Rocky Elsom sole Australian in Planet Rugby XV

[travelling_gerry]

FLANKER Rocky Elsom is the sole Australian named by English website Planet Rugby in its international rugby team of the year.

The 25-year-old, currently unavailable for the Wallabies while on a one-year deal with Irish club Leinster, was given the nod by the website due to his “no-nonsense” approach.

“The effort the ARU went to in order to keep him on Australian soil gives you an idea of the regard he is held in, all over the world,” the Planet Rugby article said.

“(Wallabies coach) Robbie Deans will be hoping he returns home sooner rather than later.”

The website's team of the year itself was dominated by All Blacks, with seven players from the Tri-Nations champions named.

New Zealanders Mils Muliaina, Conrad Smith, Dan Carter, Richie McCaw, Ali Williams, Greg Somerville and Tony Woodcock were all included in the team which also contains three South Africans and one each from Scotland, Wales, Italy and Fiji.

Planet Rugby 2008 team of the year: Mils Muliaina (NZ), Napolioni Nalaga (Fij), Conrad Smith (NZ), Jean de Villiers (RSA), Shane Williams (Wales), Dan Carter (NZ), Mike Blair (Scotland), Sergio Parisse (Ita), Richie McCaw (NZ), Rocky Elsom (Aus), Ali Williams (NZ), Bakkies Botha (RSA), Dan Somerville (NZ), John Smit (RSA), Tony Woodcock (NZ).


http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au...015651,00.html

[GIGS20]

My god there's some holes in that team......did they just go with names they knew from recently or currently playing in Europe?

I cite Conrad Smith as one, as well as Blair, Parisse and Botha.

[James]

My god there's some holes in that team......did they just go with names they knew from recently or currently playing in Europe?

I cite Conrad Smith as one, as well as Blair, Parisse and Botha.

These World XV things are always a joke. I saw one on Rugby365 (a South African site) giving 7 spots to Boks including Adrian Jacobs and JP Pietersen.

What really pisses me off is that John Smit gets a 2 spot despite playing like 3 games before being ruled out in the Tri-Nations opener and then playing most of the European tour at tighthead prop.

[GIGS20]

Yeah I know mate, just kicking off the discussion....

[James]

Yeah I know mate, just kicking off the discussion....

Its a bit of a quiet week huh? I hate this time of year for news- in a few weeks the media might actually start reporting the rugby but until the trials start you just have to hear the same old rehashed waffle.

[normie]

I thought John Wellborn was unlucky.

[TOCC]

Its a bit of a quiet week huh? I hate this time of year for news- in a few weeks the media might actually start reporting the rugby but until the trials start you just have to hear the same old rehashed waffle.

well even the journalists need to take holidays i suppose

[zimeric]

my World XV 2008
1) Beast Mtawarira
2) Stephen Moore
3) Dan Somerville
4) Bakkies Botha
5) Ali Williams
6) Brown Dog
7) Richie McCaw
8) Sergio Parrise
9) Fourie Du Preez (he hasnt had much game time but still way ahead of all other contenders)
10) Giteau/Carter (cant make up my mind)
11) Shane Williams
12) Jean De Villiers
13) Ryan Cross (more consistent than Mortlock this year)
14) Sitiveni Sivivatu
15) Conrad Jantjies

lets see how you rate that list?

[slomo]

My god there's some holes in that team......did they just go with names they knew from recently or currently playing in Europe?

I cite Conrad Smith as one, as well as Blair, Parisse and Botha.

mike blair was quality last season, if i remember correctly he was nominated for IRB world player of the year, that shane williams ended up winning....too many kiwis in the team, muliaina at full back i would of went for lee byrne...

[James]

my World XV 2008
1) Beast Mtawarira
2) Stephen Moore
3) Dan Somerville
4) Bakkies Botha
5) Ali Williams
6) Brown Dog
7) Richie McCaw
8) Sergio Parrise
9) Fourie Du Preez (he hasnt had much game time but still way ahead of all other contenders)
10) Giteau/Carter (cant make up my mind)
11) Shane Williams
12) Jean De Villiers
13) Ryan Cross (more consistent than Mortlock this year)
14) Sitiveni Sivivatu
15) Conrad Jantjies

lets see how you rate that list?

I am a big fan of Fourie du Preez but you just can't possibly have him on that list. He was disasterous. He was dropped for Francois Houugard in the Super 14 and barely played Test rugby this year.

Conrad Jantjes is another one who had some brilliant games but had some very poor ones too.

The pedantic git in me also has to point out its Greg Somerville not Dan Somerville. And he didn't exactly play great rugby either.

[zimeric]

Sorry James my bad with Dan/Greg -copy paste error.
and Fair call on Dupreez.. i guess im just not that enthused with the halfback stocks in circulation at the moment and Dupreez is my nostalgic choice.

Jantjies has improved 200% since first taking over from Percy I was of two minds to pick the Welsh FB instead but took Conrad due to his outstanding s14 season.

[Thequeerone]

Rocky just got MOM for Leinster 2 weeks running this week against Connacht last week against Ulster.

He is certainly delivering for Leinster - who look like a very cohesive team this year. The Refs missed a forward pass on one try today - but they had the win anyways - kept on trying for the bonus point as well.