The second part of Felix McCabe’s look at how the Aviva Premiership clubs are warming up for the new campaign.
With only one week until we kick off this season’s Aviva Premiership, I’m going to take a look at some of the recent pre-season friendlies and follow up with a preview of Round 1 of this year’s Aviva extravaganza.
Heading to Franklin’s Gardens first, to get the least favourable result from this rugby fan’s point of view, where Northampton registered a 43 points to nothing hammering of Heineken Cup champions, Leinster. A mixed team from the Irish outfit included experience in the form of captain, Leo Cullen, Issac Boss and Devin Toner as well as plenty of youth; with academy graduate Noel Reid and Jordan Coghlan. This formula didn’t work for Leinster on a day where the Saints managed to ground the ball on seven separate occasions. It was a great moment for Saints fans when returning back rower, Tom Wood crossed the line announcing his return to the Gardens. Dom Waldouck, Scott Armstrong, Paul Diggin, Tom May, Noah Cato and Vasily Artemyev all made the scorecard on the day.
Sale Sharks taught us the meaning of impact substitution on the same day when they emptied their bench to overcome Scottish rivals, Glasgow. Included in the replacements was former Glasgow Warrior, Richie Gray and debutant, Danny Cipriani; who started strong and only improved as the game reached its close. It finished 49-27 at Heywood Road.
Attempting to get their pre-season back on track, Harlequins had two games at the Stoop last weekend and boy did it not disappoint. First they out-muscled a London Scottish team 42-21 with tries from Stegmann, Taylor, Burns, Matthews and Marfo. They then met Rabo side, Connacht in a game that saw three yellow cards in the first half! Nikora the offender for Connacht; Luke Wallace and Nick Evans for Quins. Fortunately for Quins, this didn’t affect them in the slightest and they completed their double with scores from Evans, Easter, Care, Smith, Chisholm and Lowe to easily win out the game 45-11.
Ravenhill hosted the Tigers in what would turn into a very physical game. Niall O’Connor played fly-half and converted an early penalty try. George Ford levelled the game with his efforts and then Thomas Waldron’s try pushed the visitors into the lead. This was short-lived as Chris Cochrane’s late try, converted by Paddy Jackson, levelled the game. It finished 14 points a piece.
The Ospreys continued a miserable pre-season last weekend; losing at the hands of Bath. Lee Mears and Dan Hipkiss scoring for the visiters while Tom Graham touched down for the Welshmen. 18-0 at the half, it was Bath’s to lose – which they didn’t. A late effort by Matthew Morgan saw himself clear, but he fumbled the ball and so summed up a bad day at the office for Ospreys. Bath take the spoils at 21-10.
Gloucester also had fortune against the Welsh as they beat Cardiff Blues 20-8. A true preseason game, mistakes a plenty, Nigel Davies has plenty of time to perfect his team before they meet Northampton on September 1st. And it would come to pass that the Welsh would lose, yet another, preseason game – this time when the Llaneli Scarlets travelled to Sixways to meet the Wocester Warriors. Josh Matavesi the hero of the day scoring two tries. It finished 22-7.
Elsewhere, the Exeter Chiefs showed the world why they’re good enough to be in the Heineken Cup this year. They dispatched a Cornish Pirates team 56-3 points, easily. New signing Will Chudley scored a double, as did Josh Tatupu with further tries coming from Rob Baxter, Mark Foster, Jack Nowell, Kai Horstmann and Ben White.
Chris Ashton made his Saracens debut last weekend in Italy when the team travelled to Treviso. Again, the Italian setup proved too strong for the English and fought a hard-earned victory. Simone Favaro scoring late to deny the visitors.
At Headingley, London Wasps found it difficult to get into a game with Leeds; but when they did, they opened up a poor Leeds defence and scored eight tries and win comfortably 50 points to 23. England flanker James Haskell returned to the Wasps bench and made an appearance on a day when, new signings, Stephen Jones and Andrea Masi both scored.
Finally their was some success for the Welsh last weekend when The Dragons welcomed The Exiles to Rodney Parade. Tómas O’Leary and Shane Geraghty controlled the game in the backs but tries from Steffan Jones and Adam Hughes were enough to keep London Irish at bay. It finished 18-12 to the Newport Gwent Dragons.
Results
Northampton Saints 43-0 Leinster
Sale Sharks 49-27 Glasgow Warriors
Harlequins 42-21 London Scottish
Harlequins 45-11 Connacht
Ulster 14-14 Leicester Tigers
Ospreys 10-21 Bath
Gloucester 20-8 Cardiff Blues
Worcester Warriors 22-7 Llaneli Scarlets
Exeter Chiefs 56-3 Cornish Pirates
Benetton Treviso 14-11 Saracens
Newport Gwent Dragons 18-12 London Irish
London Wasps 50-23 Leeds
Felix will be back later in the week with a look at the opening round of Aviva Premiership matches
Felix (@lightningrust): Blogger, eternal student of business & law, sunshine rugby player with a passion for music and fitness. Coffee is essential. Leinster fan and Irish proud.
