The Guinness PRO14 Dream Team presented by Macron for the 2020/21 season has been selected by the media to recognise the most consistent performers in the Championship.
Ulster lead the way with four players selected. Michael Lowry and John Cooney have been nominated in the backs, with Marcell Coetzee and Eric O’Sullivan picked in the forwards.
A pool of 75-plus media from across the UK, Ireland, Italy and South Africa including reporters, broadcasters, former players and coaches were invited to vote in order to assemble the final XV.
Out of the 12 teams the competed in this campaign six are represented and four of those sides had multiple selections. With Irish teams finishing in the top two positions in both Guinness PRO14 Conferences, that feat is recognised by 13 selections coming from the provinces with Cardiff Blues and Glasgow Warriors the other representatives.
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19th March 2021; John Cooney during the final round of the Guinness PRO14 against Zebre Rugby held at Kingspan Stadium, Ravenhill Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Photo by John Dickson/Dicksondigital[/caption]
Connacht, Leinster and Munster see three players each included with Cardiff and Warriors earning one each. Media were free to vote for any player they wished as long as they had made 8 appearances in the 2020/21 campaign.
Many of the players selected feature prominently in the Opta stats. Top try-scorers (9) Alex Wootton, Scott Penny and Marcell Coetzee are all named. Leading points scorer John Cooney (115), who also topped the assists list (13), was voted in at scrum-half. In midfield, Huw Jones was third for offloads (14) and second for defenders beaten (36) while in the back row Josh Turnbull led the competition for most tackles made (215). At No 8 Coetzee also led in the offload ranks with 20.
[caption id="attachment_38991" align="alignnone" width="792"] 6 March 2021; Marcell Coetzee is tackled by Rhys Ruddock during the Guinness PRO14 match between Ulster and Leinster at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Photo by John Dickson/Dicksondigital[/caption]
DREAM TEAM SELECTED BY THE MEDIA
15 Michael Lowry (Ulster)
14 Alex Wootton (Connacht)
13 Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors)
12 Damien de Allende (Munster)
11 Dave Kearney (Leinster)
10 Jack Carty (Connacht)
9 John Cooney (Ulster)
8 Marcell Coetzee (Ulster)
7 Scott Penny (Leinster)
6 Josh Turnbull (Cardiff Blues)
5 Gavin Thornbury (Connacht)
4 Billy Holland (Munster)
3 Michael Bent (Leinster)
2 Kevin O’Byrne (Munster)
1 Eric O’Sullivan (Ulster)
[caption id="attachment_38992" align="alignnone" width="887"] 2nd January 2021 | Ulster vs Munster
Eric OSullivan during the PRO14 Round 10 clash between Ulster Rugby and Munster Rugby at the Kingspan Stadium, Ravenhill Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Photo by John Dickson/Dicksondigital[/caption] Total Dream Team appearances by club since 2007/08: Leinster: 42 Ospreys: 28 Munster: 23 Glasgow Warriors: 22 Scarlets: 22 Ulster: 21 Cardiff Blues: 17 Connacht: 16 Edinburgh: 13 Benetton Rugby: 3 Toyota Cheetahs: 2 Dragons: 1
19th March 2021; John Cooney during the final round of the Guinness PRO14 against Zebre Rugby held at Kingspan Stadium, Ravenhill Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Photo by John Dickson/Dicksondigital[/caption]
Connacht, Leinster and Munster see three players each included with Cardiff and Warriors earning one each. Media were free to vote for any player they wished as long as they had made 8 appearances in the 2020/21 campaign.
Many of the players selected feature prominently in the Opta stats. Top try-scorers (9) Alex Wootton, Scott Penny and Marcell Coetzee are all named. Leading points scorer John Cooney (115), who also topped the assists list (13), was voted in at scrum-half. In midfield, Huw Jones was third for offloads (14) and second for defenders beaten (36) while in the back row Josh Turnbull led the competition for most tackles made (215). At No 8 Coetzee also led in the offload ranks with 20.
[caption id="attachment_38991" align="alignnone" width="792"] 6 March 2021; Marcell Coetzee is tackled by Rhys Ruddock during the Guinness PRO14 match between Ulster and Leinster at Kingspan Stadium in Belfast. Photo by John Dickson/Dicksondigital[/caption]
DREAM TEAM SELECTED BY THE MEDIA
15 Michael Lowry (Ulster)
14 Alex Wootton (Connacht)
13 Huw Jones (Glasgow Warriors)
12 Damien de Allende (Munster)
11 Dave Kearney (Leinster)
10 Jack Carty (Connacht)
9 John Cooney (Ulster)
8 Marcell Coetzee (Ulster)
7 Scott Penny (Leinster)
6 Josh Turnbull (Cardiff Blues)
5 Gavin Thornbury (Connacht)
4 Billy Holland (Munster)
3 Michael Bent (Leinster)
2 Kevin O’Byrne (Munster)
1 Eric O’Sullivan (Ulster)
[caption id="attachment_38992" align="alignnone" width="887"] 2nd January 2021 | Ulster vs MunsterEric OSullivan during the PRO14 Round 10 clash between Ulster Rugby and Munster Rugby at the Kingspan Stadium, Ravenhill Park, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Photo by John Dickson/Dicksondigital[/caption] Total Dream Team appearances by club since 2007/08: Leinster: 42 Ospreys: 28 Munster: 23 Glasgow Warriors: 22 Scarlets: 22 Ulster: 21 Cardiff Blues: 17 Connacht: 16 Edinburgh: 13 Benetton Rugby: 3 Toyota Cheetahs: 2 Dragons: 1