3 Aussies in the Guardian's English Premiership Team of the Season
3 Aussies made it into the Guardian's Premiership Team of the Season; Skelton and both wings!
1 Joe Marler (Harlequins)
2 Harry Thacker (Bristol)
3 John Afoa (Bristol)
4 Franco Mostert (Gloucester)
5 Will Skelton (Saracens)
6 Steven Luatua capt (Bristol)
7 Tom Curry (Sale)
8 Matt Kvesic (Exeter)
9 Cobus Reinach (Northampton)
10 Danny Cipriani (Gloucester)
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro (Northampton)
12 Ryan Mills (Worcester)
13 Henry Slade (Exeter)
14 Luke Morahan (Bristol)
15 Santiago Cordero (Exeter)
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5 Will Skelton (Saracens)
This has been a ripper of a year for big Australians and there are none bigger than the 6ft 8in Skelton, despite the fact he has lost around 21kg since arriving at Saracens. If the Wallabies have any sense they should find a way to include him in their World Cup squad; at times the 27-year-old has looked unstoppable. When you are voted players’ player of the year at Saracens you must be doing plenty right.
11 Taqele Naiyaravoro (Northampton)
Naiyaravoro is the size of a house and not always lightning quick on the turn but going forward he is an absolute nightmare. Only Cordero has beaten more defenders this season – many of them were flattened in the Australia international’s case – and the 27-year-old is finishing the season strongly. The fleet-footed trio of Ollie Thorley, Jonny May and Josh Adams were not far behind.
14 Luke Morahan (Bristol)
Plenty of competition on the right wing – Tom Collins of Northampton was extremely close, as was Bath’s Ruaridh McConnochie – but Morahan consistently makes things happen. The 29-year-old Australian scored a couple fewer tries than Collins but beat more defenders and his positive running sums up a Bristol side who gave it a real go from start to finish.
