Breakthrough Team of the Season - 17/18

[Scrumhead]

Here's my breakthrough team of the season.

1. Obano - Bath
2. Singleton - Worcester
3. John - Sale
4. Skinner - Exeter
5. Rowlands - Wasps
6. Willis - Wasps
7. Simmonds - Exeter
8. Mercer - Bath
9. Vellacott - Gloucester
10. Smith - Harlequins
11. Thorley - Gloucester
12. Lang - Harlequins
13. L. James - Sale
14. Cokanasiga - London Irish
15. Malins - Saracens

Honourable mentions for Joe Simmonds and Jake Polledri who were very unlucky to lose out.

Tight head was by far the hardest choice, but I've given it to WillGriff John on the basis that he was a relative unknown who has made a good step-up from the Championship to Sale's first XV. I was tempted to go for Ehren Painter or Will Stuart, but I don't feel as though either have played enough games to justify being picked. I'm hoping to see more of both next season.

Lang and Malins are a little luck to get in to the side and do so more from a lack of obvious competition in the centre and at fullback. I'm hoping that Malins gets more games for Sarries next season.

[fivepointer]

Think Will Spencer has come on a lot this season, as has Tom Dunn, Lewis Ludlow, Nick Isiekwe and Gary Graham.

Backs havent been as impressive i'd say. Josh Adams has been excellent. Outside of those mentioned i'm struggling to think of anyone else.

[Scrumhead]

I really don't know how/why I forgot Isiekwe! He's a better choice than Rowlands. Gary Graham is also a fair shout given that it's his first season of Premiership rugby.

I wouldn't class any of the rest you mentioned as having broken through this season though?

Adams, Spencer, Dunn and Ludlow all had a decent amount of Premiership experience prior to this season.

[Epaminondas Pules]

I really don't know how/why I forgot Isiekwe! He's a better choice than Rowlands. Gary Graham is also a fair shout given that it's his first season of Premiership rugby.

I wouldn't class any of the rest you mentioned as having broken through this season though?

Adams, Spencer, Dunn and Ludlow all had a decent amount of Premiership experience prior to this season.

And yet Mercer did???

[Scrumhead]

Mercer had a handful of senior appearances for Bath last season.

Dunn already had something like 40 before this season and Adams played 16 times for Worcester last season.

This season wasn’t their ‘breakthrough’ by any means.

[Tigersman]

Depends how you define breakthrough though.
Is it more first season of impact or first season of regular game time.