
9. Genia (Reds)
8. Cliffy Palu (Tahs)
7. Pocock (Force)
6. Higginbottom (Reds)
5. Nathan Sharpe (Force)
4.. Mummmm (Tahs)
3. Ben Alexander (Ponies)
2. Polota-Nau (Tahs)
1. Robinson (Tahs)

16. S. Fainga'a (Reds)
17. Daley (Reds)
18. Van Humphries (Reds)
19. Rocky Elson (Ponies)
20. Hangers (Tahs)
21. Chambers (Reds)
22. Kurtley Beale (Tahs) I just can't go for JOC (James O'Connor) - last years EOYT was terrible and he hasn't improved under pressure IMO).