606's Aviva Premiership TOTY - TH Prop

Remember this is not about who you think is the best, but who has had the biggest impact over the 2011/12 AP Season. This is especially relevant for the Tighthead position as in so many teams the place has been shared around with no player starting more than 8 matches.

Contenders:
James Johnston - Who would have thought at the start of the season that Johnston would be a live contender. However the Quins scrum has improved, and Johnston has stated to use his bulk elswhere on the pitch. 15 starts and 5 from the bench.

Carlos Nieto - A mainstay of the Sarries scrum in the AP with 16 starts (and 5 bench). the Sarries scrum always looks much tighter when he is selected ahead of Matt Stevens.

Brian Mujati - Has reinforced his position as number 1 TH at Saints over the course of the season. Some sterling performances, though Saints scrum has not been as dominant as last year. 14 starts and 5 bench.

Rupert Harden - Has had some very good days at the coal face this year and rapidly becoming a major foundation stone for the rebuilding of the Glaws pack. 19 starts(2 bench)

Euan Murray - Has blown hot and cold, but when he plays well Newcastle have too. 13 starts.


Players not considered due to lack of appearances in the AP (due to Internationals or injuries):

Cole, Castro, Mitchell, Rautenbach, Ion, Wilson

8 starts and 5 appearances off the bench not enough for Mitchell?

Same as Cole. I just felt that to be the most influential you had to start more games.

If you disagree, then tick other and state who you want.

I'm tempted with Johnson. One of the few areas Quins were weak in at the start of the season was the scrum (mainly do to Johnson and his problems in binding. But he's also butchered some open play moves as well (not passing when there is a clear overlap.

None of the others have particularly stood out for me. Certainly not above what I would expect (haven't seen many Gloucester games for Harden).

I'm going to abstain

To be fair, the best THs have had limited game time.

Johnston turned his season around over christmas and new year.

Marler gets all the plaudits but Johnston really does do so much in the tight, he's had a massive impact in some of the close games especially.

HammerofThunor wrote:I'm tempted with Johnson. One of the few areas Quins were weak in at the start of the season was the scrum (mainly do to Johnson and his problems in binding. But he's also butchered some open play moves as well (not passing when there is a clear overlap.

None of the others have particularly stood out for me. Certainly not above what I would expect (haven't seen many Gloucester games for Harden).

I'm going to abstain

I tend to agree. If there was a 'non of the above' choice, i'd take it, since regardless of the amount of appearances they've made, the stated omissions are the only horses in the race in my opinion.

Johnston and Marler are leading their respective polls - who'd a thunk it at the start of the season? But I'd argue that if you go for them, you also have to go for Olly Kohn when the lock vote comes around. The Quins scrum is simply not the same without him.

Johnstone has a big hit but if the opposition can negate that then he gets stuffed in the scrum and I'd like to see him throw that weight around ball in hand a little more.

Mujarti for me has been good but not as good as his team mate PDJ, having said that Mujarti's levels of consistentcy have been excellent but for him it's been a quiet year compared to last.

Harden is developing nicely but his scrummaging is still heavilly relient on the power of Wood.

Nieto and Murray have been out of form each time I've watched them play. Murray is annoymous around the field and Nieto seems to be struggling to play more than a half at AP speed, probably because he expells so much energy at each scrum as Stevens dons his rollar skates.

Best tighthead, if we are taking into account international form as well as club form then Cole at a canter otherwise PDJ who is great in the tight areas (particularly the maul and scrum) but is also throwing himself around and getting involved in the loose.

Poorfour wrote:Johnston and Marler are leading their respective polls - who'd a thunk it at the start of the season? But I'd argue that if you go for them, you also have to go for Olly Kohn when the lock vote comes around. The Quins scrum is simply not the same without him.

+1

Kohn seems to make more difference to their scrum than eithe rof the props (perhaps a slight exaggeration but he doesn make a big difference).

Johnson has certainly improved the most but Carlso gets my vote (despite the odd wobble recently).

Other for me- a combo of Cole and Castro despite gametime

James johnston - isn't he the most penalised player in the ap? Player, not prop!

Mujati - lost his spot to PDJ during the season

I'd have to say Mullipola needs to be an option if you consider his contribution.

I'd have to say Mullipola needs to be an option if you consider his contribution

Tigers are viewing him as a loosehead who can cover tighthead. In actual fact he plays either perfectly well but prefers to play 8 where he played for parts of previous non pro seasons before signing for Tigers. Can you imagine that 20 stone monster coming off the back of a scrum?!? Bye, bye scrum half!

He plays 8???! Where did you hear that? Considering that fact, he's had a great season then, deputising in the front row.

"Playing No.8 is my first love. I love it there," said Mulipola.

"In Samoa, there are a lack of props. I started at No.8 but ended up as a prop. Only if there was an injury to a loose forward, I would cover there."

the interview is here:

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Friday-Interview-Logoviii-Mulipola-creating-big/story-15374064-detail/story.html

I think his professional career will definitely be at prop but it's good to know he likes the backrow style hard work. Must be something about Tigers as Cole played junior rugby as a number 8 as well, though I think he was converted to a tighthead much earlier than Mulipola.

That is unbelievable. I would love to see him line up there for Tigers just once, to see how he goes against AP teams.

It would be amusing, interestingly Cockerill gave Ed Slater the 8 shirt again for the A League semi final against the Exeter Braves. The club is obviously looking at options for 8 as we only have Crane and Waldrom along with youngster de Carpienter.

Could be an option if the final is a tight game and Cockers wants to add some carrying muscle late on. Camped on the opposition line, take Salvi and Croft off put Mafi and Mulipola into the backrow with Waldrom.

Mafi Mulipola Waldrom back row.........ouch!

Hell of a back row that would be. God, Salvi must feel small when he lines up at scrum time.

Just to prove I am not bias I have not voted for Harden! He has had a very good season, but since March he has been off the boil. Since Wood has been injured and Brown returned the power of the Glaws scrum has diminished and Sausage has suffered. There is no doubt he has a good future and I woull certainly say he is the 2nd best in this category.

But my vote went to Johnstone. His form has been almost opposite to Harden's. At the start o the season I was not impressed I really felt Fairbrother was going to replace him, but he has really added technical ability to his brute force. My admiration of Nick Wood is well known and whilst Census didn't cause him any problems, brother James did and he has been the stand out this season.

I will add Castro is still the best TH in the Jeff though, one of those players you just wish your team had signed.

Voted Johnston, but would also have gone for Castro as well if the option had been there.

As stated previously, if Johnston get's a good hit in he just demolishes anything in front of him. If he truley used that weight & power he demonstrates for the carry he'll be an immensely scary player!

Johnstone is an awful TH

Sgt_Pooly wrote:Johnstone is an awful TH

On what basis? He had a poor start to the season (why I didn't vote for him) but has improved beyond recognition (or refs have realised he is not at fault most of the time he was previously being penalised) and in the past few months has at worst had parity and at best dominated all opposition. That's in the tight, his supposed weak point. Ayerza struggled against him on Saturday. So ehat is it about his game that makes him an awful TH as of now at the end of the season?

Before anyone wonders how come he got a vote then it is because I accidentally voted for Murray. I meant to select 'one of the others' but wasn't watching what I was doing so there you go. Wouldn't have ever gone that way on purpose as I contribute as much to Newcastle's loose play as he does.

Would have voted Cole myself - not seen him come off second best in the prem all season. I also agree that PDV has had a better season that Mujarti although he isn't first choice at the moment. Agree about pen machine Johnstone - although improved still not anywhere near as good as he should be.

Since the New Year Johnston has been up there with the Leicester guys as the best scrummaging tightheads in the league