It’s been another compelling year in the Guinness PRO14, with ups and downs from September to May for fantasy players across the world. With the season nearing its conclusion the picture has emerged of the Fantasy Rugby overall dreamteam of the year, and these are the men who made the cut. Full-back – Masixole Banda – Isuzu Southern Kings – The third-highest points scorer in the game, Masixole Banda has had an excellent season. The Kings have been on the losing side more times than they would like but Banda has always scored well due to ability to score or set up tries, while chipping in with 32 conversions and 12 penalties. Wing – Johnny McNicholl – Scarlets – The second-highest points scorer in Fantasy Rugby, New Zealand born wing Johnny McNicholl is clearly one of the deadliest around in the Guinness PRO14. He touched down with two tries against Dragons at the weekend to take his tally to 11 for the season – yielding 147 points. Wing – Dan Evans – Ospreys – Also in the back three is creative Ospreys player Dan Evans with 129 points. 18 appearances, 10 tries, 12 50 metre-runs and two man of the matches making him an extremely valuable asset to any Fantasy Rugby side. Centre – Stuart McCloskey – Ulster – Just edging over a century of points for the season we have rampaging Ulster centre Stuart McCloskey. If you want someone to batter down the door at centre there are few better than McCloskey, who has played a direct role in eight tries this season while also earning points for a tonne of tackles. Centre – Rey Lee-Lo – Cardiff Blues – 112 Fantasy Rugby points confirms the standout season Rey Lee-Lo has had in the Cardiff Blues midfield, with the centre displaying his ability to destroy, create and finish tries with aplomb. Fly-half – Jack Carty – Connacht – Jack Carty is Connacht’s sole representation in the dreamteam this season and yet tops the charts as the most valuable player with 162 points. Fifteen appearances, 30 conversions and 10 try assists doing the majority of the damage. Scrum-half – Shaun Venter – Toyota Cheetahs – Shaun Venter of the Toyota Cheetahs stars in our team of the season, scoring a superb 132 points. Venter has always been crucial to the Cheetahs’ attacking style of play and is adept at picking the right support line to get in on the try-scoring fun. Front row – Joseph Dweba – Toyota Cheetahs – The second Cheetahs man to make our line-up – hooker Joseph Dweba helped himself to 98 Fantasy points with his rampaging and ruthless style. Front row – Rob Herring – Ulster Rugby – There must be something about hookers in Fantasy Rugby, with Ulsterman Rob Herring the second of three No.2s in our front row. The consistent performer was a common pick in your teams, and ending up with 105 points. Front row – Michael Willemse – Isuzu Southern Kings – The Southern Kings’ hooker Michael Willemse also makes the dreamteam and garnered many of his 90 points from five tries scored (40 points) and two man of the match awards. Lock – Bill Mata – Edinburgh – There wasn’t much chance that Bill Mata wouldn’t make the dreamteam given his tireless performances this season. Five tries and multiple all-action appearances gained him 103 points. Lock – Federico Ruzza – Benetton – Alongside Mata at lock is Benetton’s Ruzza with 90 points, who has made big in-roads this season in both domestic and international affairs. Adept at the set-piece but with an all-round game – Ruzza has four tries and one assist to his name. Back row – Max Deegan – Leinster – The highest scorer of our three back rows, Leinster’s Max Deegan has had a wonderful season. Six tries, two 50-metre runs and going past 10 tackles on 13 occasions – Deegan earned 119 points for his all-court game. Back row – Justin Tipuric – Ospreys – A prime example of a creative ‘link man’ openside – Justin Tipuric was always going to be a high points scorer in Fantasy Rugby and didn’t disappoint. Five tries scored and an astonishing four assisted helped him on his way to 115 points. Back row – Olly Robinson – Cardiff Blues – One of two Cardiff Blues in the dreamteam, Olly Robinson forced his way up to 106 with admirable consistency all season long. Robinson played the full 80 16 times and went past 10 tackles on even more occasions – 18 times.
