And then there were four: Everything’s in place for a spectacular Premier 15s sprint finish
And then there were four.
Gloucester-Hartpury: The table toppers. The first-placers. The cherry and white history makers, who made a statement on day one and have hit headlines like Neve Jones hits rucks ever since. The circus, whose be-scrunchied ringmaster dazzles, whose flyers are physics-defying, and whose strong women have marched them to the summit of the standings.
Exeter Chiefs: The defenders of Fortress Sandy Park. The most prolific and the most impenetrable. The side whose squad is a tapestry of superstars from across the globe and home-hewn heroes, and who’re itching to put right the wrongs of last year’s final and add a Premier 15s trophy to the Allianz Cup nestled in their coffers. The outfit who’ve fought tooth and nail to ensure a home tie this weekend, and whose fans are always high volume in both senses of the word.
Saracens: The reigning champions: a title they’ve held for almost the entirety of the league’s existence. The side who haven’t lost since January, and who know exactly what it takes to win this thing. The wolfpack, who’ve stalked their way from seventh to third since Christmas, and have won their last meetings with each of the other playoff participants. The team richest in record-writing Red Roses, and for whom shorter summer breaks have proven a small price to pay for the stars on their jerseys.
Bristol Bears: And the underdogs on paper who aren’t necessarily underdogs at all. The team no one’s talking about as contenders, but who have quietly gone about some stunning performances of late – almost picking the pockets of Saracens in their own back yard, and doing the unthinkable in coming from behind against an Exeter side with an infamous sprint finish. The pack (or backfield: both apply here) which contains Sarah Bern, too – which makes them, by definition, dangerous. The team who can beat anyone on their day.
That’s some cast for a season finale, and there are a plethora of factors which make this penultimate weekend unmissable.
Saturday 10th June- Gloucester Hartpury v Bristol at Kingsholm
Sunday 11th June- Exeter Chiefs v Saracens at Sandy Park
Firstly – it’ll literally be quite hard to miss, with live coverage on BT Sport, BBC iPlayer and .com, and Premier15s channels on both the Saturday and Sunday. Kick off’s at 3pm each afternoon, so – if you can’t get to a game – clear your diary, stock up the fridge, set an alarm, and settle on down.
Secondly – we’re guaranteed a first-time finalist, and could even – by the end of Sunday – be guaranteed a first-time champion. Chiefs broke the Saracens-Harlequins finals duopoly last year: imagine if we had a third name on the trophy by July. Even if we don’t, the make-up of the final four is an exhilarating reflection of how open the league is becoming, which only bodes well for next season and beyond.
Thirdly – there will be 92 brilliant athletes in action, from as many as ten nations. These squads include three recent World Player of the Year nominees, the 2021 winner of that accolade, five of the eight forwards from the 2022 World Rugby Dream Team (six, if we count Abbie Ward), five recipients of a Six Nations player of the match award this spring, and all three contenders for this season’s RPA Premier 15s Player of the Year gong.
Those don’t even include the likes of Kate Zackary, Lleucu George, Amber Reed, or Jess Breach – who all single-handedly get bums on seats and set hearts racing. Quality: wall-to-wall and all the way from Kingsholm to Sandy Park.
Fourthly – both matches have plenty of spice about them. Gloucester-Hartpury up against Bristol is bhuna levels: a West Country derby between a pair who pride themselves on their ability to entertain, and who are hellbent on punching their ticket to the final. Sean Lynn’s women are favourites – hosting a side they’ve done the double over this season, and with a formidable squad at their disposal – but Bears throw a kitchen sink as well as anyone. The pressure’s all on the cherry and whites, too: they’ve home advantage in both knockout fixtures, and their mightily impressive last seven months suggest that Saturday is theirs to lose.
The irrepressible Dave Ward is quick to point out that Bristol took the spoils in their Allianz Cup bronze medal match, but how much can be read into that is debatable. Both rotated heavily last weekend, so their big names will be chomping at the bit, and fresh legs only elevate their mutual ability to grace a rugby pitch with out-and-out razzamatazz. Hunt-George-Heard versus Bevan-Snowswill-Reed? Mouth-watering. Sing and Lovibond in space? Where do I sign? The prospect of Muir, Tuipulotu, Bern and Pam all competing to see who can play the least like a prop? Magic.
Chiefs versus Saracens is a jalfrezi, if not a vindaloo. It’s a rematch of last year’s final – when the women in black’s performance was majestic, and Exeter were left desperately disappointed with their own. They’re better for the experience, many of them have said, and it’d be even sweeter if the Devonians’ romp to a first league title included knocking the reigning champions out of the competition. They’re a ruthless outfit this year: Susie Appleby has recruited outstandingly, and their statistics really are the pick of the bunch. They’ll have their work cut out, though: Saracens will not relinquish the throne of English rugby readily, and are more motivated than ever.
They’ve had to plumb the depths of their resilience this campaign – Alex Austerberry’s said that this would be the most precious and hard-fought triumph yet – but will arrive at Sandy Park bristling with intent: relishing the challenge of needing to overturn Chiefs there for the very first time, and eyes locked on the target of proving their doubters wrong.
Despite what my spell-checker is telling me, I don’t think ‘fifthly’ is a real word, so let’s wrap things up, but there are some other Fs which feel appropriate to end with. Fitting, finale, and fever-pitch encapsulate the whole weekend very nicely. Saturday will bring together two outfits laden with flair and firepower, and Sunday promises to be ferocious between familiar foes. It’s finally finals time.
What’s gone before matters, of course, but it also really doesn’t. Any of these teams could pull together 160 irresistible minutes and win the whole Premier 15s, and that’s thrilling. These are the best four sides in the league, and the margins for error only narrow as the stakes get higher and the intensity cranks up. Moments will define entire seasons, and chances have to be taken.
No one has ever taken them better than Saracens, but Gloucester-Hartpury finished top. Then again – Chiefs shattered the league’s record points difference, and Bristol are devastating when things click.
It’s all to play for. The pacemaker of the regular season has stepped off the track and the bell’s sounding: there’s a lead pack of four, and it’s time to see who’s got something audacious and all-conquering left in the tank.
It’s time to thin the field yet again: only two will reach the home straight, and the burn up promises to be spectacular.
Comments on RugbyPass
The current AB coaching team is basically the Crusaders so it smacks of wanting their familiar leaders around. This is not a good look for the future of the ABs or the younger players in Super working their way up the player ladder. Razor is touted as innovative, forward looking but his early moves look like insecurity and insular, provincial thinking. He is the AB's coach not the Golden Oldies.
10 Go to commentsSimple reason for wanting him back. Robertson wants him as captain. Otherwise he wouldn’t be bothering chasing him. Not enough reason to come back just to mentor.
10 Go to commentsI had not considered this topic like this at all, brilliant read. I had been looking at his record at the Waratahs and thought it odd the Crusaders appointed him, then couple that with all that experience and talent departing and boom. They’ve got some great talent developing though, and in all honesty I don’t think anyone would be over confident taking them on in a playoff match, no matter how poor the first half of their season was. I think they can pull a game out of their ass when it counts.
1 Go to commentsNot a bad list but not Porecki and not Donaldson. Not because they are Tahs, or Ex Tahs, they are just not good enough. Edmed should be ahead. Far more potential. Wilson should be 8 and Valentini 6. Wilson needs to be told by his father and his coach, stop bloody running in to brick wall defence. You’re not playing under the genius Thorn any more. He’s a fantastic angle runner. The young new 8 from the Brumbies looks really good too. The Lonegrans are just too small for international rugby as is Paisami, as is Hamish Stewart at 12. Both great at Super Rugby level. Stewart could have been a great 10 if not for Brad Thorn. Uru should be there and so should Tupou. Tupou just needs good Australian coaching which he hasn’t been getting. I don’t think Schmidt will excite him.
2 Go to commentsIf he wants to come back then he should. He will be a major asset to the younger locks and could easily be played as an impact player off the bench coming on in the last 30. He is fit, strong and capable and has all the experience to make up for any loss in physical prowess. He could also be brought back with a view to coaching within the structures one day. Duane Vermeulen played until he was 37 or 38. He is now a roaming coach within the South African coaching structures. He was valuable in the last world cup and has been a major influence on Jasper Wiese and other young players which has helped and accelerated their development and growth. Whitelock could do the exact same thing for NZ
10 Go to commentsBrett Excellent words… finally someone (other than DC) has noted that Hanigan is very hard and very good at doing what Backrow should do… his performance via the Drua sauna was quite daunting for those on the other side… very high tackle count… carries with good end result… constant threat to make a good 20-25 meters with those long legs… providing his mass effectively to crunching the Drua pack… Finally he is returning to quality form… way to much injury time over the last 2 years… smart-strong-competent in his skills… caught every lineout throw aimed at him and delivered clean pass to whoever was down below… and he worked hard for the whole 80 minutes… Ned has to be in the top 5 for backrow honors… He knows what is required as he has been there before…
20 Go to commentsI think Sam Whitelock should not touch a return with a bargepole. He went out on a high, playing in the RWC Final. He would be coming back into a team that will be weaker than last years, and might even be struggling to win games, especially against the Boks. Stay in France, enjoy another year with Pau, playing alongside his brother.
10 Go to commentsRyan Coxon has been very impressive considering he was signed by WF as injury cover whilst Uru has been a standout for QR, surprised neither of those mentioned
2 Go to commentsIt’s the massive value he brings with regard team culture/values, preparation, etc. Can’t buy that. I’m hoping to see the young locks get their chance in the big games though.
10 Go to commentsAll good, Gregor, except that you neglected to mention Sam Darry amongst that talented pool of locks. In fact, given Hannah’s inexperience and the fact that Holland won’t be eligible until next year, Lord and Darry might be the frontrunners this year, to join Barrett, Tuipoluto, Va’ii and possibly Whitelock. In fact there might be room for all of them if Barrett played 6 (like Ollie Chessum).
10 Go to commentsHis value is stabilizing the ship 20 - 40 minutes out from the final whistle plus his valuable experience to the underlings coming through.
10 Go to commentsWhat is criminal is she acts like it's no problem her actions have have cause the Italian player to lose her playing career, lose salary, if she did this in day to day life she would be in jail, she is a complete thug!!!
3 Go to commentsCorrect me if i’m wrong but the sadas have to win all games running into the finals yeh nah?
1 Go to commentsDon’t like Diamond but the maul is a joke, the sight of a choke tackle creating a maul then players in offside positions flopping on it killing the ball but then getting the put in? Banal.
3 Go to commentsHopefully Tabai Matson returns to Crusaders as head coach next season.
1 Go to commentsstorm in a teacup really. Penalty only so play on as the try was scored. Now the real question is: why was Maitland allowed to pass the ball off the floor? That is illegal but refs never pick it up.
1 Go to commentsWhen Beauden Barrett signed his contract before the 2023 RWC to play in Japan in 2024, it was NOT part of a sabbatical agreed to with NZRU prior to his signing, as was Ardie Savea and Sam Cane. Barrett changed his mind after the fact and negotiated his return to NZ Rugby and he was given permission to be eligible for All Black selection straight away once he signed a new contract to return to the Blues in 2025. Therefore, why would anyone argue against Whitelock returning to the All Blacks straight away after his season is France is finished if he signs a new contract with NZRU which includes a Super Rugby contract in 2025? If Barrett can, Whitelock should be allowed too.
10 Go to commentsThe All Blacks will select 5 locks this season. Scott Robertson will most likely want to select 2 veteran locks who can start right away in 2024 and 3 young promising locks who he would like to be pushing hard for selection in the starting XV in two years time- 2026. Scott Barrett is a world class lock. Who would you rather start beside him this season against England, South Africa, Ireland, and France- Sam Whitelock or Patrick Tuipulotu? I would choose Whitelock over Tuipulotu all day, every day.
10 Go to commentsThose ears must give him great field awareness
1 Go to commentsFrench international centre Maelle Fillopon is death, too.
1 Go to comments