WITH THE UPCOMING Champions Cup final marking 20 years of European club rugby, one influential newspaper has created a best XV from down through the years.
The Guardian’s team features an inevitable array of interesting inclusions and omissions.
Ireland has a healthy representation in the imaginary side, with seven players, in addition to one-time Leinster star Rocky Elsom.
Meanwhile, Ronan O’Gara, John Hayes and Ulster’s Ruan Pienaar make the bench.
There is no room, however, for some top players, including Sean O’Brien, Clement Poitrenaud and Jonny Wilkinson.
Best Euro XV: Geordan Murphy (Leicester); Sitiveni Sivivatu (Clermont Auvergne), Brian O’Driscoll (Leinster), Matt Giteau (Toulon), Vincent Clerc (Toulouse); Jonathan Sexton (Leinster/Racing Métro), Philippe Carbonneau (Toulouse/Brive); Cian Healy (Leinster), Trevor Leota (Wasps), Carl Hayman (Toulon), Martin Johnson (Leicester), Paul O’Connell (Munster), Rocky Elsom (Leinster), David Wallace (Munster), Anthony Foley (Munster).
Replacements: Raphaël Ibañez (Wasps), Graham Rowntree (Leicester), John Hayes (Munster), Simon Shaw (Wasps), Juan Martin Fernández-Lobbe (Toulon), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster), Ronan O’Gara (Munster), Wesley Fofana (Clermont Auvergne).
I have been very critical of him in the past and particularly last season but have been impressed by him this season. Still well short of Cooney but if he continues his progress then he will be a more than adequate backup.
He’s good, not great but improving the more he plays which is a good sign. He has a real knack of being in the right place at the right time running off teammates shoulders and being there to to touch down with tries.