Only five rounds left before the Premiership’s issues get decided…Felix McCabe looks at how the teams stand.
Since it’s the business end of the season I thought it’d be a good idea to take a look at the teams; see how they’re getting on and what their chances are at making the play-offs. This last weekend Saracens went top of the table after a trashing of London Welsh at Allianz Park. This follows an excellent performance away to Leicester. Charlie Hodgson has been consistent with the boot, in the absence of Owen Farrell, whilst David Strettle has been putting his hand up for another call into the English camp. Tough games coming up with Quins at home followed by Wasps at Adams Park, not to mention Heineken Cup action against the mighty Ulster. This next month could be a focal point in a glorious Sarries season.
Looking to Conor O’Shea’s Harlequins next, you have to wonder if they’re sorely missing their English international contingent. Chris Robshaw, Danny Care, Joe Marler and Mike Brown seem to be a substantial loss to the Londoners. A phenomenal defensive effort from the Exeter Chiefs at the weekend was too much for an under-whelming Quins side. A good kicking game from Ben Botica and Nick Evans has been a solid point in the Harlequins attack this season, but nothing was budging the Chiefs. Ugo Moyne did slot in for a try – his fifth of the season – showing that maybe he’s ready to wear the English shirt again.
Over in Leicester the Tigers have transferred European success, having come out top in a tough pool, into domestic success. They are holding that third place slot very well, but will need to maintain form as the season draws to a close. An easy game, against the Sharks at the weekend, will boost morale going into a long spell on the road. These away games might prove too tough for the Tigers, especially their European clash with Toulon. Speaking after the Sharks game Director of Rugby, Richard Cockerill, said he was ‘surprised how easy it was against Sale’. Probably a reflection of their season, more than that of Leicester.
Northampton Saints have only the Premiership to worry about now that they’ve no European glory in sight. Back into the top four this weekend, beating the Exiles at the Gardens, you’d expect them to go on and beat Wasps before their back in Franklin’s Gardens for a showdown with Leicester. With their monster-sized props, Soane Tonga’uiha and Brian Mujati, moving to the Top14 next season, The Saints will have to find a new driving force in their scrum that has been a highlight of their game this season. Still a strong team, with Ben Foden, Stephen Meyler and Courtney Lawes producing on a weekly basis (when not injured in Foden’s case). Lancaster has chosen Dylan Hartley for his English side, but Lawes is slowly creeping back into that English set-up and it’d be exciting to see what he could do – as long as he doesn’t play at blindside.
The Cherry & Whites have an on-going battle with Wasps this year. They’re up, they’re down. But Bath threw a spanner in the works with a fantastic performance at the Rec this weekend. As old rivals it’s always going to be hard coming out bottom of a titanic clash like this one. Gloucester weren’t walked over though. A red card forced Mike Tindall to rally his team and play some great defensive rugby, as they were reduced to 14 men. Bath were able to exploit the over lap and score late tries which has put them back in contention for a play-off spot. Gloucester dropped to fifth and now must prepare for their Amlin Cup clash against Biarritz at the start of next month.
Nigel Davies, Bath’s head coach, sang his side’s praises after their momentous victory against Gloucester. Kyle Eastmond, who celebrated a try on the night, was not too happy with the performance. We ‘have a lot to work on’ he said and acknowledged that Gloucester are ‘a really tough team with some really good players’. Matt Banahan, on the other hand, was singing the praises of the exiled 9 from Ireland, Peter Stringer. He has slotted in nicely with the side since joing from Munster, scoring twice on his debut. Still in with a shout for the play-offs and have an Amlin quarter against Stade Francais to look forward to.
Adam’s Park locals, Wasps, have shown two sides to their game this season. At first look you can be mesmerized by their exciting wing pairing of Christian Wade and Tom Varndell – two of the Premiership’s highest try scorers. But when you look to their forwards division, there’s an underwhelming presence. The scrum doesn’t seem solid for the most part and the line out doesn’t rate as one of the most successful in the league. Their recent defeat at the hands of Worcester showed one ray of hope, and that’s that Andy Goode will be joining them from the Warriors and now they know what he can do.
The Worcester Warriors recorded their first win of the 2013 leg of this season at the weekend against London Wasps. Richard Hill heralded a ‘good set piece’ but this reporter blames the poor opposition set piece for the victory. Man-marking Masi and Varndell out of the game was also significant in producing that much needed win that puts them within reach of the play-offs. This will depend on getting results against Exeter and London Irish at the end of the month though. The Chiefs game in particular could decide their fate for the rest of the season.
Exeter will be delighted with the news that Sandy Park is now short-listed for use in the 2015 Rugby World Cup, but the Chiefs would want to continue their recent form to make the play-offs. A massive win against Quins this weekend has to be followed by a big game with Leicester at the end of the month. As a lover of the underdog, I have to believe they can do it. It would be well deserved and great for the Premiership which has found itself dominated by five teams in the last number of years.
The bottom of the table reads like a who’s who of individual talent, bad luck and a couple bad days at the office. London Irish have played some fantastic rugby this season and have stars in Topsy Ojo and Ofisa Treviranus. London Welsh have brought Gavin Henson back into the rugby sphere and have even managed to keep him out of trouble. Sale Sharks unfortunately have been plagued by off-field politics and personnel switches. One has to believe that a team coming together, under the dissonance of two regimes, will not function well as a unit. Not even if you have big names like Richie Gray and Danny Cipriani. I’m afraid it’ll be relegation for Sale, whilst the other two hang on by the skin of their teeth.
Felix (@felix_mccabe): Blogger, eternal student of business & law, sunshine rugby player with a passion for music and fitness. Coffee is essential. Leinster fan and Irish proud.
