Emerald tinge to Dream Team

 

With three sides well in the hunt for the Pro12 Final it is no surprise that the Irish regions make up a large chunk of this season's Dream Team.

 

Table toppers and defending champions Leinster have three representatives, all of them in the pack as Sean Cronin, Rhys Ruddock and Jordi Murphy are selected.

 

Cronin has impressed at hooker both in the blue of Leinster and the green of Ireland this season.

 

On international duty he has had to settle for an impact role off the bench but with his club side Cronin has taken his opportunities well in the battle with Richardt Strauss for the No.2 jersey.

 

For Murphy, who lines up at openside in this team, it has been a real breakthrough year that culminated in an Ireland debut after a number of man of the match performances for Leinster.

 

And Ruddock joins him in the loose forwards at blindside after the fellow youngster enjoyed a distinguished season.

 

Leinster's arch rivals Munster contribute two players, firstly Casey Laulala, the former All Black who has been a star in midfield for the men in red all season long.

 

And the outside centre is joined by clubmate and loosehead prop Dave Kilcoyne in the Dream Team while Ulster also have two players who make the side.

 

In the backline there will be few surprised to see Andrew Trimble get the nod on the left wing, the Ulsterman roaring back to form this year both for his region and for Ireland.

 

In the pack Johan Muller skippers the side from the second-row, the World Cup winner has been an inspiration for the Ravenhill outfit in his final season before hanging up his boots.

 

The Ospreys are now out of the running for the play-offs but they too are well represented in this year's Dream Team.

 

The Ospreys have three players in Alun Wyn Jones who packs down at lock, flying Canadian Jeff Hassler whose seven tries earn him a spot on the right wing and fly-half Dan Biggar who is the top points scorer in the league with 204.

 

Scarlets look to have secured sixth in the table and they too have three players in the side, Gareth Davies getting the nod at scrumhalf after a blistering season that sees him top the league try-scoring charts with nine to his name.

 

At fullback Liam Williams is selected for an impressive season for club and country while youngster Samson Lee comes in at tighthead prop to complete the Scarlets representatives.

 

The Cardiff Blues also have a player to make the Dream Team in the form of Robin Copeland, the No.8 has been an ever-present in the league this season, his last with the club before moving to Munster next year.

 

Glasgow Warriors have the final player in the team as Alex Dunbar, who despite an injury-hit campaign has impressed, joins Laulala in midfield.

 

 Pro12 Dream Team: 15 Liam Williams (Scarlets), 14 Jeff Hassler (Ospreys), 13 Casey Laulala (Munster), 12 Alex Dunbar (Glasgow Warriors), 11 Andrew Trimble (Ulster), 10 Dan Biggar (Ospreys), 9 Gareth Davies (Scarlets), 8 Robin Copeland (Cardiff Blues), 7 Jordi Murphy (Leinster), 6 Rhys Ruddock (Leinster), 5 Alun-Wyn Jones (Ospreys), 4 Johann Muller (Ulster, captain), 3 Samson Lee (Scarlets), 2 Sean Cronin (Leinster), 1 Dave Kilcoyne (Munster).