Stander & O’Donnell Make PRO12 Dream Team

11th May 2015 By Munster Rugby

Munster’s CJ Stander and Tommy O’Donnell have been named in this season’s Guinness PRO12 Dream Team. The team was voted on by a media panel of 11 journalists from all 4 countries.

Munster make up two thirds of the back row. CJ Stander, who won his fifth PRO12 Man of the Match award on Saturday, was name at blindside with Tommy O’Donnell named on the other flank. O’Donnell recently won his 100^th cap for the province – against Treviso in Round 20 – and was a nominee for Munster Rugby Player of the Season, an accolade which went to his Dream Team colleague Stander.

Ospreys’ Rhys Webb and Dan Biggar were named at half back. Webb shot out into an early lead in the try-scoring table, while Biggar's unerring boot saw him set the standard for the competition's kickers. They have been joined by their club captain Alun Wyn Jones who is just one of three players, alongside Biggar and Scarlets full-back Liam Williams, to retain their place on the Dream Team from last season.

The only man with more PRO12 tries this season than Webb is Ulster wing Craig Gilroy – one of three entrants from Belfast. The other two come from the Ulster pack, captain and hooker Rory Best joined in the Dream Team's tight five by influential South African second row Franco van der Merwe.

Glasgow Warriors also boast three entrants – meaning this year's play-off teams make up 11 of the 15 players selected. Tommy Seymour takes his place on the right wing after another bright campaign, while Peter Horne is at inside centre. From the Warriors pack Josh Strauss takes the No.8 shirt, the South African going from strength to strength in his third season at Scotstoun.

There is another South African at tighthead in Edinburgh's WP Nel, while Connacht prop Denis Buckley is rewarded for an impressive campaign with the No.1 shirt.

His teammate Robbie Henshaw is at outside centre, the 21-year-old having established himself as a regular fixture in Ireland's midfield, while Wales international Liam Williams is again at full-back.

Guinness PRO12 Dream Team of the 2014/15 Season

15 – Liam Williams – Scarlets
11 starts, 6 tries, 800 mins played

14 – Tommy Seymour – Glasgow Warriors
11 starts, 1 rep, 4 tries, 888 mins

13 – Robbie Henshaw – Connacht
11 starts, 1 try, 874 mins

12 – Peter Horne – Glasgow Warriors
19 starts, 6 tries, 15 conv, 13 pens, 99 pts, 1274 mins

11 – Craig Gilroy – Ulster
15 starts, 2 reps, 11 tries, 1258 mins

10 – Dan Biggar – Ospreys
13 starts, 1 rep, 3 tries, 29 conv, 27 pens, 154 pts, 945 mins

9 – Rhys Webb – Ospreys
11 starts, 2 reps, 10 tries, 804 mins

1- Denis Buckley – Connacht
20 starts, 1 rep, 1 try, 1443 mins

2- Rory Best – Ulster
11 starts,1 rep, 2 tries, 822 mins

3 – WP Nel – Edinburgh
13 starts, 8 rep, 1 try, 1159 pts

4- Alun Wyn Jones – Ospreys
11 starts, 2 reps, 902 mins

5- Franco van der Merwe – Ulster
19 starts, 1 rep, 2 tries, 1459 mins