Scrumqueens 2011 team of the year

From Scrumqueens.com
29 December 2011

Inevitably there will be some deserving players missing out given how tough it is to follow the game intently with the lack of TV and online coverage (it is particularly difficult in Asia) but we have done our best!

It's been another superb year of growth for women's rugby.

As the year draws to a close we've looked back at the games of 2011 and chosen our top players in our Team of the Year. The Scrumqueens team have watched as much footage of the 54 test games and many 7s competitions this year and also consulted a number of players and coaches before coming up with the final team!

Inevitably there will be some deserving players missing out given how tough it is to follow the game intently with the lack of TV and online coverage (it is particularly difficult in Asia) but we have done our best!  Join in the debate over on our Facebook page.

We've also picked our Team of the Year, 15s, 7s and Young Player of the Year and Coach of the Year, see BELOW for those picks!

Scrumqueens team of the year

15 Niamh Briggs (Ireland)

The Irish fullback is a key player for her side and followed up an excellent World Cup campaign with another fine Six Nations effort. Her boot is also a real asset at fullback.

14 Renee Wickliffe (New Zealand)

The Kiwi speedster showed all of her turn of pace with a super try in the second test against England. Though her defence was tested in those games, her attacking threat was a real menace throughout.

13 Emily Scarratt (England)

The England centre is our pick for the leading player in test rugby this year. At such a young age, Scarratt, who also kicks goals for her club side, is set to be an international mainstay for years to come.

12 Mandy Marchak (Canada)

The Canada 7s captain has had a hectic year, leading her side to glory around the world, playing a key role at the Nations Cup and also playing her club rugby with Saracens in London. An excellent year.

11 Julia Pla (Spain)

The Spanish flier is one of her side’s key players at both 15s and 7s level. Her eye for the tryline is second to none and she is one of the great finishers in the game.

10 Katy McLean (England) (captain)

England’s captain continues to be the lead fly-half in test rugby. With consistent goal kicking and superb passing ability, she has led her side to a superb run of victories this year.

9 Marie-Alice Yahe (France)

The French number 9 wears her heart on her sleeve and her passion and determination is a real driving force in the French side. A dangerous sniper, she’s a tenacious out and out scrumhalf who has had a good season.

1 Mel Bosman (New Zealand)

Though her side didn’t win any of their three games this year, Bosman was a vital cog in their strong scrum, particularly in the first test at Twickenham. A tough worker around the park, Bosman would be an asset to any side.

2 Gaëlle Mignot (France)

The French number two has been Miss Consistency this season, playing an important role throughout the Six Nations and again being a leading player in the two tests against England later this year.

3 Jamie Burke (USA)

The USA captain has been one of the best props in world rugby for many years now, and this year was no different as her physicality and captaincy abilities saw her side make many improvements.

4 Flavia Severin (Italy)

A tenacious lock, Severin has a nose for the tryline despite most of her work being done in defence. As Italy continue to improve, she continues to be a key performer.

5 Stacey Bridges (USA)

A lock with an enormous appetite for the game, Bridges has had a fine year in USA colours. A young forward we are likely to see much more of.

6 Kelly Russell (Canada)

More at home at number 8, Russell warrants inclusion for another fine Nations Cup showing this year. A key player for her side – goes about her work with quiet efficiency.

7 Maggie Alphonsi (England)

The game’s best known player rarely lets supporters down – every game she plays is marked with at least one shuddering tackling. A backrow with a nose for the tryline, she continues to set new standards in the game.

8 Casey Robertson (New Zealand)

Despite her side struggling in the tests against England, Robertson was a shining light for her side in all three tests. Excellent ball carrying skills added to her strong defence make her the world’s best number 8 this year.

Replacements:

16 Victoria Fleetwood (England)

Fleetwood has risen through the England ranks to become one of the best young hookers in the game. Faces a lot of competition in her own country but hugely impressed throughout 2011.

17 Rochelle Clarke (England)

One of the best scrummagers in the game, Clarke is a powerhouse prop with a superb reputation in the front row.

18 Catrin Edwards (Wales)

The former Wales captain is sitting out 2012 but her country will hope she'll be back given her all round ability. Excellent in the loose and tight and a top scrummager.

19 Joy Neville (Ireland)

The Ireland number 8 is an expert positional player with an array of ball skills. Works well from the base even when under pressure.

20 Susie Brown (Scotland)

A key player for her side, even when they have struggled. Excellent all round skills and a real leader.

21 Kendra Cocksedge (New Zealand)

The sniping number 9 from Christchurch can sniff out a gap anywhere and keeps backrows honest with her pace and good feet.

22 Kelly Van Harskamp (Netherlands)

The brilliant Dutch winger is now more at home in 7s rugby but has the talent and gas to be a massive threat for any side.

23 Aurélie Bailon (France)

Absent from the French team for most of the year through injury, her importance to the team was shown when - in her first test back with the national team - her three penalties and a conversion were instrumental in France's win over England.

Top picks of 2011!

We've examined the games, teams and performances of 2011 and we bring you our top picks. There's Coach and Team of the Year, 15s and 7s Players of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Performance of the Year. Check out who the stars of 2011 have been!

Team of the year: Canada 7s

The Canadian women’s 7s side swept all before them in 2011 winning all of the game’s major titles including the IRB Women's Sevens Challenge Cup in Dubai and titles in Las Vegas, Hong Kong and Amsterdam. They are leading women’s 7s team going into 2012 and will be looking to maintain their excellent form into the lead-up to the 2013 World Cup. (Fair to say that England's stellar year, where they finished Six Nations and Nations Cup campaigns came a very tight second here.)

Coach of the year: John Tait (Canada)

Tait has guided the Canadian 7s side to an array of titles this year but it is his juggling of all levels of rugby in his country that has impressed most. Amid Canada’s title winning run at 7s level, Tait guided Canada through a solid Nations Cup campaign and also developed a number of rising stars through the Canadian Development 7s side (the Maple Leafs) who saw plenty of action this year. His combined role cannot be easy but he has made a super start.

15s player of the year: Emily Scarratt (England)

The England centre, who has also featured for her country at fullback, had another standout year, having established herself as one of the top centres in world rugby. Her performances in the test series against New Zealand were a particular high in an excellent year. A wonderfully balanced runner, Scarratt regularly gets on the score-sheet, but it’s her pace and strength developed since bursting onto the scene as a youngster that have seen the 21-year old contribute so heavily to her side. It was her superb break at Twickenham that set up England’s only try in the first test of their-series and she was the stand-out player in that game. At such a young age, Scarratt, who can also goal-kick, is set to be an international mainstay for years to come.

7s player of the year: Kelly Van Harskamp (Netherlands)

This tall flying Dutchwoman has been the key player for the Netherlands for several years, but her talismanic properties were never more important than in 2011. The Dutch, seeded second, had to finish in the top three at the European Championships to be given professional status, but when Kelly was suspended for the pool game against Russia and they unexpectedly lost. 24 hours later the Dutch were playing for that vital third place against the same opposition, but with Kelly back in the side this time the result was never in doubt - and the Netherlands became women's rugby's first professional team. Also starred for her team in Las Vegas, Amsterdam, Hong Kong, and Dubai - where they lifted their first international trophy.

Young player of the year: Jessy Tremoulière (France)

2011 was a year where several incredibly talented young players emerged but this 19 year old wins out vote for her truly meteoric speed of her rise through the ranks. She only started playing the game two years ago, after a promising football career, but within months she was playing with elite club side Romangnat, and by February was on the bench for the U20 international against England. Eight months later she was in the starting XV for full test team against Italy, a place she retained for the games against England. An astonishing young talent who gets better with every game.

Performance of the year: England beating New Zealand in the second test

Having beaten New Zealand at Twickenham in the first game, England made ten changes to their starting line-up and won the second game comfortably with star performances from the likes of 18-year-old Alex Matthews and young scrum-half Natasha Hunt – their future is bright. It was a superb all round performance and one which served to highlight the excellent strides Gary Street has made in developing a huge pool of talent. South Africa's defeat of the USA come a close second here - given it was their first victory over a top 6 team.