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ERC European Player of the Year 2012 Longlist and Shortlist

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With 16 clubs now chasing the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup, ERC, the governing body of European club rugby’s two tournaments, is beginning the search for the outstanding player who will follow in the footsteps of Sean O’Brien and become the ERC European Player of the Year 2012.
The Leinster Rugby back row won the prestigious ***le in 2011 after helping his province clinch the Heineken Cup with a dramatic second half recovery against Northampton Saints at the Millennium Stadium. He followed Munster Rugby’s Ronan O’Gara as ERC European Player of the Year.
Now the search is underway again to find the 2012 winner. A longlist of 15 contenders, based on the performances of players from the 44 clubs in both the Heineken Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup competitions this season, will be submitted by ERC to the Judging Panel to use in their review of the knock-out stages.
While the initial longlist recognises the performances from the Pool stages only, the Judging Panel will have the option to consider players who make outstanding contributions in the quarter-final and semi-final matches for their shortlist and final selection.

The Judging Panel for this season’s accolade is made up of: Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports), Raphael Ibanez (Heineken Cup Ambassador), Stephen Jones (Sunday Times), Emmanuel Massicard (Midi Olympique) and Gerry Thornley (Irish Times).
A shortlist of 5 players will be announced following the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup semi-finals (27/28/29 April) and the ERC European Player of the Year winner for 2012 will be selected after the London Finals Weekend of 18/19 May.

In 2010, ERC launched the highly acclaimed ERC15 Awards, recognising the efforts of a number of outstanding contributors to the first 15 years of European club rugby competition. Two-time Heineken Cup winner Ronan O’Gara was the inaugural recipient of the ERC European Player Award, as the best player over the first 15 years of the two tournaments.
For the 2010/11 season, ERC moved to present the honour to the best player of the season from the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup, selected by a panel of five experts in conjunction with the 44 clubs from the two competitions with supporters also given the opportunity to vote on the shortlist.
Last year’s shortlist comprised: Jamie Heaslip (Leinster Rugby), Isa Nacewa (Leinster Rugby), Sean O'Brien (Leinster Rugby), Sergio Parisse (Stade Francais Paris), Soane Tonga'uiha (Northampton Saints)

erc_playerofyear_logo_rgb.jpg



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



ERC EUROPEAN PLAYER OF THE YEAR LONGLIST FORM GUIDE



Mouritz Botha â€" Rugged heart of a Saracens pack that won twice on the road to set-up home quarter-final. Played five times and scored a vital try in last round triumph in Treviso.

Mike Brown â€" Scored five tries to equal Quins’ Heineken Cup record for a campaign. Always a threat with the ball in hand, three of his tries were against Toulouse, including a double in the win in France.
Antoine Claassen â€" Drove Brive into the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup for the second successive season with his superb defence. Scored a vital try in the Pool-clinching victory over Sale Sharks in Round 6 and superb leader throughout.
Thierry Dusautoir â€" The current IRB World Player of the Year led Toulouse into the last eight yet again, figuring in five of the six Pool matches. One of the toughest tacklers in Europe.

Owen Farrell â€" Mature beyond his young years, he was twice a match winner in the Pool stages (v Biarritz and Ospreys) and played with exceptional poise. Man of the Match against Benetton Treviso.
Wesley Fofana â€" Sensational new strike force in the star-studded Clermont back division, he won the Man of the Match award for the home win over Leicester Tigers, scoring two tries. Claimed three tries in all in the Pool stages.
Stephen Ferris â€" Ever-present in the Ulster pack as the Irish province made it back-to-back quarter-finals for the first time. Picked up two Man of the Match awards and scored a try in the away win in Aironi. His thundering tackling was a feature.
Gethin Jenkins â€" Didn’t miss a game for the Blues as they reached the quarter-finals. Cornerstone of the pack for both club and country and a massive asset at the breakdown with his skills over the ball.
Jonny Sexton â€" Highly influential in Leinster’s vital back-to-back wins over Bath and also earned a draw with a last-gasp penalty in Round 1 at Montpellier. An impressive total of 63 points from five starts.
Greig Laidlaw â€" Magnificent and ice-cool match winner with over 60 points in steering Edinburgh to the last eight for only the second time â€" and the first time Scotland has staged a home quarter-final.
Timoci Matanavou â€" Equalled Toulouse record for Euro tries in a season with seven in Pool stages in debut season in Heineken Cup. Scored match winning brace of in Pool winning victory at Harlequins.
Ignacio Mieres â€" Scored 59 points in the Amlin Challenge Cup Pool stages to steer the Chiefs into the knock-out stages of a European competition for the first time in their history.
Ben Morgan â€" Power to burn, but his all-round skills also blossomed as the season progressed. Played in five Pool matches and scored a vital try in Round 1 win over Castres Olympique.
Ronan O’Gara â€" Played in all Pool matches as Munster won six from six for the first time. He is now the tournament’s leading points scorer with the most appearances. Won two Pool matches with red zone drop goals.
Netani Talei â€" Scored three tries in five Pool outings and picked up two Man of the Match awards. His ball carrying was as important to Edinburgh’s success as Laidlaw’s boot.

ERC Media
 
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Strange timing for this. Surely it would make more sense to draw up a short list after the semi finals.

So far Ronan O'Gara has probably been the most valuable player. He's kicked two game winning drop goals and helped guide his team to an unbeaten record.
 
for me this award is between Fofana, Ferris, Sexton, Morgan and Talei

Fofana was immense in the pool stages against Leicester at home, Sexton' passing and kicking has been fantastic, Morgan has been very good playing behind a weak scrum, Ferris has been consistently immense, Talei has come from nowhere to be good

for me the best forward has been Ferris and back Sexton, but it could all change depending on performance in the semis

Mouritz Botha – Rugged heart of a Saracens pack that won twice on the road to set-up home quarter-final. Played five times and scored a vital try in last round triumph in Treviso.

No, outplayed by Hines in the quarter final

Mike Brown – Scored five tries to equal Quins' Heineken Cup record for a campaign. Always a threat with the ball in hand, three of his tries were against Toulouse, including a double in the win in France.

Was on great form in the group stages, but to win the prize he needed to do something in the knockouts, which he hasn't as Quins were thrashed by Toulon

Antoine Claassen – Drove Brive into the quarter-finals of the Amlin Challenge Cup for the second successive season with his superb defence. Scored a vital try in the Pool-clinching victory over Sale Sharks in Round 6 and superb leader throughout.

yes he was good against Sale, but was rested in the quarter final so can't be considered

Thierry Dusautoir – The current IRB World Player of the Year led Toulouse into the last eight yet again, figuring in five of the six Pool matches. One of the toughest tacklers in Europe.

didn't have his greatest game against Edinburgh

Owen Farrell – Mature beyond his young years, he was twice a match winner in the Pool stages (v Biarritz and Ospreys) and played with exceptional poise. Man of the Match against Benetton Treviso.

Arguably part of the least creative centre partnership from the knockout stage teams, there's a reason why England looked so much better in the 6 Nations after the Barritt/Farrell partnership was broken up

Gethin Jenkins – Didn't miss a game for the Blues as they reached the quarter-finals. Cornerstone of the pack for both club and country and a massive asset at the breakdown with his skills over the ball.

good player, but can't be considered due to his sides' dreadful scrum making him look bad

Greig Laidlaw – Magnificent and ice-cool match winner with over 60 points in steering Edinburgh to the last eight for only the second time – and the first time Scotland has staged a home quarter-final.

done okay, but can't be mentioned in the same list as Sexton, Ferris and Fofana

Timoci Matanavou – Equalled Toulouse record for Euro tries in a season with seven in Pool stages in debut season in Heineken Cup. Scored match winning brace of in Pool winning victory at Harlequins.

his inability to catch a high ball cost Toulouse the match against Edinburgh, and also the same thing occurred previously against Gloucester

Ignacio Mieres – Scored 59 points in the Amlin Challenge Cup Pool stages to steer the Chiefs into the knock-out stages of a European competition for the first time in their history.

bottled the quarter final but missing a conversion and a simple drop goal

Ronan O'Gara – Played in all Pool matches as Munster won six from six for the first time. He is now the tournament's leading points scorer with the most appearances. Won two Pool matches with red zone drop goals.

couldn't save Munster in the Quarter Final though
 
From my strictly neutral viewpoint*.... its got to be big Fez.

Back from injury against Munster and I mean - off crutches a few hours before the game - back from injury to put in a performance like that is just mind blowing!



*erm... aye :lol:
 
Strange timing for this. Surely it would make more sense to draw up a short list after the semi finals.

So far Ronan O'Gara has probably been the most valuable player. He's kicked two game winning drop goals and helped guide his team to an unbeaten record.

Best give the award to Nigel ****ing Owens in that case.
 
ERC European Player of the Year 2012


As the finals weekend of the European club rugby season fast approaches, ERC have named a shortlist of five players who are in contention for the northern hemisphere's most prestigious individual accolade, ERC European Player of the Year 2012.
The two Irish clubs who contest Saturday's Heineken Cup final at Twickenham Stadium, Leinster Rugby and Ulster Rugby, have players nominated for the honour in Jonathan Sexton (Leinster Rugby), Rob Kearney (Leinster Rugby), Stephen Ferris (Ulster Rugby) and Ruan Pienaar (Ulster Rugby) while the list is completed by RC Toulon's talisman Jonny Wilkinson who will feature in Friday's Amlin Challenge Cup final against Biarritz Olympique at the Twickenham Stoop.
The ERC Judging Panel which drew up the shortlist comprises Stuart Barnes (Sky Sports), Raphael Ibanez (2011/12 Heineken Cup Ambassador), Stephen Jones (Sunday Times), Emmanuel Massicard (Midi Olympique) and Gerry Thornley (Irish Times)


The search for this season's winner began in earnest following the pool campaigns in both tournaments and the panel was presented with an initial longlist of 15 contenders – which included Ferris, Pienaar and Sexton - as a starting point for the selection process.
Once the knockout stages got underway, the panel was able to consider players who had made major individual contributions in the quarter-finals and semi-finals of the Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup, and following stand-out performances for their respective clubs, Kearney and Wilkinson in particular, emerged as candidates.
Taking into account form over the pool and knockout stages of both tournaments, the panel then decided on its shortlist of five players, one of whom will be announced next week as ERC European Player of the Year 2012.

In addition to the decision of the panel, the 44 clubs in ERC's two tournaments will also have the opportunity to vote along with supporters who can have their say via Twitter @ercrugby #ERCPlayer2012or on the official Heineken Cup and Amlin Challenge Cup Facebook pages http://matchdaymail.westgatepr.co.u...d=28420&l=-http--www.facebook.com/heinekencupwww.facebook.com/heinekencupan<wbr>d www.facebook.com/<wbr>amlinchallengecup


In 2010, ERC launched the highly acclaimed ERC15 Awards, recognising the efforts of a number of outstanding contributors to the first 15 years of European club rugby competition. Two-time Heineken Cup winner, Ronan O'Gara, was the inaugural recipient of the ERC European Player Award, as the best player over the first 15 years of the two tournaments. ERC15 was the catalyst for ERC choosing to recognise individual excellence across both of the European club rugby tournaments annually and in the 2010/11 season, the ERC European Player of the Year award was established with the inaugural recipient being Leinster's Sean O'Brien.


Formguide



  • Stephen Ferris has been in outstanding form for Ulster Rugby in their thrilling run to a first Heineken Cup final in 13 years.
  • Rob Kearney pushed himself into contention with two magnificent displays for Leinster Rugby in the knock-out stage wins over Cardiff Blues and ASM Clermont Auvergne. The full-back scored two tries against the Blues at the Aviva Stadium before dropping a superb goal and creating a try for Cian Healy against Clermont in Bordeaux.
  • Ruan Pienaar of Ulster Rugby has totalled 71 points in pool and knockout stages to date in a series of incredibly polished performances
  • Jonathan Sexton has been hugely impressive for Leinster Rugby with a personal haul of 88 points in this season's Heineken Cup to date.
  • Jonny Wilkinson has been a key figure in Toulon's powerful drive to a second Amlin Challenge Cup final with 17 points in the quarter-final success over last season's champions, Harlequins, which was followed up by a match-winning haul of 27 points from seven penalties and two drop goals in the semi-final victory over Stade Francais Paris.

Shortlist of candidates for ERC European Player of the Year 2012



Stephen Ferris
(Back row, Ulster Rugby)


Rob Kearney
(Full-back, Leinster Rugby)


Ruan Pienaar
(Scrum-half, Ulster Rugby)


Jonathan Sexton
(Out-half, Leinster Rugby)


Jonny Wilkinson
(Out-half, RC Toulon)

Meh.
 
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All of Ferris, Pienaar, Kearney and Sexton have been immense

I would just give it to whichever one of them delivers best in the final
 
I don't see why people would be upset , I reckon those boys are the top players this year.
 
Same as last year the nominations are made up from the finalists of both competitions. Seems fair enough to be honest.
 
They'll give the award to a player from whichever team wins the final. Pienaar and Ferris are neck and neck among the Ulster candidates (Pienaar's goalkicking could shade it) while Kearney is easily Leinster's best performer.
 
I have a feeling it will be Peinaar hes been invaluable for Ulster they'd not be in the final without him. Hes added so much to Ulster really providing a rellible boot and experience both thing crucial in winning in the HC.
 

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