AP Team of the Year - 606 picks the Blindside Flanker

The front 5 has been selected and Quins dominate. Is this a reflection on the individual performances, the team or the makeup of the 606 regular?

Any way on to Blind side flanker.

The contenders

Quins: none (an attempt to socially engineer the makeup?). Blindside duties have been shared by Fa'asalvu, Guest, Robshaw and Wallace. robshaw has been the only one to play enough AP matches to qualify, but many at loosehead which is where I will ask you to consider him.

Tigers: Steve Mafi. The young Tongan has rapidly become a crowd and players favourite (just won Tigers player's player of the year). His performances have been noted by the AP committee who made him Player of the Month for March. Big, physical and quick, with 14 starts and 6 from the bench (some at second row) he has become a cornerstone in Leicester's AP campaign.

Saracens: None. Kelly Brown is the key man for Sarries here. RWC and World cup mean he has made only a handfull of appearances. Melck and Fraser have all tried to plug that whole.

Northampton: Calum Clark. He was the dominant blindside for the Saints, until the moment of madness in the LV final.

Exeter: Tom Johnson. Another example that players can develop at different rates and this endless pursuit for youth excellence is not always a good thing. Johnson did not shine as a schoolboy and did not go to an academy. He learnt his rugby the hard way, without privilege. That has made him what he is - a tough, no-nonsense get the job done back rower. In short my kind of blindside. While he is not getting the plaudits this season that he did last, this is in large part due to other Chiefs also making names for themselves. With 19 starts this season a huge player for the Chiefs.

Sale: None. Sharks have rotated playes in the back 5 meaning no-one has really stood out.

Bath: Francois Louw. 10 starts are the self-imposed minimum i have set for inclusion. Louw playes either side and when he has been available has been magnificent for Bath. With a well beaten front 5 he has had a lot to do.

Gloucester: Peter Buxton Most definitely at the veteran stage. Another whole hearted, solid player.

London irish: Jamie gibson A really promising prospect. To achieve higher honours he needs to have a settled position having played at Lock, Blindside and No8 this season.

Worcester/Wasps/Falcons: None


So not a huge list - in part due to rotational policy or international duty. Robshaw, Fa;aslvu, Croft, Dowson, Wood, Brown, Tuifua kare all top notch players who just have not appeared in the AP at 6 often enough.

robshaw has been the only one to play enough AP matches to qualify, but many at loosehead which is where I will ask you to consider him.

I knew he was a utility option but wow, that really is versatile!

Went for Mafi as his appearence off the bench against Quins could very well have guarenteed us the home semi we need. He no doubt has a good collection of champagne bottles at home now as well, won plenty of MOTM awards.

6 certainly seems to be a spot for rotation. On the Glaws front Bucko has had the most starts, but this has been due to the call up and injuries to Strokosch. We've had Cox, Deacon and Savage play a few games there too.

For me this is very much a 2 horse race between Mafi and Johnson and really no other contender comes close to them. When Exeter beat Glaws at Kingsholm Johnson's performance was as good as I have seen from a 6, he was just everywhere. He did all the hard work and carried exceptionally well. But the same can be said about Mafi, who has been excellent this season and really illustrates the strength in depth Tigers have in their pack. The only way I could seperate them is that it would be easier to shine in that Tigers pack, therefore Johnson gets my vote... just!

I went for Johnson in keeping with the principle of social engineering and because I think he's a true grafter, which is what all blindsides should really be.

Special mention for Mafi, who may have turned the game for Tigers against Quins two weeks ago, and Fa'asavalu, for his sheer impact and for inspiring one of my favourite quotes of the year: Conor O'Shea on JTH injuring himself: "He ran into Mo. In training, we try to teach them not to do that."

LT

Without wanting to be pedantic, Gibson hasn't played lock, and has only played 1 game at blindside this season. Most of his appearances have been in the 7 jersey.

For me this is a very simple one to choose. It has to be Tom Johnson. I have never, yes never seen him have a poor game, this season or last.

Mafi would be close, but he's shifted around a bit between 5 and 6 so would miss out for me.

Apologies Ozzy - statbunker had him listed as a Lock, plus i thought he played 6 against us. I was perhaps scraping for candidates after the obvious pair, what with so many ineligible due to lack of game time.

He played 7 at WR and 8 at the MadStad, so close

Just give it to Johnson mate, as you say there are not many viable alternatives. You know it makes sense!

LondonTiger technically you are wrong. It is Wray not Fraser covering for Brown. Fraser has been covering Burger at 7.

Got to give it to Tom Johnson.

Mafi, just

Bumping this as it currently stands tied at 11 votes all between Mafi and Johnson.

Think Johnson gives away a few too many penalties, but he is a great player. Think Mafi is edging it just. What a find he has turned out to be!

Voted Johnson just from Mafi, although would have voted Fa'asalvu if he had qualified. Hasn't Louw ended up playing 7 for at least a decent percentage of games for Bath?

As a Saints fan how could anybody vote for Calum Clark? Best 6 of the season who does a shocking act, potentially causing a fellow player a permanent career (and so life changing) injury and costing his team his services at the most important time of the season as a result? If that makes him the best 6 in the prem this year then maybe I'm in with a chance of being voted the seasons best winger (ex second row with the turning circle and speed of an ocean liner, or Matt Banahan).