Rugby : Team of 2020
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Based on the 6N and the RC + the Autumn Nations Cup :
Mako Vunipola (England)
Dane Coles (NZ)
?
James Ryan (Ireland)
Sam Whitelock (NZ)
Marcos Kremer (Argentina)
Sam Cane (NZ)
Gregory Alldritt (France)
Antoine Dupont (France)
Romain N'Tamack (France)
Tom May (England)
Owen Farrell (England)
Viremi Vakatawa (France)
Tom Wright (Australia)
Stuart Hogg (Scotland)I could not name a THP as no one was a standout, IMO.
It was hard to name a fullback, so Hogg by default. -
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@Gunner said in Rugby : Team of 2020:
Only three ABs, were we that bad?
Maybe Caleb Clarke & Aaron Smith.
Sotutu and Aioane would have been in with a shout if they had more time on the park.
I don't think Sotutu was anything special for the ABs.
Not bad, just fine.
I hope they also look at at Marino Mikaele-Tu'u next year. -
Aaron Smith is easily the best 9
Easily
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@Gunner said in Rugby : Team of 2020:
Only three ABs, were we that bad?
Maybe Caleb Clarke & Aaron Smith.
Sotutu and Aioane would have been in with a shout if they had more time on the park.
Sam Cane & Aaron Smith def in the Team of 2020. ALB poss. bubbling under? - he was Mr Consistent this year
Sotutu and Akira look to have big futures, and had great first seasons, but need more time to show consistently how good they are. Caleb Clarke exploded onto the scene and then seemed to become much quieter but balanced that with a lot of skill under the high ball and on defence. Think/hope he could have a long future in a black shirt
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@Machpants said in Rugby : Team of 2020:
Who's Tom may, the only one I know played for England in 2009
Jonny May
Winger, scoring machine, AB skinner -
@Gunner said in Rugby : Team of 2020:
Only three ABs, were we that bad?
Maybe Caleb Clarke & Aaron Smith.
Sotutu and Aioane would have been in with a shout if they had more time on the park.
Maybe four with Aaron Smith who was the best All Black of the year but Antoine Dupont was just incredible. So who else ? Moody was far from his best, Ofa T is a penalty magnet, Frizzel was not bad but not good either, Savea is not a Nr.8, Mo'unga blew hot and cold, the midfield was meh, as were the Barrett bros, both playing out of position. Caleb Clarke had two good games but Johnny May had more minutes on the paddock.
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@MiketheSnow yeah I know that, but if you're going to write a best of team, better to get the names right!
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@mariner4life said in Rugby : Team of 2020:
Aaron Smith is easily the best 9
Easily
Antoine Dupont says Bonjour! Not as good as Aaron Smith yet but a bloody good player.
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Mako Vunipola (England)
Jamie George (England)
Demba Bamba (France)
Maro Itoje (England)
Sam Whitelock (NZ)
Marcus Kremer (Argentina)
Sam Cane (NZ)
Billy Vunipola (England)
Aaron Smith (NZ)
Romain Ntamack (France)
Jonny May (England) Player of the Year.
Gael Fickou (France)
Virimi Vakatawa (France)
Josh Adams (Wales)
Stuart Hogg (Scotland) -
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@cgrant said in Rugby : Team of 2020:
Not bad but Demba Bamba is not even the starter in the French team, so hard to put his name into a World XV.
France rotated their Props a lot this year. Bamba played 7 times mostly as a finisher. Good player with a cool name which in a year when no Tight Head Prop stood out and lots were injured sealed the deal for him in my World XV.
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Dupont has been dynamite this year for France. Had a chuckle at this try he scored in the T14 the other day. He's been making defenders look stupid all season.
From an England point of view, the stand out players for me have been Itoje, Curry, May and Underhill. Not sure the Vunipola brothers have done enough to get in a list like this, although Billy did have a strong autumn.
