Shaun Edward's Premiership team of the year

From today's Grauniad (and if anyone dares to disagree, it'll be a Glesgae kiss from Shaunie!! ):

15 Alex Goode Saracens
His all-round game has improved and he's an international of the future without doubt, but for now he epitomises what Saracens are – a level-headed bunch who play an almost scientific game.

14 David Strettle Saracens

The stats don't lie, or at least they don't with Strettle. He's made more clean breaks that anyone else in the Premiership. Yes, Chris Ashton included and has grown in confidence the longer he stays fit.

13 Manu Tuilagi Leicester

Despite the obvious blip in discipline keeps him out of Saturday's grand final, he has shown a steady improvement all season. There were doubts about his defence, but those were put to one side after the way he looked after Northampton's muscular midfield in the semi-final.

12 Brad Barritt Saracens

The cornerstone of the Saracens defence. We at Wasps tried to sign him some time ago because he doesn't make mistakes. Sometimes individual skill and the ability to grab centre stage have to take a back seat to players who cement a team together.

11 Alesana Tuilagi Leicester

Big brother of Manu and the Premiership's top try scorer with 13 – three more than Ashton and Topsy Ojo. The winner in the semi tells it all; great work by the Leicester front row before Tuilagi brushed the defence aside.

10 Nicky Robinson Gloucester

And not just because he'll be a Wasp next season. His boot and brain were at the centre of the Gloucester challenge that almost got them to the final. He knows his way around a rugby pitch and has the happy knack of all good support players in that he gets in at the beginning and end of attacks.

9 Ben Youngs Leicester
A bit of an up-and-down season after bursting into the England ranks. There was that wobble in form at the end of the Six Nations, but he went back to his club and picked up the pieces. He touches the ball most in a team that scores the most. Says it all, doesn't it?

1 Soane Tonga'uiha Northampton

I can't remember a league or Heineken Cup match on which Tonga'uiha hasn't left a big mark. And six tries for a prop – two of them against Wasps.

2 Schalk Brits Saracens
Another man Wasps tried to recruit some time ago, but someone questioned his set-piece work. They should have looked at everything else – his running, passing, tackling and kicking. Proves that a top front row does more, much more than just scrummaging.

3 Brian Mujati Northampton

I tried not to be predictable, but the stats show Mujati and Tonga'uiha matching each other game-for-game. They have both played a remarkable 34 times this season, Mujati also showing a penchant for tries against Wasps.

4 Courtney Lawes Northampton

So good already and possibly on his way to being in the Martin Johnson/Lawrence Dallaglio class.

5 Steve Borthwick Saracens

He may not have been everyone's choice as England captain, but it's hard to fault his performances at club level. Every side needs a lineout nerd and he makes Saracens the best in the Premiership.

6 Tom Johnson Exeter

Dynamic, powerful and no little skill. Again, a player who epitomises what his club stands for.

7 Tom Wood Northampton

Wood snuck up on most people until he played Wales in the Six Nations. Others have been watching him grow as a player and I'm not worried about playing him out of his favoured position.

8 Phil Dowson Northampton

A really clever guy who thinks the team's way through games, much as an alternative captain should. Five tries also suggests he knows where to be at the right time.

Replacements Dylan Hartley (Northampton), Paul Doran-Jones (Gloucester) Joe Marler (Harlequins), Tom Croft (Leicester), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Chris Ashton (Northampton), Joe Simpson (Wasps), Nick Evans (Harlequins).

THats a pretty solid effort.

I would have Nick evans at 10 and Thomas Waldrom but apart from that a great side.