Numerically Speaking - Aviva Premiership Table

As the domestic season takes its final pause for the denouement of the European competitions it is the perfect time to review the Aviva Premiership table in full glory and pull out a few points of interest from the wealth of data.

If we cast our eyes first towards tries scored and conceded there are a few numbers that jump out of the page at you from all areas of the table. Wasps lead the way in terms of tries scored, they have 72 to their name and it is fair to say that the calibre of those tries has been high and Joe Simpson’s sensational solo effort on Sunday reinforces that notion. London Welsh are at the opposite end of the spectrum, they have scored just 27 in total during the course of the twenty rounds of action and overall their statistics to date turn heads for all of the wrong reasons, I won’t dwell on them for the numbers speak for themselves. The ‘shock factor’ in terms of tries scored comes from the Leicester Tigers as they have amassed just 5 more than London Welsh with 32. Now obviously anyone that has been watching the Tigers this season knows that their attacking flair has been lost in the midst of their back line injuries and numerous centre partnerships however the fact that they remain in fourth position and with a chance of making the playoffs for the eleventh year in a row highlights the positive of ‘winning ugly’.

Defensively Bath Rugby lead the way having let in the least points of any Aviva Premiership side, 358 and indeed only Saracens have let in fewer tries, 35, than Mike Ford’s men. Bath have secured three try scoring bonus points in their past three matches and lead the way alongside Wasps with the most amassed so far with 8. If  you switch the bonus point focus to losing bonus points then Rob Baxter’s Exeter Chiefs come out on top, they have gained 7 losing bonus points over the course of the twenty rounds, as have Dean Richards’ Newcastle Falcons. 

It isn’t surprising to see that once again draws have been few and far between in this year’s Aviva Premiership season, just three have graced us with their presence. There was the memorable Round 17 clash at Kingsholm between Gloucester and the Northampton Saints that ended 33-33, Wasps and Newcastle’s dogged 23-23 fight under the Friday Night Lights at Kingston Park and finally in the dismal November weather a far from classic 21-21 draw at Welford Road between the Leicester Tigers and Saracens courtesy of Owen Williams’ final minute penalty. 

An honourable mention must be made for the Newcastle Falcons in terms of the improvement in their overall performance levels this season. The step change is reflected greatly in the statistics, however the frustration for Richards and the side is that it isn’t then duly reflected in their position in the table. The Falcons have scored 49 tries during the course of the opening twenty rounds, they have three try scoring bonus points to their name and 7 losing bonus points. Last season they scored just 23 tries in total and the majority of those were after Christmas, indeed it took them until Round 4 of the domestic season to score a try whereas this year Richard Mayhew opened their account at Welford Road in Round 1. 

Now as we head into the final two rounds of the group stages almost everything remains up in the air, even with my dislike of arithmetic I understand that six does not fit into the three playoff places remaining. For the top six sides the majority of run ins are savage to say the least, the Tigers face two Midlands derbies in a row, the Exeter Chiefs take on Saracens and the Sale Sharks, Bath Rugby head to London to face Quins and then host their bitter rivals Gloucester at home on the last day of the season and only Saints and Saracens have the luxury of facing London Welsh. The fact of the matter is that this run in will be the most competitive, intense and enthralling ever. Already the table shows that it  has been a stunning season and you sense that the best is yet to come! 

Fast Tracks & Fearsome Encounters - Aviva Premiership Round 20 Review

In Round 20 the Aviva Premiership continued to deliver us with enthralling rugby, across the country we enjoyed points galore courtesy of the fast tracks and April sunshine. The Northampton Saints became the first team to secure an Aviva Premiership playoff place however behind them things domestically remain undecided going into the final two rounds of the regular season. 

At The Rec Bath Rugby delivered a head turning performance to secure their third bonus point victory in succession. Initially London Irish put up a stubborn fight and their never say die attitude handed them a single point lead at the break, courtesy of Tom Court’s try on the cusp of half time. However in the second half Bath blew away their opposition as they cranked through the gears and positively purred. Bath scored 26 points in 20 minutes thanks to their sublime handling and attacking rugby and delivered five second half tries. The manner in which Bath accelerated away was impressive, the conditions weren’t pristine and yet they made it look like a beautiful sunny day keeping the ball in hand and playing with ambition and tempo. Sam Burgess’ first ‘proper’ back row try was the icing on the cake of his Man of the Match performance although it was his 'unseen' work that will have pleased Mike Ford the most. Irish didn’t manage to shift through the gears in the same manner, they hardly had any of the second half possession and their consolation try after 79 minutes will have done little to brighten spirits. The comprehensive victory means that Bath remain firmly in the hunt for a home Semi Final spot whilst Glenn Delaney will need to console his team during the European break. 

Following a captivating and gritty Aviva Premiership encounter between Saracens and the Northampton Saints the Stadium mK should consider itself suitably warmed up for its three Rugby World Cup fixtures. The Saints weathered their dip in form and two early Chris Wyles’ tries to record four of the most important points of their season. Saracens were uncharacteristically ill-disciplined and their penalty count against them was a factor in their narrow loss, McCall's side looked like a team that had been through the European mill and the fixture provided some concerning injuries to Billy Vunipola and Jackson Wray. Overall it was Saints’ collective composure, cleaner execution and ability to match Saracens’ physicality will have pleased Jim Mallinder the most as they head into the final rounds in touching distance of that coveted home Semi Final. 

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Gloucester’s first league victory since February was delivered the hard way as they produced another stellar comeback on home soil and broke the hearts of the Newcastle Falcons. With more points than minutes played, 82 in total, this one was a breath-taking and emotional encounter at Kingsholm, something Gloucester fans should be used to by now!!! Dean Richards’ side put together an impressive opening half, their tries highlighted their much improved all-around game and Sinoti Sinoti was instrumental for two of their three. After the break Gloucester used their bench including Hibbard, Murphy and Afoa to great effect however it was an existing player that kick started the scoring, Dan Robson. Robson's half back partner, Billy Burns, also asserted himself with proficiency as he secured the decisive try in the last minute of the game as well as four conversions and three penalties. All in all the home victory will have provided a vital boost going into their European Challenge Cup Final and once again the Falcons will wonder how they could have let such a lead and indeed match slip.  

At Welford Road the Leicester Tigers were made to work much harder than they would have liked against London Welsh however they did manage to secure the bonus point victory that was expected. Welsh suffered at the hands of Chris Hala’ufia’s hot temper who received a red card following a high tackle on Laurence Pearce and a disgraceful display of ‘afters’ that there simply isn't a place for in our sport. Leicester's extra men allowed them to pull away and score twenty one points in the final fifteen minutes of the game however frustration will be their overarching emotion following Round 20. Handling errors and consistent pings from referee Tim Wigglesworth were two of the most concerning facets of their game and you feel a Top 4 finish would be one of the 'greatest get out of jails' ever should it occur. London Welsh's fans will be proud of their players for their application however competing with fourteen men simply isn't possible given their performance levels at this moment in time. 

In Manchester Harlequins achieved their first victory on the road in any competition since January as they kept hopes of reaching seventh place alive at the expense of their hosts. In the opening half Conor O'Shea's side looked more comfortable than we have seen them in a while, tries from Charlie Walker, Chris Robshaw, Marland Yarde and Danny Care secured their bonus point prior to the break however they didn't manage to continue to exert their dominance. There is no doubt about the fact that Steve Diamond would have gone crazy in the Sale Sharks' dressing room at half time and his team's second half was much improved, they took advantage of a yellow card to Dave Ward and Cirpriani's chip pass to Arscott and the resulting try ignited their comeback. Ultimately the home side left themselves with too much to do, the two late misses off the tee from Joe Ford will have hurt a lot and they head into the final two rounds just a point ahead of Harlequins with two very large games against the Newcastle Falcons and the Exeter Chiefs. 

For the final match of the weekend the Chiefs made their first trip to the Ricoh Arena to take on Wasps Rugby. Wasps started the fixture perfectly thanks to a try from Christian Wade that was made by the sublime arching run and offload from Nathan Hughes however the Chiefs bounced back with an easy try of their own from Will Chudley. The man we have praised to the hills for much of the season, Thomas Waldrom, received a yellow card for a deliberate knock on and that was the catalyst for Wasps to go into the break ten points ahead. After the break Wasps lost their way slightly, they looked nervous and the Chiefs knew it, Waldrom made up for his earlier indiscretion by adding to his Aviva Premiership try tally and it looked to be a tense finish for the home side. In moments of adversity you want your big game players to set up and that is exactly what Joe Simpson did as he scored what might just be the try of the season. As sensational as it was the Chiefs weren't finished yet as they went in search of the losing bonus point and in spite of an easy miss off the tee Steenson secured it with a well struck drop goal. After a slow middle it was a thrilling ending to the match and leaves everything hanging in the balance going into Round 21. 

Twenty Twenty Vision - Aviva Premiership Round 20 Preview

After the penultimate European break the Aviva Premiership is back for the final three rounds of the competition and what a run in we have ahead of us. One of the most well known, yet slightly cheesy lines, is that time flies when you are having fun, however I genuinely subscribe to this notion for it feels like only yesterday that we were casting our eyes towards Round 1. As has been the case for the past few rounds of domestic action the table is tightly congested and nothing is set in stone which will make for a scintillating round of action.

To kick start proceedings The Rec will turn on it's Friday Night Lights as Bath Rugby welcome London Irish to The Rec. Bath have won their last three Aviva Premiership matches in a row and have  positively purred in the process of doing so whilst London Irish’s victory over the Sale Sharks was one of the performances of Round 19. This fixture always has a little spice to it from an Irish fan's perspectives as so many former Irish men have made the journey down the M4 and both sides will be itching for a victory. Burgess Cam will continue with Sam likely to start on the flank again however should the weather gods be shining on us I suggest that you keep one eye on the back lines for both house men with serious speed and prowess; Lewington, Rokoduguni, Watson and co.  Bath must keep their foot on the gas to put themselves in the best possible position for a home Semi whilst London Irish will simply want to keep spoiling parties as they did so against the Sharks, an intriguing match awaits at The Rec. 

At the AJ Bell Stadium the Sale Sharks will be looking to bounce back after their defeat on the road and will wish to continue their quest to be in touching distance of that final European Champions Cup qualification spot. Harlequins’ win against Gloucester Rugby was one of their most important of the season in terms of igniting their confidence and continuing to fight for their possible European route in via seventh position, should Gloucester fail to win the European Challenge Cup. The Sharks’ Round 19 loss was on the back of positive London Irish play and Sharks’ mistakes so I expect that there will have been a number of stern words from Steve Diamond last week in Manchester. Harlequins must press forwards without Mike Brown who continues to suffer from symptoms of concussion, this is concerning for Mike however the wise handling of the situation, from both him and the Club, is music to all of our ears for a player’s safety and health is paramount. If both the Sharks & Harlequins play to their on paper potentials then it will make for a great contest with two experienced back rows contesting the breakdown, two powerful front rows getting stuck into each other and two sets of dynamic half backs... let’s hope that this one delivers to expectations!! 

A fair few miles south of Manchester, Kingsholm will play host it’s second game in as many weeks as the Newcastle Falcons arrive in town. Last weekend David Humphreys’ side showed us all what we have been waiting for as they dismissed an Exeter Chiefs’ side that had been in great form in the European competition and it was a performance that would have warmed the hearts of the Gloucester faithful. The Falcons found their last outing a tough one to swallow as Bath Rugby were clinical in the manner in which they inflicted victory over them in Round 19 however their progression this season remains impressive. Dean Richards and his side will target these final games of the season to cement their progress and should David Humpreheys’ choose to put out a less experienced side they’ll fancy themselves, even on the road. The question for the Gloucester Director of Rugby is how to play the selection game, should he pick a full strength squad and risk injury but gain valuable continuity or should be rest the main men he’ll need in their most important match of the year the European Challenge Cup Final? Only time will tell…

On Saturday afternoon the Leicester Tigers will welcome London Welsh to town. There may be 54 tabular points separating between the two sides but when you look specifically at the number of tries that they have scored things become interestingly for the Tigers have notched up just one more than London Welsh. This is an astounding statistic and one that goes a long way to explaining the criticism that has been put at the door of the Midland’s side however with just one loss in their last thirteen Aviva Premiership games at home, winning ‘ugly’ seems to be in fashion!!! Post Saracens Richard Cockerill confirmed to me that he would be putting out a full strength side against Welsh, I and indeed the entire country expects 5 points and it will be manner in which they are taken that will be most important. A confident performance, with a strong purpose in attack will be Tigers’ desire whilst Welsh will want to build on the two steps forward that they made against Bath and Wasps in the preceding rounds.

The televised match on Saturday will be broadcast from the Stadium mK where the Northampton Saints will face Saracens. It is safe to say that this is going to be an absolute belter of a fixture for there is so much at stake for both sides and you can guarantee that they will go at each other like men possessed. There are more unknown factors in this game than any other, the first is whether or not the Northampton Saints will have regained their mojo during the two week break? The second is whether or not Saracens will suffer from a Clermont hangover in the same manner in which their opponents did?? Head to head the match ups are intense to say the very least from the Wigglesworth/Fotuali'i or Dickson battle to the almighty clash of the front rows, there isn't too much else to say other than this will be an alright battle of wills and I suggest that you either purchase one of the last remaining tickets or find a television with BT Sport on it! 

The Final game of the weekend will be at the Ricoh Arena where Wasps Rugby will host the Exeter Chiefs in another fixture that has great importance for both sides. The Chiefs' can't afford to lose for the Leicester Tigers behind them have an almost certain 5 points from their clash with London Welsh and Wasps know they must continue to push ahead in terms of securing that final automatic European Qualification spot. The great news for the home side is that their Premiership record there is almost impeccable, bar that Round 17 defeat to Saracens. The Chiefs blip on their radar was last weekend against Gloucester and hopefully they'll have put that firmly out of their minds and used the loss to further fuel their desire for a playoff position. Nathan Hughes will be back and is expected to start in the Back Row, it will be interesting to watch his match up with Thomas Waldrom, for they are very different players but both have excelled for their respective clubs this year. Both sides enjoy free flowing rugby and I wouldn't be surprised if we saw some phenomenal bits of individual skill and a fair few tries in Coventry on Sunday afternoon. 

European Champions Cup - Emotional Exit for Saracens

It was a gladiatorial contest with a mercenary ending for Mark McCall’s Saracens in their European Semi Final. Saracens rode the waves of emotion, they successfully silenced the forty thousands plus fanatical French fans and yet they fell short as one moment and one lapse of concentration cost them and Les Jaunards now edge ever closer to their greatest desire, the European Champions Cup. 

Clermont had fired the warning signs during their Quarter Final against the Northampton Saints, they ran the ball like a dream and attacked with joyful abandon, it was sensational and fired a huge warning sign to every side left in the competition. Yesterday, they fired another, as they showed that they can also do it the hard way, they were made to play a tighter game, dare I say it a more unfamiliar game, and yet they flourished. The most successful teams have the ability to pluck out whichever game plan is required, those with one singular strategy are found out and yesterday Clermont showed their hand beautifully. 

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The decisive try was so wonderfully executed that it looked as if it was in slow motion, Brock James’ chip over was delightfully weighted, a product of his years of experience and the man on the end of it, Wesley Fofana. Should Fofana choose to play in the manner that he does for Clermont in the blue of France then we should all take note, for when he turns it on, he’s some player and I believe even saying that is an understatement. 

What will have turned Toulon & Leinster heads was the fact that Clermont then weathered a thirty six minute storm from Saracens for Fofana’s try was just four minutes in the second half. Undeniably it was the most important time to score in order to wrestle the game back following their half time deficit however if you subscribe to the theory that it takes just 20 seconds to score a try, the match was far from finished. Desire and level heads were shown across the park, the nagging feeling of ‘we could really do this’ didn’t push any man to do anything nonsensical, instead it carried them through sensibly and delivered their end goal. 

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So what about Saracens, I hear you say? What of their performance? Personally I believe that the positivity of Mark McCall post match says it all, of course he was upset and in his changing room hearts were broken, that is not an exaggeration, that it is a fact. The words ‘this will make us stronger’ and ‘this won’t deter us going forwards’ are not smoke and mirrors, Saracens know that they were up against the best in Europe, a team that is in their groove and feeling that it is their time and yet they forced them to play out of their comfort zone. The result will hurt, the margin of defeat and the manner of defeat will hurt... they should have fired a few more shots of their own, they shouldn't have switched off to allow James' chip however ultimately what is done is done, it cannot be changed by dwelling on it. Instead I expect the result to ignite their Aviva Premiership desires and the Northampton Saints should be prepared to be on the receiving end of a reaction at the Stadium mK. 

Mark McCall's squad kept clarity of thought and precision in the face of the most intense and intimidating atmosphere that they will experience this season. The mental strength to counter the forty thousand fanatical fans is something that no other Aviva Premiership side has done, even Bath's trip to Toulouse looked like a walk in the park in comparison and their ability to process and counter this  will provide their platform for anything that this domestic season will now throw at them. Individual performances must be noted;  Richard Wiggelsworth continued to kick like a dream, Billy Vunipola never had less than two men on him and yet he made meters and of course the rare gemstone that is Maro Itoje sparkled. Itoje defies his years, he soars over every hurdle that is put in his way and on the European stage he looked completely and utterly at home.

It was a European Semi Final between two teams that knew each other extremely well and it was a cagey and nervous affair, the pressure of what was on the line ultimately showed however to say that it wasn't a thrilling and compelling game of rugby would be crazy! Saracens benefitted from a early piece of luck with what can only be described as a TMO clanger, they kept their heads and weathered the storm of the ‘neutral’ venue, however it wasn’t enough. Today I expect Toulon to progress in Marseille and for the stage  be set for the fifth all French Final of the European competition. Should that prediction come true it will be one hell of a Final for right now it will take something truly exceptional to deny Clermont the title that they believe that they are ready for. 

European Champions Cup - Spotlight On Saracens

'They are a very good side’ those were the words that Saracens’ Director of Rugby Mark McCall used to described ASM Clermont Auvergne when asked about them in the immediate aftermath of his squad's victory over the Leicester Tigers in the domestic competition last weekend. Now, for those of you that are thinking well that is a slight understatement, do allow me to contextualise them slightly; Mark McCall is a calm man, he does not deal in elaborate statements instead he takes everything in his stride. The fact that Clermont bulldozed past the Northampton Saints and played some of the best rugby that we have seen in Europe this year will not have passed him by however we all know that sport is about facing your challenges head on and never, ever showing your opposition any hint of trepidation. 

This week I took the time to re-visit the Quarter Final that will forever more be known as 'that Quarter Final' in the way in which Saracens' victory over Clermont last year is known as 'that Semi Final'. Let me assure you, or confirm your own thinking, that on second viewing Clermont's performance was just as, if not more, impressive than the first time around. Clermont’s attacking proficiency and collective physicality was astounding, they rode the Saints’ tackles like they were nothing more than a tiny inconvenience and strangled Saints in all areas of the game. To use one of the most aspired to and well know sporting phrases, Clermont were totally and utterly ‘in the zone’ and the greatest unknown is whether or not they will be able to take themselves back to that place, or a place close to that, again this weekend? 

A brief glance at a map book, or the modern day equivalent, Google Maps, will tell you that Saint Etienne is just eighty seven miles from the Stade Marcel Michelin. Most certainly the ‘intimidation factor’ of Clermont's formidable fortress will be diminished slightly by this shift in venue, however given that the drive from to Saint Etienne takes a little over an hour it won't be wholly diminished due to the 'neutral' venue. Saracens' travelling support will be out numbered and you expect out voiced by Clermont's fanatical fans. Will this worry Mark McCall's men, I doubt it, for Saracens are not a side that are phased by travelling away from home or their surroundings, in all honesty should thrive on the drive and ambition of silencing the crowd early. Clermont's the intoxicating combination of power and pace should be back and their sole focus will be to do quite the opposite and instead whip the French support into a frenzy of emotiona and animation. Nick Abendanon will cause chaos, positive chaos and Jonathan Davies this week articulated the clear direction that his side will take, that is to 'negate the errors in our game, play in the right areas, build a lead and force Saracens to play a bit.' 

Defensive solidity
 will be vital

It is unfair to say that Saracens do like to play rugby, they may not play with such fluidity in attack as the masters of going forwards Bath, however they do know how to put together constructive rugby. Our Aviva Premiership side continue to build, week on week, they are benefiting from their fruits of their very hard labour however this weekend they must take it to the next level, a level higher than we have seen to date. Mark McCall has experience and dynamite across the park, Billy Vunipola's inclusion is right and it is hoped that the distraction that was his 'citing' earlier in the week hasn't de-railed his preparations. Understanding Billy as a character, I doubt that it will have done and his personal performance will be at the heart of Saracens' prowess and indeed confidence. The impenetrable defensive display that was highlighted in the second forty minutes against the Leicester Tigers last weekend must be replicated and built upon for in Nalanga, Nakaitaci, Fofana and Abendanon they will have players of a much more unpredictable and dynamic nature heading their way. Cool heads are a must, cards cannot form part of the equation for any period with fourteen men at this stage in the competition may as well signal game over at that moment in time. 

By far this will undoubtedly be Saracens’ greatest test of the season, greater than any Aviva Premiership game to date and greater than any of their European tests, greater than their opener against Clermont in Round 1 and greater two weeks ago in Paris. Why I hear you ask? Well, it comes down to the fact that this weekend one of these two sides will go home and one of these two sides will have to wait another twelve more months to be in a position of claiming the title that they both long for so very dearly. The burning desire for this title drives both sides, Saracens’ hurt following last year’s Final runs deeper than they will openly admit to any of us and Clermont’s latent and pent up frustration at their lack of silverware over the past decade fuels their every move. On Saturday afternoon the immovable object will meet the impenetrable force and over the course of eighty minutes one must give away to the other, the question is which?

A Double, Bonus Points & More - Aviva Premiership Round 19 Review

Round 19 was a captivating round of Aviva Premiership action as across the country we witnessed some tremendous rugby and some superb individual and team performances. The ensuing results have shifted proceedings slightly in the table however it still remains tightly packed with just three rounds to go until the 2014/15 playoffs.

On Friday Night Bath Rugby headed to Kingston Park after a tough European loss to face a Newcastle Falcons side that had endured the same fate. The Falcons’ desire was to ‘do what we want to do and see how they cope with it’ and Dean Richards’ side weren’t really allowed to fulfil that desire due to the prowess of Bath’s defence. In the set piece the Falcons were strong and did ask questions of Bath however it was the collective prowess of Mike Ford’s side with the ball in hand that punched holes in the home side’s defence. Ollie Devoto picked up Man of the Match as we saw him in his natural habitat at Centre and his partnership with Ford looked accomplished. Sam Burgess looked the most comfortable that he has done on a Rugby Union pitch in the back row and all in all it was a successful day at the office for Ford’s side. 

On Saturday afternoon it was third versus fourth at Allianz Park as Saracens hosted the Leicester Tigers. Both sides knew that a victory was imperative to keep their eyes on the playoff/second home Semi Final prize and initially it looked as if the Tigers were going to spoil Saracens’ winning streak and confidence as they enjoyed much of the possession and opened the scoring with two Freddie Burns penalties. However Saracens felt their way into the game and it was the yellow card shown to Tom Youngs on 37 minutes for taking out Chris Ashton off the ball that helped to swing the momentum in the home sides’ favour. Saracens' fourteen points during the time with an extra man and their three tries in 9 minutes sealed the game. For the final quarter Leicester enjoyed all of the possession however they did not gain a single point from their efforts for their attack simply wasn't proficient enough to penetrate the wall that was Saracens' defence and the match finished Saracens 22 Leicester Tigers 6. 

Adidas capture the backs mid game
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In South West London both Harlequins and Gloucester Rugby took their fans on an emotional roller coaster at The Stoop. Harlequins had only won one of their last seven first team matches and it took every ounce of physical and mental strength to secure their second. Gloucester enjoyed dominance at scrum time with Nick Wood, in particular, giving Matt Shields a very tough time of it. Individuals on both sides stepped up to the mark, having moved into the centres Asaeli Tikoirotuma proved effective and purposeful and Marland Yarde had his best game for a while. For the visitors James Hook played with confidence, the aforementioned pack were strong and Charlie Sharples enjoyed the fast track. Gloucester Rugby’s post match report on their website is titled ‘Gloucester cruelly and controversially denied at the Stoop’ and it clearly highlights their discontentment at the two yellow cards shown to Moriaty and Sharples that resulted in them conceding two late tries. Dan Robson did cross for the final score of the day however the home side held on for a memorable and important victory. 

On a Sunday afternoon in Devon the Exeter Chiefs became the first side to do the double over Jim Mallinder's men this season as they beat the Northampton Saints by 21-10. Phil Dollman's opening try was a sublime finish and it set the tone as Rob Baxter's side put their home advantage and sky rocketing confidence to good use. At the break it was fairly even however the Saints uncharacteristically failed to finish their chances throughout and when consecutive yellow cards reduced them to 13 men the Chiefs capitalised. One penalty, one penalty try and a conversion was the result and it gave the home side the platform they needed. Dave Ewers was industrious in the back row and turned heads as did the Chiefs' young twenty two year old tighthead prop Tomas Francis. Francis was a fundamental part of Exeter's strength at the set piece and it was their forwards that provided the platform for the victory. Saints' final try was a product of hard graft however provided little consolation as they head into European beak thinking of missed opportunities and looking the re-find their form. 

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East of Sandy Park, Wasps headed to London Welsh with only one thing on their mind, 5 points. Dai Young stated before the game that if his side didn't achieve that goal then they wouldn't be worthy of a Top 6 finish and thankfully for all concerned  in black and gold they put 40 points past London Welsh and scored 6 tries. Tom Varndell showed Bristol what they would be gaining next season with his hat-trick however in spite of the scoreline it wasn't all plain sailing for the visitors. London Welsh continued to deliver positives for their new coaching staff, Chris Elder marked his first Premiership start with a try and Opeti Fonua's large frame finished off a period of admirable Welsh play in the mid section of the game with a score of his own. Ultimately though Wasps' superiority reigned firm and their focus will switch straight away to preparing to host the Exeter Chiefs at the Ricoh Arena in two weeks time... what a game that will be. 

In the final game of the weekend London Irish and the Sale Sharks locked heads in a compelling battle that enthralled neutrals everywhere and gave fans of either side a whirlwind journey throughout the eighty minutes. Initially it looked as if Sale were going to dominant as Tom Arscott went over after just three minutes for his first try of the game and enjoyed much of the opening possession. Similar to the game at Allianz Park the turning point arrived just before half time; following an unsuccessful Chris Noakes penalty attempt Sale's Full Back Mike Haley fumbled Danny Cipriani's pass and Andrew Fenby capitalised with a try. It was the moment that gave Irish the lead and the belief heading in the second half however they didn't make things easy for themselves. In all the Madjeski  Stadium witnessed four yellow cards and six tries, Steve Diamond wasn't best pleased with the officiating however his side's away form will displease him more as they have only won one match away from home since November. 

Nineteen To The Dozen - Aviva Premiership Round 19 Preview

As we head into Round 19 of the Aviva Premiership there are just four full rounds of action remaining and only three tiny points are separating second and fifth position. Following, an intensive weekend of European action staying emotionally fresh for this domestic round will be critical for as we all know there isn’t any room for error, points mean prizes and this year, more than ever, every single point is vital.

Round 19 commences at Kingston Park where Dean Ryan’s Newcastle Falcons host Mike Ford’s Bath Rugby. Both sides tasted defeat on their European travels last weekend and both will be eager to rectify proceedings back in the domestic competition. Throughout the season the Falcons have built well, they now play expansive rugby mixed with purposeful physicality however they still lack that killer instinct to finish off teams and secure vital victories. Bath have made eight changes to face the Falcons and ones that include Sam Burgess gaining his first Premiership run out at blindside. Elsewhere Mike Ford has rotated his front row and Ollie Devoto takes Burgess  place in the centres. The Falcons start Simon Hammersley at Full Back and Rory Clegg takes the place of Tom Catterick in the middle. It will be an intriguing fixture on all counts and the manner in which Bath finished their Champions Cup Quarter Final will shout ominously to the Falcons for Ford’s side showed how impressive their ‘all court’ game can be when the execute it cleanly. 


The first game on Saturday afternoon will be played at The Stoop where Harlequins will host Gloucester Rugby. After a tough experience at the hands of Saracens in Round 18 Harlequins will have valued their extra time off and must run out at home with the objective of reminding their fans how well they can play rugby. This will not be an easy task for Conor O’Shea’s side due to the fact that their confidence is as low as their front row resources and they haven’t yet won successive home games this Premiership season. It will be interesting to see David Humphreys’ selection decisions for with their impending Challenge Cup Semi Final on the horizon will he decide to rest some of his key men and keep them fresh for the knockout fixture? Regardless the onus will be on both sides to execute their game plans cleanly and with precision and to keep errors at a minimum for when they do entertaining rugby is the output.

The second Saturday fixture is in North London where Saracens host the Leicester Tigers in what will be a intriguing and potentially season defining match up. Leicester have weathered some tough storms already this season, they have won their last five Premiership matches in a row and turning over a side on a high following a breathtaking Champions Cup performance would send a huge message out to the rest of the table. Mark McCall’s men are building, last year they adopted the lead from the front approach this year they are developing round on round and I don’t see any signs of this ceasing.  All of the usual areas will be critical in this game, two experienced front rows will go toe to toe, both sets of half backs have been flourishing and what a breakdown it will be with Wray, Salvi and co doing battle. This should be a classic match between two intensely physical and ambitious sides. 

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At Sandy Park the Exeter Chiefs host the Northampton Saints in what is an extremely important fixture for both sides. The contrast in their European trips couldn’t have been more stark; Exeter romped to victory against the Newcastle Falcons, they were physical, clinical and scored five tries in the process whereas the Saints were humbled and hurt in France. The question is how much of an emotional toll will that loss to Clermont Auvergne have on Jim Mallinder’s men? The best outcome is that they’ll have slept on the result and woken up on Sunday morning and been pumped to the hills to show that it was a one off nightmare. It is for this reason that Rob Baxter should be preparing for an onslaught, whether or not his side will be presented with one only time will tell. The Chiefs have only lost once at home in all competitions since September so the Sandy Park factor will play it’s role in what will be a crucial Round 19 contest. 

In Oxford London Welsh have their second to last Aviva Premiership home game of the season as they welcome Wasps Rugby to town. Wasps turned more than a few heads last weekend in the South of France as they pushed Toulon hard and whilst the challenge of London Welsh will be vastly different however they must attack the fixture with the same purpose. As always the home side will put their all into the game, there is no questioning the fact that I expect Wasps to gain five vital points from the fixture however I hope London Welsh continue to make inroads into their performances objectives.

The final of the Sunday offerings will be held at the Madjeski Stadium where London Irish welcome the Sale Sharks to town. The Sharks remain in touch of that precious sixth position in the table which would unlock to the door to another season of European action and with their closest points rivals Wasps heading to the Kassam Stadium a win on the road is vital. London Irish finished their Challenge Cup Quarter Final dejected after a valiant fight back from sixteen nil down and an inconclusive final grounding. Interim Head Coach Glenn Delaney will be focused on ensuring that his final games in charge set a positive platform going into their new regime however Sale are a tough cookie to crack, home or away. 

European Champions Cup - Aviva Premiership Spotlight

When it was confirmed that every single one of our Aviva Premiership teams were going to be away from home for their Champions Cup Quarter Final fixtures the history books highlighted just how tough it would be. Since the competition’s conception only eighteen of the seventy two tournament Quarter Finals have been won by the away sides, therefore the gauntlet was set for Bath, the Northampton Saints, Saracens and Wasps Rugby, the question was would any of our Aviva Premiership sides prevail? 

The first game of the weekend was in Dublin where Bath Rugby faced the three times European Champions Leinster. Bath's game plan was clear, tempo was to be the name of the game and they were going to attack, with force, from everywhere. In the opening forty penalties and individual errors hampered the Premiership side from gaining the fluidity they desired and the radar of Ian Madigan hurt them as he slotted five penalties with ease. However Bath turned the game on its head in the second as they executed with much greater precision, George Ford was mesmeric, his prowess led their fightback from 5 - 15 down to 15 -18. Bath continued to surge towards the try line with seconds on the clock however the whistle of Jérôme Garcès ended the fixture as he penalised Matt Garvey at the breakdown. It was a large and game ending decision for you sensed that had the penalty gone the other way and Bath forced the game into extra time they would have won such was their momentum. 

Approximately 900 miles South of Dublin ASM Clermont Auvergne welcomed the Northampton Saints to the Stade Marcelin Michelin and delivered the performance of the weekend. Clermont were utterly ruthless in their demolition of the Aviva Premiership side and they hardly stopped for breath as they ravaged the Northampton Saints. Clermont’s charge was led by their all around superior physicality, interestingly I read that prior to the game every single Clermont player had to deliver a presentation to the coaches on their role such was their focus to deliver a perfect performance. Jim Mallinder's side were shocked, their set piece was brutally dismantled and to compound the hurt Courtney Lawes and Alex Corbisiero both picked up injuries, the severity of which are yet to be confirmed. Clermont have been knocked out too many times before, they are the best side never to have won the competition and the power of their hurt fuelled their a charge. Abendanon, Nakaitaci, Fofana and Nalanga sparkled, Brock James highlighted his experience and up front their collective power was astounding. Alex Waller’s 67th minute try proved to be little consolation and bouncing back as quickly as humanly possible will be the Saints' sole focus. It was as tougher weekend as any of them will have experienced in their professional careers. 

The Champions Cup Sunday Service kicked off in Paris where Racing Metro 92 hosted Saracens. From the opening exchanges it was clear that this fixture was going to be an arm wrestle between two sides that appeared well versed in the other's game plan. Racing must have wondered how Saracens went into half time a point ahead, 6-5, for the home side had the greater of the points scoring opportunities in the opening half. Racing’s hunger for the fixture was epitomised by the ground that Brice Dulin covered during his time on the field. Alongside Dulin, Maxime Machenaud was inspired and was the classic little French General as he bossed his forwards around, distributed with proficiency and sniped away. The momentum swung in Saracens’ favour around the 60 minute mark however they couldn’t pull away and make that shift manifest itself on the score board. As the teams wrestled it looked as if Mark McCall’s side were going to taste defeat, however a single Macelo Bosch penalty from 45m out rewarded their hard labour and sent them soaring through to the Semi Finals. 

The final European offering was at the beautiful Stade Felix Mayol as Wasps entered the lair of the reigning Champions, RCT Toulon. It was the toughest of draws for the Premiership side that made the knockouts the hard way due to defeats in their opening two rounds however Dai Young’s side arrived determined to put their game on the park. Toulon didn’t have things all their own way, they were made to work for their victory and work harder than I believe that they thought that would have had to. Elliot Daly constantly threatened, Joe Simpson highlighted again why he should be part of England’s set up and collectively Wasps faced into the might of the Champions. Toulon’s depth and supreme rugby knowledge showed, Frederic Michalak slotted twenty of his side’s thirty two points and they delivered the result in spite of not being at full strength or in fifth gear. Ali Williams’ pull back on Elliot Daly was clear and obvious however the fact he avoided a yellow and went on to score the decisive try minutes later will hurt Young's men for a long time. Wasps’ performance turned heads, now in the aftermath of such a performance they are being wholeheartedly praised from all areas of Europe and rightly so. Dai Young's men must return to the Aviva Premiership with a spring in their step and focus on achieving a place in next year's European Competition.