DREAMS ARE MADE OF THIS... MARTYN WILLIAMS PICKS HIS IDEAL PRO14 XV AHEAD OF NEW SEASON
THE beginning of the new Guinness PRO14 season is almost upon us.
There has been plenty of transfer activity over the summer months but, now the squads are pretty much finalised, they’re arguably as strong as ever.
On paper, the league is riddled with quality and we challenged Wales centurion and Premier Sports pundit Martyn Williams to pick his PRO14 dream team ahead of Friday’s kick off.
Assuming everyone is fit and raring to go, here, in his own words, he comes up with his team and explains his selections... 15 STUART HOGG (GLASGOW)
HE’S brilliant. He’d make most British and Irish Lions XVs at the moment. I know, unfortunately, he got injured last year but he’s class.
He’s so instinctive, he’s such a great footballer – strong, quick, brave.
Hogg has definitely got a bit of a chip on his shoulder, like all the best players have and I think he’s key to Glasgow after they’ve lost Finn Russell. 14 GEORGE NORTH (OSPREYS)
IF everyone is playing at their peak, I’d have to go with George here, if he is playing at the level he was a few years ago. We all want to see that.
For such a big man, his footwork is superb, he’s got gas.
It would be between North, Keith Earls and Jacob Stockdale but if they’re all firing, I’d go with George. 13 JONATHAN DAVIES (SCARLETS) AT the end of the day, he was the Lions player of the series against the best team in the world, New Zealand.
When he’s fit and firing, he’s as good as any 13 in the world.
I think he has been the most underrated player in the world at times. I’ve always had a massive admiration for him as a player because I played with him a little bit and knew how good he was.
I’m not sure he realised how good he was himself but he’s been there when Wales have got to World Cup semi-finals, when the Lions have won in Australia, when they’ve drawn with the All Blacks.
Finally, I think he’s come out of the shadows. He’s absolutely world class. 12 HADLEIGH PARKES (SCARLETS) HE’S Mr Reliable, he’s been superb and he’s taken to international rugby, hasn’t he? There’s always that debate about whether or not regional players can step up and it’s been effortless for him.
Huge credit to the Scarlets recruitment team because, along with Beirne, not many people will have know about him.
Parkes is such a smart footballer and he’s strong, he’s got that little spin move and he can kick a ball as well. He’s the glue in that Scarlets team. 11 JAMES LOWE (LEINSTER)
HE’S a bit like Scott Fardy. People who have watched Super Rugby will know of him. He missed out on a few games last season because of the rule on overseas players but when he does play, he’s absolutely top drawer.
He’s got great footwork, he’s a great footballer, he seems to be a bit of a character – Leinster fans love him. 10 JOHNNY SEXTON (LEINSTER)
THE half-back partnership with Conor Murray is world class.
I know Sexton doesn’t play much in the PRO14 but when it comes to 10s, he’s the man.
Sexton makes the teams that he plays for tick, as does Murray. 9 CONOR MURRAY (MUNSTER)
MURRAY and Gareth Davies would be the perfect ‘yin and yang’ with Davies coming off the bench.
But Murray is such a smart player, he’s physical and doesn’t mind mixing it up. 1 ROB EVANS (SCARLETS)
HE’S matured, he obviously doesn’t have a Lions tour under his belt but I think he’s a Lion in the making.
He does all his bread and butter stuff but he’s a brilliant footballer, an explosive carrier and he’s had a brilliant couple of season. 2 SEAN CRONIN (LEINSTER)
PERSONALLY, I love watching him play.
He’s so dynamic, he carries well – whether he comes off the bench or starts, he’s a real livewire.
He’s also a brilliant footballer. 3 TADHG FURLONG (LEINSTER)
HE is proper world class, he’s as good as they get.
He’s a beast, he carries and he does everything you want from your tighthead and more.
He was outstanding for the Lions. He’s nailed on for me. 4 TADHG BEIRNE (MUNSTER)
WHEN you talk value for money and what you get out of a player, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better signing in the history of the PRO14. He’s so consistent. 5 ALUN WYN JONES (OSPREYS)
I don’t know what more you can say about Alun Wyn, he’s done it all, he’s just a machine.
What’s so impressive with him – even at this stage of his career, having done everything – it doesn’t matter who the Ospreys are playing, when there’s hardly anyone there, he still turns out performances. 6 SEAN O’BRIEN (LEINSTER)
WHEN he’s fit and firing, for me, he’s the best flanker in Europe.
He’s a big, physical guy who will get you over the gainline. I’d probably have him up there as a Lions legend. 7 ELLIS JENKINS (CARDIFF BLUES) YOU could make a case for James Davies, Justin Tipuric, Dan Leavy – there are so many outstanding sevens.
But if Ellis can stay fit, he’s got everything. He’s captain of the Blues and it’s a big season for him with Sam Warburton retiring. He’s the complete package. 8 CJ STANDER (MUNSTER)
WHEN he plays for Munster, he’s a go-to man, he’s such a focal point for them. His carrying is superb.
But again there are a lot of No.8s, Nick Williams has been a great signing for the Blues, Jack Conan is solid. But I think Munster are a different team when Stander plays.
Martyn Williams is part of the Premier Sports team in Wales; Premier Sports, is the home of the Guinness PRO14 in the UK and will be showing all 152 games from the Guinness PRO14 this season. Rugby fans can subscribe on Sky or the Premier Sports Player for £9.99 per month with the first month free.
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