END OF SEASON POLL 2021/2 - THE RESULTS
By The Saracens
August 28 2022
And finally:- the votes are in, verified and counted and we can reveal your choices There were less votes than in previous years so this may be the last year we do this. Unless you tell us differently! However here are the results from those of you who did vote:-
1. SARACENS PLAYER OF THE YEAR
So many candidates in a fine season when the club exceeded expectations by hitting the Premiership hard on our return to the top flight. Mentions for Vincent Koch, Theo McFarland, Nick Tompkins and of course Ben Earl who was the Premiership Player of the Season. But your choice for Saracens Player of the Year, having fought back from a succession of injuries and the setbacks of losing both his England and Lions places by showing character beyond words to return to his frightening best, is the one and only BILLY VUNIPOLA
2. SARACENS YOUNG PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Amid such stellarcompetition as Andy Christie, Sam Wainwright and Callum Hunter-Hill, your choice for our young player of the year is a player who has stood out in what will surely be looked back on as his breakthrough season, becoming one of the Premiership’s deadliest threats, adding strength and guile to his phenomenal pace. The vote goes to chemistry graduate ROTIMI SEGUN
3. SARACENS OLD PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Several candidates here. Last year’s winner Tim Swinson, Vincent Koch and Sean Maitland all had their supporters but the “old” man who put in the most top level performances, AKA Saracens Old Player of the Year, is ALEX GOODE
4. SARACENS UNSUNG HERO
Always a personal choice this one. Eroni Mawi received a lot of support (really come into his own this season) as did Nick Isiekwe (never has a bad game but doesn’t get the recognition) and Loz was a revelation whatever number he wore on his back. But as one of you said: one of the great joys for me in a season with many highlights was his return to fitness – everything about his game is intact, and the old “gas” was on display in that lengthy run to score at Kingsholm in May. Your choice as Saracens unsung hero is DUNCAN TAYLOR.
5. SARACENS MOST IMPROVED PLAYER
Another difficult choice. Roti Segun, Andy Christie and Ben Earl got mentions but the choice came down to 2 players – and it was very close. Tom Woolstencroft so nearly won this but in the end the award goes to our basketball playing giant, THEO McFARLAND
6. FAVOURITE SARRIES PLAYER
Last year’s winner Jamie George was once again a strong contender (All we need is a team of Jamie George). Honorable mention for Maro Itoje (who had a quiet season by his high standards), Vincent Koch, Alex Goode and Theo McFarland but by a short head, your Favourite Saracens Player is a man who plays his heart out for the club in every game NICK TOMPKINS
7. PLAYER YOU WOULD MOST LIKE TO SIGN FOR SARACENS
No surprises that 3 of the nominees, Faf de Clerk, Harry Randall & Antoine Dupont are scrum halves – maybe an area we need to look at. Other suggestions included South African backs Lukanyo Am & Kwagga Smith but overwhelmingly the Player You Would Most Like to Sign for Saracens is the one and only VINCENT KOCH!
8. BEST GROUND TO VISIT (apart from StoneX)
Several nominations for Sixways (poignant given we may not get the chance). The Rec was also nominated. Tottenham Hotspur’s ground was real marmite, other loved or hated! A couple of you who were lucky enough to go to the Stade Felix Mayol nominated the French ground (wholly agree from my trip there a few years ago) but your choice as to the Best Ground to Visit (always a wonderful place not least because of the fans) is Bristol Bears’ ASHTON GATE
9. TEAM YOU WOULD LEAST LIKE TO MEET IN A FINAL
Mentions for London Irish given our experiences last season, also French giants La Rochelle, our conquerors at Twickenham, Leicester Tigers and of course Leinster but interestingly the Team You Would Least Like to Meet in a Final (mainly because defeat would be “very hard to take”) is HARLEQUINS
10. BEST REFEREE
Sara Cox continues to impress most among the younger element and Luke Pearce “has come on leaps and bounds” but there really was no contest. Even though, as one of you said “we don’t always get the best out of him” your choice of Best Referee is the legendary WAYNE BARNES
11. TOM FOLEY AWARD FOR WORST REFEREE
We ended up with some pretty indifferent officiating this season especially in the Challenge Cup with nominations for Andrew Brace and Frenchman Tual Trainini. Karl Dixon remains unpopular but the usual suspects (Tom Foley, Ian Tempest) were largely absent from your suggestions this year – hopefully for the right reasons! But you lot hold a grudge and most of you haven’t forgiven the man who got it wrong at Welford Road. So The Tom Foley Award for Worst Referee goes to CHRISTOPHE RIDLEY
12. BEST MEDIA PERFORMANCE BY A RUGBY BROADCASTER OR CELEBRITY
Once again a variety of nominations. Ugo Monye, Jonny Wilkinson, Adam Jones, Hal Cruttenden, last year’s winner, Sir Ian McGeechan, Jim Hamilton (for his Big Jim Interviews), David Flatman, Topsy Ojo & Jamie Roberts all attracted support but The Best Media Performance by a Rugby Broadcaster or Celebrity goes to SAM WARBURTON
13. BEST PODCAST
Well some of you love a podcast and some of you don’t! The Rugby Pod was a controversial choice along with the perennials: Eggchasers, Flats and Shanks, and my favourite, the House of Rugby but your Best Podcast, this year as last, is our home grown FEZCAST
14. STUART BARNES ANDY GOODE AWARD FOR THE WORST RUGBY PRESENTER OR PODCASTER
Many of the same names (deservedly) came up although the Cockwomble himself, Stuart Barnes barely got a mention! Eddie Butler (misses a lot), James Haskell, Dylan Hartley and even Sir Clive (“when I won the World Cup”) Woodward were all pantomime villains but once again The Andy Goode Award for the Worst Rugby Presenter or Podcaster (he has a chip on his shoulder so big even he would struggle to eat it) goes to the man himself ANDY GOODE
15. MICHAEL GENTLEMAN AWARD FOR THE BEST CONTRIBUTION TO THE MESSAGE BOARD
This is a tricky one because you are always so nice about us Mods, Previewers and Report Writers! Yes we do work hard to keep the site going but we enjoy it. So a big thank you to Jonny Browne and Innings who have provided brilliant support this year. Special mention though to DUNCAN96 (who was singled out for his contributions over the year).
So that’s all folks. A new season is just around the corner. Who knows what it will bring? But one thing is certain – it won’t be boring!
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Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:09:19:20:04:37 by Darraghgirl.
Great to see Segun get some recognition. Just been re-watching some of the end of last seasons games and he brings so much.
Unsung Hero to me is someone who puts in a huge amount of work but is unrecognised for it. Not sure how a handful of games over a season(s) counts but hopefully Taylor will get to reward Sarries for their faith this season.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2022:08:29:11:50:20 by tigerburnie.
Quote:tigerburnie
Can't quite believe I didn't win at least one of those.....................................( most irritating poster is already won by the way)
You may have been an occasional pain, but there have been far worse in attendance. Perhaps we could have a category for 'worst visiting poster' and another for 'most welcome poster'.
Sorry DG, more work for you ....
Quote:tpr's headmistressQuote:tigerburnie
Can't quite believe I didn't win at least one of those.....................................( most irritating poster is already won by the way)
You may have been an occasional pain, but there have been far worse in attendance. Perhaps we could have a category for 'worst visiting poster' and another for 'most welcome poster'.
Sorry DG, more work for you ....
Conceivably those could be wo n by the same poster!
Thanks to the deluded few who again seem to think that the Fezcast is better than those who actually have professional editing and a budget ;-)
Interested to know what the cut-off is for "Young Player".... Roti Segun is nearly 26, and a year older than Premiership Player of the Season Ben Earl! Suppose our thoughts are more about being "Young" in terms of squad seniority than actual age.
I'll admit I was at peace with the majority of the players now being younger than me. Less comfortable that some referees are now too!
Quote:Barty II
Sorry, ran out of time post-holiday to contribute properly...
Thanks to the deluded few who again seem to think that the Fezcast is better than those who actually have professional editing and a budget ;-)
Interested to know what the cut-off is for "Young Player".... Roti Segun is nearly 26, and a year older than Premiership Player of the Season Ben Earl! Suppose our thoughts are more about being "Young" in terms of squad seniority than actual age.
Down to ed's discression! They're all young enough to be my kids and a couple could be my grandkids!
Quote:DarraghgirlQuote:Barty II
Sorry, ran out of time post-holiday to contribute properly...
Thanks to the deluded few who again seem to think that the Fezcast is better than those who actually have professional editing and a budget ;-)
Interested to know what the cut-off is for "Young Player".... Roti Segun is nearly 26, and a year older than Premiership Player of the Season Ben Earl! Suppose our thoughts are more about being "Young" in terms of squad seniority than actual age.
Down to ed's discression! They're all young enough to be my kids and a couple could be my grandkids!
It's all relative! :-D