Ireland's 2016 was rather odd: a largely chastening Six Nations preceded the dizzying and dazzling heights of finally beating the All Blacks, either side of which was a win in South Africa and a firm dismissal of Australia in Dublin.
It was a similar story for the provinces: none of the Irish teams made the Champions Cup knockout stages, while now Leinster and Munster look well placed to progress this season, while Connacht are improbably in with a shot of getting out of a group featuring Wasps and Toulouse.
A recent issue of French sports paper Midi Olympique compiled their best XV of the year, and just the one Irishman gets in. CJ Stander, following his recent crowning as Balls Man of the Year, has another reason to celebrate: he is Ireland's only representative in the team.
In total, there are eight All Blacks in the team, four from England and one each from France, Scotland and Ireland. Here it is in full:
L'equipe reveal their team of the year 2016 pic.twitter.com/XKp8g4L2Aq
— Mike Pearce Rugby (@MPsportsdragon) December 24, 2016
Fair play to CJ, although we think he is unfortunate to be Ireland's sole representative. Aaron Smith is included at scrum-half, despite being totally outshone by Conor Murray in Chicago. Jamie Heaslip too: he was nominated for World Rugby Player of the Year, although there is little shame in missing out to New Zealand's Chief Referee Influencer Kieran Read, despite his slight drop in form across the November internationals. Had Tadgh Furlong burst on the scene a few months earlier, we fancy he would have been in the front row, too.
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