After just three Premiership rounds there has been a record 1001 points and 116 tries scored. The previous bests, at this point, were 931 points in 1998 and 102 tries last year.
With the weather playing ball, and the players too, it's been a scintillating start to the new season even if people that operate with their glasses half full will say that the records have come due to poor defensive work across the board.
With the weather playing ball, and the players too, it's been a scintillating start to the new season even if people that operate with their glasses half full will say that the records have come due to poor defensive work across the board.
Now, as you all know I'm not a glass half full kind of person... instead I take the perspective that it's great to see teams going for it on the front foot. We need to embrace these rounds wholeheartedly because when the dark nights arrive and the weather turns we will have some slugfests!
On Thursday Eddie Jones names a training squad for a camp that will be taking place in Bristol and we'll all have a chance to hear his thoughts about the early-season rugby. I'll be bringing them to you here at Out On The Full but for now, let's take a look at a few talking points from the first 18 matches of the new Premiership season.
First, let's turn our attentions on Joe Cokanasiga. The 20-year-old's move from London Irish to Bath was hotly anticipated by those with blue, black and white running through their veins and so far he's not disappointed. The manner in which he touched down his first try against Harlequins showcased his athletic abilities and power. It was a finish that few could deliver, though the man on Bath's other wing would fancy himself to score it, and his 151 metres highlighted the extent of his work rate. Cokanasiga has shown in the first three rounds that he's a winger that's hungry for work and one that wants to get involved in the action. He doesn't hang out on the wing and hope for play to come to him, instead he comes in and looks to make things happen. As Bath's collective confidence rises Cokanasiga's influence should increase further and the young man will put himself firmly on England's radar once again.
In Round 3, for the second week in a row, George Ford took it upon himself to lead the way for Leicester Tigers and had another outstanding performance at the Ricoh Arena. He created three of their four tries due to his vision and exceptional ability to make the right choice at the line. The fly-half goes flatter to the line than some in his position will ever dare to and, with defenders rushing onto him, sees everything around him and nine times out of ten makes the correct decisions. His 15 points off the tee went a long way towards Leicester almost pinching a gutsy 14-man victory away from home and the 25-year-old is at the heart of their productivity.
Now, let's discuss Exeter Chiefs' start to the new season. Three matches and three bonus-points wins... that's pretty tidy as they'd say in Wales! Rob Baxter is a man that always talks a great deal of sense and, as always, it was a pleasure to speak to him at the Gallagher Premiership season launch. The Director of Rugby was clear that he wanted his side to carry all of the positive aspects from last season into this one and build on them. He was very clear about the fact that the Chiefs didn't need to fall into the trap of trying to change too drastically.
Instead, the Director of Rugby was keen to remind his squad that they were starting their new term off the back of a highly productive 2017/18 campaign. Despite losing the final they finished top of the tree at the end of 22 rounds and collected more points than they'd done before to secure that position. The side won their semi-final more convincingly than they had done before but just fell short in the big dance.
Already this season the Chiefs setting the height of the bar for others to reach, along with Saracens. They are the ultimate team, they compliment each other and are as tight as they come as a group (coaches and players together). Of course individuals like Henry Slade, Don Armand and Sam Simmonds can be singled out but it's the collective that makes Exeter such a force. It's not too much to say that they're an early shoe-in for another crack at the title come May 2019 and it will take some stopping them in that match if they progress on from their early-season level.
Instead, the Director of Rugby was keen to remind his squad that they were starting their new term off the back of a highly productive 2017/18 campaign. Despite losing the final they finished top of the tree at the end of 22 rounds and collected more points than they'd done before to secure that position. The side won their semi-final more convincingly than they had done before but just fell short in the big dance.
Already this season the Chiefs setting the height of the bar for others to reach, along with Saracens. They are the ultimate team, they compliment each other and are as tight as they come as a group (coaches and players together). Of course individuals like Henry Slade, Don Armand and Sam Simmonds can be singled out but it's the collective that makes Exeter such a force. It's not too much to say that they're an early shoe-in for another crack at the title come May 2019 and it will take some stopping them in that match if they progress on from their early-season level.
