606 Aviva Premiership Dream Team - Flankers

Well our front row is Mako Vunipola, Tom Youngs & Dan Cole all due to be heading to Australia with the lions.
Currently leading in the second row is Northampton’s Samu Manoa, with player of the year nominee Steve Borthwick fighting it out with another Lion in the shape of Geoff Parling.
https://www.606v2.com/t44183-606-aviva-premiership-dream-team-lock-forwards

Now we get to the flankers, and that gets awkward as so many of the players seem to play in a number of positions. So rather than doing a separate blindside and openside, we will have them all together.

Will Fraser 16 starts (3 rep) & Kelly Brown 13 starts
This has been a real breakthrough season for 23yo Will Fraser. Continuing injury worries for Jacques Burger and a dip in form for Andy Saull saw him get a regular starting berth and he took his chance with both hands. At 6ft2 and 16 ½ st, with a bit of pace, he is the very model of a modern major-general openside. Strong performances in AP (and HEC) saw him first playing for the Saxons where he was one of the few to shine and then selected for the Summer tour. A good all-rounder he will hope to kick on and challenge for the England 7 shirt next season.
Kelly Brown is a guy who can perform to a very high standard in any of the back row positions. Huge engine and a real tackling machine. The sort of player who makes things easier for his team-mates. Very unlucky to be overlooked for the Lions tour.

Julian Salvi 19 starts (1 rep)
In part down to injuries, but Salvi has been partnered by a number of players on the blindside – none of whom have played enough to warrant consideration. Salvi however has just kept on doing what he does – dominating the breakdown. Whether slowing down opposition ball or stealing it for the counter attacks that Tigers enjoy, Salvi is always making a real nuisance of himself. It is easy to see why he is missing his two front teeth! Having made the most turnovers and the most tackles in this season’s Aviva Premiership, it is easy to see why he was a POTY nominee.

Chris Robshaw 14 starts
Robshaw has played for more minutes this season than any of his England squad compatriots. As always he puts everything he has on the pitch and for most of the season he has been excellent. Looking tired after the 6Ns, and possibly carrying an injury, his form dipped a touch. Even so does anyone think Quins would have capitulated as they did at Welford Rd if he had been available? Another who will feel a touch unlucky to have missed Lions selection.

Tom Wood 12 starts
Phil Dowson has appeared in most Saints matches, but in general huffing and puffing to little effect. Tom Wood however has been consistently excellent, though injury and England duties have reduced his appearances. Wearing 6 and 8 for England, he has been seen most often in the 7 shirt for Saints.

Akapusi Qera 18 starts (4 rep) Sione Kalamafoni 18 starts (3 rep)
These two south sea islanders have been real powerhouses for Glaws, behind what has at times been a rather surprisingly lightweight front 5. Qera was nominated for POTY and is a typical Fijian player. Loves running with the ball, has 5 premiership tries and also loves making tackles. Kalamafoni covers 6, 8 and second row and boy does he like to run with the ball. 193 carries, 744m and 9 clean breaks are mighty impressive stats for a forward.

James Scaysbrook 20 Starts
At 31 he is unlikely to get England recognition. Which is a shame as the move to Exter really revitalised him. Consistently strong performances throughout the season, he is often used as the link man having made the most passes for a back rower. With a high tackle count, he is a real old fashioned openside.

Francois Louw 14 starts
His excellent form for Bath saw him recalled to South African colours feturing in the 4Ns and AIs. This of course reduced his availability for Bath, but on return to the club he has been excellent. He carries, tackles, rucks, mauls, wins lineouts and can charm Jeff Blackett (who struck his red card from the records). If the other Bath back rowers had showed just a fraction of his excellence Bath would surely have finished in the HEC spots.

Ashley Johnson 18 starts (2 rep)
With his distinctive hair and oversized belly you cannot miss the South African. Thankfully for him and Wasps his performances have matched his appearance. Big carries, big tackles have earnt the fans devotion and a new contract.

Ofisa Treviranus 14 starts (3 rep)
Included in part because I am juvenile, and I smirk everytime he is mentioned during a game. Matt Garvey has perhaps struggled a little on the blindside, but Trevor has done everything you expect for a PI player. See above for the Glaws players, rinse and repeat for LIs recruit.

Dave Seymour 21 starts
The arrival of Dan Braid (only 9 matches) halfway through the season lifted some of the pressure from Seymour’s shoulders. Seymour seems to thrive on the pressure though. 3rd in the AP tackle count, while all around him were flapping he stood firm. Having started all but one of Sales 32 matches this season, he played the full 80 minutes on 26 (of 31) occasions. A big reason why Sale are still in the premiership.

Matt Kvesic 18 starts (3 rep)
Plays 8 as well as 7, featured in the 6Ns training squads before earning selection for the summer tour. Will hope to see off the challenge from Will Fraser to earn his first cap prior to his move to Kingsholm. A strong ball carrier (32 defenders beaten) he also does the required work at the breakdown and makes his tackles. The former England U20 captain could become

Salvi and Louw for me. Big work rates, ones at the heart of his packs defensive efforts the other is the heartbeat if his sides carrying game (and decent on the deck to boot).

Kelly Brown and Will Fraser have also been brilliant for Sarries who badly missed Fraser in their semi defeat.

Pretty straightforward for me. Salvi has been the stand out 7 this season, but Fraser and Qera deserve recognition. Louw has been great for Bath, but Kalamafoni has been talismanic for Glaws. He has rightly won every award going for player of the season and has secured more man of the matches than anyone else. His ball carrying isn't bettered in the Jeff and his lineout work is pretty decent too. All at the tender age of 24 this guy will be another Glaws legend.

I've gone for Kelly brown and louw to massive players

Salvi & Louw, both outstanding in the AP. Gloucester pair come close behind.

Has to be Salvi and Kalamafoni for me.

Julian Salvi and James Scaysbrook, try being an attacking team and facing those two!

I voted for Robshaw and Salvi despite the former's loss of form at the death.

Hard one this time, but Louw and Qera. All worthy enough candidates in very different ways

Top of the turnover and tackle stats, not sure what more you can ask of you 7, so Salvi.
On the blindside there are ball carriers, but for me Louw has done everything.

Kalamafoni / Salvi
21 Matches 21
1 Tries 2
5 Points 10
0 Try assist 0
3 Kicks From Hand 6
55 Passes 81
1 Yellow cards 0
0 Red cards 0
193 Carries 141
744 Metres carried 238
9 Clean breaks 3
15 Offloads 13
23 Defenders beaten 7
141 Tackles 205
26 Missed tackles 22
13 Penalties conceded 25
15 Turnovers conceded 14
39 Line outs won own throw 8
4 Lineout steals 1

Qera / Brown
22 Matches 14
5 Tries 0
25 Points 0
1 Try assist 0
1 Kicks From Hand 0
45 Passes 25
0 Yellow cards 2
0 Red cards 0
139 Carries 91
343 Metres carried 261
5 Clean breaks 3
7 Offloads 2
24 Defenders beaten 10
159 Tackles 115
20 Missed tackles 3
6 Penalties conceded 13
15 Turnovers conceded 3
3 Line outs won own throw 14
0 Lineout steals 0

Louw / Robshaw
14 Matches 13
2 Tries 1
10 Points 5
0 Try assist 1
1 Kicks From Hand 0
54 Passes 79
0 Yellow cards 0
1 Red cards 0
96 Carries 142
276 Metres carried 157
6 Clean breaks 1
13 Offloads 9
5 Defenders beaten 11
130 Tackles 137
16 Missed tackles 9
16 Penalties conceded 7
12 Turnovers conceded 4
15 Line outs won own throw 16
0 Lineout steals 3

Wood / Scaysbrook
16 Matches 19
1 Tries 0
5 Points 0
1 Try assist 3
1 Kicks From Hand 5
30 Passes 155
0 Yellow cards 1
0 Red cards 0
71 Carries 106
116 Metres carried 119
3 Clean breaks 1
9 Offloads 5
3 Defenders beaten 3
107 Tackles 159
10 Missed tackles 16
16 Penalties conceded 16
11 Turnovers conceded 8
42 Line outs won own throw 7
2 Lineout steals 0

Kvesic / Fraser
21 Matches 19
3 Tries 2
15 Points 10
0 Try assist 0
0 Kicks From Hand 0
44 Passes 31
0 Yellow cards 0
0 Red cards 0
136 Carries 79
365 Metres carried 296
4 Clean breaks 8
14 Offloads 2
32 Defenders beaten 9
158 Tackles 153
14 Missed tackles 14
23 Penalties conceded 12
20 Turnovers conceded 12
11 Line outs won own throw 0
1 Lineout steals 1

Johnson / Treviranus
20 Matches 17
2 Tries 2
10 Points 10
2 Try assist 2
11 Kicks From Hand 0
108 Passes 46
1 Yellow cards 1
0 Red cards 0
172 Carries 122
505 Metres carried 494
2 Clean breaks 11
34 Offloads 13
21 Defenders beaten 20
162 Tackles 114
18 Missed tackles 18
17 Penalties conceded 14
15 Turnovers conceded 16
16 Line outs won own throw 1
1 Lineout steals 0

Seymour
21 Matches -
0 Tries -
0 Points -
0 Try assist -
0 Kicks From Hand -
43 Passes -
0 Yellow cards -
0 Red cards -
64 Carries -
171 Metres carried -
3 Clean breaks -
2 Offloads -
2 Defenders beaten -
195 Tackles -
13 Missed tackles -
5 Penalties conceded -
6 Turnovers conceded -
3 Line outs won own throw -
5 Lineout steals -

LondonTiger wrote:Top of the turnover and tackle stats, not sure what more you can ask of you 7, so Salvi.
On the blindside there are ball carriers, but for me Louw has done everything.

But If that's your criterion, Robshaw is the only flanker to average more than 10 tackles per game. In terms of what he's done relative to time played, he stacks up very well in nearly all departments. And he's had fewer bad games this season than Lydiate has had games of any kind.

PourFour - if Robshaw had been able to play enough matches to kepp that rate up and overtake Salvi - especially in successful turnovers I would vote for him. But england duties meant he did not. For me Salvi has outplayed every 7 he has come up against - and done it consistently throughout the season.

Brown and Salvi. What a left-right combination that would be.

LondonTiger wrote:PourFour - if Robshaw had been able to play enough matches to kepp that rate up and overtake Salvi - especially in successful turnovers I would vote for him. But england duties meant he did not. For me Salvi has outplayed every 7 he has come up against - and done it consistently throughout the season.

LT, I find that a really odd stance on two counts. Firstly, I could understand your argument if Robshaw had been injured, but to mark him down for being on international duty doesn't make sense to me - especially given his international performances were of a high standard too. Secondly, Quins met Leicester three times this season and won the two times Robshaw played.

Went for Salvi and Kalamafoni, but very close to Brown/Fraser...and actually Robshaw as well

Brown at 6 as thats where he's been playing and Salvi at 7.

Poorfour wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:PourFour - if Robshaw had been able to play enough matches to kepp that rate up and overtake Salvi - especially in successful turnovers I would vote for him. But england duties meant he did not. For me Salvi has outplayed every 7 he has come up against - and done it consistently throughout the season.

LT, I find that a really odd stance on two counts. Firstly, I could understand your argument if Robshaw had been injured, but to mark him down for being on international duty doesn't make sense to me - especially given his international performances were of a high standard too. Secondly, Quins met Leicester three times this season and won the two times Robshaw played.

I make my decisions based on who made the biggest impact on the premiership. This does not always mean that the best player gets my vote. After all I consider Dan Cole to be bettewr than David Wilson - but Wilson got my vote. For an international player to get my vote, they have to have been exceptional. For me Robshaw was not at those heights this season. You of course are allowed to disagree - would be a boring place if we all agreed. I just feel in the AP Salvi has been better AND done it across more matches. Without him Tigers would have struggled to make the top 4.

I'd probably go for Kalamafoni & Salvi. Difficult not to pick Brown, but given the likely makeup of the rest of the side and how I'd want them to play, I think the balance of that pair's abilities would really take the game to the opposition.

Salvi and Kalamafoni for me. Salvi has been outstanding at the rucks all season while kalamafoni has carried Glos for most of the second half of the season.

Louw and Fraser are close behind along with Scaysbrook who is the biggest pain in the arse in the league!

LondonTiger wrote:

Poorfour wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:PourFour - if Robshaw had been able to play enough matches to kepp that rate up and overtake Salvi - especially in successful turnovers I would vote for him. But england duties meant he did not. For me Salvi has outplayed every 7 he has come up against - and done it consistently throughout the season.

LT, I find that a really odd stance on two counts. Firstly, I could understand your argument if Robshaw had been injured, but to mark him down for being on international duty doesn't make sense to me - especially given his international performances were of a high standard too. Secondly, Quins met Leicester three times this season and won the two times Robshaw played.

I make my decisions based on who made the biggest impact on the premiership. This does not always mean that the best player gets my vote. After all I consider Dan Cole to be bettewr than David Wilson - but Wilson got my vote. For an international player to get my vote, they have to have been exceptional. For me Robshaw was not at those heights this season. You of course are allowed to disagree - would be a boring place if we all agreed. I just feel in the AP Salvi has been better AND done it across more matches. Without him Tigers would have struggled to make the top 4.

We could say the same, that without Robshaw Quins wouldn't be able to hold on to their top spot and retain their title... Oh wait

Ive gone for Fraser and Salvi, bith have had very strong seasons, Fraser has had his breakthrough year, it will be interesting to see how he develops in the next season or two.

Salvi was very good for Bath when he played for us, he has continued in the same vein at Leicester, although now with a stronger pack around him he can really focus on his role. It says a lot about the strength of the Oz backrow that he went home to try and break into the side, made little to no impression in Super rugby and has come back north to be one of the top players in the league.

In my dream team I would put Kalamonfoni at 8, otherwise he would get a mention here too.

Fraser and Salvi for me.