606 AP Team of the Year - Wingers

Voting is going strong for the centres - come have your say

https://www.606v2.com/t28750-606-ap-team-of-the-yeas-centres

pack is selected, but there may still be time to vote for your favoured half-backs (links avaailable in above link).

So - on to the wingers. There have been a lot of tries scored this season, especially by Tigers, but no wingers have scored a shed load of tries this season. Many teams have rotated quite a lot plus there have been the usual quota of injuries and international call-ups.

The Contenders:

Harlequins - 53 tries in total from Quins, second highest in the AP. Seb Stegmann looked really good at the start of the season, but finished it loaned out to Esher as the failed to avoid relegation from the championship. Most consistent performers have been Ugo Monye with 5 tries in 14 appearances and some solid displays and Sam Smith 3 tries in 12 appearances. i just feel Monye is not busy enough for the way Quins play, while Smith looks right at home.

Leicester - With 70 tries tigers once again led the way in the AP try scoring table (of course the knock on effect seems to be they concede more). Horacio Agulla has been Tigers star performer on the wing. He creates more tries than he scores but did manage 6 in 15 starts. The winner of the Fans Player of the Year award, we will be sad to see him go. Another departee is Alessana Tuilagi. While the gut feeling is he has been on the decline this year, since returning from the RWC he has still managed 7 tries in just 12 starts.

Saracens - The boys from Watford secured 3 TBPs scoring 15 tries in total against tigers, Sale & Exeter. In their other 19 matches they managed 20 tries. This is one reason they so annoy neutrals - they are capable of playing really good rugby, yet most of the time choose to be exceedingly conservative. It also means, that with the prepoderance of box kicks, their wingers are most often used as kick chasers. James Short 4 tries in 16 starts has been the most prominent in the AP, yet has perhaps seen him move further away from the England squad. Dave Strettle appeared in all 5 6Ns matches buthas been a bystander for much of his AP season.

Northampton Saints - Blown hot and cold all season, Saints managed 4TBPs (second highest) but butchered other chances. Ashton has struggled, Elliot faded away this season, Cato has been invisible and Artemyev is a sprinter with little feel for Rugby. The stand out performer is the local boy Paul Diggin. While he has covered full back as well as wing, he has always been a bright spark for the Saints.

Exeter - Not a big try scoring team, and certainly not from the wings. Perhaps the physicality of their pack and centres does not always make best use of the wingers.Matthew Jess has looked pretty good to me, with a sharp turn of pace. Rob Baxter obviously likes him as he started every match in the AP this season.

Sale - Most of Sales's attacking threat has come from Fly half turned full back Rob Miller. Tom Brady looks promising, certainly one to watch.

London Irish - Tom Homer has flitted between wing and Full Back as LI have looked to ensure his goal kicking can be facilitated. He will be offered for consideration as a full back. Sailosi did not feature enough, Yarde looks promising. Which leaves us with Topsy Ojo. I have to admit until recently he has always left me cold as a player. good pace but often seemed disinterested and in an era where we expect wings to come inside and look busy tended to stay on his wing. Good at intercepts though. However he has grown on me this season and the LI favourite deserves a nomination. 5 tries in 16 starts.

Bath - Tom Biggs. Ok he does have silly hair (so says the balding man) and is unlikely to play for England. However if the rest of the overpaid planks at Bath played with even a quarter of the spirit, verve, zip, application that Biggs puts out every single week, they would be Title contenders.

Gloucester - such talented backs and ultimately such disappointment. JSD is utter class, but struggling with injuries again has not featured as strongly as you would hope. Sharples has struggled this season, despite making his 6Ns debut, and really tailed away during Glaws dismal end to the season. the brightest spark has been Jonny May but he too has struggled recently. Is he a Fullback/Wing/Centre? Who knows but i offer him here for consideration 6 tries in 16 starts.

Worcester - Miles Benjamin is another player to have started every regular season AP game. Worcester create bugger all so Benjamin has to go looking for work. He should fit in well with tigers next season. 7 tries.

Wasps - Board favourite Christian Wade is probably a shoo in for one wing spot. A few niggling injuries have caused him to miss matches (do Wasps need new physios?) but still a stunning first season. Teams will study tapes and look to nullify him next year, and I look forward to seeing if he can escape second season blues. 9 tries in 15 games.

Newcastle - Howay bonny lads, whyse ne-one wurring the noomber 11 an 14 shirts?

Wade and Agulla, little wingers with contrasting styles but both making line breaks for fun. Most number 8s wish they could sit down defenders like Agulla who has really come into his own this season and any SH team who pick him up will have themselves a fans favourite in no time. Wade is all speed and fancy footwork and each fearless display pushes him that step closer to an England call up.

Short is a good young winger but has been a bit hot and cold this season, not helped by Sarries defensive mind set. Benjamin and May have also shown good form although, Benjamin's concentration can waver when his team are losing and May is iffy under the high ball but both were very close to Wade and Agulla.

formerly known as Sam wrote:May is iffy under the high ball

Yet bizarelly Tigers have been the only side to really test him under the ball - every other team has kicked deep.

I have to admit to slight favouritism here, but I have voted for my 2nd and only other Glaws player with May in large for that try against Quins, which was as good a try as I've ever seen live. When we did have the (short) period of decent form it was in large due to Sinbad and he is still the best winger in the squad.

My other pick was Agulla which was a very close pick ahead of Tuilagi.

Yet bizarelly Tigers have been the only side to really test him under the ball - every other team has kicked deep

Tigers really did orchestrate that plan well, kicking high and in front of May so he had to advance onto the high ball as Twelvetrees and Salvi chased hard. Made it very difficult for him and so he started positioning himself further forward so as to anticipate it. Bit of an error that as Flood just kicked over his head and to the corners. A tough day at the office in filthy conditions for the young lad, though technically that was as a full back as opposed to as a winger so should we be counting that against him?

Wade and Benjamin for me.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Yet bizarelly Tigers have been the only side to really test him under the ball - every other team has kicked deep

Tigers really did orchestrate that plan well, kicking high and in front of May so he had to advance onto the high ball as Twelvetrees and Salvi chased hard. Made it very difficult for him and so he started positioning himself further forward so as to anticipate it. Bit of an error that as Flood just kicked over his head and to the corners. A tough day at the office in filthy conditions for the young lad, though technically that was as a full back as opposed to as a winger so should we be counting that against him?

For his long term development that was probably one of the best days for him. He was taken to the cleaners that day, but crucially he didn't fold as many players can.

Jonny May for the period of dominance post-Christmas when he pretty much took apart Toulouse and Harlequins from deep.

In the absence of JSD (why is he not an option? - again the best winger in the league by a mile) I'll go for the underrated but always dangerous Tom Biggs, who finally seems to have settled into life down south and has been one of Bath's best players this season. And because I always see him in Sainsburys.

Wade has made a real impact when he has played but he missed a large part of the season, while much of his good work was done in a losing cause which counts against him. Agulla seems to pop up in the right place at the right time but I doubt he'd strike fear in an opposing defence for his individual potency.

2 things surprising about this poll: every option has been voted for; Quins players aren't topping it!!

Agulla seems to pop up in the right place at the right time but I doubt he'd strike fear in an opposing defence for his individual potency

He bumps more players off than both Tuilagis combined and add to that his two exceptional chip chases this season, the first provided him with a try the second he basketball passed over the defender pushing him into touch and straight to Alesana. There's a thread or two on the offy site demanding a contract be offered to him.

Agulla and Wade for me. Was never an Agulla fan until this season, basically thought he was a defensive winger who was solid but nothing else.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

Agulla seems to pop up in the right place at the right time but I doubt he'd strike fear in an opposing defence for his individual potency

He bumps more players off than both Tuilagis combined and add to that his two exceptional chip chases this season, the first provided him with a try the second he basketball passed over the defender pushing him into touch and straight to Alesana. There's a thread or two on the offy site demanding a contract be offered to him.

his try against the saints was pretty good, where Ashton was holding on to him, but he showed great strength to get over the line.

Which match nathan?

I remember his try at Welford Road, but that was the last one finished with an "AshSplash". Matt Smith carried Ashton for 5-6 yards in scoring the first try.

Wade and Agulla for me

HongKongCherry wrote:2 things surprising about this poll: every option has been voted for; Quins players aren't topping it!!

Not that surprising to me... lots of options this year with no one player dominating the scoring tables (or highlights!), and Quins, to be honest, have several good wingers but no-one who's a standout predator. Also, I'd probably have gone for Tom Williams over Smith or Monye, for the intelligence of his all-round play. He's really recovered his form this year.

Hmm, still think JSD and Sharples should be in there, looking at the list. But I'll plump for Biggs and Wade.

Losi has been top notch since he's been back giving Agulla and more no ends of problems. He creates so much space for the 10-13 because of the threat he poses.

But for the whole of the season it has to be Wade and Agulla for me. Tigers maybe missing a trick not keeping Agulla, he's created a lot for them this season and his game against Saints recently was top draw. Shame to see him leave the AP.

Out of interest where is May's long term position??
I know he's got blistering pace but isn't centre his best position? Or maybe i'm thinking of someone else?

I would say wing will ultimately be Jonny May's strongest position, but he will probably be comfortable at 11,13,14,15 throughout his career. His positional play is suspect at fullback, and he needs some serious practice under the high ball, but his running angles and acceleration are superb so with some quality coaching he could end up there. He is also a decent outside centre, due to the strength of his running lines, but I feel his pace and footwork would be best utilised in the back 3. Also, Henry Trinder is an extremely promising 13 and should fill this position for Gloucester when fit.

Over the next couple of seasons I see May remaining as a utility player, filling in where injuries dictate or coming off the bench as a serious impact sub, a role he could also fill for England. Then in a couple of years, once Sinbad eventually stops tearing up the premiership, he will probably end up on the wing.

LondonTiger wrote:Which match nathan?

I remember his try at Welford Road, but that was the last one finished with an "AshSplash". Matt Smith carried Ashton for 5-6 yards in scoring the first try.

ah your right, sorry! It was matt smith (who look's like he should be from the 60's)

Wade and May for me.

All the wings on that list have had highs and lows and those two have had the biggest effect when on form and both in struggling teams.

What's more depressing is the number of tbp's scored by teams, take out Tigers and the highest is four?!

Saints managed 5TBPs, my post above was wrong.

In total 489 tries were scored (507 in 2010/11)

In total 489 tries were scored (507 in 2010/11)

Does the 507 include the playoffs from LY?

How many have Tigers scored?

That's still pretty poor though isn't it? 22 regular season games and the top teams manage 4/5 tbp's probably against the weakest teams. Just shows a total lack of innovation, clinicality or threat against top teams.

That's still pretty poor though isn't it? 22 regular season games and the top teams manage 4/5 tbp's probably against the weakest teams. Just shows a total lack of innovation, clinicality or threat against top teams.

or the games are tightly contested affairs where defence and attack are both highly skilled.

It is poor. There should be more of a balance between attack and defence. Defence currently dominates.

489 tries in the season equates to 3.7 per match. That is not great when you consider the entertainment provided by S15 games. It also gives a good indication why England have been struggling to get over the line recently. Obviously the conditions here in mid season are not conducive to running rugby and cricket scores, but you'd like to think each team could average around 3 tries a game and maybe manage 5 or 6 TBPs a season.

I know more tries doesn't necessarily mean greater excitement but pro teams should be able to score 3+ tries a game unless against the very toughest opponents.

Defence is far too much of a driving force for most clubs coupled with Poopie weather and dodgy rulings.

Jeffwinger the try bonuses already encourage attacking. Tigers in particular have benefitted greatly from this.

How could you encourage attacking in other ways?

That is not great when you consider the entertainment provided by S15 games.

Depends on the teams involved. Some S15 games are really dull affairs where it's basically 7s but with embarrassingly bad defending resulting in massive scores often from very average play. This is offset by some stunning rugby from highly skilled teams but that is by no means a constant. It's the same in the AP there's a mixture of abilities and styles, some are easier on the eye than others.

I don't think there are many other ways for the the league or governing bodies to encourage attacking, bar any radical rule changes which would be most unwelcome.

I think the onus is on the clubs and coaches themselves to switch to a more attacking style. As Leicester have shown recently it is beneficial to score lots of tries. I believe if a side were to really focus on basic skills and encourage attack they would be very successful in the premiership. Leinster are a good example of this. The emphasis for them is quality of passing and accuracy of execution. The rewards of this are plain to see.

I want to see one or two clubs really try and break the shackles and say "we'll score more than you" and I think they would do well.

Jeffwinger I want to see my side to do more of that. When we try and cut loose we can blow opposition away but there is too much emphasis on a conservative gameplan.

Yes in the second half of last season when Saracens started throwing it around a bit they blew everyone away. Players like Goode and Brits really came to forefront and you won the league. Now you've reverted to safety-first it's less likely you'll do so well. This season it's Leicester who have started going for it in the latter part of the season and I think they will reap the rewards. There seems to be a pattern developing.

No we didn't win the 2009-10 season. Got very very close though. That brutal loss in the final meant adopting the boring safety first gameplan again.

Up till that loss we were attacking very effectively.

It's the safety first paired with a immense MOM Brits effort which picked up the 2010-11 title.

Unfortunately Saracens rarely find the balance. It's either try and chuck the ball around everywhere including 22 or play an immensely boring kick everything style.

The contrast between the Newcastle game and the Exeter one was stark.

This season it's Leicester who have started going for it in the latter part of the season and I think they will reap the rewards

Leicester have been playing like that for a while, problems have occurred when we've had injuries and not adapted. We also struggle when our pack doesn't come out on top and the amount of good ball restricted.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

In total 489 tries were scored (507 in 2010/11)

Does the 507 include the playoffs from LY?

Regular season in both cases.

I shall post total regular season tries over the last 10 years or so when I have a chance.

Wade has been fantastic when fit, but because he missed games through injury, I've gone for Benjamin, who has been vital for Worcester, and Ojo whose form that I have seen has been great

I am amazed so many have ignored Wade.

Actually just looked at the stats and Wade was even better than I thought... so I'm dropping Topsy for him

You know it makes sense

Wade's snuck in front now.

Good.