Leinster miss out as seven players from Irish provinces make Pro 12 Dream Team

Seven players from Irish provinces have made the Guinness Pro 12 Dream Team of the season, but there’s no place for any Leinster player after they failed to make the last four.

Ulster lead the way with three spots, with Craig Gilroy’s 11 tries in 15 starts earning him a berth on the left wing.

Ulster skipper Rory Best is named at hooker, while South African secondrow Franco van der Merwe is named alongside Alun Wyn Jones of the Ospreys.

The Munster backrow pairing of CJ Stander and Tommy O'Donnell are named in the flanker positions, while Connacht loosehead prop Denis Buckley and Ireland centre Robbie Henshaw are also included.

The Ospreys claim the halfback positions through Dan Biggar and Rhys Webb, with Glasgow the other side with three representatives in wing Tommy Seymour, centre Peter Horne and number eight Josh Strauss.

Scarlets fullback Liam Williams and Edinburgh tighthead WP Nel complete the XV, which is voted for by a panel of 11 journalists from the four competing countries.

GUINNESS PRO12 DREAM TEAM
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

6 - CJ Stander (Munster) 17 starts, 1 rep, 8 tries, 1350 mins
7 - Tommy O'Donnell (Munster) 11 starts, 2 reps, 1 try, 770 mins
8 - Josh Strauss (Glasgow Warriors) 16 starts, 4 reps, 3 tries, 1297 mins