It’s that time of the year when all sorts of awards and prizes get handed to players who have performed well in the Super Rugby tournament. Here at Sharksworld, we tend to do things a little differently, rewarding those players that performed well, performed poorly as well as rewarding them for those idiotic moments.
Next in our series of SW Awards we will be looking at the performances of the locks in the tournament. Let’s have a look at our categories:
Player of the Tournament: The nominees for best lock of the season are as follow: 1. Andries Bekker, probably the best 5 lock in the country at the moment, and it is a shame that he end up on the bench in the World Cup later this year. 2. Dave Dennis, the other half of a great Waratahs second row this season. 3. Al Hargreaves, really stood up this season, but will have to make further improvements to his allround game to keep the 5 jersey his own, even with a lock crisis. 4. Nathan Sharpe, the evergreen Aussie tall man lead the Force with the usual passion and grit. 5. Sam Whitelock, one of twelve Whitelock brothers who are making huge strides in New Zealand rugby, unfortunate to not have a full season with the Crusaders.
South African lock of the Tournament: The nominees for South African lock for the year are: 1. Andries Bekker from the Stormers, 2. Al Hargreaves from the Sharks and 3. Victor Matfield from the Bulls
Most promising lock of the tournament: There are a few young and promising locks in this year’s tournament: 1. Sam Whitelock from the Crusaders, 2. Anton Bresler from the Sharks, 3. Kane Douglas from the Waratahs
Please make your selections in the comments below, and I will gather the necessary information to report back after all the positions have been discussed. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please mail me Richard@sharksworld.co.za
You left out Elstadt? That dude was on fire.
@PTAShark (Comment 1) : he’s a 4 lock
Ah sorry, only saw the 5 just now.
Tournament: Nathan Sharpe. If he leaves, the force are dead.
SA Lock: Bekker. I don’t like the bugger, but he was the best.
Most Promising: Whitelock.
12 Whitelock brothers
It certainly seems to be as many.
Dont hit me with your frying pan – but Al is not that imppressive in my opinion…he might have a few wonder moments or so, but he is not consistent in his performances…JUST MY OPINION!!
Player of the Tournament: Andries Bekker
South African lock of the Tournament: Andries Bekker
Most promising lock of the tournament: Sam Whitelock
@Ice (Comment 5) : I’m winding up now…
@Ice (Comment 5) :
and that is a very good opinion young lady!!
@Ice (Comment 5) :
I agree! :ducking:
@robdylan (Comment 7) : Dont get your knickers in a knot!
@Ice (Comment 10) : Nobody (accept Wes and Pokkel) agrees with my assesments!
@Ice #5 I agree with you whole heartidly!
Oh shit – I have started something!
Jeez, I used to think Al was only ever rated by Rob but I think he has developed into a tidy player.Not the best but certainly nowhere near the worste.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 14) : thanks for that, Claytie…
people forget how good he was for most of the Currie Cup last year… particularly the way he and Sykesie gave the Bulls locks a snotklap in the semi. And then he and Gerrie did it AGAIN at Loftus a few weeks back. But he gets no credit.
@robdylan (Comment 15) : One time
@robdylan (Comment 15) : I DID give him credit…fact is he can be superb and the next game he is average – he just needs to get a bit more consistent – thats all!
@Ice (Comment 17) : thanks coach Ice… I’ll be sure to tell him that
Rob we are not doubting that Ali is good just his consistency
Burn the unbelievers! Wait… I didn’t vote for him so scratch that…
@vanmartin (Comment 20) : come get your petrol-doused t-shirt please
@robdylan (Comment 21) : I prefer Diesel t-shirts myself but as long as it’s free
@Ice (Comment 5) : I aree BUT Al does seem to have an ability to lift his game for the big occasions. Not always, but often.
Bekker would be even better if he spent a little less time in the backline and a bit more time doing some dirty work.
I agree he had a superb tournament and his game has developed significantly…but he could do with studying Matfield’s workrate. Look at the number of tackles Matfield makes for one!
Al deserves some sort of award purely for “that” tackle against the Bulls!
@Culling Song (Comment 23) : that’s far better than the other way round… i.e. flat track bully syndrome
Go Reds
Go Saders.
Just make it a great game to watch!
@robdylan (Comment 26) : Totally. I have faith in Ali, but I feel like he’s a bit of a late bloomer, and I just don’t think he was a consistent standout performer in the Super 15.
Yay, third star!! What does that make me?
@Culling Song (Comment 29) :
A very long way of 5 stars!
Getting to the next star just gets harder from here on but if you keep writing articles you can get there very quickly!
@Culling Song (Comment 29) : Vodacom Cup player
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 31) : Cool, it’s still at least 4 levels above anything I’ve achieved in real life.
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 31) :
How the hell did Hargreaves get onto the lock of the tournament list…
One of the problems of the Sharks this season was their locks and at times could not win a lineout even if the other team was not competing….
It is clear he is not a great lineout lock….not a great ball carrier…not great at rucks…I mean the two Lions flanks playing locks had no problem showing him up…
Rather not waste time on this sorry….
Nathan Sharpe, Andries Bekker and Sam Whitelock. Not a hard choice at all.
@Ice (Comment 5) : @robdylan (Comment 15) : He’s had the odd excellent performance and has grown as a player, but overall this season he has been kak! Seriously needs to become more consistent (and I hope he does coz I like Hargreaves for more than old Bekker).