On Saturday Leicester and Bath will go head-to-head for the ultimate domestic glory in England. These two sides are packed full of stars so let's take a look at who stands out at each position.
Loosehead Prop - Nicky Smith
This is close between Smith and Obano with both having had outstanding seasons at club level. Smith has the edge, in my opinion, due to his international experience with Wales for whom he has performed valiantly in difficult circumstances.
Hooker - Julian Montoya
Tom Dunn sums up what it means to be a rugby player and is a Bath stalwart who is undervalued for his contribution to that team. However, Montoya is an international centurion who is still in good form despite his age.
Tighthead Prop - Thomas Du Toit
Joe Heyes has been excellent for Leicester for a while now and has started to make an impact at test level. However, when he joins up with England, he finds himself deputising to will Stuart who is behind Du Toit for Bath. The Springbok has been the outstanding player at his position all season in the Gallagher Premiership.
Lock - Quinn Roux
Cameron Henderson could easily have taken this spot but Roux is a cut above and has been a key piece of Bath's pack.
Lock - Ollie Chessum
Chessum has been an international player for a while at this point but has taken his game to a new level this season - his ball-carrying has gone up another level and he is now becoming a true game-wrecker.
Blindside Flanker - Ted Hill
Arguably the best athlete in the league, Hill will surely get a proper chance with England this summer having been a star for Bath for the past couple of seasons.
Openside Flanker - Tommy Reffell
Guy Pepper has developed brilliantly for Bath since signing from Newcastle and will likely overtake Reffell in a couple of years. However, the Welshman is a turnover machine who dominates the breakdown in a way that few others can. One of those players is Sam Underhill who would be in this spot if he wasn't suspended.
Number 8 - Olly Cracknell
This was a tough one. Barbeary and Reid are both excellent but Cracknell is in this team due to work-rate. He is everywhere in both attack and defence and is Leicester's engine in the pack. He is one of those players who isn't flashy, meaning that he doesn't get the credit. but he is invaluable to Leicester's success.
Scrum half - Ben Spencer
Van Poortvliet is unlucky to miss out but Spencer has arguably been the best scrum-half in the league for the past few seasons. His partnership with Russell is the most dangerous in the league.
Fly half - Finn Russell
This one was tough - it's not easy to go against a two-time World Cup winner. Having written that, Finn Russell makes my XV. I've selected him on the basis of one question: If you need one player to win you a game, who would it be? For me, that man is clearly Finn Russell. Yes. Pollard has the World Cups but Russell has it much harder in those situations. He can run games by himself and can lead a team to victory on the biggest stage.
Left Winger - Will Muir
This was a toss-up with Hassell-Collins. Muir wins for me due to consistency but there is very little to separate the two.
Inside Centre - Cameron Redpath
Joseph Woodward has developed well for Leicester but Redpath has been good too and brings a lot of experience to the side.
Outside Centre - Max Ojomoh
Ojomoh has surely earned himself a good shot at being an England starter with his electric performances this season and is a cut above Leicester's options at this position.
Right Winger - Adam Radwan
Radwan and Cokanasiga are completely different styles of winger but I've gone for Radwan based purely upon his game-breaking ability. He is the quickest player in the league and the best finisher. Based on that, he has to make the team.
Fullback - Freddie Steward
De Glanville is a good fullback but doesn't have the same physical talent as Steward whose aerial superiority sets him apart from his competition.
7 Leicester 8 Bath
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