Aviva Premiership Team of The Year - 606 Version - LH Prop

We are entering that stage of the season where all and sundry announce their player and team of the year. Of course what do these pundits know? Us on 606v2 are of course the experts.

I will draw up the shortlist and then we can all vote. I will only include players if they have been the dominant figure for their team in that position during the AP season.

I am torn.

Wood and Mullan have had rave reviews, but at times their teams scrums have struggled this year.
Corbs has missed much of the AP season on England duty - and has played better for England than LI.
Gill for me blows hot and cold.
Tiny has not been as dominant
suddenly realised I am not sure if Mitchell is a LH or TH (oops)

So between Marler and Ayerza for me. Marler has improved during the course of the season and has been available throughout. Ayerza (until Saturday) has dominated every TH he has come up again.

To be fair Ayerza was hampered at the weekend by Barnes allowing the Quins pack to walk round rather than pushing straight. For me it's Marcos well out in front as he's been incredible at set piece and in the loose all season. Narrow seconds for the much improved Marler and the quietly excellent Mullan. Corbs has been hot and cold, Gill has given to many silly penalties away in the loose and Tiny has struggled when Hartley isn't playing.

I'm going to have to pull rank here and insist everyone votes for Nick Wood!

It is absolutely no coincidence we've been rubbish since he was injured. He has only had 2 bad games (unfortunately both televised which may cloud some opinion). Prior to his injury our scrum and maul was a genuine weapon. He is often criticised for his loose play, which again is a common misconception. You may recall his performance against Bath at the Rec where he heavily involved in the loose and made a number of excellent tackles - which is what we've been seeing all season.

I am of course naturally bias, but having been a LH prop it is always the position that interests me most and there is no doubt he is heads and shoulders above the competition this season, which is why he's the only prop up for the PRA award.

Ayerza has had another great season and would definitely be 2nd place for me. Mullan would get my 3rd vote. As Sam says, he is very quietly got on with things and is definitely underated. Corbisiero has had a good international season, but has been unremarkable at club level surprisingly. Gill is an average prop and Tiny has had a poor season by his standards (good by others). Marler's scrummaging has come on leaps and bounds. He is still a long way off, but hopefully he'll keep improving at this rate.

p.s. Craig Mitchell is a TH.

Craig Mitchell is our first choice tighthead, so pls can you delete him and replace him with Brett Sturgess our first choice loosehead? Thanks

Joe Marler has improved a lot. Been a key part of Quins being table toppers currently. 1st for me

Ayerza is an excellent prop but he's been consistently good for some time. 2nd

Ayerza. He is the complete prop. Mind boggling how Argentina keep him on the bench.

ASBO - I will make sure Mitchell is in the TH voting. Serves me right for attempting to do this with only my failing memory as an aide.

A straight shoot out between Ayerza and Wood for me, but went for Ayerza. Sadly if Wood had not been injured and continued his form, it would be an easy decision, but Ayerza has been a rock and huge conrtibutor to Tiger's recent awesome form

I'm voting for Marler, 'cause I'm biased, he looked better than Ayerza, for me his greatest rival for this accolade at the moment, on Saturday, he is very handy in the loose in defence and attack and he has improved greatly in the scrums to the extent that we actually managed against Leicester and have basically beaten every other team in the AP in that area over the past couple of months

I have gone for Ayerza as I voted for him for player of the year at Tigers as well, he has been a rock in every aspect of the game throughout the season.

Ayerza, Wood & Marler have been the stand out LH's for me this season and think Ayerza just shades it. I am also a big fan of Mullen but have only seen him play a handful of times this season.

Tonga'uiha has been a little off form all season. I think last seasons high number of games, the world cup with Tonga and the Saints managements relative lack of confidence in his back up Waller have knackered him. Hopefully a decent off season rest will see him return to top form come September.

Here are some stats for the poll leaders:

Marler/Ayerza/Wood

Matches 18/12/17
Tries 0/1/1
Try Assists 1/0/0
Passes 29/22/29
Carries 110/49/56
Metres Carried 201/72/69
Clean Breaks 5/3/3
Offloads 5/6/0
Defenders Beaten 6/6/5
Tackles 83/54/101
Missed Tackles 7/7/9
Penalties 16/8/26
Turnovers Conceded 5/5/6
Lineouts Won 6/0/2

stlowe wrote:Here are some stats for the poll leaders:

Marler/Ayerza/Wood

Matches 18/12/17
Tries 0/1/1
Try Assists 1/0/0
Passes 29/22/29
Carries 110/49/56
Metres Carried 201/72/69
Clean Breaks 5/3/3
Offloads 5/6/0
Defenders Beaten 6/6/5
Tackles 83/54/101
Missed Tackles 7/7/9
Penalties 16/8/26
Turnovers Conceded 5/5/6
Lineouts Won 6/0/2

Any scrum stats?

LT

I have edited your poll to remove Craig Mitchell as he is a tighthead, and have put Brett Sturgess the Chiefs loosehead in his place.

Sturgess would actually be a good shout, but I have gone for Mullan who has been excellent all season for Worcester.

They don't really do scrum stats for players, the closest thing hinting at that would be their penalty count, which although probably not exclusively from scrumming, won't be far off.

Ayerza for me. Max Lahiff is also worthy of a mention - he has had an excellent season for Irish.

interesting stats there. woods tackle count is comparitively excellent, as is marlers work with ball in hand ie meters gained, carries and clean breaks.

what swings it for me though the penalty count, which comes out massively in favour of ayerza, and suggests that his scrummaging is superior. therefore he got my vote, especially as we know his tackling is good and he is good in open play as well

Marler every time, proved on the weekend he can out scrummage anyone, and that's in a pack that is probably one of the weakest overall and is better around the park then just about any other prop in the league at the moment.

yappysnap wrote:Marler every time, proved on the weekend he can out scrummage anyone, and that's in a pack that is probably one of the weakest overall and is better around the park then just about any other prop in the league at the moment.

Or he spent each scrum walking backwards to enable the wheel.

I know that his scrummaging has improved (altho whether that's down to Johnston locking the scrum on the other side I'm not sure), but I cannot bring myself to vote for Marler - Sturgess has been superb for the Chiefs and has recovered from his broken arm far quicker than expected. One of the unsung heroes imo

But if you get away with it then it's the 'Dark Arts' and applauded right? Scrummaging is as much brains as brawn ( say's the man who has never ever been in one).

yappysnap wrote:But if you get away with it then it's the 'Dark Arts' and applauded right? Scrummaging is as much brains as brawn ( say's the man who has never ever been in one).

Oh he did well. All I can say is that Cole is a quick learner and next time he will not push so hard, or at least not unless Ayerza is in the right position to do so.

If we meet again this season it will be interesting

But if you get away with it then it's the 'Dark Arts' and applauded right? Scrummaging is as much brains as brawn ( say's the man who has never ever been in one).

Normally yes, in this case it was more brainless reffing but as the Quins front row were getting away with it they were not going to stop and allow Tigers to push them off the ball, that would have been silly. Marler is certainly the most improved loosehead in the AP this season, he's come on leaps and bounds and has stopped the silly stuff off the ball as well.

Definitely down to Ayerza or Marler for me. Like most people have said, Ayerza's been rock solid this season and done everything that's been asked of him. Marler's impressed me as well, and those stats posted above really show how well rounded he is. However, I voted Ayerza. I believe he's been a large part of Tigers sudden resurgence, and he's performed whenever he's been asked.

Heck of a player, and like beshocked said, I don't understand how he's benched for Argentina. Look forward to seeing him against the SH teams.

Ayerza for sure.

Wood and Marler have both had good seasons though.

King Logo VIII should be in the mix.

The whole vote is skewed by an unimparitial/subjective set of nominees.

It reminds me of the question put in many national referenda where the ruling parties seek a tactical mandate.

Just read a few posts, and someone mentioned Max Lahiff. That lad's had quite an industrious season, possibly one for the future? Seems to be of the new prop breed, and pretty decent around the park. Any LI fans have any background on him?

quite a few LI fans I know think that he is better than Corbs. Not seen enough of him myself to make any judgement other than to say that he is one to watch out for.

Really? Wow, that bodes well. Cheers for the info logan. I guess he must be pretty good in the loose then. Hopefully we'll see him get some regular game time next season

Bit more talent in the LH department.

Ayerza, great season. Not a fan of Marler tbh, over hyping is an understatement.