Official Magners League 'Dream Team'

remus808

http://www.magnersleague.com/570_2686.php

6 of the Leinster pack selected, including the entire front five.

The Magners League Dream Team 2007/08

1. Ollie Le Roux (Leinster)
2. Bernard Jackman (Leinster)(Leinster)
3. Stan Wright (Leinster)
4. Malcolm O’Kelly (Leinster)
5. Leo Cullen (Leinster)
6. Ryan Jones (Ospreys)
7. Martyn Williams (Cardiff Blues)
8. Jamie Heaslip (Leinster)

9. Mike Blair (Edinburgh)
10. Felipe Contepomi (Leinster)
11. Shane Williams (Ospreys)
12. Nick de Luca (Edinburgh)
13. Lifeimi Mafi (Munster)
14. Tommy Bowe (Ulster)
15. Ben Blair (Cardiff Blues)

Dumdum McCarthy

mate i dunno where ur from,i dont really think there is anyting to be too proud of being in the magners league team?if they were giving out medals hieneken cup get gold medal,,silver be bypassed really,the magners joke as it is known as down here gets the bronze medal...the munster players really use it as a warm up to there bigger games,and fact of the matter is i know few guys who have played in that league,they might not be good enough to get on the heineken cup panel but there not too happy playing in that leauge.??

Podge_irl

No way I would have had Contempomi at 10. He hasn't even played there as much this year and when Sexton has been playing there he has really shown what Leinster were missing the last couple of year. He wouldn't have been a terrible choice at 12, but I don't think he's had the best year. Can't really argue with that pack though, they certainly were impressive in the league this year.

remus808

Dumdum McCarthy wrote: »

mate i dunno where ur from,i dont really think there is anyting to be too proud of being in the magners league team?if they were giving out medals hieneken cup get gold medal,,silver be bypassed really,the magners joke as it is known as down here gets the bronze medal...the munster players really use it as a warm up to there bigger games,and fact of the matter is i know few guys who have played in that league,they might not be good enough to get on the heineken cup panel but there not too happy playing in that leauge.??

Please, let's not get into this provincial rubbish. Your saying theres nothing to be proud about in having an absolutely dominant tight five (who comprehensively outplayed their Munster opponents on two occasions) across an entire domestic season?

Amazing european campaign from Munster, securing the greatest prize in world rugby behind the RWC really, in 2 out of 3 seasons. But please, let's not take away from Leinsters great form this season either, despite their misfortunes in Europe. A league/cup double for Ireland is a huge boost for Irish rugby after our dreadfull recent international form! Now why can't we all get along

No way I would have had Contempomi at 10. He hasn't even played there as much this year and when Sexton has been playing there he has really shown what Leinster were missing the last couple of year. He wouldn't have been a terrible choice at 12, but I don't think he's had the best year. Can't really argue with that pack though, they certainly were impressive in the league this year.

Agreed, I had qualms with that myself. I think the contrast shown once Contepomi was outside Sexton this season showed Conters lack of game managment at FH, for all his brilliance he is really a much better 12. TBH I dont think that's a great back divison. Shaun Payne can certainly be disappointed to lose out to Blair.

themont85

Dumdum McCarthy wrote: »

mate i dunno where ur from,i dont really think there is anyting to be too proud of being in the magners league team?if they were giving out medals hieneken cup get gold medal,,silver be bypassed really,the magners joke as it is known as down here gets the bronze medal...the munster players really use it as a warm up to there bigger games,and fact of the matter is i know few guys who have played in that league,they might not be good enough to get on the heineken cup panel but there not too happy playing in that leauge.??

Insightful post there mate, well said....ahem, please don't try and make this another stupid Leinster vs Munster argument. Oh no Leinster can't claim to touch Munster player's achievments this year? Munster and Leinster both achieved this year, Munster's obviously more so with the Heineken than Leinster but still this isn't a thread to bash the ML. Incidently just a note that there is no way in hell that the near strength Munster team in a lot of there games incl the Leinster ones this year went out with that attitude, if they did so and lost it as a training run they'd be losing their places quickly such is the strenth of the Munster panal.

Another thing i'd say is the ML is a mark of consistant performance, the Heineken is a completely different competition in terms of guys performances and any team selection to be made for that competition. This is the ML dream team for that competition and its a pretty good selection I reckon judging on performances this year.

BTW Dundrum I didn't see Munster fans treating the Celtic League or Cup which such disdain before you won the H Cup. If you go on with that attitude your in for a fall. If Munster want to continue doing so well in Europe they need a strong ML. I doubt the players treat it like Munster fans apparently do but if so they'd need to cope on to themselves. Rugby is slowly turning more like soccer and the leagues are gathering more importance for teams. Another thing that would help is if maybe a slight fraction of those 50000 Munster fans got of their arses moaning about plane prices to Finals ect and went to support their team a bit more regularly.

Inquitus

The ML is broken to a degree, different teams take differing approachs. The Osprey's for one treated it with alot of disdain this year, prioritising the EDF and the HC above the ML.

There are a number of solutions, the best of which would be to cull 4 or so HC places from the ML thereby inducing much heightened competitiveness, but the ML Team's will never agree to that.

The playoff idea has some merit, as usually the 4 best sides are there or thereabouts at the top of the table each year.

Anyways something needs to be done to make the ML a top quality competition, because at the moment it simply can't hold a candle the the GP or the Top14.

anonymous_joe

The major problem with the Magner's at the moment is that certain teams (looking at you Ospreys and Munster) rarely prioritise it when they can still stay in the Heineken Cup.

Now all the Munster fans will point at the HC, but look at the Ospreys. They got f*cked out of the HC by a team they really expected to beat, and ended up with a season in which they achieved very little in the competition they prioritised.

They need to make the ML more important, and make it crucial to a team's placement in the HC. Perhaps linking it to seeding for groups?

zAbbo

Stop feeding the uneducated troll.

I'd have Conters at 12, but there hasn't been a standout 10, no complaints at any of the other picks.

Podge_irl

anonymous_joe wrote: »

They need to make the ML more important, and make it crucial to a team's placement in the HC. Perhaps linking it to seeding for groups?

I really wish they'd done that instead of the new seeding system, which I am not a fan of. But c'est la vie.

I think the ML is improving year on year and this year has been, by and large, competitive. The world cup was an issue, and the Ospreys basically never started trying to win in the ML because they did ****e while their welsh players were away. That will be rectified next year. I think Munster took it more seriously this year - they've a larger squad now which helps. Next year will be a real test for it, with no distractions like the WC.

RuggieBear

DUNDRUM mccarthy banned
Back on topic people

Stev_o

zAbbo wrote: »

Stop feeding the uneducated troll.

I'd have Conters at 12, but there hasn't been a standout 10, no complaints at any of the other picks.

Phil Godman??? Id have Ben Cairns at 13 and Ally Hogg at 7 aswell M.Williams didnt do much in the ML compared to his HC effort

[Jackass]

I think that team is fair enough. Really shows how dominant Leinster were this year and is a great tribute to how far our pack have come that 6 of the 8 in the Dream Team are Leinster players.

I think maybe Sexton and particularly Kearney could have staked a claim to be in there, but all in all as I said, I think it's fair enough and well done to the lads and roll on next season.