Aviva Premiership Round 21 - Preview

As is often the case at this point in the season there are plenty of permutations and 'what ifs' regarding Round 21's results. Ahead of the Premiership weekend there's a play-off spot that's up for grabs, European rugby to strive for, home semi-final places to get closer to or secure and the small matter of the relegation battle. 

The round starts on Friday night at the AJ Bell Stadium where Sale are endeavouring to finish the Premiership season unbeaten on home soil. The Sharks' three game domestic winning run ended with their defeat at Bath last Saturday. In the opening-half they looked decidely off colour, but after Steve Diamond read the riot act at half-time they claimed two valuable points from their trip to The Rec. In Round 20 Gloucester Rugby showed what they are made of with a gutsy victory over the Exeter Chiefs, finally they put their full game on the park and they have to do so again. David Humphreys’ side have been plagued with inconsistency all year and as a result have won just once away from home since Round 1. A victory for Sale keeps them mathematically in the hunt for Top 4, only before Saturday’s games, but really both are striving for Top 6. The last four fixtures between the two clubs have all gone the way of the home side and interestingly Gloucester were the last side to go a full Premiership season without losing at home back in 2010/11. 

At Welford Road Richard Cockerill’s Leicester Tigers will be looking to banish a few bad memories from last weekend where their handling deserted them. In the two weeks since Worcester’s loss to Wasps I expect Dean Ryan to have gone down hard on his side after he branded their opening-half as totally ‘unacceptable’. Without question the pressure, and expectation, is on Leicester as a victory would see them claim a play-off spot for the twelfth straight year. In a dozen previous visits Worcester have never won at Welford Road and although they’ll compete and push Leicester I can’t see an away victory happening on Saturday. During the week it was a shame to see that Freddie Burns’ season is over but Owen Williams showed at the City Ground that he'll continue the work that Freddie started this year and I expect that across the board errors levels should diminish.

In the final Saturday match Jim Mallinder's Northampton Saints will host Bath Rugby at Franklin's Gardens. Bath should be confident off their bonus-point victory over Sale, although the gloss was taken off it slightly as they didn’t finish as strongly as they started. Saints’ extended break should have given them some time to let a few of their injured players heal. Kahn Fotuali’i and Lee Dickson are both back in training and Alex King has said that he hopes to have ‘one or two guys back’ but didn’t divulge any further details. That said Northampton have been showing great resolve without their big guns and will want to continue to do so on home soil. Bath have won just once at Franklin’s Gardens since 2000 and it would be a huge result for them if they performed on the road and finally broke the hoodoo that the ground has over them. Anthony Watson will be back after his suspension and with Francois Louw and Matt Garvey set to return from injury personnel wise the visitors are looking in fairly good shape.

When the Exeter Chiefs run out at Sandy Park on Sunday afternoon I expect them to be greeted by a rapturous reception having secured Premiership play-off rugby for the first time in their history. Wasps also have their play-off place secured and now it’s a battle between the two for a home semi-final. That contest and the manner in which their previous meeting in the Champions Cup panned out means that this fixture should have plenty of niggle and bite to it. All of the sublime head-to-heads remain and with the two Piutau’s, Wade, Nowell, Slade and co on the field I just hope that the Great British weather is conducive to positive rugby. Of course Wasps will keep an eye on Exeter’s driving maul and if you fancy having a little flutter then Thomas Waldrom as the first try scorer isn't the worst bet in the world!! Exeter have lost just once at Sandy Park since January 2015 and Wasps have lost just one of their last 12 Premiership outings… in short we’re set for a humdinger of a fixture.

At the Madejski Stadium it is almost the last chance saloon for London Irish as they host Harlequins. The fact of the matter is that the Exiles’ record against their rivals isn’t great, they’ve won just one of their last 11 meetings and the only positive is that it was at the Madejski Stadium. The form book, and base levels of output of both sides, mean that it should be a straightforward away victory. Harlequins’ collective experience and firepower eclipses their counterparts but as Irish showed in their Challenge Cup quarter-final they can compete if they catch Quins napping. The overwhelming odds are against Tom Coventry’s side, Harlequins still have a Top 6 place to play for so are likely to field a strong side and Irish are staring in the face of relegation. The home team have to play with more freedom in order to make opportunities stick but when it’s do or die that’s tremendously difficult to do especially against a team of Quins’ calibre. 

The final game of the weekend will be at Allianz Park where Saracens will host Newcastle Falcons. At the Madejski Mark McCall’s side showed that they are the form team in Europe and although they've been on a team bonding trip to Dubrovnik I don’t expect that impact the result at the weekend. Saracens have already qualified for their seventh straight semi-final spot and have won their last five matches in all tournaments. If Dean Richards’ side do perform the seemingly impossible and topple Saracens then they would secure their safety for next season and condone Irish to the Championship but it's unlikely. Falcons haven't not won away from home since a visit to London Welsh back in October 2014 and at Allianz Park Saracens will be firing on all four cylinders to deliver Jacques Burger with the  fitting send off that he deserves.

Full Premiership Round 21 Schedule

Fri 29 April - 7.45pm - Sale Sharks v Gloucester Rugby

Sat 30 April - 3pm - Leicester Tigers v Worcester Warriors 

Sat 30 April - 3.15pm - Northampton Saints v Bath Rugby (BT Sport)

Sun 1 May - 1pm - Exeter Chiefs v Wasps (BT Sport)

Sun 1 May - 3pm - London Irish v Harlequins
Sun 1 May - 3.15pm - Saracens v Newcastle Falcons (BT Sport)

John Kingston to lead Harlequins into new era

It’s difficult to think about Harlequins without Conor O’Shea, the jovial and extremely experienced Irishman arrived at the club back in March 2010 and since he has overseen the Club’s most successful period in the professional era. However come June there will be a new man in charge as Conor leaves for Italy and John Kingston will step into his shoes.

Once in role John is planning on taking a step back from coaching, currently he’s in the thick of it as head coach, and let his new coaching structure take the reigns. Mark Mapeltoft will be promoted from Backs Coach to Head Coach after six years in that role, Collin Osborne will continue as skills coach and they’ll be joined by two fresh faces. Graham Rowntree will come in as Forwards Coach and finally Nick Easter completes the team as Defence Coach. 

It is a set up that looks to be a strong one and it fits the criterion that board member Sean Fitzpatrick wanted. The criterion included a passion for the club and an desire to continue the ‘Harlequins way’. This is not about radically changing Harlequins instead it is about continuing on their path and building. This structure, that was announced yesterday, was the one that Sean and the board started with and after interviewing various candidates finished with. 

During the announcement John outlined two areas that he wants to focus on from the outset; sharpening up their recruitment game and fixing the ‘top two inches’. In terms of recruitment it will be about giving more resource to this area and focusing across the world and then in terms of the psychology really sharpening up this aspect of the squad and if there’s the right person available bringing them in to do this. 

Nick Easter will be a coach first and foremost but retains a playing contract. Yesterday it was made very clear that his time and priorities will be coach led and should he be required to play he will. Naturally this is giving Harlequins the best of both worlds before he heads full-time into his new role and it will be up to Nick to manage the intricacies and balance of relationships with his team-mates next season. For some that could be difficult but given Nick’s personality and experience in the game he should be absolutely fine. 

Finally the re-introduction to rugby of Graham Rowntree is the last piece of the puzzle and a great one. England’s former forwards coach is ‘eager’ to get back into coaching after what he called ‘an enforced exile from the game’. It was a time that Graham found difficult and doesn’t want to dwell upon instead saying that he ‘learned a lot in that period and is going to use that going forwards’. Within England’s set-up Graham was always an extremely popular character as well as being an experienced and knowledgeable coach, and his personality and energy will suit Harlequins’ squad brilliantly. If anyone can handle the big personalities and characters housed in Harlequins’ front row and forward pack then it’s Graham and I expect to see quick developments under his tutelage. 

So as Sean Fitzpatrick opened with at yesterday’s announcement ‘the worst kept secret in rugby is out’ and Harlequins have confirmed how they will progress post Conor O’Shea. The work that Conor has done over the last six years has been superb and he leaves Harlequins in a strong place. The manner in which he has handled his departure says everything that you need to know about their Director of Rugby. In the weeks counting down to his departure it’s not been about him and won’t be until after the side have played their final game of the season. Instead the focus remains solely on the task at hand and it would be a fitting finish to Conor's time at the club if Danny Care lifted the European Challenge Cup trophy at the Grand Stade de Lyon on May 13. 

Champions Cup Semi-Final - Leicester Tigers v Racing 92

On Sunday afternoon the City Ground in Nottingham was filled with expectation and hope. The progression of Leicester Tigers this season has been marked and impressive so the fact they believed that they could beat Racing 92 and progress to the Champions Cup final was an entirely realistic viewpoint. Alas their handling deserted them and in the end it was a case of too little, too late. 

The ultimate frustration for Leicester and their coaches was the fact that they created multiple scoring opportunities but failed to finish a large proportion of them. It was due to their own errors that more points weren’t put on the board and having watched the match sitting next to their coaching box I can tell you that Richard Cockerill wasn’t happy about it. At the scrummage Dan Cole gave Eddy Ben Arous plenty to think about and before he left the field Freddie Burns was enjoying the European stage before Owen Williams  replaced him and continued in the same vain. In fairness to Leicester not all of their errors were individual 'brain farts' some were forced by the pressure that they were put under by Racing 92. Dan Carter and his side were defensive tyrants, their line speed and pressure on the gainline was crippling, and when they needed to they also scrambled well. 

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Carter himself made 14 tackles, only eclipsed by the work rate of Chris Masoe with 18 and in attack the World Player of the Year was effortlessly brilliant. Everything went through the fly-half, he pulled all of the strings and did so with a coolness of character that permeated through the rest of his side. The small matter of a European semi-final did not faze him and his work, combined with the firecracker that is Maxime Machenaud, drove Racing to victory. 

Of course questions will be ask as to whether or not the occasion got to the Tigers? Indeed only the players themselves will be able to say if that was the case, and if it was then they’re unlikely to admit that openly. It was their first European semi-final in a number of years and it involved a set of players that haven't been through that experience together before. As I mentioned in the review of Saracens' semi-final sometimes you have to lose a few big games in order to learn how to win them. Regardless of that point all at the club will view it as an opportunity missed and I imagine that their analysis session was a fairly blunt one. 

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Now the Tigers must shift their focus immediately to facing Worcester on Saturday afternoon and securing a Premiership playoff place. The work and strides that they've made this season have not been in vain, instead they simply suffered from a bad day at the office at the worst possible European moment. The return to Welford Road will not be as jovial as it would have been with a European final place been secured and their frustration will fire them up. Dean Ryan and his Worcester Warriors should be a touch concerned because I guarantee you that we'll see a highly motivated Tigers' side running out on Saturday afternoon that's eager to prove a point, as much to themselves, as to everyone else. 

Opta Match Statistics

Possesion - Leicester Tigers - 59%  v Racing 92  - 41%
Territory - Leicester Tigeres - 58%  v Racing 92 - 42%
Defenders Beaten - Leicester Tigers - 19   v   Racing 92 - 18
Turnovers Conceded - Leicester Tigers - 22  v   Racing 92 - 15

Carries

Chris Masoe 17

Dom Barrow 13

Telusa Veainu 12

Wemcelas Lauret 8

Brice Dulin 7

Metres Made

Telusa Veainu 91

Peter Betham 90

Brice Dunlin 67

Joe Rokocoko 66

Vereniki Goneva 61

Tackles

Chris Masoe 18

Dan Carter 14

Wenceslas Lauret 14

Harry Thacker 12
Dom Barrow 9

Champions Cup Semi-Final - Saracens vs. Wasps

On Saturday afternoon Saracens did it again, they forced their opponents into submission by playing at an intensity that one of the best side’s in the Premiership couldn't live with. Critics will continue to bash ‘boring and unimaginative Saracens' but potentially that all stems from jealousy because Mark McCall's side have yet to lose in the competition, something that others can only dream about. 

Now, having had some time to reflect on this Premiership European semi-final, I've come to the conclusion that it reminded me greatly of last year's domestic final. On both occasions Saracens were facing opponents filled with flair and form and on both occasions Mark McCall's side pushed them off their stride and dictated the fixtures. This time there wasn't a trophy at the end of it but there will be in three weeks time and from where I'm sitting the odds are stacked nicely in Saracens' favour. 

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At the Madejski Stadium Saracens showed the full benefit of their knockout experience, this was their fourth successive European semi-final and there’s truth in the phrase that you have to lose some along the way to understand how to win when it matters. On Saturday afternoon the Premiership leaders were physical powerhouses and led by the first-class performances from the Vunipola brothers and Maro Itoje.

Ultimately Wasps’ dream start, that sublime score from Dan Robson, couldn’t be built upon and instead Saracens dictated the match. Wasps had little possession and territory of their own and their dynamic backs didn’t spark as we’ve seen them do in recent weeks. Of course much of the lack of spark has to be down to the quality of the defence that they were up against, space against Saracens is limited at best and when they take their physicality to the level that we saw on Saturday few teams in Europe can cope, hence their unbeaten record in the tournament. 

A word if I may on the Man of the Match Maro Itoje. At this point, a couple of days after the victory, every positive adjective in the dictionary will have been used to describe the 21-year-old so forgive me if I repeat just a couple. Itoje is one of the rare individuals that looks born to excel on the largest of stages, already he is a powerful athlete and consistently is performing at the highest of levels. His citing commissioner warning was a small black mark on his afternoon’s work, but every player learns on the job, and it wasn’t a heinous crime. 

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Of course there will be slight concerns regarding Owen Farrell’s citing from the independent commissioner because the low end sanction for a dangerous tackle is two weeks and mid-rage is 6. We’ll just have to wait and see how that one pans out over the coming days and Saracens will react accordingly. 

Putting that to one side Brad Barritt lifting the European Champions Cup trophy has been Saracens’ focus since a cold Saturday night back in November when they blew away Toulouse at Allianz Park. If Mark McCall’s side are victorious on May 14 at the Grand Stade de Lyon then they will be the first team ever to remain unbeaten en route to the title. Saracens’ style of play may not be everyone’s cup of tea but whether you like it or not you have to appreciate what a huge achievement it would be to take the 2016 European title. 

Champions Cup Semi-Finals

The last time that there were three Premiership clubs in the top European semi-finals Out On The Full haven’t been created and I was still at university! Now Saracens, Wasps and the Leicester Tigers are flying the Premiership flag with distinction and this weekend promises to be one of the most dramatic of the season. 

The semi-finals of any competition are one of the worst places to leave, you’ve done all of the hard work to get there and yet fall short of being able to have a shot of lifting the title. It’s brutal, agonising and cruel, but at the end of the day that’s professional sport. 

Both semi-finals are equally intriguing, with Saracens and Wasps you have the meeting of Europe’s best defence against the leaders of the pack in attack. Then with Leicester and Racing 92 you have a Tigers side that are desperate to get back to the top of the European summit and a Racing side that are ignited by one of the best fly-halves the game has ever seen. 

Saracens v Wasps

So where should I start with Saracens versus Wasps? Perhaps with the colossal  personal match-ups? Or with their respective records in this year’s European competitions? In fact the question is immaterial because wherever you start the conclusion is that this is going to be an immense battle of wills and we are going to witness some sensational rugby.

Saracens are yet to lose in this year’s European competition and Mark McCall’s side have only conceded 10 tries in their 7 matches. Without question Saracens are the best in the business at putting teams off their stride and then ruthlessly stifling their opponents. At times Saracens’ defence is impenetrable due to their intense physicality but if any side have the ability in their back line to find holes then it’s Wasps. 

Wasps charged out of Pool 5, the so called ‘Pool of Death’, without a backwards glance and it was their performances in Europe that power charged their season. Now Dai Young’s side are playing with immense confidence and have the lethal combination of electric backs that can make something happen from nothing and an experienced pack with a huge work rate. 

The personnel clashes are mouthwatering from Charles Piutau and Alex Goode at full back and Joe Launchbury going  against his England competitiors to watching both Christian Wade and Chris Ashton endeavouring to outshine each other on opposite wings. But, if you are going to pick one match up then it has to be Billy Vunipola and Nathan Hughes squaring up at No8. Without doubt Eddie Jones will be watching both of their outputs intently and I fully expect the ground at the Madejski Stadium to shake when they first clash. 

If I can let's just take a moment to apprecaite the impact that the most experienced man on the field could have, George Smith. At the age of 35 George is still at the very top of the Euoprean game, he's made the most tackles in the tournament so far, 94, and his impact on Wasps this season has been profound. The flanker's ability at the breakdown is innate and when he pops up at first-receiver it's brilliant to watch. Whether you do so on the day, or perhaps after, take a moment to focus solely on Australia's most cap forward ever and just appreciate his work, you won't regret it. 

The last time that these two sides met Wasps prevailed 62-34, but don’t take that scoreline as your barometer because at that time Saracens were missing a wealth of players. Indeed the only conclusions that you can deduce from that match are that Saracens will feel that they have a score to settle and Wasps will be itching to deliver another huge statement. 

Saracens: 15 Alex Goode 14 Chris Ashton 13 Duncan Taylor 12 Brad Barritt 11 Chris Wyles 10 Owen Farrell 9 Richard Wigglesworth 1 Mako Vunipola 2 Schalk Brits 3 Petrus du Plessis 4 Maro Itoje 5 George Kruis 6 Michael Rhodes 7 Will Fraser 8 Billy Vunipola  Replacements: 16 Jared Saunders  17 Richard Barrington 18 Titi Lamositele 19 Jim Hamilton 20 Jackson Wray 21 Neil de Kock 22 Charlie Hodgson 23 Marcelo Bosch

Wasps: 15 Charles Piutau 14 Christian Wade 13 Elliot Daly 12 Siale Piutau 11 Frank Halai 10 Jimmy Gopperth 9 Dan Robson 1 Matt Mullan 2 Carlo Festuccia 3 Lorenzo Cittadini 4 Joe Launchbury 5 Bradley Davies 6 James Haskell 7 George Smith 8 Nathan Hughes Replacements: 16 Ashley Johnson 17 Simon McIntyre 18 Phil Swainston 19 Sam Jones 20 Thomas Young 21 Joe Simpson 22 Ruaridh Jackson 23 Rob Miller

Leicester Tigers v Racing 92

On Sunday afternoon the Leicester Tigers will be returning to the scene of one of their most famous European victories, the City Ground in Nottingham. On 28th April 2002, Tim Stimpson kicked Leicester into the final with his penalty that bounced off the crossbar and post before going over. Of course it sent the Leicester Tigers' fans into a state of euphoria but I expect that this weekend they wouldn’t mind it being done and dusted before the final seconds of the game!

This is the first time that Racing 92 have ever reached this stage of Europe’s top flight competition and although Leicester are seasoned European veterans they haven’t been in the semi-final mix since the 2008/9 season.

Of course all eyes will be on the World Player of the Year, Dan Carter and looking at the impact that he’ll have on the game. Whether Dan is fit or not to take the place kicking duties is a moot point, instead his mere presence on the pitch ignites Racing and his game management skills are the most important thing. We’ve seen countless times before, including during the Rugby World Cup Final, just how well he can steer and control a test match and without question he'll do the same again on Sunday. It has to be said also that Racing's threats go beyond their fly-half; Juan Imhoff and Brice Dulin will be a handful for Leicester’s defence and in the second-row Luke Charteris is a classy operator. 

This season Leicester have been reinvigorated under the tutelage of Aaron Mauger and in a lovely little sub-plot their new head coach should have some insights on Dan Carter seeing he was a Cater’s team mate during their All Blacks days. Leicester’s attacking threats are as good as they come with Telusa Veainu and Peter Betham being the most potent of all. In the middle Freddie Burns is in the form of his career, his place kicking is on point and he’s playing with a great deal of confidence which is just as well given his opposite number. Leicester cannot be afraid to play on Sunday, they have to stick to their guns and attack the fixture with energy and conviction. 

Racing 92 should try and knock Leicester off their stride early in order to silence the crowd and worry their opponents. Conversely Leicester have to make full use of home country advantage and the fact that ‘away’ clubs only have a 35% success rate. 

Leicester TIgers: 15 Mathew Tait 14 Telusa Veainu 13 Peter Betham 12 Manu Tuilagi 11 Vereniki Goneva 10 Freddie Burns 9 Ben Youngs 1 Marcos Ayerza 2 Harry Thacker 3 Dan Cole 4 Dom Barrow 5 Graham Kitchener 6 Michael Fitzgerald 7 Lachlan McCaffrey 8 Opéti Fonua Replacements: 16 Greg Bateman 17 Logovi’i Mulipola 18 Fraser Balmain 19 Ed Slater 20 Tom Croft 21 Sam Harrison 22 Owen Williams 23 Adam Thompstone

Racing 92: 15 Brice Dulin 14 Joe Rokocoko 13 Johannes Goosen 12 Alexandre Dumoulin 11 Juan Imhoff 10 Dan Carter 9 Maxime Machenaud 1 Eddy Ben Arous 2 Virgile Lacombe 3 Ben Tameifuna 4 Luke Charteris 5 Francois van der Merwe 6 Wenceslas Lauret 7 Bernard Le Roux 8 Chris Masoe Replacements: 16 Camille Chat 17 Khatchik Vartanov 18 Luc Ducalcon 19 Manuel Carizza 20 Antonie Claassen 21 Mike Phillips 22 Remi Tales 23 Louis Dupichot

Champions Cup Schedule

Saturday 23rd April - Saracens v Wasps KO 3pm 
Sky Sports 1 Coverage from 2.55pm

Sunday 24th April - Leicester Tigers v Racing 92 KO 3.15pm
BT Sport Europe Coverage 2.30pm

Aviva Premiership Round 20 - Review

Heading into Round 20 I said that this was the weekend that would go a long way to deciding the make up of this season's Premiership table and as a result we witnessed some intense and enthralling matches. From the predictable to the unpredictable the round had it all, so let's take a look at the ins and outs of Round 20. 

At Kingsholm Gloucester put in a performance to be proud of against Exeter Chiefs. David Humphreys side held their composure and nerve to deny their opponents any points and to prevent them securing a play-off spot after Round 20. 0-0 after forty minutes wasn’t the best way to start the Premiership weekend but a potent period after the break helped us forget a fairly uneventful opening. Ollie Thorley’s try was the only one of the match as he capitalised on a great offload from Tom Savage and from there on Gloucester stayed composed. Jack Nowell’s yellow card, that in my opinion shouldn't have been given, made life difficult for the Chiefs and they found themselves unable to reach the heights of their European encounter just 6 days prior. The result sets up a tasty rematch against Wasps after the European weekend with both sides looking to secure second place while Gloucester keep their Top 6 hopes alive for another week. Full Time Gloucester Rugby 16-9 Exeter Chiefs

Sixways witnessed a remarkable match with more points scored than minutes played and no less than 14 tries being put on the board. Of course the man of the moment was Christian Wade who notched up a staggering 6 tries on his 100th appearance for the club, equalling the Premiership record for individual tries scord in a single game. Wade was in the zone and ran riot and his performance caused Dai Young to openly ask Eddie Jones to have another look at the winger. Neither side put their best defensive foot forwards, uncharacteristic for Wasps, and that's something that they'll need to fix ahead of their European semi-final. After the full time whistle Dean Ryan wasn’t the happiest man, he blasted his side for their ‘totally unacceptable first-half' saying that they didn’t want to be ‘involved in any end-of-season jamboree’. Needless to say I expect that there will be a little more training done than time off over the next two weeks before they head to Welford Road on May 30th. Full Time Worcester Warriors 35-54 Wasps

88,000 people packed into the home of football to watch Saracens facing Harlequins. Conor O’Shea’s side knew that if they lost it would put an end to their play-off ambitions and while their opponents didn’t blast them off the pitch Saracens did perform their trademark strangulation technique. Two tries from an in-form Chris Ashton and another from George Kruis put the league leaders in control with all of Harlequins' points coming from the boot of Ben Botica. As expected individuals stood up on pristine turf, none more so than Alex Goode, who continues to remind us all how much he has to offer. In Mark McCall’s words Saracens were ‘a little bit below the standards that we would expect’ but they finished the job and will take their game to another level for this weekend's European semi-final. Full Time Saracens 22-12 Harlequins

At Franklin’s Gardens play-off rugby was on the line and it was the Leicester Tigers that finished the 80 minutes with their noses in front in spite of Saints' late charge. As always it was a tempestuous match with plenty of physicality and some great scores but for once no cards. Without question Harry Thacker try was the pick of the bunch, the hooker is a tremendous athlete and one that has to be on Eddie Jones' radar. For the home side Harry Mallinder came on early and really got stuck into the derby fixture and his development has been a huge positive for the side this season. Freddie Burns notched up another 20-points in Leicester's 10 jersey and continued to pull the strings with supreme confidence. For a Northampton side that was shawn of so many of their key players their performance was gutsy and full of character, but slight errors cost them the match. Full Time Northampton Saints 24-30 Leicester Tigers

Bath Rugby travelled to the AJ Bell Stadium to face the Sale Sharks and Steve Diamond's side gave their Top 6 hopes a significant boost with the victory. The home side enjoyed a positive opening before Bath wrestled their way back into the match and with the scores level at 17-17 heading into the final quarter the stage was set for a big finish. Danny Cipriani and George Ford both missed kicks that each should have slotted in their sleep and when Dom Day was sin binned for collapsing a maul Sale took advantage and David Seymour darted over. Mark Easter's final try put a little gloss on the afternoon for the home side and it exploited the fact that Bath only had 13 men on the field. Kyle Eastmond had been stretchered off after a nasty blow to the head and the visitors weren't able to replace him because it wasn't a HIA and they'd used all of their replacements. Sale attacked the match in the same manner that they've done the season, quietly and confidently, and their five-points are significant ones. Full Time Sale Sharks 39-17 Bath Rugby

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The final game of the weekend was the big one, the relegation decider and it was a tense and strained as we all expected it to be. It wasn't ever going to be beautiful or a vintage classic instead it was match of missed Irish opportunities and stoic Newcastle defence. Marcus Watson’s try was the decider, the former sevens man showed his pace off a dropped Irish ball and then the Falcons let their defence do the rest. As the match continued it was clear that Irish didn't have the answers to unlock Falcons defensive wall. The best opportunity was down the left-hand wing and only Aseli Tikoirotuma will know why he didn’t back his pace and drive for the line. Even though mathematically Irish can still stay up you sense that this is it for Tom Coventry's side and a season in the Championship beckons. Full Time Newcastle Falcons 13-6 London Irish

Eddie Jones - 'Guys are on notice'

The sharp end of the season is now upon us with the latter stages of both the domestic and European competitions arriving thick and fast over the next couple of weeks. As soon as both have been decided then there’s the small matter of England heading on an summer tour to Australia. England may have won a Grand Slam less than a month ago but this week Eddie Jones has sent a clear message out to his players. 

Over the past four weeks England’s head coach has been carefully watching his squad, on the Sunday afternoon after their Saturday Grand Slam triumph Jones implored all to go back to their clubs and ignite the domestic competition. In his eyes most have been doing so but some haven’t and just over a month before he announces his touring squad to Australia his message is clear.

“If you look at the 32 or 33 players we used for the Six Nations I'd say at this stage 27 or 28 of those players have played with distinction. They've gone back to their clubs, they've played at international standard, they've added to their teams and that's why they're doing well. They're the best players in England. There are four or five who haven't and those guys are on notice, they won't be going on tour unless they change their approach to their play.” said England’s head coach. 

“What they're doing in games is not good enough. One of the things we said when they left England, after the 6 Nations, was that they had to go back to their clubs and play like international players. There have been a few that haven't and those guys are on notice. They won't be going on tour unless they change their attitude. It's not talent, it's attitude, but the rest of them have been outstanding.”

In terms of attitudes Eddie Jones wants to ensure that these few players don’t get ahead of themselves, he mentioned no names but said that they knew who they were. His mind is clearly made up, if the individuals whomever they are, don't change the attributes that he doesn't want to see then in his words their ‘England careers will be something that’s a good memory'. With the busines end of the season coming up those that are currently being reviewed/focused on have time to turn it around and Jones final comment on the subject was that he hopes that they do.  

Keeping the players on their toes and feeling 'uncomfortable' has been one of Eddie Jones mantras ever since he has been in role, for it’s his belief that players that are comfortable don’t perform to the best of their abilities. 

“We've got to improve the team. The team can't sit still. We've got to improve the team and find better, younger players who are faster, more agile, more skilful and more desirous. That's the job we've got. There's an old political term, ‘you want to fix the roof when the sun's still shining’ and that's what we want to do.”

Ben Te’o is a name that certainly could be in contention to be part of Eddie’s Australian tour, the understanding is that this depends on the contractual specifics being discussed. If Dylan Hartley is fit then he will be the man to lead the tour, Eddie Jones praised his ability to influence players and to tell them to pull their socks if required but still retain a good rapport with the players.  

“The growth of the team now is about not only getting tactically better but also about growing as a responsible team which can grow by itself.”

England’s Saxons tour will not necessarily be for those that are second or third in contention for places, indeed some of those individuals won’t go to South Africa according to Eddie Jones. Instead he said that it needs to be for those that are in fifth or sixth place in contention in order to see whether they can handle the test match environment. In terms of the coach that will be leading the the Saxons squad Eddie Jones will have an input in the decision but won’t be the individual making the final call. Why? I hear you ask, well that's because as he says that his sole focus is on coaching the national team.

Just a few weeks out from England’s tour to Australia the messages from Eddie Jones are loud and clear. First he doesn’t want to rest individuals this summer if you're fit the you are available. Second, the side needs to keep evolving and improving and no players place is safe. Finally, there are a few individuals that need to pull up their socks in order to secure their place on the plane and they've just a few weeks of competitive rugby to do so. 

Aviva Premiership Round 20 Preview

Welcome to a decisive round of Aviva Premiership action - Round 20 will go a long way towards determining the final make up at the top and the bottom of the table. Some teams are heading into this weekend off the back of a two week break while others have been battling it out in Europe. It’s a round that includes numerous derby fixtures and a basement battle between Newcastle Falcons and London Irish. Personally I’ll be locked into BT Sport’s coverage instead of being at any of the live matches as I’m working on the Women’s Sevens Series from late afternoon until the wee hours on both Saturday and Sunday morning and am looking forward to seeing how all of the action pans out. 

We'll start the weekend with two sides that are both looking to bounce back after European disappointment. Of the two losses it was Exeter Chiefs’ that was the most agonising to watch and Rob Baxter has already charged his men with securing a home semi-final saying ‘it is in their hands’. The Head Coach has made just one change to the side that faced Wasps with Moray Low out due to injury and Harry Williams being promoted from the bench. David Humphreys has made four changes to his side and tasked them with delivering ‘consistency’ for their final three matches. Once again Gloucester’s season has tailed off, they've lost five on the bounce in all competitions and injuries have hurt them. Exeter haven’t ever done the Premiership double over their west country rivals but with the type of rugby that they are playing I can see them going to Kingsholm and inflicting more misery on The Shed. 

Round 19 was bitter sweet for the Worcester Warriors as they secured their Premiership place for next season but were absolutely thumped by the Exeter Chiefs. It will be interesting to see how the Warriors react in these final three matches knowing that they’re safe, hopefully they’ll use them as an opportunity to express themselves against tough opposition. Wasps will be buzzing, no pun intended, after the euphoria of their last gasp victory against the Exeter Chiefs. As their Champions Cup game progressed they improved and by the end were showing us their full box of tricks with the Piutau brothers and Elliot Daly playing with the type of invention and flair that only they can deliver. Without question Wasps will have far too much for Worcester but I hope that the Warriors pitch up and make a great go of it. 

Wembley Stadium will host Saracens’ derby day with Harlequins and Mark McCall’s side will be looking to avenge the Round 8 match at The Stoop that halted their unbeaten start to the season. Saracens’ opening forty minutes against Northampton were uncharacteristically off colour and lacked the intensity that they are famous for. But, they stepped it up in the second-half and in front of a huge crowd at Wembley I expect to see Mark McCall’s side in full flow. Harlequins need to use the pristine turf at the home of football to their advantage, they were pushed hard by London Irish but prevailed and must continue to play with their trademark tempo and pace. Quins have not achieved a season double over their London neighbours since 2008/09 and to do so it will take a formidable  performance, with every single one of their internationals delivering at their peak,

The final derby of the day will be at Franklin’s Gardens where Northampton Saints host Leicester Tigers. Sport Magazine’s Charlie Morgan delivered a great stat earlier in the week that said the last Premiership game between the two sides which ended without any cards being given was October 2009! Northampton Saints were without so many key men against Saracens and although Tom Wood and Kieran Brookes return they're still missing some vital firepower. Teimana Harrison continues to catch the eye but the question is whether Saints will be able to dust themselves off and deliver another game of test match intensity with a squad shawn of so many players? Leicester Tigers played some superb rugby against Stade Francais Paris, yes Stade were a bit of a shambles, but Leicester’s output was sharp, crisp and filled with flair. Peter Betham, Telusa Veianu and a revitalised Vereniki Goneva should continue where they left off while Freddie Burns is approaching the form of his career. On an East Midlands derby day you have to expect the unexpected, the intensity will be off the charts as both know that their play-off positions are on the line. 

At the AJ Bell Stadium Sale are hosting Bath for the first of two consecutive meetings between the two. Steve Diamond’s side suffered at the hands of a physical Montpellier side in Europe and didn’t adapt to referee John Lacey and that's omething that they’ll need to change this weekend. Due to their early exit from the European competition Bath have had two weeks off since they faced Saracens in Round 19 and the question is whether or not the break will have rejuvenated a side that aren’t really enjoying themselves this season? Stuart Hooper’s immediate retirement is a huge loss - the tributes from players and coaches across the competition speak for themselves. For 8 years he has been at the heart of the club, his leadership is outstanding and one of the reasons that they've struggled this year has been due to his absence on the field. Bath have not achieved a Premiership season’s double over Sale since 2010/11 and Steve Diamond’s team will be ready to front up physically and prove that they are very much in the Top 6 mix. 

The final game of the weekend is an almighty clash at the bottom of the table between Newcastle Falcons and London Irish. Newcastle have lost their last six matches in the competition but Dean Richards is heaping the pressure on their opponents saying that Irish are the one’s that are ‘desperate’ while his side ‘have nothing to lose’. On the one hand he is right as the focus is on Irish because they are four-points adrift at the foot of the table but the home side aren’t devoid of pressure themselves. This match will be about the players managing their own emotions as much as their physical output because one mistake could decide their side’s future. Newcastle have two elements in their favour; first, they have been in this position more times than Irish and more recently and second they are on home soil. Irish haven’t won away from home since February-15 but showed much greater quality against Harlequins in Europe last weekend and have to deliver to that level again this weekend. 

Full Fixture Schedule

Fri 15 April - 7.45pm - Gloucester Rugby v Exeter Chiefs (BT Sport)

Sat 16 April - 3pm - Worcester Warriors v Wasps 

Sat 16 April - 3.15pm - Saracens v Harlequins (BT Sport) 

Sat 16 April - 5.30pm - Northampton Saints v Leicester Tigers (BT Sport) 

Sun 17 April - 2.30pm - Sale Sharks v Bath Rugby 

Sun 17 April - 3pm - Newcastle Falcons v London Irish (BT Sport)