Flying Dutchman's Dream Team hat-trick
Edinburgh’s ‘Flying Dutchman’ Tim Visser has winged his way into the Pro12 Dream Team for the third year in a row as the leading try-scorer so far this season.
Visser, who qualifies to play for Scotland this summer, is once again the leading try scorer in the Pro12 and has bagged 36 tries in 56 appearances for Edinburgh up to Round 22 of the 2011/12 campaign this weekend.
That total has worked him into third place in the Pro12 all-time try scoring list level with Nikki Walker and just behind Shane Horgan (39) and Tommy Bowe (46). He picked up 15 out of a possible 28 votes for the two wing positions, with his nearest rivals way back on four.
There are five players in the 2011/12 Dream Team who have retained their place from the previous year. A panel of 14 journalists from Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales were canvassed to select the team after 19 rounds of the tournament and four of the returning players were in the backline.
Leinster’s utility back Isa Nacewa once again won the fullback shirt, beating off the strong challenge of Glasgow Warriors rising star Stuart Hogg, while Ruan Pienaar was the overwhelming choice at scrumhalf with 10 of the 14 votes.
Cardiff Blues centre Casey Laulala was the other player to make it two in a row as he won the race to join the Ospreys’ Ashley Beck at centre. His Blues teammate, Wales Grand Slam wing Alex Cuthbert, took the left wing spot on try count over Munster’s Simon Zebo.
It was also tight at flyhalf, where Glasgow Warriors’ Duncan Weir just pipped Leinster’s Ian Madigan for the No.10 jersey after both players received four votes. In the end, Weir’s superior scoring record earned him the flyhalf berth alongside Pienaar.
Only one forward survived from the 2010/11 Dream Team, Leinster hooker Richardt Strauss. He polled eight votes with the Ospreys’ Richard Hibbard his nearest rival with three.
There was another close call at loosehead prop, where Glasgow’s Jon Welsh and Leinster’s Heinke van der Merwe were locked on three votes each. In the end, the decision went to Welsh on the basis he had scored three tries to Van der Merwe’s one.
Munster’s BJ Botha beat off the challenge of Ospreys’ Adam Jones and Ulster’s John Afoa to complete the front row as the tight head choice. There were 15 different players put forward for the two second row positions, but Ulster’s Dan Tuohy and Glasgow’s Tom Ryder were the clear favourites over some illustrious candidates.
Tuohy topped the poll with six votes, while Ryder had four, and their elevation into the Dream Team was a reflection on their reliability and durability at the heart of their respective packs over the season.
The back row comprises three players who failed to make their nation’s World Cup squads, yet all featured in the Six Nations. Edinburgh’s Dave Denton took the blindside flank position ahead of nine other candidates, while new England No.8 Ben Morgan, of the Scarlets, crowned his great season by polling twice as many votes as his nearest rival.
The No.7 jersey went to the Ospreys outstanding openside flank Justin Tipuric, who received the third highest number of votes of any player – Visser 15, Pienaar 10 – with nine to leave the 2011 nominee, Sam Warburton, trailing in his wake.
No fewer than 89 players from all 12 clubs in the Pro12 received votes and the final make up of the team is as follows:
Pro12 Dream Team 2011/12: 15 Isa Nacewa (Leinster), 14 Tim Visser (Edinburgh), 13 Casey Laulala (Cardiff Blues), 12 Ashley Beck (Ospreys), 11 Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues), 10 Duncan Weir (Glasgow Warriors), 9 Ruan Pienaar (Ulster), 8 Ben Morgan (Scarlets), 7 Justin Tipuric (Ospreys), 6 Dave Denton (Edinburgh), 5 Tom Ryder (Glasgow Warriors), 4 Dan Tuohy (Ulster), 3 BJ Botha (Munster), 2 Richardt Strauss (Leinster), 1 Jon Welsh (Glasgow Warriors).
