Dein erstes Forum » forwards in Wales, including the likes of Justin Tipuri

PITTSBURGH -- Barry Bonds spent a portion of Monday morning driving around Pittsburgh, marveling at the changes hes seen in the city since baseballs career home run king bolted for San Francisco more than two decades ago. He drove by his old apartment in the western suburbs and the reconfigured North Shore, where Three Rivers Stadium has been replaced by sparkling PNC Park. The makeover hasnt been limited to the scenery. After 21 years, it appears the old wounds surrounding Bonds abrupt departure have started to heal, too. Bonds drew a mixture of boos and cheers while presenting current Pittsburgh centre fielder Andrew McCutchen with the 2013 NL MVP award. Bonds was the previous Pirates player to win the honour, earning the second of his record seven career MVP trophies in 1992. Standing next to McCutchen, Bonds waved to the packed house and seemed at ease in his first public appearance in conjunction with the team where he starred from 1986-92 before leaving for San Francisco via free agency. "It feels good to be back where it all started," Bonds said. "We had some great times here." Bonds then sat in the stands and watched as the Pirates opened against the Chicago Cubs. Bonds won the 1990 and 1992 MVP awards while playing for the Pirates from 1986-92 and led the team to three straight NL East titles. Each playoff trip, however, fell short of the World Series, most notably a Game 7 loss to the Atlanta Braves in the 1992 NL championship series that ended when Bonds throw from left field failed to stop Atlantas Sid Bream from scoring the series-clinching run. He left for San Francisco and a then-record six-year, $43-million deal two months later, where Bonds eventually broke Hank Aarons record for career home runs, finishing with 762 before leaving after the 2007 season. Bonds declined to draw any comparisons between himself and McCutchen, who easily won the MVP award last season a year after finishing third in the voting. "Hes got the formula now," Bonds said. "Once you do it once, I expect you to do it again." Bonds was joined by a familiar face as the Pirates put the finishing touches on a breakout 2013 when they won 94 games and made it to the NL division series. Former manager Jim Leyland presented current skipper Clint Hurdle with his NL Manager of the Year Award and credited Hurdle for helping turn the franchise around. After spending years watching his former club serve as a laughingstock, Leyland is confident the Pirates are back. "Theyre the real deal now," Leyland said. "They should be here for a long time." And while he steered clear of the politics surrounding Bonds place in baseball history, Leyland left no doubt about whether Bonds should be in the Hall of Fame. Bonds fell well short of the 75 per cent threshold required for induction during his second year of eligibility, with many voters saying they wouldnt put him in because of the steroids cloud. "In my opinion, Barry Bonds is a Hall of Fame player," said Leyland, who managed the Pirates from 1986-96 and is now retired. "Theres no doubt about it." Wholesale Jerseys . Formula One Teams Association secretary general Oliver Weingarten says the organization collapsed over unpaid subscription fees and a failure to strike an agreement for 2014 with all 11 teams. Cheap Jerseys . I kept my eyes focused up on the camera during each approach. I just tried to stay focused on my form, as I didnt know what the ball reaction was. I was quite emotional at the end. 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Who wins?15: Charles Piutau (Wasps) v Dan Evans (Ospreys) Charles Piutau has lit up the Ricoh Arena Despite the wealth of stock the All Blacks boast on the wing, its hard to imagine that Charles Piutau would not have boasted a World Cup winners medal, had he opted to stay in New Zealand in the long run. Instead, he opted for a stint in Europe, and Wasps were the immediate beneficiaries of that decision as he lit the Ricoh Arena up from day one. He will be missed when he heads to Ulster. Dan Evans v Charles Piutau 112 Carries 237 877 Metres made 1601 16 Clean breaks 18 37 Defenders beaten 53 19 Catches from kicks 87 Source: Opta Dan Evans stats for the season are incredible. He carried the ball more than any of his team-mates, making 1,601 metres in the process - almost double the next best, which was 845m from Sam Davies. His six tries were also the most of any of the Ospreys.14: Semesa Rokoduguni (Bath) v Matt Healy (Connacht) Matt Healy statistics for Connacht are head and shoulders above his colleagues When Eddie Jones announced his England training camp squad on Sunday, there was room for Semesa Rokoduguni, and after the season hes had with Bath, its easy to see why. Its always tough to catch the national coachs eye when your side isnt quite firing, but with 12 Premiership tries - more than a quarter of the team total of 47 - the Fijian-born flyer has done just that. Matt Healy v Semesa Rokoduguni 12 Tries 9 132 Carries 147 25 Clean breaks 30 38 Defenders beaten 68 1294 Metres gained 1033 Connacht finished second in the PRO12 standings after scoring the fourth-most tries out of any of the teams, with Matt Healy leading the way. The 27-year-old touched down nine times for Pat Lams men, and made 1,294 metres with ball in hand - the second-most after 1,455 from Tiernan OHalloran.13: Elliot Daly (Wasps) v Bundee Aki (Connacht) Elliot Daly offers a long-range kicking option to Wasps Elliot Dalys rise to prominence saw him capped by Eddie Jones in this years Six Nations, but there were many calling for his place in the England set-up months beforehand. The 23-year-old has been in superb form for Wasps throughout the season, breaking up midfield defences as well as offering a long-range boot for clearances and three-pointers. Bundee Aki v Elliot Daly 6 Tries 2 251 Carries 99 943 Metres gained 588 93 Defenders beaten 25 7 Turnovers won 4 Bundee Aki was named Players Player of the Year at the Guinness PRO12 awards, and had already been named as Connachts player of the year, by both fans and his team-mates, after an outstanding season that saw him score six tries in 26 appearances. His season has gone from strength to strength - a vital key to the Connacht cause.12: Johnny Leota (Sales Sharks) v Ben Teo (Leinster) Leinsters Ben Teo may yet feature for England under Eddie Jones Johnny Leota has benefited from the slick distribution of Danny Cipriani to notch up six tries, but hes been just as useful in setting up tries through midfield devastation. Daly proved that size isnt everything with the way he unlocked defences with his subtle touches, but Leota certainly showed that bulk counts for a lot. Ben Teo v Johnny Leota 221 Carries 72 776 Metres gained 249 69 Defenders beaten 16 121 Tackles completed 64 9 Turnovers won 2 Ben Teo was another award winner at the end of the season, winning Leinsters Players Player of the Year. He will certainly have awoken some interest from Eddie Jones, but time will tell if the England boss will pick the league convert.11: Christian Wade (Wasps) v Craig Gilroy (Ulster) Christian Wade scored six tries against Worcester There are not many players in the Premiership who create the same buzz as Christian Wade with ball in hand. His defence has drawn a fair amount of criticism, but hes made opposition defences look chaotic at times with his sidestep and pace off the mark. Hes been the ultimate finisher on the wing for Wasps all season. Craig Gilroy v Christian Wade 18 Tries 12 184 Carries 101 29 Clean breaks 26 57 Defenders beaten 43 1405 Metres gained 930 Craig Gilroy topped the Ulster stats in tries scored, metres made, defenders beaten and clean breaks - an enormous contribution. With a semi-final clash coming up against rivals Leinster, Ulster will want their top performer to bring his best game to Dublin.10: Owen Farrell (Saracens) v Sam Davies (Ospreys) Ospreys Sam Davies has excelled in the No 10 jersey Owen Farrell may be No 12 in Eddie Jones England, but hes been the stand-out fly-half in the Premiership this season. Hes slotted 75% of his attempts on goal and marshalled the Saracens attack to the top of the table and a home semi-final. His steely nerves will serve his club well in the play-offs. Sam Davies v Owen Farrell 152 Points 98 154 Carries 41 845 Metres gained 184 33 Defenders beaten 4 5 Try assists 0 With Dan Biggar at Ospreys, there is no shortage of quality at their disposal, but Sam Davies proved that there is depth at the club too. Biggar edged Davies in goal kicks, his 72% success rate slightly better than Davies 69%, but the way Davies was able to pull the strings while in charge was impressive. 9: Will Chudley (Exeter Chiefs) v Kieran Marmion (Connacht) Will Chudley has set the tempo for a Chiefs charge The Chiefs have made it into the semi-finals for the first time in their history, and though there were many factors that took them there, the tempo at which they play the game has played a major part. Will Chudleys ability to get his side on the front foot has dismantled teams visiting Sandy Park, and has set up an interesting play-off tussle with Wasps in two weeks time. Kieran Marmion v Will Chudley 4 Tries 4 4 Try assists 7 981 Completed passes 1111 13 Clean breaks 10 12 Defenders beaten 16 Livewire scrum-half Kieran Marmion has pushed his side from the get-go this season. Calm in delivery, the No 9 ensured that Connachts exciting backs were able to unleash attacking phases while opposition defences scrambled to keep up.1: Mako Vunipola (Saracens) v Rob Evans (Scarlets) Rob Evans stood out despite a Scarlets slide Mako Vunipola has been in a tussle with Joe Marler for the England No 1 jersey, and hes pipped his rival in our Premiership team of the season. The loosehead prop was in the top five forwards in carries for the team in the domestic competition with 75, and was invaluable in the set piece. Saracens earned their reputation playing a simple game, and that game starts upfront. Rob Evans v Mako Vunipola 88 Tackles made 82 10 Tackles missed 13 1 Turnovers won 4 1.dddddddddddd46m Average gain per carry 1.43m 13 Penalties conceded 15 Rob Evans cemented himself as one of Warren Gatlands faithful tight five with a good showing in the Six Nations, despite an under-par showing by Wales overall. The strong loosehead has continued that form, though he could not help Scarlets retain their top-four status as they slipped out of semi-final contention.2: Harry Thacker (Leicester) v Tom McCartney (Connacht) Harry Thacker has been pin-point in the Leicester lineout Harry Thackers work in the loose has been exemplary, but crucially for Richard Cockerills side, it does not come at the expense of the set piece. Hes thrown the ball in 107 times and only lost seven, a completion rate of 94% which would made a Leicester hooker of any generation smile. Tom McCartney v Harry Thacker 91% Lineout success 94% 170 Tackles made 91 9 Tackles missed 18 177 Carries 116 1.6m Average gain per carry 3.5m Tom McCartney may not boast the same lineout success as his Premiership counterpart in this case, but to have a 91% lineout completion when youve thrown the ball in over 200 times speaks volumes. Connachts backs may be stealing the headlines, but their forwards were laying the foundations from September.3: John Afoa (Gloucester) v WP Nel (Edinburgh) WP Nel has been a rock for Edinburgh It hasnt been the most memorable season for the Cherry and Whites, but John Afoa has shored up the scrum in the No 3 jersey. He was also in the top 10 for tackles made by Gloucester players throughout the campaign. WP Nel v John Afoa 85 Tackles made 113 16 Tackles missed 14 2 Turnovers won 0 1 Tries 0 13 Penalties conceded 24 Edinburgh struggled this season, but were once again more than solid at the set piece, with WP Nel at the heart of it all. The Scotland international kept opposition scrums behind the advantage line, while also making it into the top 10 for Edinburgh tacklers over the course of the PRO12 season.4: Maro Itoje (Saracens) v Leone Nakarawa (Glasgow) Maro Itoje has already established himself as a big figure at Saracens Another Saracens lock who stole the ball seven times during the season, and another Saracens lock who has risen to prominence during this seasons campaign. His stock in English rugby has risen sharply, with four Test caps the reward for outstanding domestic and European form. Despite his youth, he is already a senior player in the Saracens dressing room. Leone Nakarawa v Maro Itoje 205 Carries 78 67 Offloads 3 44 Defenders beaten 13 96 Tackles completed 100 58 Lineouts won 27 Leone Nakarawa features for Fiji in the Paris 7s this weekend, which is testament to the style of play he employs as a second rower. Hes been a favourite son in Glasgow for some time, helping them to a PRO12 title last season, and a semi-final at the least this year. He is off to Racing 92 at the conclusion of this campaign, so the Warriors faithful will hope he goes out in style.5: George Kruis (Saracens) v Aly Muldowney (Connacht) Connachts Ronan Loughney and Aly Muldowney celebrate after the win over Munster In an interview with Sky Sports last week, Kruis said despite the Grand Slam, improvement was the order of the day. Its the kind of attitude that has ensured he and Maro Itoje have formed a formidable second-row pairing for club and country. Kruis has become a menace in the lineout on opposition throws, stealing seven throws while taking the ball 43 times from a Saracens feed. Aly Muldowney v George Kruis 79 Lineouts won 46 4 Lineout steals 7 183 Tackles completed 100 7 Tackles missed 12 181 Carries 50 The flair brought by Nakarawa would be perfectly balanced with the hard-working Muldowney. The Connacht second rower ensured the tight five and pack as a whole were full of grit, but also possessed the skill to contribute in the loose. He will likely face off against Nakarawa in the semi-finals, and as they say in boxing, styles make fights...6: Jack Clifford (Harlequins) v CJ Stander (Munster) Harlequins Jack Clifford scores a try against Saracens Clifford is another young star of the English game. In terms of top individual performers for Harlequins, the 23-year-old was in the top 10 for carries, metres made, defenders beaten and tackles. Its been an all-round contribution from Clifford on the side of the scrum. CJ Stander v Jack Clifford 151 Tackles completed 91 11 Tackles missed 12 9 Turnovers won 1 3.21m Average gain per carry 4.3m 31 Defenders beaten 18 A fantastic season for club and country, from CJ Stander. Ireland were a shadow of their 2015 selves in this years Six Nations, but the burly loose forward did all the difficult things all day long. He plays the same role for Munster, throwing his body at a line of defenders several times per game, which earned him this seasons Zurich Irupa Players Player of the Year award.7: George Smith (Wasps) v Sam Underhill (Ospreys) Sam Underhill of the Ospreys is a rising star on the side of the scrum Its hard to imagine that Smith retired from international rugby - for the first time - in 2010. He has arrived at the Ricoh Arena and dominated the breakdown for Wasps, topping the table for steals in a Wasps jersey. The Australian has been a big figure on the field, and will need to step up twice more if hes to contribute to Premiership silverware this year. Sam Underhill v George Smith 96 Tackles made 195 18 Tackles missed 24 5 Turnovers won 9 3.4m Average gain per carry 2.2m 12 Defenders beaten 20 Sam Underhill is an undoubted talent for the future. Just 19 years old, the flanker has at times out-performed some of the seasoned loose forwards in Wales, including the likes of Justin Tipuric and Sam Warburton. A menace when the ball is on the ground, and a thundering tackler too.8: Nathan Hughes (Wasps) v Nick Williams (Ulster) Nathan Hughes of Wasps scores a try Nathan Hughes qualifies for England next month, and everything points to him featuring for Eddie Jones team almost immediately. He will have to tussle with Billy Vunipola for international honours, but in domestic competition he has stood above all others. He carried more times than any other Wasps player with 235 - the second highest being George Smith with 83 less - and proved near impossible to stop with the ball. Theres plenty more to come from Dai Youngs battering ram. Nick Williams v Nathan Hughes 124 Tackles made 131 9 Turnovers won 7 139 Carries 245 410 Metres gained 922 30 Defenders beaten 52 From battering ram to wrecking ball. The style of Nick Williams may not have been to everyones taste, but it was almost impossible to stop. Fearless and unwilling to take a backward step, the big No 8 terrorised the fringes of each ruck and maul, and was no slouch with ball in hand either. A loss to Ulster as he heads for Cardiff to play for the Blues. Also See: Barnes talking points Follow @SkySportsRugby Cipriani wins England recall WATCH: PRO12 highlights ' ' '