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Planet Rugby's Team of the Year

17th December 2014 08:07

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paul oconnell julian savea matt giteau agustin creevy

Picked: Julian Savea, Matt Giteau

You've had your turn, now it's ours. After hours of debate here at Planet Rugby HQ, we've selected our line-up of 2014.

We've assessed the year's action from the Six Nations through to the November Tests, including domestic action in the European Cup and Super Rugby.

Three of our side are different to the one selected by you last week

Find out who made the cut below.

Planet Rugby Team of the Year 2014

15 Israel Folau (Australia/Waratahs): Started the year slightly better than he finished it, and for all the talk of a try 'drought' when he went four games without scoring, only Julian Savea scored more tries against top tier opposition in 2014. Away from his seven tries in the Test arena, Folau was the standout player in Super Rugby, racking up 12 tries as he helped the Waratahs to a maiden title.

14 Ben Smith (New Zealand/Highlanders): Played six games on the wing and six at full-back for the All Blacks, but we're going to slot him in on the right wing. A gliding, elegant runner, Smith's all-round skills help him to stand out and offer much more than most wide men. He edges out another New Zealand-based player in Nemani Nadolo, the giant Fijian winger who showed his own versatility by shifting to 12 for his country after starring on the wing for the Crusaders in Super Rugby.

13 Tevita Kuridrani (Australia/Brumbies): Came of age in 2014 as he caused defenders so many problems with his powerful runs up the middle. His best form came in the gold jersey as in June, the Rugby Championship and November he was unstoppable. We have to mention Malakai Fekitoa as he shone for the Highlanders while Kuridrani's Wallaby team-mate Adam Ashley-Cooper starred at the 'Tahs.

12 Matt Giteau (Toulon): Was a key cog in the Toulon machine that won the Top 14 and Heineken Cup double in 2014. Giteau tore defences to shreds in an arduous campaign in France, with his electric feet, excellent distribution and kicking game also taking some of the heat off Jonny Wilkinson. Matt Toomua, Jean de Villiers and Jamie Roberts deserve mentions but Giteau was outstanding in the calendar year.

11 Julian Savea (New Zealand/Hurricanes): Hands down the stand-out number eleven in world rugby this year, Savea has 30 tries in 31 internationals so far in his career and there are plenty more to come. Rugby Championship, Bledisloe Cup and an unbeaten end-of-year series followed an impressive personal campaign for the Hurricanes in which he was in the top ten for metres, carries and defenders beaten.

10 Jonathan Sexton (Ireland/Racing Métro): That Ireland finished the year with just one loss was in large part down to Sexton's influence. Despite a mysterious thumb injury that was set to rule him out of the second half of the Six Nations, Sexton started every game, finishing as top points and try-scorer, including two tries against France in Paris to win the title for Ireland. He was again outstanding in November and deservedly gets the nod.

9 Aaron Smith (New Zealand/Highlanders): In two years Smith has gone from being a pleasant surprise to the standout scrum-half in the game, thanks to arguably the snappiest pass in the game. He seems to relish the big occasion, and has upped his try-scoring rate at Test level compared to Super Rugby, helping himself to four scores this year and even adding a conversion for good measure in a Bledisloe Cup game. A good year too for Conor Murray.

8 Duane Vermeulen (South Africa/Stormers): It takes some doing to displace the reigning World Player of the Year from a Test XV, but Vermeulen's efforts, particularly through June and the Rugby Championship, have allowed him to edge out Kieran Read. His best performance was probably the win over New Zealand in Johannesburg when he was only passed fit at the last minute because of a rib injury. He somehow shrugged that off as helped condemn the All Blacks to their only defeat in the last two years.

7 Michael Hooper (Australia/Waratahs): His form did not dip from February to November as he led the Waratahs to Super Rugby glory while he was a superb captain for the Wallabies. Hooper scored some wonderful tries for franchise and country throughout the season and sees off the evergreen Richie McCaw and impressive Marcell Coetzee to this jersey. Australia should stick with Hooper as their long-term skipper.

6 Peter O'Mahony (Ireland/Munster): An absolute nightmare at the breakdown, stopping O'Mahony is quickly becoming the main priority for teams who want to beat Ireland. It's easy to forget that the Munster skipper has only just turned 25. It wasn't the greatest year for blindsides, but O'Mahony is well worth his place and looks like a future Ireland captain.

5 Paul O'Connell (Ireland/Munster): What more can be said about the man. O'Connell's career was in doubt a couple of years ago due to a back injury but in 2014 he arguably played some of his best rugby. A towering figure at the line-out while in open play the hard-working forward put in carry and tackle after carry and tackle. Mentions go to both Victor Matfield and Sam Whitelock.

4 Brodie Retallick (New Zealand/Chiefs): Where O'Connell defies his advancing years, Retallick is equally astounding but for different reasons. Second rows aren't meant to have the sort of ball skills the Chiefs man does, not even in 2014, and not even in New Zealand. He became the first lock ever to be named World Player of the Year, and frankly, it wasn't even that close. It's no coincidence that he was injured in the All Blacks' only loss of the year.

3 Sekope Kepu (Australia/Waratahs): We expect a bit of stick for selecting an Australian prop, but Kepu has enjoyed a fantastic 2014 in a bit of a down year for tightheads. About as mobile a tighthead as you'll find, he's also a much-improved scrummager and starred for the Waratahs. He gets the nod over Ramiro Herrera who started strongly but faded towards the end of the year in his first season of international rugby, while Owen Franks was again consistent.

2 Agustín Creevy (Argentina/Worcester): There are a number of leaders in this team, but no one beats Creevy on that front. His performance in the surprise win over France in November was magnificent as he popped up at every ruck, either securing a turnover or slowing ball down. Some players thrive on captaincy, none more so than Creevy. He was also outstanding in Argentina's maiden Rugby Championship win back in October against the Wallabies.

1 Marcos Ayerza (Argentina/Leicester): After waiting in the wings for so long behind Rodrigo Roncero, Ayerza has finally been given his chance to shine, and boy has he impressed for Argentina. There is no question that los Pumas have the best scrum in the game, and especially with the new scrum regulations, that is in large part down to their powerful loosehead. Finally getting the chance to show at Test level why he is so loved in Leicester.

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Gloucester vs Wasps 14:30
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Dragons vs Cardiff Blues 14:05
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Friday , December 26
London Irish 24 - 9 London Welsh London Irish vs London Welsh Report
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Cardiff Blues 17 - 23 Dragons Cardiff Blues vs Dragons Report
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Sunday , December 21
Wasps 48 - 16 London Irish Wasps vs London Irish Report
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Dragons 25 - 11 Zebre Dragons vs Zebre Report
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Saturday , December 20
Saracens 78 - 7 London Welsh
Harlequins 15 - 7 Newcastle Falcons
Northampton 23 - 19 Leicester Tigers Northampton vs Leicester Tigers Report
Gloucester 16 - 39 Bath Gloucester vs Bath Report
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Glasgow Warriors 21 - 18 Munster Glasgow Warriors vs Munster Report
Ospreys 31 - 20 Ulster Ospreys vs Ulster Report
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Friday , December 19
Sale Sharks 18 - 11 Exeter
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Cardiff Blues 21 - 9 Scarlets Cardiff Blues vs Scarlets Report
Edinburgh 48 - 0 Treviso Edinburgh vs Treviso Report
Leinster 21 - 11 Connacht Leinster vs Connacht Report
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European Rugby Champions Cup
Sunday , December 14
Wasps 44 - 17 Castres Wasps vs Castres Report
Clermont Auvergne 26 - 19 Munster Clermont Auvergne vs Munster Report
Scarlets 22 - 13 Ulster Scarlets vs Ulster Report
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European Rugby Challenge Cup
London Welsh 6 - 24 Edinburgh London Welsh vs Edinburgh Report
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Saturday , December 13
Glasgow Warriors 9 - 12 Toulouse Glasgow Warriors vs Toulouse Report
Toulon 23 - 8 Leicester Tigers Toulon vs Leicester Tigers Report
Saracens 28 - 15 Sale Sharks Saracens vs Sale Sharks Report
Northampton 67 - 0 Treviso Northampton vs Treviso Report
Racing Metro Paris 18 - 14 Ospreys Racing Metro Paris vs Ospreys Report
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Pos Team P Pts
1 Northampton 10 39
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4 Saracens 10 30
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Special Feature

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Quotes of 2014

It's time to look back through some of the best soundbites and quips from the last year.