ERC player of the year shortlist

[Rooster]

A nonsense, Chris Henry has been the best player in the tournament by a country mile.

Good job you've obviously watched every game in both competitions to give us that assessment Jackie....

Aye the others didnt watch them all either as only a few Amlin games televised.

[ColinM]

he and angry Tom have been ripping through front rows for fun. .

[/quote]

Considerably aided and abetted by one Ioane Fitu Afoa who is noticably absent from this list!![/quote]


But the TH doesnt scrummage with the Hooker so much

[Hans Indaruck]

he and angry Tom have been ripping through front rows for fun. .

Considerably aided and abetted by one Ioane Fitu Afoa who is noticably absent from this list!![/quote]


But the TH doesnt scrummage with the Hooker so much[/quote]

Whaaaaaa??? Certainly does - are you suggesting he scrummages with the No 8?? Its the THP who brings the scrum in and put the initial pressure on - the LHP's primary role is to create a clean channel and prevent any disruption to the hooker. The TH is by nature the more destructive of the two props. [IMHO - with a tad over 40 year playing in the FRU to assit my judgement!!]

[ColinM]

A scrummaging hooker will go about the opposition TH with the LH while the TH locks out the opposition hooker and LH.

Hence my original comment about Best and Court working well. Of course BBJ has been tremendous I am just pointing out Bests quality to those saying he has been poor

[Bart S]

A nonsense, Chris Henry has been the best player in the tournament by a country mile.

Good job you've obviously watched every game in both competitions to give us that assessment Jackie....

Aye the others didnt watch them all either as only a few Amlin games televised.

Still more than the 6 that Jackie obviously watched !!

Problem with these things is that unlike say the 6 Nations, where a lot of people probably watch all (or virtually all matches) most people will only real watch their own team's matches plus a few others, but nowhere near all of them. For example, Montpellier won 5/6 matches which was beyond most people's expectations, yet most people wouldn't necessarily know who has been outstanding for them to help them achieve this.

I'd agree with some on here that Rory Best and Ruan Pienaar have not been Ulster's 2 best players across the pool stages and others (eg Henry) have been more impressive, but the indignation at non selection of certain Ulster players when people are hardly judging on anywhere near a level playing field is quite amusing!

[Hans Indaruck]

ColinM - I agree that Best has a lot more to his game than his darts - and certainly his prowess in the scrum is one of his top attributes (along with his excellent tackling, work at the breakdown, ball carrying etc etc etc etc!!). However, I cannot agree with you analysis of the dark arts - but this is not the place and its not worth a thread on its own!!
BTW BBJ was tried out as a hooker by the ABs - so more strength in depth then??!!

[Russ]

Our Rory seems to have got good lineout stats and Wayne Barnes on the selection panle

From Banbridge RFC

"the heartbeat of Ulster who are looking to go one better than last season in the Heineken Cup. Intelligent, combative and consistent. Quite simply one of the most complete hookers in rugby. Only two other hookers have delivered more successful lineout throws than Best (64) this season."

This was how Banbridge and Ulster's Rory Best was described as the ERC announced the longlist for the prestigious ERC European Player of the Year 2013 award.

Selected by a distinguished panel of rugby experts, the longlist for one of the most prized individual accolades in the game includes 15 outstanding players from the 44 clubs competing in the 2012/13 tournaments.

The Judging Panel for this season's award is: Stuart Barnes, Will Greenwood, Stephen Jones, Emmanuel Massicard and Gerry Thornley.

Rory is joined on the list by:

Steffon Armitage (Toulon)
Julien Bonnaire (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Mike Brown (Harlequins)
Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers)
Owen Farrell (Saracens)
Wesley Fofana (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Mamuka Gorgodze (Montpellier)
Charlie Hodgson ((Saracens)
James Johnston (Harlequins)
Joe Launchbury (London Wasps)
Morgan Parra (ASM Clermont Auvergne)
Geoff Parling (Leicester Tigers)
Ruan Pienaar (Ulster Rugby)
Simon Zebo (Munster Rugby)

The Judging Panel will also have the option to consider additional players who make major contributions during the knockout stages of both tournaments before announcing a five-man shortlist following the semi-finals with the overall winner named directly after the ERC European club finals in Dublin next May.

http://www.banbridgerfc.com/page/home/R ... _Year.html

[tigerburnie]

With Barnes and Greenwood on the panel it won't be Tigers player that wins it then,or a forward for that matter,probably(and wrong)Farrell.