Ashton wins try award for length-of-the-field effort

I think there were better tries too, Jerry, and I agree the result of the game probably had a bearing too, but then rugby is one of those sports where there tends to be an element of romance. Shane Williams probably didn't deserve his player of the year award, and Argentina weren't as good as people think they were in the 2007 WC, but people get swept up in the context. Personally I was a big fan of the try in the 3N where Jane chipped in from the right wing. -- Gavin, I think the IRB awards are farcical. Some of the people on the judges panel ar so out of date, IMO. You only have to read a Paul Wallace article, or watch him on TV to know that he's literally writing/talking nonsense. I'd prefer a player's voting system, but then you'd get mates voting for mates, so there's always going to be problems.

But would you agree the IRB (panel) awards have MORE credibility than the public vote popularity awards. The panel is afterall a group of nine 'legends' from the 5N and the 4N who vote throughout the year based on a predetermined system of rules and points. I would like to see an Italy representative and ideally at least regional representatives for the Pacific Islands and Nth America included as well.

this just shows mitchell dosent have the pace to be a full back or winger internationaly totally showed up. maybe he can join his mates in the midfield or flanker even. lol

I can see why it did too, though I think that there were a few better ones. I'd imagine the fact that it occurred in a fairly notable result helped. But IRB awards in general don't have a huge amount of credibility nor do public vote awards in my opinion. I still think the Dagg try was the best of the year, it would have been the O'Connor one but for the final forward pass* (I don't really worry about things like that in match situations as they even out over time, but if you're choosing a try of the year it should be one that's completely above board). *before anyone tries to argue momentum, Beale is running completely lateral so there is no momentum imparted, the hands go forward.

I didn't vote for this try, but I can see why it garnered the public vote. It was an end-to-end 14 pointer. How many tries have we seen from one tryline to the other this season in Test rugby? Aside from that there were individual moments of brilliance - Ben Youngs dummies Cooper own his own tryline and then flicks on, and Courtney Lawes, the lock, delivers the perfect no-look pass, and all this 'Ashton didn't have much to do' is most pathetic, and very disingenuous.

A very good try. Although would be more appropriately labelled the 'people's choice try of the year'. I could have told you this would win the public vote a long time before the competition closed. It would have to be the most played piece of rugby highlight on english TV since the 2003 RWC!

That was one of the tries in the shortlist. I wouldn't give it the award though as the pass to O'Connor was blatantly forward.

interesting comments by ashton http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/8291277/Six-Nations-2011-wonder-try-may-have-come-too-early-for-me-says-Chris-Ashton.html

I know. I'm so surprised myself by the totally 'surprising' reactions.

Cant help but laugh at some of the comments in this thread. :lol: Cmon.... It was an awesome try! No surprise most of the surly replies are from the ozzies..:lol:

I agree the try is by Ashton is good but definitely not great, as pointed out he only had to beat Mitchell and that has proved not that hard. He had the pace and it looks good from an English point of view but surely there was better tries thoughout the year, be it individual or team orientated. I myself prefer the team try where it goes through the hands of several players.

Surely this one must have been in contention... View from 50 seconds in: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EXiP-i-qUM

Totally agree Hoy - Ashton's try was 2 draw and passes from a turned over (short) defensive line and then a clear run to the line except for a simple swerve to avoid that dynamic tackler Mitchell. in terms of a 14 point turnaround and game breaking try is was good. In terms of individual brilliance and/or team combination tries is was pretty pathetic. Must have been a lot of Englishmen voting for this one. I Dagg and K Beale were magician's last year in their try scoring efforts and a more comprehensive team try than the Wallabies last vs the AB in HK would be hard to find (other than several of the AB combo tries in the same year - too many to recall each!).

oh joy, just when I'd forgotten about it...

I actually thought some of the tries up for the award this year were a bit disappointing. Realistically, the only thing that made this try anything other than a normal try is the fact that it was length of the field. It wasn't a team try really, it wasn't great individual effort really either. Yes, he had to have pace, which he sure used, but he only had to beat Mitchell, who is prone to miss tackles. It was not as creative as some of the Wallaby or All Black trys this year, to name a few. I think try of the year should be a dazzling individual effort, with a player beating many defensive players, or a great team effort, where many players handle the ball in a sublime way.

Very average defense more than quality try IMHO. Some of the Kiwi tries this year were far better. I think KB's set up of James O'Connors try against the Boks deserved a look at too. If KB had managed to score that try against Wales you'd have imagined it would have been it for sure.