GERRY THORNLEYreviews both Leinster and Ospreys

LEINSTER

Rob Kearney

Continued as he finished on Lions’ tour, before a mid-season dip in form, compounded by injury. Cheika then told him to back himself and has returned to his free-running best. Four tries in last six games makes him Leinster’s most potent strike runner.

2009-10 Appearances: 14+2 Rep, 8 tries.

Magners League: 7+1, 5 tries.

Shane Horgan

A relatively quiet season, his form came good in mid-season but the disappointment of not being involved in the Six Nations was compounded by a foot injury. Played through the pain barrier in emergency against Clermont and is finishing season well.

Apps: 19, 5 tries.

ML: 11, 3 tries.

Brian O’Driscoll

Not quite scaling the vivid heights of last season but still the key man defensively and offensively, with his reading of the game and sublime touches. Noticeable too how his strike-rate upped in Heineken Cup, and this should appeal to him.

Apps: 15, 4 tries.

ML: 7, 1 try.

Gordon D’Arcy

A good, consistent campaign, and another who has upped his performance levels and strike-rate in the bigger games and Europe.

Apps: 17+2, 5 tries.

ML: 10+1, 1 try.

Isa Nacewa

Another hugely consistent campaign which has highlighted his value, Nacewa has made the most appearances for Leinster, all but six of them on the wing, while still capable of filling in at fullback or outhalf.

Apps: 23, 5 tries, 42pts.

ML: 15, 3 tries, 32pts.

Jonathan Sexton

Injury-plagued campaign, but, despite mid-season/Six Nations difficulties with the placed ball, it has probably underlined his maturity and mental strength more than last season’s breakthrough. Priceless match-winning contributions along the way.

Apps: 14+2, 1 try, 184pts.

ML: 9+2, 1 try, 124 pts.

Eoin Reddan

Since week three has missed only four matches when frontliners were rested. His passing accuracy and increasingly improved decision-making has seen his influence grow and has finished the season as the country’s most in-form scrumhalf.

Apps: 20+1, 0 tries.

ML: 12+1.

Stanley Wright

Normally indestructible, despite the first hints of wear and tear, Wright remains one of the main workhorses in the tight five and, due to his versatility, probably Cheika’s first choice in the propping department too.

Apps: 15+6, 0 tries.

ML: 12+3.

John Fogarty

A breakthrough year. One of the real success stories, he eased concerns over Bernard Jackman’s injury woes with the accuracy of his darts and solid contributions to nail down the number two jersey. Good pro and positive dressingroom influence too.

Apps: 18+4, 0 tries.

ML: 12+2.

CJ van der Linde

Leinster probably expected more for their euros than 18 starts in two seasons, and we’ll never know how much his toe injury affected him. There have been glimpses, such as the semi-final, of what kind of impact he can make. Bids farewell after this evening.

Apps: 11+6, 0 tries.

ML: 7+3, 1 try.

Nathan Hines

A good signing who has settled in seamlessly. Has added to offensive and defensive maul, while a dependable lineout option. Rarely takes a backward step. More could be made of his offloading game.

Apps: 17+2, 0 tries.

ML: 9+2, 0 tries.

Malcolm O’Kelly

Hines’ arrival relegated him to a European impact role and Magners League linchpin, but has responded very professionally. A one-off and a legend. If the semi-final was anything to go by, he’s intent on finishing an illustrious career on a high.

Apps: 12+9, 0 tries.

ML: 11+5.

Kevin McLaughlin

A breakthrough campaign for a player whose career was on a knife-edge a year ago thanks largely to injury. Huge work-rate, be it ball-carrying, tackling or hitting rucks. Oddly, his two tries were on his one appearance off the bench.

Apps: 22+1, 2 tries.

ML: 15, 0 tries.

Shane Jennings (capt)

That 12-week suspension for grappling with Nick Kennedy still sticks in the craw, especially his, one imagines, but however he channelled his bitterness, has contributed to a storming second half to the campaign.

Apps: 16+1, 0 tries.

ML: 11+1.

Jamie Heaslip

Irish player of the season. Has, if anything, taken his Lions’ form to a new level. Honest toiler, who makes nearly every ball-carry count. Pace and football brains to burn, his inspiring form of late has been off the Richter scale.

Apps: 17+1, 4 tries.

ML: 9+1, 1 try.

OSPREYS

Lee Byrne

Post-Lions injury (foot) sidelined him from first part of season and post-Lions fatigue meant that, like plenty other tourists, has only hit form in last couple of months. Still takes superb running lines.

2009-10 Appearances: 14 +1 Rep, 2 tries.

Magners League 10 + 1R, 1 try.

Tommy Bowe

Welsh and Irish players’ player of the year, and one of the few not to suffer post-Lions fatigue. If anything better than last season, with a higher strike-rate, and as usual a clever, heads-up, ultra-aware act in a classy backline.

Apps: 21+1, 14 tries.

ML 14+1, 7 tries.

Andrew Bishop

Hard, experienced, unflashy, dependable. The Claude Makelele among the Ospreys’ galacticos, Bishop is the glue who holds it all together and remains possibly the best defensive centre in Welsh rugby.

Apps: 21 + 4, 1 try.

ML 14+2, 1 try.

James Hook

Carrying a shoulder injury since Christmas (impending operation will sideline him from tour to NZ), yet has blossomed as creative spark at inside centre for club and country, and was recently voted Welsh rugby writers’ player of the year.

Apps: 15+5, 4 tries, 40pts.

ML 11+3, 4 tries, 37pts.

Shane Williams

Has maintained customary higher strike-rate for country rather than club, whose more rigid approach means he remains more stationed on the wing and receives less ball than for Wales. Still a big-occasion player though.

Apps: 13+3, 3 tries.

ML: 8+2, 2 tries.

Dan Biggar

Still only 20, but his cockiness and self-assurance belies his age, and he has provided the control at 10 while releasing Hook to flourish at 12. Excellent goal-kicking and tactical kicking reminiscent of Phil Bennett.

Apps: 23+2, 3 tries, 291pts.

ML: 16+2, 3 tries, 198pts.

Mike Phillips

Lions tour left him sidelined with foot/ankle injury which still troubled him in Six Nations comeback, but still made immediate impression. Now flying and, as ever, an aggressive handful for any opposition. Possibly best scrumhalf in Europe.

Apps: 14+3, 0 tries.

ML: 11+3.

Paul James

For six years a one-cap wonder who lurked in Gethin Jenkins’ shadow, until revealing an ability to play both sides of scrum, and played in all but one of Wales’ Tests this season. A good, hard, honest grafter.

Apps: 16+6, 2 tries.

ML: 10+5, 2 tries.

Huw Bennett

As seen in semi-final, his darts and the Ospreys lineout can still be his/their Achilles’ heel some days. But he also remains second-choice Welsh hooker on the strength of his physicality, tackling and hard ball-carrying.

Apps: 11+9, 0 tries.

ML: 8+6.

Adam Jones

For all the Boks’ indignant protests about Bakkies Botha’s suspension, his, eh, rucking still left the recipient, Jones, sidelined for longer (six months) with the ensuing shoulder injury. Frontline tight-head now finishing season with gas in the tank.

Apps: 12+2, 0 tries.

ML: 8+1.

Alun-Wyn Jones

An undoubted victim of post-Lions fatigue, as his own harshest critic he would admit this has not been his best season. But likened by Ian Gough to having a Duracel bunny alongside him when at his athletic, rangy, hard-working best.

Apps: 15+4, 1 try.

ML: 8+4, 0 tries.

Jonathan Thomas

A two-time Grand Slam winner with over 50 caps whose athleticism, pacey ball-carrying and lineout abilities have become integral to the Ospreys, though still regarded as a quasi backrower by Warren Gatland.

Apps: 17+3, 1 try.

ML: 10+3, 1 try.

Jerry Collins

An eyebrow-raising signing after an undistinguished year with Toulon, Collins has reminded everyone what the All Blacks are missing at blindside: namely, his brand of teak-tough, big-hitting, dynamic ball-carrying. Probably the signing of the season in Wales.

Apps: 26+2, 5 tries.

ML: 16+2, 4 tries.

Marty Holah

The wily ex-All Black turns 34 in September but his rugby intelligence compensates and he remains one of the best “cheats” at the breakdown in the game, even if the new interpretation has diluted his influence and those of his ilk.

Apps: 23, 0 tries.

ML: 16.

Ryan Jones (capt)

After last summer’s Lions double whammy (initially overlooked, then gone in 24 hours), has rebounded with character this season to lead both country and club from the front as well as providing good lineout option and huge work-rate.

Apps: 17+3, 5 tries.

ML: 12+2, 3 tries.