You will have noted that all going well Edinburgh will have 10 games in the next 10 weeks. It could also be as few as 4 if the proverbial hits the fan.
Hopefully it will be closer to 10 although watching Boan Venter and Luan de Bruin limp off last week against Pau with their legs in braces and supporting themselves with crutches is concerning especially with so many games to play.
One way or another the season is winding its way towards a conclusion and every week we will be pondering the outcomes until they are all settled.
It may therefore be early to decide on a player of the season, but it’s not too early to have a look at the candidates whilst taking into account that there's time for this to change dramatically. Note I’m not saying Caullie Lug which should be a separate thing. See this post for my thoughts on that -
https://theburghwatch.blogspot.com/2021/06/the-caullie-lug-plea.html
There are, I think, a few names that have to go into the hat for player of the season..
Starting up front, there's the aforementioned Boan Venter, Grant Gilchrist, Magnus Bradbury and potentially Connor Boyle although I suspect he may just be a shoe-in for the young player of the season along
There are multiple candidates in the backs. Ben Vellacott, Blair Kinghorn, and our two Argentinian stars Emiliano Boffelli and Ramiro Moyano.
Boan Venter. With Pierre Schoeman now established in the Scotland team Boan has stepped up to the plate. He has played 17 out of the 19 games so far and is the teams top try scorer in the forwards. Including the only ever hat trick by a prop in the URC in all its formats. He is also an excellent scrummager.
OUTSIDE CHANCE
Grant Gilchrist. Gilco has played in 11 of Edinburgh’s 19 games and has captained the side with distinction on a number of occasions on the back of his new contract that will surely see him finish his rugby career with Edinbjurgh. He tops the Edinburgh tackle chart in all competitions and is the top tackler in The Challenge Cup. He is our most reliable lineout option. He is probably more deserving of The Caulllie Lug (if it was awarded as per its original concept) but has had a good season both for club and country.
UNLIKELY
Magnus Bradbury. Maggie is arguably and somewhat ironically given his imminent departure, having his best ever season for Edinburgh. As he has flitted in an out of the Scotland set up he has managed 13 games for the club. He is our top carrier and has made 878 metres over the course of these games. Only Henry Immelman has run more with the ball in hand. He is joint second top tackler. I’ve even seen him pass the ball which is not his usual game.
OUTSIDE CHANCE
Ben Vellacott. The 0.5 man as his teammates call him has been a revelation. His all action style is great to watch and his unpredictability at the base of a ruck has led to him being one of most important attack weapons whether it's on his own or by bringing someone else into the play. If the award was given for excitement alone he would be right at the top.
CLOSE BUT NO CIGAR
Blair Kinghorn. The man who has divided a rugby nation. I am firmly in the Blair 10 Project camp. Edinburgh win more when he plays and his style matches up nicely with the aforementioned Vellacott. He can pick an incisive pass or offload and can also make a break of his own and he is deceptively fast. The only metric he isn’t in the top 10 for is tackling. He has run more metres with ball in hand than either Boffelli and Moyano. I’d love to see him win it not only because he would be deserving but it would also mess with the heads of the naysayers.
MAYBES AYE
Ramiro Moyano. The Argentine is Edinburgh’s top try scorer this season and just about every one he’s scored has been of the stand up and holler kind. He has a wicked step and a fantastic turn of pace. He is also the top try scorer in the Challenge Cup thus far. His impact has been as welcome as it was unexpected to this observer. Defensively maybe not the best (57% tackle success) but I’ll forgive him for that as he is great to watch.
GETTING CLOSER
Emiliano Boffelli. What can I say? Top points scorer and second top try scorer. Like his compatriot he is great to watch and in addition to the excitement he brings he is also deadly off the tee. He’s probably the best player I’ve seen in an Edinburgh shirt.
COULD BE
As stated there are potentially 10 games still to play and those games are fairly obviously the most important of the season. So if, say, Connor Boyle or Mark Bennett, who are probably already hovering at the entrance of the POTY shed, continue in this vein they very well might come into consideration.
If it all goes Pete Tong then I’d expect one of the players I’ve mentioned earlier will take the award.
The Caullie Lug should go to either Grant Gilchrist, a one club man or to WP Nel who has given a decade of loyalty to Edinburgh and is my example when seeking to counter anyone who bleats about mercenaries.
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