Bustling Southern Kings lock Bobby de Wee has been selected for Opta’s PRO14 statistical Dream Team despite his side’s miserable season. This latest accolade comes after De Wee was named “King of the Kings” when he lifted the coveted Player of the Year award after his team’s final game of the season.
Opta is the official match data supplier for the PRO14 and after each round identifies the players who made the biggest impression as the top performers from its analysis.
De Wee made 137 carries and 262 tackles this season, and his combined tally of 399 carries and tackles was the most of any player in the PRO14.
The only other South African in the team is Cheetahs centre Francois Venter, who made the most clean breaks (21) of any centre.
Though PRO14 will not release its Dream Team selection for 2017-18 until the launch of next season, Opta has crunched the numbers to pick out the top performer in each position.
It is not surprising to see Munsterbound Tadhg Beirne in there after another outstanding season with Scarlets, while Charles Piutau, who is leaving Ulster for Bristol, is named at fullback after being player of the year last term.
Kings coach Deon Davids said De Wee had proved one of his best signings. “Bobby had an awesome first season for the Kings,” he said.
“I was quite happy when I could get him from the Lions. I think he grew so much as an individual in terms of his decision-making and leadership.
“Playing against so many quality international players in this PRO14 competition is not easy.
“The way Bobby stood up must tell you something about his discipline and character.“The energy he brings in terms of his off-the-ball work, the ball work and his basics was very important for us.”
Team:
15: Charles Piutau (Ulster): Ranked in top two for carries (228), defenders beaten (64) and offloads (30) this season and was also one of just eight players to gain 1 000+ metres (4th most overall).
14 Steff Evans (Scarlets): Directly involved in 16 tries this season (8 tries, 8 assists); no player had a hand in more this season; the Scarlets player also made more breaks (27) than anyone else. 13 Francois Venter (Cheetahs): Made the most clean breaks (21) of any centre this season, also ranked in the top three players in his position for metres (789), offloads (28) and try assists (7). 12 Bundee Aki (Connacht): Made 173 carries this season;
his average of 16 carries a game was the most of any player in the PRO14.
11 James Lowe (Leinster): Averaged 87m gained per match this season, no player averaged more (Blair Kinghorn also 87); the Kiwi was involved in a try every 61 minutes.
10 Carlo Canna (Zebre): Made 21 break assist passes this season, seven more than any other player; also made the most offloads of any flyhalf (20) and was one of just five players to slot a drop goal this season.
9 John Cooney (Ulster): Scored the most points (175) and provided the joint most try assists (11) of any player in the PRO14 this season, while he was also the top scrum half for carries (98), metres (421), clean breaks (24) and defenders beaten (23). Key.
10 Rob Evans (Scarlets): Made three more offloads (9) than any other prop this season; was also the only prop to assist more than one try (2). 2 Stuart McInally (Edinburgh): Averaged more metres (21) and tackles (11) per game than any other hooker this season in the PRO14. 3 Finlay Bealham (Connacht): Scored more tries (4) than any other prop this season; made the third-most tackles (134); also helped his side win a league high 52 scrum penalties. 4 Tadhg Beirne (Scarlets): Won 39 turnovers this season, a Pro14 record (since 2010-11) and 17 more than anyone else this season, 24 of those were jackals; he also finished the season top try-scoring forward (7) and won the second most lineouts (69). 5 Bobby de Wee (Southern Kings): Made 137 carries and 262 tackles this season; his combined tally of 399 carries and tackles was the most of any player in the PRO14.
6 Aaron Shingler (Scarlets): His tally of 18 offloads was the most by a forward this season; his tackle success rate of 97% was the best of any of the 38 players to make 150+ tackles (155/159). 7 Callum Gibbins (Glasgow Warriors): Was involved in eight tries this season (6 tries, 2 assists), the joint most by a forward; 13 clean breaks was also the joint most by a forward. 8 Renato Giammarioli (Zebre): Averaged 3.2 defenders beaten per game this season, the best rate of any forward; his average gain of 49m a match was also the best of any forward.