ERC European Player of the Year 2012 Longlist

justsomebloke

http://www.ercrugby.com/eng/news/16351.php

Longlist of contenders for the ERC European Player of Year 2012 based on Pool stage performances:

Mouritz Botha -Lock - Saracens

Mike Brown - Full Back - Harlequins

Antoine Claassen - Back Row - Brive

Thierry Dusautoir - Back Row - Toulouse

Owen Farrell - Centre - Saracens

Stephen Ferris - Back Row - Ulster Rugby

Wesley Fofana - Centre - ASM Clermont Auvergne

Gethin Jenkins - Prop - Cardiff Blues

Jonny Sexton - Out half - Leinster Rugby

Greig Laidlaw - Scrum half/Out half - Edinburgh Rugby

Timoci Matanavou - Wing - Toulouse

Ignacio Mieres -Out half - Exeter Chiefs

Ben Morgan - No 8 -Scarlets

Ronan O'Gara -Out half - Munster Rugby

Netani Talei - No 8 - Edinburgh Rugby

Fireball07

Who actually chooses these lists?


ROG is in because of a couple of drop goals- I would say POM was Munster's player of the pool stages. Not that ROG was poor. POC was as good as always too.

And I suppose Sexton has been Leinster's most influential player this year.


I haven't seen all the games or even all the highlights but 2 Saracens players and 2 Toulouse players but only 1 from Munster and Leinster, who were the only unbeaten teams??

Dunno who I'd pick out of that lot.

[Jackass]

C'MON JOHNNY!!!

Deano7788

Fireball07 wrote: »

Who actually chooses these lists?

According to the link, the judging panel is made up of Stuart Barnes, Raphael Ibanez, Stephen Jones, Emmanuel Massicard and Gerry Thornley (which probably explains ROG)

Flincher

How is O'Connell not on that list?

Lapin

Dusautoir to win if Toulouse reclaim the Heineken Cup.

Fireball07

Flincher wrote: »

How is O'Connell not on that list?

They'll be apologetic when he drags Munster to another HC title

Clegg

I think that only the players that get into the semi finals will be in serious contention for the award.

Fofana could be in with a good shout and Sexton has been the best 10 in the tournament this year.

ROG being on the list is baffling.

Podge_irl

Odd in one way that the top 2 teams only get one player nominated apiece. Though I suppose Leinster haven't had the same kind of stand out performances as last year (in some ways that is a good thing).

Idiotic to choose a shortlist at this point in time though.

.ak

I know Biarritz did not have a good campaign, but Hairydonkey was immense and should be on that list. Their home game against Sarries was great, he was a backrow/winger in that game, all over the pitch!

CiaranMT

This, along with the 6N Player of the Tournament nominations, is a bit of a joke.

Podge_irl

CiaranMT wrote: »

This, along with the 6N Player of the Tournament nominations, is a bit of a joke.

I don't recall a shortlist being announced last year. Was there one? At least the nomination process isn't do ridiculously stupid as the 6N one, but deciding it with 3 rounds to go is silly.

totallegend

CiaranMT wrote: »

This, along with the 6N Player of the Tournament nominations, is a bit of a joke.

Particularly since the judges can just pick someone else for the shortlist and the actual award, i.e. it's completely meaningless.

Dave Joyce

I know there are some big and deserving names in there but from an Irish perspective, I think Fez has been excellent both in the Ulster and Irish jersey.

CIARAN_BOYLE

Podge_irl wrote: »

I don't recall a shortlist being announced last year. Was there one? At least the nomination process isn't do ridiculously stupid as the 6N one, but deciding it with 3 rounds to go is silly.

There was a five man shorlist when they decided it just before the final. Nacewa, Heaslip, SOB, Parisse and Tonga'uiha.

Podge_irl

CIARAN_BOYLE wrote: »

There was a five man shorlist when they decided it just before the final. Nacewa, Heaslip, SOB, Parisse and Tonga'uiha.

Ah I recall that now. More sensible time to release it. I don't think it should be a necessity for the player to be in the final mind you, and all those players were (Parisse in the Amlin).

thomond2006

How many HEC games did Gorgodze play? He was epic against Leinster in the first round.

Tox56

If Gorgodze was playing v Leinster at the RDS, I can't say I noticed him. It may only have been one poor game but he didn't stand out at all.

Either that or A) He wasn't playing, or I have a bad memory.

danthefan

Timoci Matanavou - Wing - Toulouse

This list is a piss take surely?

irishbucsfan

danthefan wrote: »

This list is a piss take surely?

Stuart Barnes, Raphael Ibanez, Stephen Jones, Emmanuel Massicard and Gerry Thornley

CatFromHue

Stuart Barnes, Raphael Ibanez, Stephen Jones, Emmanuel Massicard and Gerry Thornley

Stuart Barnes, Raphael Ibanez, Stephen Jones, Emmanuel Massicard and Gerry Thornley

Stuart Barnes, Raphael Ibanez, Stephen Jones, Emmanuel Massicard and Gerry Thornley

roycon

manatanavou is amazing. brilliant finisher and ball carrier. he always finds space. anytime he gets the ball he always beats a few tacklers. cant say i remember too much of him in the heineken cup though but he's certainly tearing up the top 14

Tox56

Stuart Barnes, Raphael Ibanez, Stephen Jones, Emmanuel Massicard and Gerry Thornley

Stuart Barnes, Raphael Ibanez, Stephen Jones, Emmanuel Massicard and Gerry Thornley

Stuart Barnes, Raphael Ibanez, Stephen Jones, Emmanuel Massicard and Gerry Thornley

Tox56

roycon wrote: »

manatanavou is amazing. brilliant finisher and ball carrier. he always finds space. anytime he gets the ball he always beats a few tacklers. cant say i remember too much of him in the heineken cup though but he's certainly tearing up the top 14

He is a liability in defence from what I have seen and heard, he tried to kick from his own in-goal surrounded by 3 opposition players against Gloucester.

CiaranMT

roycon wrote: »

manatanavou is amazing. brilliant finisher and ball carrier. he always finds space. anytime he gets the ball he always beats a few tacklers. cant say i remember too much of him in the heineken cup though but he's certainly tearing up the top 14

Not much good going back, can think of a few games where he's made embarrassing mistakes this season.

In attack though, he's been brilliant. 12 tries in the League and Cup.

.ak

danthefan wrote: »

This list is a piss take surely?

What? He's been the most impressive winger of the competition imo. One of the players that should defo be on the list. Had a couple of mares, but Toulouse as a team weren't doing themselves any favours.

danthefan

.ak wrote: »

What? He's been the most impressive winger of the competition imo. One of the players that should defo be on the list. Had a couple of mares, but Toulouse as a team weren't doing themselves any favours.

He's one of the least intelligent players I've ever seen (in a rugby sense in case anyone can't figure that out).

GerM

Whilst Matanavou's try scoring record demands respect, he wouldn't have been one of my first names on the list. He has been electric when put in space but his defence is fairly shocking. His concession of a try against Glos was the single biggest screw up I recall in the pool stages which ended up costing Toulouse their home QF. All of his tries in the group stages were run ins without ever having to beat a man, pick a line or do anything beyond catching the ball and run over the line from inside the 22. He'd be thereabouts for his sheer pace and danger factor but the best defenders should be able to shackle him and then he becomes a weak point without the ball.

Dutchie

Flincher wrote: »

How is O'Connell not on that list?

Because he's a ginger!

shuffol

Matanavou's defence for Gloucesters final try in that game was shocking as well.

phog

I haven't seen Ulster that much this season but from Leinster and Munster the one man that should be on that list is Isa and his absence makes me question the rest of the names on the list.

fitz

phog wrote: »

I haven't seen Ulster that much this season but from Leinster and Munster the one man that should be on that list is Isa and his absence makes me question the rest of the names on the list.

Similarly, ROG in, but no O'Connell is baffling.
O'Connell was immense during the pool stages, as was Ryan.
ROG got those drop goals, but didn't have a huge positive impact or influence on the games otherwise.

Bit of a pointless list at this stage. Better to select a 5 man short list after the quarter or semi finals. There's a fair bit of rugby left to play in the competition.

GerM

phog wrote: »

I haven't seen Ulster that much this season but from Leinster and Munster the one man that should be on that list is Isa and his absence makes me question the rest of the names on the list.

Isa has been very quiet in the HEC this season overall. The away game in Montpellier was the poorest I have seen him in the last couple of years. Kearney and Fitz have both outshone him in this season's HEC.