606's Aviva Premiership TOTY - Second Row

Again, trying to think just about performances in the AP.

Contenders

George Robson, Quins 17 starts. 6 months ago he was viewed by many as an outside bet for Lancaster's England squad. That has not happened and the noise has died down a bit. Robson however has continued to go about his business for Quins. Winning lineout and playing his part around the park.

Olly Kohn, Quins 17 starts. Hard to say he is an unsung hero when plenty are crediting him with Quins improved scrummaging.

George Skivington, Tigers 13 starts. At the start of the season, many Tigers fans would just go "meh" ewhen Skivs was mentioned. However, over the course of his second and last season at WR he has become a mainstay of the Tigers pack. With Deacon out injured, Parling missing matches due to injury and 6Ns, Skivington has reallystepped up to the mark.

Ed Slater, Tigers 12 starts (5 bench), Slater has continued to develop well and represented the Saxons this year. Only a recent injury has prevented him making a further impression. Further evidence that the championship can be a good source of recruitment.

Steve Borthwick, Sarries 18 starts. Borthwick continues to show he is an oustanding CLUB second row.Great lineout operator, solid in the scrum - just missing that little something needed to be International quality.

Mouritz Botha, Sarries 12 starts (5 bench). Whiel it sometimes feels as if Botha has gone of the boil this season, he appeared in all 5 6Ns looking completely at home.

Mark Sorenson, Saints. Has featured in every AP match this season. He may not have started the season as first choice but strong performances have silenced this critic at least.

Tommy Hayes, Exeter Chiefs 20 starts. Cornerstone of a rugged Chiefs pack. At 6ft 4 (same height as big bro) he is not the tallest lock, but uses what he has really well.

Ryan Caldwell, Bath 17 starts. In a powderpuff Bath pack, the new recruit from Ulster has been the standout performer.

Jim Hamilton, Gloucester. Despite WC and 6Ns duty, the Giant Scot from Swindon has appeared in more than half Glaws AP matches. The kind of player the new coach can build a pack around.

Matt Garvey, London Irish. A 606 favourite, Garvey has split his time between second row and back row.

Craig Gillies, Worcester 14 starts, 6 bench. The veteran continues to put in fully committed performances. He should have been capped, at least once in his career.

Marco Wentzel, Wasps 15 starts. Was in imperious form before his season ending injury.

James Hudson, Falcons. Missed almost half of Newcastle's matches due to injury. Falcons are a better team when he plays.

Sigh, yet agains I forget the someone else option. Sorry.

Hopefully enough names on the list. Most notable absentees are Parling and Lawes who have hardly featured in the AP.

Borthwick and Robson for me.

Robson has been part of Quin's rise to the top.

Borthwick is a very strong club performer. Even when the rest of the Saracen's game has gone to pot the lineout has still been excellent. It's basically down to him.

Really tough choices there, a lot of talk about players like Garvey and Robson but Caldwell by all accounts has been immense for Bath and so has Hayes for Ex. Kohn is a lynchpin for Quins as well.

Hhmmm I suppose i'll go with Slater, not sure why but if I had to pick one of those players for England or Quins it would be him.

Kohn and Wentzel. The difference in the Quins when he is or isn't available is massive. Not just in the scrum but all over. And Wentzel made the Wasps hooker look good in the lineout.

Further evidence that the championship can be a good source of recruitment.

Did Slater ever play a game for Notts? I think they signed him in the summer on our recommendation and then we had our lock crisis and had nicked him on loan before the start of the season. I think he was actually spotted playing semi pro rugby in Aus having dropped out of Uni.

Tighter here. Kohn, because he seems to transform Quins' pack from a bunch of pussies into a force to be reckoned with and Ed Slater who in the few games I have seen Tigers play has been great

Geoff Parling?

Hudson - Newcastle have so much more grit when he plays.
Kohn - definately a big loss when he is not on the pitch.

Hayes & Robson for me. They'd also make a decent pairing.

Amazed so few have gone for Garvey, I thought he was a crowd favourite at least a few months ago.