Options aplenty: Who stood out in 2012?
It's that time again! With that New Year's Day hangover looming large on the horizon, it's time to reflect on the year gone by.
Power to the people! Planet Rugby readers are never shy to share their opinions and - as has become our tradition - we're giving you the chance to make your nominations for the Planet Rugby Readers' Team of the Year.
Remember, this team is supposed to represent the whole twelve months of 2012, not just the end-of-year Tests.
In each position try to consider the most influential player for his team(s) over the course of the year rather than the player you consider the best in that position on current form.
For example, Bryan Habana missed the November Tests but was phenomenal for most of the year. The same goes for Six Nations Player of the Tournament Dan Lydiate.
The Six Nations seems like an age ago, but it's important! Super Rugby / Heineken Cup / domestic club form counts too!
You've got plenty to think about so we're giving you until 12-noon GMT on Friday, December 14 to make your selections.
How do you nominate your team? It's simple: Use the space below to list the XV players that you think were the standout performers in 2012.
(In some countries - like South Africa - the openside flank wears 6, in most other countries he wears 7, so we'll use that convention.)
Use the following format:
15 Fred Full-back, 14 Robert Right, 13 Oliver Outside, 12 Ian Inside, 11 Luke Left, 10 Francois Fly-half, 9 Sam Scrum-half, 8 Norman eight, 7 Oscar Openside, 6 Bill Blindside, 5 Lance Lock, 4 Larry Lock, 3 Tim tighthead, 2 Harry Hooker, 1 Leon Loosehead.
DON'T give us explanations for your selections, just the fifteen names please.
In order to make the counting process possible, we will only consider teams sent in the correct format!
Save the banter for when the final team is published, just send us your nominations for now.
Comments
ironmanI441 says...
15. Israel Dagg 14. Cory Jane 13. Wesley Fofana 12. Sonny Bill Williams 11. Julien Savea 10. Dan Carter 9.Kahn Fotuali'i 8. Kieran Read 7. Michael Hooper 6. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe 5. Nathan Sharpe 4. Eben Etzebeth 3. Census Johnson 2. Adriaan Strauss 1. Soma Taumalolo
Posted 16:03 13th December 2012
rolf says...
Pocock, Mujait, Beast - still no team from Zim competeing.
So please people cut the XY-originally-stems-from Z-and-ist-not-an-original-whatever-crap!
Every player plays for the team he wants and is entitled to.
so what?
And originally, we are all from Africa anyway.
Posted 08:14 13th December 2012
Wallabyman69 says...
15. Dagg fullback 14. Visser right 13. Tuilagi outside 12. Fofana inside 11. Savea left, 10. Carter fly-half, 9. Fotuali'i scrum-half 8. Read eight 7. McCaw openside 6. Lydiate blindside 5. Sharpe lock, 4. Albacete lock, 3. Mas tighthead, 2. Du Plessis hooker 1. Healy
Posted 04:44 13th December 2012
Eric6 says...
15 Israel Dagg, 14 Corey Jane, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Kohn Fotuali'i, 8 Kieron Read, 7 Ritchie McCaw, 6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Luke Romano, 3 Nicholas Mas, 2 BIsmark du Plessis, 1 Tony Woodcock
Posted 04:38 13th December 2012
carpelone says...
Trinats2, you tool.
Pocock is from Aus as much as Tuilagi is a Pom.
Without imports, OZ rugby is really a poor thing.
Posted 21:03 12th December 2012
99call says...
15 Israel Dagg, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Jonathan Davies, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Ruan Piennar, 8 Kieran Read, 7 David Pocock, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Eben Etzebeth, 4 Donnacha Ryann, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Rory Best, 1 Cian Healy
Posted 14:20 12th December 2012
Darth_Hans says...
15 Israel Dagg, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Willhem Alberts, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Cian Healy, 2 Adrian Strauss, 1 Sona Taumalolo
Posted 05:30 12th December 2012
rolf says...
15 Gio Aplon, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Don Armand, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Posted 19:38 11th December 2012
Greegs9 says...
15 Israel Dagg 14 Brian Habana 13 Conrad Smith 12 Manu Tuilagi 11 Julian Savea 10 Dan Carter 9 Will Genia 8 Louis Picamoles 7 Richie McCaw 6 Dan Lydiate 5 Nathan Sharpe 4 Luke Romano 3 Martin Castrogiovanni 2 Bismarck du Plessis 1 Rodrigo Roncero
Posted 17:29 11th December 2012
MonmoreAli says...
15 Israel Dagg, 14 George North, 13 George Pisi, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Frederik Michalack, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Scott Higginbotham, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Richie Gray, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 1 Sona Taumalolo
Posted 14:36 11th December 2012
Player23 says...
15) Israel Dagg, 14) Cory Jane, 13) Conrad Smith, 12) Jean de Villiers, 11) Bryan Habana, 10) Dan Carter, 9) Aaron Smith, 8) Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7) Richie McCaw, 6) Francois Louw, 5) Sam Whitelock, 4) Eben Etzebeth, 3) Martin Castrogiovanni 2) Bismark du Plessis, 1) Rodrigo Roncero
Posted 13:18 11th December 2012
stumpy says...
15 Israel Dagg, 14 Tim Visser, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie Mccaw, 6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Geoff Parling, 3 Census Johnston, 2 Richardt Strauss
, 1 Sona Taumalolo.
Posted 13:15 11th December 2012
Trinats2 says...
new_j4a:
"7 from Zim above McCaw" who ??? Didn't know Zim had a team. Curry Cup ?
I'd have Hooper, Pocock and then the old fella McCaw.
I'd have Michalak over Carter, only because Cooper was injured this year, so to Horwell, Giena, O'Conor, and Ioane playing with an injury. Was impressed with Irish prop Healy and Tamalolo (surely an AB one day) Hooker, du Plessis. Locks Etezbeth and Sharpe and Lobbe at 8. Centres, the Argentina 12 ?? cann't recall his name and Con Smith. Wings Habanana and Jane and fullback Halfpenny
I see a lot of people picking their favour players, I have chosen ones that have performed consistently thoughout the year (with exception of Genia, but he is a shoe in any team)
Where is the IRB No.10 from England ??? has anyone picked him ???
I know for one thing for sure, no one on here would pick Deans as their coach !!!
Posted 11:23 11th December 2012
new_j4a says...
@Trinats2, do me a favor mate, put your real picks in...enquiring minds want to know...I am guessing that you are duty bound to pick the 7 from Zim above McCaw and Cooper above Carter? But what about the rest? Go on, bang it in...
Posted 08:25 11th December 2012
onceawasp says...
15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Khan Fotuali'i, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 5 Joe Launchbury, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Bismark Du Plessis, 1 Rodrigo Roncero.
Posted 14:03 10th December 2012
lawynd says...
15 Israel Dagg, 14 Corey Jane, 13 Manu Tuilagi, 12 Wesley Fofana, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Kahn Fotuali'i, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Chris Robshaw, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Geoff Parling, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Dan Cole, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Sona Taumalolo
Posted 12:10 10th December 2012
AdamReesy says...
15 Leigh Halfpenny, 14 Bryan Habana, 13 Wesley Fofana, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Ruan Piennar, 8 Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Eben Etzbeth, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Bismark du Plessis, 1 Rodrigo Roncero
Posted 12:06 10th December 2012
Trinats2 says...
new_j4a:
It's ok mate, I've paid for mine, I'm safe.
Posted 10:39 10th December 2012
Heinstein says...
15 Israel Dagg, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Sonny Bill Williams, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Dan Carter, 9 Will Genia, 8 Kieran Read, 7 Richie McCaw, 6 Dan Lydiate, 5 Nathan Sharpe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Cian Healy
Posted 09:42 10th December 2012
Spartacus says...
15. David Lemi 14. Brian Habana 13. Florian Fritz 12. Wesley Fofana 11. JP Pietersen 10. Dan Carter 9. Morgan Parra 8. Louis Picamoles 7. Richie McCaw 6. Juan Martin Fernandez Lobbe 5. Richie Gray 4. Eben Etzebeth 3. Nicholas Mas 2. Bismarck du Plessis 1. Rodrigo Roncero
Posted 09:32 10th December 2012