AP Breakthrough XV 2016/17

[TheNomad]

What a shame, thought he looked great personally

[Scrumhead]

My XV would be:

1. Ellis Genge (Leicester)
2. Jack Walker (Bath)
3. Scott Wilson (Newcastle)
4. Will Witty (Newcastle)
5. George Nott (Sale)
6. Lewis Ludlam (Northampton)
7. Will Evans (Leicester)
8. James Chisholm (Harlequins)

9. James Mitchell (Sale)
10. Alex Lozowski (Saracens)
11. Jonas Mikalcius (Harlequins)
12. Tom Stephenson (Northampton)
13. Joe Marchant (Harlequins)
14. Paolo Odogwu (Sale)
15. Max Malins (Saracens)

With one game to go, it's interesting looking at this now ... for the most part my XV was well off!

Let's not forgot that before this season Genge, Evans, Chisholm, Lozowski and Marchant had a handful of AP starts between them but now they are all established, with three of them likely to feature for England this summer too. In contrast, some of the others have barely featured, let alone made a proper breakthrough.

Looking back over the season, my actual XV would be:

1. Genge - Leicester
2. Dunn - Bath
3. Alo - Worcester
4. Hill - Exeter
5. Ellis - Bath
6. B. Curry - Sale
7. T. Curry - Sale
8. Chisholm - Harlequins

9. Maunder - Exeter
10. Lozowski - Saracens
11. Humphreys - Worcester
12. Clark - Bath
13. Marchant - Harlequins
14. Solomona - Sale
15. Morris - Harlequins

It feels a bit of a cheat to put Solomona in, but as he wasn't even really on the radar before the season, I think his selection is justified.

[Which Tyler]

Why Ellis at lock? I know you want both Currys there, but either put him as a flanker or not at all (or bench).
If you need a second lock, then Charlie Ewells went from academy straight into the EPS and will be touring Argentina based on early season form.
Elsewhere in the backrow, Chisholm over Mercer seems like insanity to me, though I accept that could just be my club colours shining through

[Scrumhead]

I know what you mean but in the OP, I put a stipulation of a minimum of 10 senior appearances so to be honest, I can't think of another player to put at lock?

Isiekwe would have been an option, but I think he has only played one AP game.

Chisholm is in over Mercer because he's played more games and has also been very effective - 24 appearances and 6 tries isn't to be sniffed at. I was trying to be as objective as possible so I don't think that's just my club colours shining through ...

3 Bath players is pretty fair isn't it???

[fivepointer]

To be fair some of those players in the original line up have had seasons badly disrupted by injury. Jack Walker, Scott Wilson, Will Witty, Will Evans and Tom Stephenson just havent played enough. Nott hasnt played as much as I thought he would, likewise Ludlum who appears to have vanished altogether. Malins has made progress. Odogwu played for Sale FC in League 2 North yesterday. He's completely dropped off the scene after a promising start.
I suppose in terms of actual breakthroughs we've got to look at the England tour party and the likes of the Currys, Maunder, Earle, Williams and Isiekwe.
A lock who has made headway this season after dreadful injuries would be Will Spencer at Worcester.

[Which Tyler]

Then at least swap Ellis for Ewells.
Zach may only have scored 2 tries, but he has made 25 appearances (statbunker).

It's not the number of Bath players, it's a case of which ones. Max Clark's only really there due to a lack of alternatives after all, whilst backrow is pretty hotly contested.

I'd still say Mercer's had a better season than Chisholm too, but we'd best leave that for neutrals to decide I guess.

[Scrumhead]

Agreed on the injured guys. Odogwu started the season really well and then got royally shafted to accommodate Charnley which must go down as a big mistake when comparing their performances ...

I agree in principle on Will Spencer, but he had a reasonable amount of senior experience prior to this season - the same reason I didn't include Ribbans.

Malins has definitely made progress but that was mainly in the LV Cup I think? I think he, Gallagher and Earle have a handful of AP experiences between them.

[Scrumhead]

Actually - I have thought of a worthy candidate for the second row - Will Rowlands at Wasps.

According to ESPN he's made 17 appearances and has looked very good whenever I've seen him play.

Is anyone else going to pick a team? I'm curious to see other people's selections.

[Which Tyler]

consider my team to be the same as yours, with a Bath lock playing lock, and Mercer at N8

[Mikey Brown]

Who is Ribbans? Seen barely any AP recently but keep seeing his name everywhere?

Chisholm for me has been great, got really high hopes, but not had a chance to look at Mercer.

[Mellsblue]

Ribbans in Saints new SA lock. Very good player and EQP.

Both Mercer and Chisholm have been excellent this season. Disappointed neither are off to Argentina.

[Scrumhead]

Ribbans is an EQ South African lock Northampton signed mid-season. He's looked really good in his games so far.

21yrs old, 6'8" and 116kg!

[16th man]

Ribbans is an EQ South African lock Northampton signed mid-season. He's looked really good in his games so far.

21yrs old, 6'8" and 116kg!

And ridiculously mobile for his size.

[Mellsblue]

Ribbans is an EQ South African lock Northampton signed mid-season. He's looked really good in his games so far.

21yrs old, 6'8" and 116kg!

And ridiculously mobile for his size.

Faster than Jack Nowell........

[Scrumhead]

With a bit more AP experience under his belt I think he could definitely put himself on the radar for England.

Lock is obviously a ridiculously competitive position for us, but Eddie's recent selection would suggest that outside of the obvious selections, he doesn't really rate the others highly enough to pick them.

That's harsh on players like Barrow or Symons IMO, but it does seem to indicate that there is a place for a young, high potential lock to force their way in to the reckoning. Ribbans is likely to play a lot more than Isiekwe too.

[Banquo]

With a bit more AP experience under his belt I think he could definitely put himself on the radar for England.

Lock is obviously a ridiculously competitive position for us, but Eddie's recent selection would suggest that outside of the obvious selections, he doesn't really rate the others highly enough to pick them.

That's harsh on players like Barrow or Symons IMO, but it does seem to indicate that there is a place for a young, high potential lock to force their way in to the reckoning. Ribbans is likely to play a lot more than Isiekwe too.

same for other positions, too.

[Scrumhead]

True - that's a fair point. Although lock has got to be the hardest position for anyone outside the squad to break in to. Positions were only up for grabs in the latest squad because of the Lions selection and barring injury, I can't see Itoje, Kruis, Launchbury and Lawes being overhauled by anyone any time soon.

[Banquo]

True - that's a fair point. Although lock has got to be the hardest position for anyone outside the squad to break in to. Positions were only up for grabs in the latest squad because of the Lions selection and barring injury, I can't see Itoje, Kruis, Launchbury and Lawes being overhauled by anyone any time soon.

no, my point was that he has either gone with multi capped where available or skipped a generation- it appears. There again, a couple of years back, Launchbury and Lawes looked to be unassailable......