The pairing of Exeter Chiefs No.8 Thomas Waldrom and Wasps No.8 Nathan Hughes were recently named on the shortlist for the Green Flag Forward of the Season award - the winner of which will be announced at the annual Aviva Premiership Rugby Awards on Wednesday evening.
England World Cup winner Neil Back joined a panel of judges at Premiership Rugby’s offices recently to pull together the shortlist with Dave Ewers, Billy Vuniploa and Samu Manoa voted in alongside Hughes and Waldrom.
Waldrom has had a remarkable season at Exeter since leaving Leicester last summer and is the first forward since Back himself 16 years ago to top the try scoring charts. In four seasons at Welford Road, Waldrom had only scored a mere 13 tries, but now sits top of the charts with 16 for Exeter.
Neil Back admits he was left scratching his head when his old side let Thomas Waldrom go last summer – and he’s not surprised that ‘the Tank’ has helped light a fire under Exeter Chiefs.
Back joined a panel of judges at Premiership Rugby’s offices to narrow down an all-star shortlist for the Green Flag Forward of the Season award, and Waldrom was a unanimous selection.
Not since Back himself 16 years ago has a forward topped the Premiership’s try-scoring charts but with 14 tries under his belt and two games remaining, Waldrom is beginning to look like a sure bet.
The 32-year-old, whose birthday was on Tuesday, currently leads Sale Sharks’ Tom Arscott and Wasps wing Christian Wade by two tries – yet no one could have predicted his sudden eye for the try-line.
He’d scored 13 tries in total in his four seasons at Welford Road and while he may not be the flashiest player wearing a Chiefs shirt this season, Back says the Tigers have lived to regret letting him go.
“I always felt that Thomas contributed massively to Leicester and I was surprised when he was released – he’s had his fires well and truly stoked down at Exeter,” said 2003 World Cup winner Back.
“He’s found his home at Exeter now and he’s enjoying it down there, and most importantly it’s producing the goods out on the pitch.
“His footballing ability and skill set belie his appearance – he doesn’t look like a professional athlete. But it’s in him and it shows if you’re good enough, it doesn’t matter how big, small or potentially ugly you are. He’s a different type of character.
“He’d only be the second forward to ever win Premiership try-scorer – behind a certain someone called Neil Back!
“I remember looking at him and recruiting when I was at Leeds, and we didn’t have the finance to bring him over. Thankfully he’s got over (from New Zealand now) and he did fantastically well for Leicester.
“What he needed was consistent gametime in order to grow within the team and in Leicester he was in and out and on the bench. He didn’t get an opportunity to fully contribute.
“But he seems like he’s found his home now and is scoring a lot of tries for the club and put Exeter on the front foot.”
Waldrom is not the only Chief to make the Green Flag Forward of the Season shortlist – with fellow back-rower Dave Ewers also being championed by Back.
The 24-year-old could well end the season with the most number of tackles in Premiership Rugby – having made a staggering 219 tackles after 20 rounds – and Back is expecting England boss Stuart Lancaster to keep him in mind for the World Cup.
“Dave Ewers picked up a couple of Saxons caps this year so Mr Lancaster obviously has an eye out for him,” he said.
“And he does everything – carries, makes big hits, wins turnovers and breaks through opposition defences.
“He’s definitely put a big challenge down on the current incumbents with England.”