Rugby World Cup winner Neil Back reveals the difficulties in selecting five-man shortlist for the Premiership Green Flag Forward of the Season
Dave Ewers, Nathan Hughes, Samu Manoa, Billy Vunipola and Thomas Waldrom have been selected for the Green Flag Forward of the Season shortlist
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Your support makes all the difference.The shortlist for the Green Flag Forward of the Season has been revealed with five of the Aviva Premiership’s leading stars recognised for their incredible form this season.
A panel, led by Rugby World Cup winner Neil Back and including The Independent’s Jack de Menezes, deliberated who should be named on the five-man shortlist with this season’s domestic matters heading towards a thrilling climax in the form of the 30 May Premiership final.
Completing the panel of were ITV's Martin Gillingham, The Rugby Paper's Neale Harvey, Out On The Full Rugby's Emma Thurston and BT Sport's James Hopkins, with Green Flag ambassador Back providing the invaluable insight as an ex-pro and coach with 25 years experience under his belt.
So after debating around 20 names that have stood out this season, the panel were able to decide on five names that should make up the shortlist for the award, with the Green Flag Forward of the Season winner set to be announced at the Aviva Premiership Rugby Awards, which take place at the London Hilton on Park Lane on Wednesday 20 May.
So who made the shortlist?
Dave Ewers - Exeter Chiefs
Nathan Hughes - Wasps
Samu Manoa - Northampton Saints
Billy Vunipola - Saracens
Thomas Waldrom - Exeter Chiefs
Back explained how the decision proved to be an extremely difficult one given the increasing standard set in the Aviva Premiership – with six clubs still in the hunt for a play-off finish – and elaborated that despite all five men playing in the back-row, that doesn’t mean players in other positions aren’t impressing.
“What transpired today is that we all know the front five put the team in the right places and put them on the front foot, but the back-rowers carry them there and many of the back-rowers were in the shortlist,” Back tells The Independent.
“It was surprising that Chris Robshaw didn’t make that shortlist because I think he’s had a good solid season, but I think there’s been some real standout forwards that haven’t had international commitments and have been able to do it at the business end for their clubs week-in week-out. “
One name who regularly came up in conversation was Exeter’s Thomas Waldrom. The No 8 is enjoying a return to form with the Chiefs having left Back’s former club Leicester last year, and the New Zealand-born England international currently leads the way in the top try scorers charts. To put that into perspective, a forward has only scored the most tries in one season once – none other than Back in the 1998/99 season.
“I always felt that he contributed massively to Leicester so I was surprised when he was released to be honest with you, but he’s found his home at Exeter now and he’s enjoying life, he’s enjoying it down there and most importantly he’s producing the goods out on the pitch,” says Back when asked about Waldrom.
“His footballing ability and skill set belie the appearance because, and we’re all smiling now, he doesn’t look like a professional athlete, but it’s in him, so it shows that if you are good enough, it doesn’t matter how big, small or potentially ugly you are!”
Having won the Land Rover Discovery of the Season award last year, Billy Vunipola is recognised once again, but the Saracens back-row finds competition in his Wasps counterpart Nathan Hughes. The Fijian becomes eligible to play for England next summer and has already hinted that he will pledge his allegiance to Stuart Lancaster’s side, and with both players just 22 years of age, Back is excited to see the pair duke it out with the likes of Waldrom and the injured Ben Morgan in the years to come.
“It’s absolutely brilliant,” says Back, “because as a coach, particularly Stuart in the England job, you want competition. Competition means that players have to maximise their individual potential to get in the team and stay in the team. I remember myself being challenged by lots of people, and they were good.
“Many people talk about [Lawrence] Dallaglio, [Richard] Hill and Back but we had a [Joe] Worsley, [Martin] Corry and [Lewis] Moody that potentially were as good so you need that competition. So Nathan Hughes is brilliant news for England should he to pledge his allegiance in the future.”
Breakdown cover provider and proud partner of Premiership Rugby - Green Flag - has revealed the hotly-contended shortlist for the Green Flag Forward of the Season Award. To keep up to date with the latest news, visit www.greenflag.com, and follow @GreenFlagUK, facebook.com/GreenFlagUK or youtube.com/GreenFlagUK.
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