Aviva Premiership's most underrated XV: Do these stars get the recognition they deserve?
Top 10s/ListsWednesday, 03 January 2018 at 14:23
Gloucester supporters were furious to see flanker Lewis Ludlow snubbed by Eddie Jones for his latest training camp.
The 23-year-old flanker is way out on his own at the top of the Premiership tackle chart this season, making a whopping 202 from 12 games having established himself as the Cherry and White’s first choice number seven.
Click through to see an XV of underrated players…
Fullback: Tommy Bell (London Irish)
Bringing attacking flair to the London Irish ranks, Bell racked up more than 250 points, his goal-kicking faultless throughout the campaign, as the Exiles secured an instant return to the Aviva Premiership.
Winger: Olly Woodburn (Exeter Chiefs)
Exeter wing Woodburn reckons being snubbed by England has only fuelled his ambition to nail down a Premiership winner's medal last term and he's continued his good form this season. Certainly underrated by many.
Centre: Will Addison (Sale Sharks)
The scorer of the last Sharks try at Edgeley Park and first at the AJ Bell Stadium, Addison has since taken his appearance tally to close to 100 and is the club captain at just 25. Definitely a player to keep an eye on.
Centre: Duncan Taylor (Saracens)
A versatile and dynamic outside back, Duncan Taylor is an all-action player who has excelled at both club and international level. Since linking up with Sarries, the potent attacker has put in several seasons of impressive play, making over 100 appearances for the club, firmly establishing himself as one of Europe’s finest outside backs in a period that saw Saracens win Premiership and Champions Cup titles.
Winger: Josh Bassett (Wasps)
Wasps may have fielded more recognisable names with chunkier pay packets in their backline over the past three seasons, but few have performed as consistently and wholeheartedly as Bassett. A fantastic young player, who is currently being linked with a move to Northampton.
Fly-half: George Ford (Leicester Tigers)
The youngest player to ever take part in a professional match and the youngest member of the England Under-20s squad which reached the World Juniors Final in 2011, George Ford has been a high achiever from a young age. With Owen Farrell being probably the best in the world, Ford probably sometimes doesn't get the credit he deserves due to being in the Saracens fly-halves shadow.
Scrum-half: Dan Robson (Wasps)
The 25-year-old enjoyed an eye-catching 2016/17 season as well, playing a 30 times for Wasps and scoring nine tries. Will Greenwood was one of many to be perplexed when Eddie Jones yet again snubbed the playmaker last week. By far the best uncapped English scrum-half in the game today.
Prop: Ellis Genge (Leicester Tigers)
The prop has added scrummaging to his list of proven talents in recent times. Previously it was his ball carrying and aggression doing the talking for him – and the fact he once promised to beat up Richard Cockerill has probably won over a few fans as well. Probably ready to be tested at the International Test level now.
Hooker: Tom Dunn (Bath)
Despite being on the books of Bath since he was 15, Dunn had yet to make his first Premiership start at the age of 24 when Todd Blackadder arrived. However, since making his maiden league start against Gloucester in October 2016, Dunn has worked his way into the England training squad and established himself as one of the best hookers in the Premiership.
Prop: Nick Schonert (Worcester Warriors)
Named in the Guardian's team of the year last season, the South African has been crucial for Worcester when available. The 25-year-old, who is described as talismanic by the Worcester Evening News, is eligible for England via a grandmother from Reading and is very much one to watch when he returns from an ankle injury.
Lock: Calum Green (Newcastle Falcons)
The young lock has been the man that Dean Richards has built his pack around up in the North East. They have yet again dodged the relegation discussion completely and instead are looking upwards. Confident line-out exponent with an incredible engine to get him around the field, Green rarely wins a man-of-the-match award, yet probably makes top three every time.
Lock: Tom Savage (Gloucester Rugby)
Savage has steadied the ship time and time again for the Cherry and Whites this season, playing an integral role in their upturn in form. Line-out work of the highest calibre, his lineout steals have gone a long way to putting Gloucester in contention for a top-four finish. Also an underrated ball carrier.
Flanker: Will Welch (Newcastle Falcons)
Back-row forward Will Welch became the Falcons youngest ever club captain in 2012 when, at the age of 22, he took on the leadership role. Skippering the side to the Championship title in his first season he has since led them in the Premiership, where his tireless work ethic and relentless tackling have marked him as a stand-out performer.
Flanker: Lewis Ludlow (Gloucester)
The 23-year-old flanker is way out on his own at the top of the Premiership tackle chart this season, making a whopping 202 from 12 games having established himself as Gloucester’s first choice number seven. Ludlow has represented England at youth level but also qualifies to play for Wales through his grandfather. He is yet to receive an England call-up at senior level and was overlooked for the latest squad.
Number 8: Jackson Wray (Saracens)
A powerful, hard-hitting ball carrier, Jackson Wray is another highly skilled graduate of the Saracens academy who has gone on to achieve success at the senior level. With multiple Premierships and back-to-back Champions Cup medals, he's probably one of the most successful club players never to play for England.
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