England vs. Barbarians 2015

Now that the domestic spoils have been it is time for an England XV take to the field at Twickenham Stadium against the star studded Barbarians. The annual clash with the Barbarians is always a chance to see a few different faces wearing the red rose of England and whilst every player always endeavours to give their all, this year strong performances are even more important due to the small matter of the forthcoming Rugby World Cup. 

Stuart Lancaster has included 10 of his RWC Training Squad in the side to face the flair of the Barbarians and it is fair to say that all of them have points to prove, even after a long domestic season. Christian Wade will start on the wing, eager to highlight that he can cut it defensively and hold his own against those with greater physicality and a good few inches in height. Matthew Tait's will pull on an England jersey for the first time in 5 years after an hardy and successful season with the Leicester Tigers and the recent RFU disciplinary decision has thrust Luke Cowan-Dickie into the spotlight and his performance will be scrutinised to the nth degree. 

Daly in England action
vs BaaBaas 2014

The prospect of a Henry Slade and Elliot Daly centre partnership outside Danny Cipriani is delectable for all three make rugby look effortless and the prospect of the trio playing what they see on the Twickenham turf sets the rugby pulses racing. The back row of Mark Wilson, Jack Clifford and Josh Beaumont was described by Danny Cipriani as the ‘fastest row’ that he has ever played with and with all three under the age of 25 you know that the England management are looking beyond 2015 as well as developing the options in case the unthinkable happens and injuries ravage the current England crop. 

The eyes of Stuart Lancaster lit up when he described how fresh Joe Launchbury is following his long time out on the sidelines, indeed his words were; ‘We have missed him. You see him train and you forget how good and effective he is as a rugby player, never mind as an athlete. He's been fantastic. Seeing him and Ed Slater together in the second row was hugely exciting.’ It will be Launchbury's first outing on the Twickenham turf since the RBS 6 Nations 2013 against Italy and whilst Dave Attwood, Courtney Lawes and latterly George Kruis have all worked wonders in England's Second Row and fully fit Joe Launchbury is unrivalled and his contribution to this year's World Cup will be instrumental.

The Barbarians will be led out by Brad Thorn on his last professional match, it will be a fitting way to end the career of the man that has achieved so much in the game and that has set the standards for professionalism and output for so long. It will also be Ugo Monye's last professional game on the wing and he'll run out alongside his Harlequin team made Dave Ward. When you look down the Barbarian's squad it is packed with talent and their match against Ireland on Thursday night showed that they mean business and will be a tough, tough challenge for this England XV. 

On paper this England side has every element to shine and shine brightly, the weather may curb a fully free flowing game with the expected rain, however all 23 players will adapt against one of the most organised and competitive Barbarian’s side of recent years. 

England XV; 15 Mathew Tait 14 Christian Wade 13 Elliot Daly 12 Henry Slade  11 Marland Yarde 10 Danny Cipriani  9 Lee Dickson  (C) 1 Matt Mullan  2 Luke Cowan-Dickie  3 Kieran Brookes  4 Ed Slater  5 Joe Launchbury  6 Mark Wilson  7 Jack Clifford  8 Josh Beaumont Replacements; 16 Tommy Taylor  17 Alex Waller  18 Gareth Denman  19 James Gaskell  20 Jon Fisher  21 Will Chudley  22 Shane Geraghty  23 Alex Lewington 

Barbarians; 15 Gio Aplon 14 David Smith 13 Joe Rokocoko 12 Wynand Olivier 11 Ugo Monye 10 Tusi Pisi 9 Tomas Cubelli 1 Saimone Taumoepeau 2 David Ward 3 Matias Diaz 4 Samu Manoa 5 Brad Thorn (C) 6 George Whitelock 7 George Smith 8 Thomas Waldrom Replacements; 16 Deon Fourie 17 Roberto Tejerizo 18 Adam Jones 19 Nathan Hines 20 Pablo Matera 21 Ruan Pienaar 22 Stephen Brett 23 Yoshi Fujita

The Aviva Premiership Final Review

It was Saracens’ fourth final in six years whilst it was Bath’s first since 2004 and for forty minutes on the Twickenham turf the contrast in their experience showed. Saracens channeled twelve months of the pent up hurt and frustration into a storming opening half of rugby that was described by Mark McCall as something ‘pretty special’. In the second his side had enough power and belief to see off the Bath challenge that we all knew was coming their way. This 2015 trophy will mean so more to Saracens because of that heart breaking defeat last year and for Mike Ford's Bath the lasting thoughts will be that they didn’t quite do themselves justice when it came to the big one.

All week we had discussed the flair and prowess of Bath, how could we not after their multiple bonus point victories and stellar performance against the Leicester Tigers in their Semi-Final. The result was that the spotlight was diverted slightly away from the power and experience of Mark McCall’s side, however immediately after Wayne Barnes’ blew his whistle Saracens reminded us all of their physicality and unrivalled ability to stifle teams. The blow to Anthony Watson will be debated a length and the view from the Bath camp was that it certainly deserved another look from Wayne Barnes, to say the very least. Any side without Anthony Watson is poorer for it however Ollie Devoto applied himself with purpose throughout and as Mike Ford said it wasn't the sole reason for their defeat. 

As a collective Bath found themselves stunned and unnerved by the intensity of Saracens, it is fair to say that when they met previously this season Saracens weren’t as powerful as they were on Saturday, in this Final they were on a different planet; men possessed. So often we have seen Jacques Burger set the intensity however at Twickenham he wasn’t alone as from one to fifteen they were hell bent on securing this title. Individual brilliance oozed across the park, from David Strettle’s Zebo esque flick to Jamie George’s power charged sprint down to line, Mark McCall’s men took themselves to the place required to deliver the goods. In the middle Owen Farrell reminded us all of his ability on the big stage, when the pressure is on, he kicked his goals and played with the competitive intensity that he is known for. It was a timely reminder and as Mark McCall rightly said post game 'England are blessed to have two brilliant young tens who are going to be around for a very long time.'

Losing finals hurts however what it does do is to provide teams with the experience and knowledge of how not to do it again and that is something that this Bath side don’t quite have... yet. It seems almost cruel to pull out positives when the result that matters didn’t go their way however I believe it is vital to do so. This season Bath have delighted and inspired us all with their rugby, their forwards have worked tirelessly and they have attacked with a purpose and flair that few, if any, can match. They have delivered all of this with a great humility and respect for their opponents, led by the inspirational Stuart Hooper. In the Final Sam Burgess took another step in his development to becoming a high-class rugby union player, he delivered the big carries and stepped up to the occasion and Semesa Rokoduguni is back in the form that gained him his previous England call up. My desire is that, in a few days time, when Bath step back and review their season they will take huge positives from it. Mike Ford's men have pushed their way into the Top 4 and done so in style. Losses are tough but they are part of the road in a team’s development and this one is still young. 

Now Saracens will celebrate, this year they have done things the hard way, they had to fight their way into the Top 4 and play away from home to give themselves a shot of mending those gaping wounds from 2014. The fact of the matter is, like Bath, they have some very young and talented players and a lot more in the tank. Naturally a spot of recruitment will be needed to replace some of their elder statesmen in the back line however that conversation is for another day. Right now, the beers will flow and the party will continue... at some point over the summer this Final will be analysed and scrutinised but not yet. Congratulations Saracens, I bet that one felt good! 

The Aviva Premiership Final

… and then there were two. Exactly eight months and eighteen days after the Wayne Barnes blew the whistle to open the Aviva Premiership Season at Franklin’s Gardens we found out which two Aviva Premiership sides would go head to head for the 2015 trophy; Saracens and Bath. The two Semi-Finals were a complete contrast to each other but equally entertaining in their own right and at Twickenham Stadium we will see two diametrically opposing styles clash under the most intense pressure with silverware on the line.

After the most intense and competitive season that we have seen in recent years it is only fitting that this Final is going to be a titanic clash of wills and personnel. Saracens have the greater experience however I think that it is fair to say that Bath have the form. If you cast your eyes down the expected team sheets then head to heads across the park are mouth watering; Ford vs. Farrell, Watson vs. Goode, Burgess vs. Itoje, Stringer vs. Wigglesworth, Eastmond vs. Barritt, Houston vs. Vunipola… I could continue but I won’t. 

For every player beating their opposite man will be critical to pushing their side towards success, scrum time will be an arm-wrestle given the two packs and the breakdown will be absolutely brutal with the Louw and Burger show! That said, there is one match up that will capture the headlines and take the spotlight; the Ford vs. Farrell encounter. Ford is the fulcrum of Bath’s beautiful back line, he pulls the strings with his innate vision and rugby ability and rightly so is the Premiership's and England's darling. Farrell's industrious performance against the Saints signals that he is back on his game after injury and his goal kicking is on song. The Saracen has been deemed by some to be a 'boring' player and in my eyes this is unfair for he too is at the heart of his side's game plan. Farrell distributes with proficiency and creates for his side, perhaps not with the flair of Ford, but it works. Both are fiercely competitive young men, neither will give an inch and it will be a fascinating match up for us and for Stuart Lancaster.

This term the head to head record between the two stands are one win apiece, Bath took the spoils at The Rec in October 21 - 11 while at Allianz Park Saracens prevailed 34 - 24. In my mind it doesn’t pay to look back any further for when it comes to 'Finals Rugby' historic form isn’t the best indication of outcome, it is the here and now that counts. However the part that history will play is in terms of delivering the emotion of the day; Saracens’ memories from last year must not haunt them whilst Bath must not become overawed by the occasion. This Final and the build up to it isn’t just about how the players handle the pressure it is also about how the men at the helm handle it too, this is a huge challenge for both Mark McCall and Mike Ford. 

As we’ve seen this season Saracens are very comfortable without the ball, they side have won countless matches with limited possession and territory and their Semi-Final against the Northampton Saints being point and case. Saracens like to stifle teams, they like to provide very little room for manoeuvre and then they let their kick chase and brutal breakdown work deliver the goods. Against many this is the perfect tactic, however Bath are not just any side and their backs are not just any set of backs. 

Invention, flair, slick handling skills and electric pace are attributes that every man in the Bath back line possesses, not just their wing men or their centres, every single back. If any Aviva Premiership side are going to unlock the Saracens’ wall then it will be Mike Ford’s side. They are not going to change their style and play a low risk game just because it is the Aviva Premiership Final, that we know for sure from the words of Ford and from personally speaking to the players themselves. To me this makes total sense for why should they change what has been working so well for them just because there is silverware on the line?  Tempo and an all court game will be put on the park at Twickenham Stadium and if they deliver the clinical hit rate that they did against Leicester, 7 tries from 8 ventures into the opposition 22, then they will be difficult to beat. 

This Final is fascinating, both starting XVs are mighty and the benches will play a critical role in deciding proceedings. As for my prediction regarding the victor, let's just say the side that scored the most tries in the opening twenty two rounds of action might just nick this one! 

Final Facts

• If David Strettle scores a try in the Aviva Premiership Final it will be his 50th Aviva Premiership try
• Bath last won the Aviva Premiership Title in 1996 and their last Final was back in 2004 against Wasps which resulted in a 6 - 10 loss
• Saracens would be the first side to win the Title that had finished outside of the Top 2 after the regular rounds of the season
• George Ford's kicking percentage stands at 82.65% [81 of 98] and Owen Farrell is operating at 81.82% [45 of 55]

Full Team News will be announced at 12pm on Friday 29th May. 

The Aviva Premiership Final - Statistics

Statistics, all season long we have poured over Opta’s numbers following scintillating rounds of Aviva Premiership action and now it is time to use them prior to a game, the big game, the Aviva Premiership Final. As we are all well aware Saracens’ and Bath’s Semi-Finals were diametrically opposed in their style, one contained high tempo, fluid attacking rugby and the other housed grit and dogged determination. Indeed the only similarity between the two was that both sides had significantly less territory that their opponents; Bath with just 37% and Saracens a mere 34%. 

As we all know the start of a match is critical and from a try scoring perspective both have scored a similar scoring accounts in the opening twenty minutes, Bath with 16 and Saracens with 15, however the key difference is that Bath have conceded only 6 tries during that time period whereas Saracens have conceded 15. At the other end of the match both score their largest proportion of tries in the final 20 minutes with 29 for Bath and 24 for Saracens. 

When you put the two sides against each head to head then Saracens have the greater number of historical victories with 22 to Bath’s 12 across their 34 meetings. Most recently Saracens have won 9 of their last 10 fixtures against Bath with Bath’s sole victory being at The Rec in October of this season. From a team perspective Saracens have made the greater number of tackles this season, and have a greater lineout success rate, 87% to 85% however unsurprisingly Bath dominate their opponents when it comes to the attacking averages; average meters gained, 417 to 368, average number of defenders beaten, 21 to 14 and average clean breaks 9 to 7. Away from ball in hand a key area of interest for the Final will be the set piece, with two highly experienced front rows clashing on the pristine Twickenham surface and it may surprise you that their average scrum success rates are very even; Bath, 87% and Saracens 86%. 

If we focus on an individual basis then both Team Captains are vital when it comes to the lineout. Stuart Hooper has a played 1,386 minutes of rugby, has won the most lineouts of any Bath player with 68 and has stolen the most ball with 11 steals. Al Hargreaves has taken 63 lineouts of his own and stolen the same amount of ball, 11.  Both are the favoured option in the middle of the lineout and the battle between the two, like so many match ups, will be fascinating. 

Saracens’ defence is well known, they have let in the least tries of any side just 42, although Bath aren’t far behind with 44. For Mark McCall’s side the man that has put in more hits than any other is Jamie George with a staggering 221. He is way ahead of the pack and it is Jacques Burger who is the next Saracen on the tackle count with 148, albeit in 5 less matches than his team-mater. Bath’s biggest hitter is the powerhouse himself Leroy Houston with 163 however his contribution spans wider than just hits as he is Bath’s top carrier of the ball with 151 carries and slots just behind Semesa Rokoduguni in terms of defenders beaten with 59. 

As we all know the numbers can only tell us so much and we’ll have to wait and see how both sides handle the pressure of one final match, on the beautiful Twickenham turf with the ultimate domestic prize on the line. 

Final Stats

• George Ford has assisted more tries, 13, than any other Aviva Premiership player this domestic season.
• Bath’s back three of Watson, Rokoduguni and Banahan have made 3,018 meters between them and delivered 22 tries. 
• Billy Vunipola has made 193 carries in 15 appearances for Saracens and beat the most defenders of any Saracen in 38. 
• Saracens’ back three of Goode, Ashton and Strettle have made 2,918 meters and scored 23 tries. 
• If they run out on Saturday Jamie George and Dominic Day will be the only two men that will have featured in every single Aviva Premiership game this season. 

The Barbarians Are In Town

The Barbarians is time honoured tradition and one that every player of any age or stage in their career hopes to be a part of. From World Cup Winners to British and Irish Lions' legends, running out for Barbarians is on the to do list for every single player in the world of rugby and only a few are fortunate enough to receive the call up and wear the black and white hoops. This year marked 150 years of the Barbarians tradition and if you were anywhere near Twitter on 8th April you'll have seen just how many legends of our game have passed through the ranks and made the Barbarians jersey as covered as it currently is. 

The 2015 squad that will take on Ireland in Limerick on Thursday night and England at Twickenham on Sunday afternoon contains men from 10 different countries and houses a staggering 786 International caps. Whilst most were relaxing on Bank Holiday Monday the Barbarians were enjoying their first full day together as a squad in the beautiful surroundings of The Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane. The squad houses some of the most recognisable names in rugby including Brad Thorn, Ugo Monye, Adam Jones and Joe Rokocoko. Also amongst the ranks are some of the lesser known individuals of our game the likes of Konstantin Mikautadze and Ryu Koliniasi Holani and regardless of age or experience level to a man the squad were 'absolutely buzzing for it'! At the helm this year is Captain George Smith, a man that we'll be seeing much more in the Aviva Premiership next year as Australia's most capped forward has just signed for Wasps. As you’d expect George was equally excited about both opportunities and in particular the immediate challenge of Barbarians rugby;

‘The Barbarians is special and at the same time it is a lot of fun. I’ve played against the Barbarians team in the past and for the Barbarians and one thing I always notice is how much fun they have on the field. They [Barbarians] are very liberal in the way that they play the game, they are very expansive in terms of the ball that they play with and that’s enjoyable to be a part of.’ 

As we all know the Barbarians’ spirit is part of what makes the experience so unique and special for players of any age or level of experience. Naturally the details off the field plans are being kept nicely under wraps however George gave a little indication of what they’d be enjoying in the build up to Sunday’s game at Twickenham Stadium; 

‘Being that we are in London I think Ugo Monye is going to lead the charge on that [off the field plans], we delegated that to him last night!!! It is always an enjoyable week, you have your dinners and your time to reflect on each others careers and you just get to know all of all of the players within the squad and players that you’ve admired from afar. The Barbarians brings together a motley crew and its always an enjoyable week, often just chewing the fat and talking about rubbish is great.’

Exactly like the British and Irish Lions the Barbarians is an extremely special concept, unique to rugby and one that should continue to have a place in our great game for many years to come. The Barbarians' experience is about making memories that will last a life time, it is the only time in their playing careers when they are able to run out onto the pitch worry free fuelled by their pure passion for the game. This year's coach, Robbie Deans' focus is on letting the guys 'express themselves', as a coach he will have one full run with the squad and his desire for that run is to just add the few bones of structure to proceedings.  For Deans, the honour to be part of the Barbarians' tradition, is as great as it is for the players and I've no doubt that this week every single member of the 2015 Barbarians squad will do the jersey proud, both on and off the field! 

Full Barbarians Squad

Backs: Gio Aplon (Grenoble & South Africa), Stephen Brett (Lyon), Tomas Cubelli (Belgrano Ath & Argentina), Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues & Wales), Yoshi Fujita (Panasonic Wild Knights & Japan),  James Gopperth (Leinster), Zane Kirchner (Leinster & South Africa), Ugo Monye (Harlequins & England), Wynand Olivier (Montpellier & South Africa), Ruan Pienaar (Ulster & South Africa), Tusi Pisi (Suntory Sungoliath & Samoa), Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne & New Zealand), David Smith (Toulon)

Forwards: Matias Diaz (Pampas & Argentina),  Jason Eaton (La Rochelle & New Zealand), Deon Fourie (Lyon), Shane Jennings (Leinster & Ireland), Pablo Matera (Pampas & Argentina), Konstantin Mikautadze (Toulon & Georgia), Ryu Koliniasi Holani (Panasonic Wild Knights & Japan), Adam Jones (Cardiff Blues & Wales), Rodrigo Capo Ortega (Castres & Uruguay), George Smith (Lyon & Australia), Saimone Taumoepeau (Castres & New Zealand), Rodrigo Tejerizo (Tucuman & Argentina), Brad Thorn (Leicester Tigers & New Zealand), Gerhard Vosloo (Toulon) David Ward (Harlequins), Thomas Waldrom (Exeter Chiefs & England), George Whitelock (Panasonic Wild Knights & New Zealand).

Barbarians Squad vs. Ireland

15 Zane Kirchner (Leinster & South Africa) 14 Alex Cuthbert (Cardiff Blues & Wales) 13 Joe Rokocoko (Bayonne & New Zealand) 12 Wynand Olivier (Montpellier & South Africa) 11 David Smith (Toulon) 10 James Gopperth (Leinster) 9 Ruan Pienaar (Ulster & South Africa) 1 Roberto Tejerizo (Tucuman & Argentina) 2 Deon Fourie (Lyon) 3 Adam Jones (Cardiff Blues & Wales) 4 Rodrigo Capo Ortega (Castres & Uruguay) 5 Konstantin Mikautadze (Toulon & Georgia) 6 Shane Jennings (Leinster & Ireland, Captain) 7 Gerhard Vosloo (Toulon) 8 Ryu Koliniasi Holani (Panasonic Wild Knights & Japan) Replacements;16 David Ward (Harlequins) 17 Saimone Taumoepeau (Castres & New Zealand) 18 Matias Diaz (Pampas & Argentina) 19 George Whitelock (Panasonic Wild Knights & New Zealand) 20 George Smith (Lyon & Australia) 21 Tomas Cubelli (Belgrano Ath & Argentina) 22 Tusi Pisi (Suntory Sungoliath & Samoa) 23 Gio Aplon (Grenoble & South Africa) 

Story Of The Season - Leicester Tigers

In the middle of February the Leicester Tigers were in seventh place in the Aviva Premiership table, it was a worrying position and one that they were not used to. The tenacity and character of the side delivered eight wins in their last nine domestic matches and secured their eleventh consecutive playoff position. It certainly wasn’t the most beautiful of final runs nor was the Semi-Final against Bath however other sides wouldn’t have been able to win 'ugly' for so long and would have finished in seventh or lower. 

When a Club’s history includes 10 domestic titles and 2 European titles the weight of expectation placed on their shoulders is large and it makes it tough to take when things don’t click how they should do. As mentioned in Harlequins' Story Of The Season confidence can be as difficult to find as water in a desert without such high levels of added pressure and expectation. Once again injuries have played a huge part in the Tigers’ campaign; Anthony Allen, Manu Tuilagi, Tom Croft and Geoff Parling have been the most notable absentees for some or almost all of the season. All are experienced men and all bring unique points of difference to the pitch, points that were sorely missed particularly in attack.

That said, Freddie Burns is growing into the 10 shirt, Owen Williams injury was awful to see but the flipped was that allowed Freddie to have sustained game time in which he has begin to establish himself in the Tigers’ way. Owen’s involvement, like the aforementioned Allen and Tuilagi would have made an impact for his distribution and creativity. Ben Youngs is England’s scrum half for a reason and Matthew Tait’s season has been his most robust for a long time however the final piece of the puzzle and the killer moves to break through defensive lines were missing. The man that last year captured the Aviva Premiership for his bruising runs and tries, Niki Geneva, only scored half as many tries  and as a whole invention in attack came at a premium. 

The industry of two Leicester men must be noted they are Jordan Crane and Julian Salvi, between them the pair have made 451 tackles, with Salvi making more than any other man after 22 rounds and a Semi-Final. The front row unit of Mulipola, Youngs and Cole contains experience few others can boast and they have all delivered their duties well. 

The work ethic and application of this Leicester side must not be criticised at all, this squad will be acutely aware of the season that they have had and wishing to get back and right the wrongs as quickly as possible. Salvi’s loss to Exeter alongside Geoff Parling and the retiring Brad Thron will take away a large amount of experience, power and leadership and as such you expect a few more signings to be announced before pre-season starts. It will be the task of Aaron Mauger to bring in some fresh thinking and do a little shaking up at Welford Road... for every side, even one with the history of Leicester, needs to continually evolve in order to improve. 

Key Men - Julian Salvi, Jordan Crane and Tom Youngs

Most Impressive Result - Their Derby Day against Wasps at the Ricoh Arena in Round 21 [26 - 21]

Strongest Signings for the 15/15 Season - Securing the heart of their scrum; Tom Youngs, Dan Cole & Marcos Ayerza

Overall Assessment - Extremely tough to take, not one for the memory books but the Tigers’ spirit produced results that other sides wouldn’t have. 

Story Of The Season - Northampton Saints

The Northampton Saints' season statistics make for strong reading; they finished on 76 points at the top of the Premiership tree after 22 rounds of action, scored 75 tries and lost just 5 matches. Yet it is fair to say that they are a side they haven’t been spoken about as much as you'd expect or given the level of praise that they deserve for doing so. One can only assume that this is due to the fact that their ‘sticky patch’ came at the most noticeable time of the season and those were the memories lingering in minds as opposed to the blistering rugby.  

Let us not forget about the fact that the Northampton Saints didn't really open their books heading into the 2014/15 season instead Jim Mallinder's message to his squad was 'Ok lads, let's see if we can do this again shall we!?'

Saints’ start to the season was empathic, they blew Gloucester off the park and delivered a significant signal to every signal Aviva Premiership side. The manner in which Saints win games isn’t a secret, they combine brute power with dynamic backs that are eager to get their hands on the ball and play a spot of rugby. At the heart of the side are extremely hard working individuals and none more so than Christian Day and Calum Clark. Both men's work is not always as flashy as the feet of the Pisi brothers or as head turning as Courtney Lawes' trademarks hits but it does drive the side. This season we have seen many other players emerge through and shine too; Alex Waller and Mike Haywood’s shifts in the front row have given Jim Mallinder selection headaches and provided stability when key men have been away on International duty or injured, Ahsee Tuala’s endeavour has earned himself a full time contract next season and although he is not one of the youngsters, the application of the departing Phil Dowson must be applauded wholeheartedly. 

The Saints made history by finishing at the top of the pile after twenty two rounds, they had the luxury of resting their key men prior to the Aviva Premiership Semi Final and yet they fell just short. It has to be said that they fell short due to the steely character of Saracens and their opponents ability to disrupt and stifle. Luck really wasn't on Saints' side with the terribly timed mid games injuries to Ahsee Tuala, Alex Corbisiero and James Wilson, the loss really wasn't down to any major inadequacies, simply fine margins. 

Once the pain has subsided I hope that the season will be deemed a positive one for whilst there were tough lessons along the way Saints' output has been as solid as ever and deserves praise. The doors of Franklin’s Gardens have been opened, Jim Mallinder has secured the services of his key men; Hartley, Lawes, the Waller brothers and more as well as making some canny signings in JJ Harahan from Munster and Kieran Brookes from Newcastle. The void that Samu Manoa will leave will be a great one however I’ve no doubt Saints will be back for the start of the season with the bit between their teeth once again. 

Key Men - Christian Day, Samu Manoa & Ken Pisi

Most Impressive Result - The Round 20 Stadium mK victory over Saracens 25 -20 after a tough few weeks prior
Strongest Signings for 15/16 Season -  Securing the contracts of Hartley & Lawes... equally keen to see how Kieran Brookes will progress 

Overall Assessment - The Semi-Final defeat will hurt for a long time, but they'll be back with a bang after the Summer break. 

Bath Magic Books Twickenham Spot

When Bath Rugby delivered their Round 3 victory over the Leicester Tigers by 45 points to nil The Rec delighted, that day the home side secured 5 tries and played with purpose. Yesterday, 12 wins and 245 days later they delivered a performance of a higher order, against a stronger Leicester resistance. Yesterday The Rec absolutely rocked, there wasn’t a seat in the house and I’m sure that the noise could have been heard for miles and the euphoria was deserved for delivering a 47 points to 10 victory in an Aviva Premiership Semi Final is exceptional.  

A word on Leicester before I dive fully into Bath’s performance and look ahead to their trip to Twickenham Stadium. The Tigers’ woes and difficulties have been well documented all season, they have received criticism from all angles and in fairness the match yesterday highlighted why. Leicester's forwards were determined and they made Bath work hard at the set piece and breakdown however once the ball exited the close confines of these areas Leicester's invention came at a premium. If Bath had enjoyed the amount of ball that Leicester did then I’m sure that we would have seen a cricket score. However, this season and in this game, Leicester’s backs just didn’t have the skills to weave lines through and create try scoring opportunities. Niall Morris’ injury looked horrendous and I wish him all the best, Matthew Tait come off the field absolutely blowing having given it his all and when Tommy Bell came on he looked eager to make things happen, however it needs a collective unit to be firing at this level not an individual. The Tigers’ sheer bloody mindedness and will pushed their season further than others would have got with their output and I heartily commend them for that however next season, fresh ideas and a new coaching set up must boost things... for those associated with the club won’t tolerate two consecutive ‘iffy’ seasons. 

Now, Bath Rugby. Where do I start with Mike Ford’s side? Do I highlight the fact that they entered the Tigers’ twenty two 8 times and scored off 7 of those visits? Do I praise the strength in depth and ability of their bench to maintain their high standards and turn the screw? Or do I focus on the emphatic scoreline? The starting points are endless however they all have one thing in common… collective brilliance. The type of rugby that Bath have played this season and will play in the Final is of the majestic variety, they favour the ball in hand, they play at tempo, off quick ball created by their forwards and they have outstanding handling and basics. 

That said in yesterday’s Semi-Final they actually played less rugby than they have done so in previous rounds and kicked away more than expected. At this point in time with a final scoreline of 47 points to 10 it is a mere matter of semantics however with Saracens’ greater ability to utilise this ball I’m sure that Mike Ford will address this point with his side this week. It almost seems unfair to point out individuals, for as a squad Bath delivered. Ford's side successfully rode the period with 13 men and the ten minutes after half time when they looked almost scared to deliver the final blows to win the game however they pushed themselves through that. Peter Stringer's try on 63 minutes reignited their belief and then the floodgates opened and we were treated to a rugby masterclass. 

The fact of the matter is in just under a week’s time this Bath Rugby side will run out at Twickenham Stadium and in many people’s books will be favourites to take the 2014/15 Title. It will be up to the Club as a whole to manage their emotions and put their game on the park for one final 80 minutes against a side that like to stifle and strangle their opponents. What an Aviva Premiership Final we have in store...!

Saracens - The Ultimate Smash & Grab At The Gardens

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‘Saracens are a team that aren't bothered a bit by playing away from home, some teams are fazed and suffer from travel sickness but on the whole that isn't Saracens' Style.’ 

Those are the words that started Out On The Full’s Semi-Final preview and they are the perfect introduction to the review yesterday’s knockout match. Over the course of eighty minutes Mark McCall’s side performed the ultimate smash and grab at the Gardens as they ended the Northampton Saints’ hopes of delivering the Aviva Premiership double in customary mercenary style. Saracens' victory was a stark contrast to Bath’s fluidity at The Rec but that doesn’t mean that it wasn’t impressive in its own right. 

The intensity of matches between Saracens and Saints is ferocious, every breakdown and every hit makes those of a squeamish disposition wince and even hardened folk have a quiet shudder to themselves. At the heart of Saracens’ steely physicality was a man making his 100th appearance for the club, Jacques Burger. The fact that it has taken 6 years and 9 operations to get there is a mark of the warrior that he is and away from home it was his purpose and relentless work ethic that set the tone for a Saracens side that made 151 tackles to Northampton’s 65.

As has been the case so many times this season Saracens didn’t enjoy the lions share of the possession or territory however they were at their clinical best and made perfect use of the amount that they did have.  On home soil you expect the hosts to have things their own way, to be able to play the game in the way in which they want to and to dictate proceedings however that was not the case. Injuries were unfortunate and numerous for the Saints for re-jigging the back line was not part of the plan going into the game nor was losing Alex Corbisiero. On a personal note I hope that Corbs’ injury isn’t too bad for the man has been plagued by issues since his brilliance of the Lions 2013 deserves better from his body. At the end of the day this match was not a drumming and Saints’ season has been filled with tremendous character and output. Jim Mallinder has taken his 2014 Aviva Premiership winning squad all the way through to the Semi-Finals. They have fronted up to character crushing bumps  in Europe and almost gained a shot at redeeming their title. 

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Mark McCall's men stuck to their strengths and soared, every single Aviva Premiership side knows exactly what Saracens are about and yet so many find themselves powerless to topple them. The kick-chase is Saracens’ forte, it is their trade mark and they executed it with brilliance in an intense and unforgiving environment. This is something Bath Rugby must have the answer to at Twickenham Stadium for if they do not then they’ll make life extremely difficult for themselves and may meet the same fate as the Saints. 

Looking ahead to the Final an Owen Farrell versus George Ford stand off will be mesmerising, for at the Gardens Farrell looked back to his gritty and determined best. Farrell and Ford they may have grown up together but rest assured they’ll be no love lost on the Twickenham turf and it will be a fascinating watch for us all and for Stuart Lancaster. The other match ups are belting too Burgess versus Itoje, Vunipola versus Houston and so many more but let’s save them for the Final preview and instead finish by once against commending Saints’ fortitude but delighting in Saracens’ mercenary finishing skills. 

Knockout Rugby - Bath Rugby vs. Leicester Tigers

The second Semi Final of the day will be held at The Recreation Ground between Bath Rugby and the Leicester Tigers. It will be the first time in a long time that The Rec has hosted domestic knockout rugby and with blissful sunshine predicted by the ever reliable Met Office the place will be rocking. The Leicester Tigers are very familiar with this stage of the season, this being their 11th consecutive playoff encounter and the question is will this experience pay off against the red hot form of Bath Rugby?

The fact of the matter is that they have both won an extended run of matches going into this knockout clash; Bath have secured their last six Aviva Premiership matches in succession and delivered four of them with try scoring bonus points. The Leicester Tigers, believe it or not, have lost just one of their last nine Aviva Premiership games however it is fair to say that performance wise their journeys have been at opposite ends of the spectrum. 

Bath are flying high with confidence playing arguably the most fluid attacking game in the Aviva Premiership thanks to the invention of George Ford at 10, their pocket rocket Kyle Eastmond and the feet of Jonathan Joseph and Anthony Watson. Bath’s and indeed Ford’s flat to the line approach in which he making decisions right in the faces of defenders as opposed to three steps behind them gives them an edge. The memories of their 45-0 victory against Saturday's opponents back in September should boost them, for eight months on they are a much stronger outfit than they were then. That said, staying calm under pressure will be critical for now is not the time for choking and any over excitement must be curbed. In the forward pack they have the tremendous luxury of being able to bring on replacements that are equal to their starters particularly in the front row and it will be critical that their bench deliver against's Leicester's wily pack. 

In a stark contrast to confident and fluid rugby Leicester have forced their way through their matches and ground out their results the hard way. This season the phrase ‘winning ugly’ has been synonymous with Cockerill’s side and they have come under a great deal of criticism. Truthfully Leicester’s backs haven’t sung, injuries have prevented their desired, first choice, back line ever being picked and this will be the same this weekend however they have gained victories and caused teams issues. 

Positively Freddie Burns is growing into their ten shirt with every game that he is playing and starting to deliver to his potential. Ben Youngs isn’t England scrum half for nothing, his game management and experience is vital and Matthew Tait has enjoyed his most robust and powerful season to date. Leicester’s key asset remains their pack, they are as dogged and determined as ever and the experience of their starting front three Ayerza, Youngs and Cole will be vital. The losses of Logovi'i Mulipola and Geoff Parling will be tough to take. Mulipola positional impact and bulldozing runs have lifted the side this season and the experience of Geoff Parling during big games is second to none. That said, their remaining pack still know what it takes to win at this level and are forceful operators; Thorn, Salvi and Crane in particular.  Ed Slater is back from injury and in Stuart Lancaster’s words ‘has a lot of ground to make up’ having missed a season, from an individual perspective this Semi Final is the perfect place to do so. 

The question is how will the game pan out? Will Leicester raise their game again, for against Wasps and the Northampton Saints we started to see their true Tigers’ colours come through and things were starting to click more out the back. Will their experience at this point in time carry them through? Or will Bath push themselves to another level? We saw the manner in which they accelerated into fifth gear during second half against London Irish in Round 20, imagine if they deliver that for a full eighty? 

This isn’t just another game, this is knockout rugby and anything can happen… no-one ever truly writes off the Leicester Tigers but from where I’m sitting you’d be a fool to bet against Bath’s form. All I’ll say is that this is going to be an enthralling game of Aviva Premiership Rugby. 

Team Stats & Facts

• The Leicester Tigers have lost on their last four visits to the Recreation Ground in Aviva Premiership Rugby  
• Bath haven't won seven Aviva Premiership matches in a row since the 2009/10 season. 
• The Recreation Ground will become the tenth different venue to host a Premiership Rugby semi-final 

Player Stats & Facts

• George Ford has scored 191 Aviva Premiership Points this season with a 82% accuracy off the tee [75 of 91]
• Freddie Burns has 148 points and a 71% strike rate [53 of 75]
• Jordan Crane has made 225 carries to date in the competition & Julian Salvi a cool 251 tackles, just 4 short of Mark Wilson who leads the way in the Aviva Premiership with 255

In total there have been 21 previous Premiership Rugby Semi-Final matches with only 4 being won by away sides, a tiny 19% success rate. 

Knockout Rugby - Northampton Saints vs. Saracens

The 2014/15 Aviva Premiership Semi Finals will kick off at Franklin’s Gardens between the Northampton Saints and Saracens. This is a rivalry that we all have grown to love immensely, it has a bite to it that is almost akin to a Derby Day and when you add on the fact that this is a repeat of last year's Final and it is a game of knockout rugby then you know that we are in for a colossal encounter. 

Saracens are a team that aren't bothered a bit by playing away from home, some teams are fazed and suffered from travel sickness but on the whole that isn't Saracens' Style. Arguably their largest performances this year, the performances that showed their ample spirit and character came away from home, particularly in France. Naturally Franklin’s Gardens will not be on their side but if you’ve faced the wrath of the Clermont's Yellow Army in an atmosphere that was described 'out of this world' by Brian O'Driscoll and Lawrence Dallaglio then I believe that you’ve amassed the experienced to head to Franklin's Gardens. This season Mark McCall’s side have ticked over nicely, they have taken the 'steady' approach as opposed to front running. Prior to Christmas they were ticking along and after the festive season have ramped things up considerably... it hasn’t been plain sailing but that may be beneficial. 


The Northampton Saints have also endured their fair share of character building moments both domestically and in Europe however the defending Champions are in the position that they wanted to be in after twenty two rounds of action. The Saints form book makes for great reading; their only loss at Franklin’s Gardens in their last 14 games of Aviva Premiership Rugby was to Exeter in November and they haven’t lost consecutive matches in the tournament for thirteen months. On Saturday afternoon I expect their big game players to rocket out of the blocks, fresh from their week's rest... the home side's aim will be to lead this one from start to finish and never let Saracens hit their straps. 

This game is going to be an incredible battle of power, both side’s packs are monstrous filled with physical specimens that only know one gear. Two of the top Number 8s, Billy Vunipola and Samu Manoa will be colliding together with seismic force and the breakdown is going to be absolutely savage, there simply isn’t any other way of saying it. Both side’s must play with squeaky clean discipline for the radars of Stephen Myler and Owen Farrell are highly accurate. As we saw at the Stadium mK and at Allianz Park across the park these two sides are evenly matched, both house solid set pieces, contain men that work themselves into the ground; Burger & Clark in particular and both house wing men that know exactly how to make things happen from nothing. 

History and their previous two Premiership meetings says that home advantage will prevail and the Saints will head to Twickenham to try and defend their title, however Saracens are a side packed with talent, a never say die attitude and a power game to match the best of them. If Saracens get the bit between their teeth and silence the Franklin’s Gardens crowd early then who knows. This is going to be fascinating… 

Team Stats & Facts

• The Northampton Saints are the second best home side in Premiership Rugby having equalled Bath in obtaining 47 league points from their 11 encounters. 
• This is Saracens’ sixth successive Aviva Premiership Semi Final and in that time they have won three and lost three. 

Player Stats & Facts

• Calum Clark has won 16 turnovers already this season and made 196 tackles
• Stephen Myler has scored 222 points this season in 20 appearances and has a success rate of 73% [85 out of 116]
• Charlie Hodgson has taken the majority of the kicking duties at Saracens and has a 80% conversion rate [53 out of 66]. 
• In the back line, Chris Ashston and the very versatile Chris Wyles have scored 25 tries between them. 

In total there have been 21 previous Premiership Rugby Semi-Final matches with only 4 being won by away sides, a tiny 19% success rate.