Aviva Premiership Power Rankings: Everyone's chasing Saracens

Shamelessly stealing Scotty Stevenson’s Super Rugby Power Rankings format and passing it off as his own, James Harrington rates the Aviva Premiership teams as the title race enters the final straight.

1. Saracens

Who else could it be? Saracens – well on the way to defending titles on two fronts – are the best club side in the northern hemisphere’s big three leagues right now, so it’s entirely appropriate that they should top this inaugural and entirely original Aviva Premiership power list. If you want to be picky, with a back line featuring marmite finisher Chris Ashton, Saracens should probably trouble the tryline more – even after their eight-try demolition of Bath at the weekend they have crossed the opponents’ whitewash 54 times in this campaign, compared to Wasps’ 73 and Exeter’s 66. So, yes, there are more bravura sides out there, but there are none better. Defensively, Sarries are Maro Itoje’s head, while he’s standing on George Kruis and Jim Hamilton’s shoulders, above the rest. The proof? Opponents have crossed their line just 19 times. And when the fancy takes them, as it did at the weekend, they can still do what they did to Bath.

2. Wasps

Play-off place confirmed with four matches of the regular season to go, a European Champions Cup quarter-final at the weekend, top-table European rugby assured next season… what’s not to like about the side whose fortunes turned around almost the instant they left London for Coventry in 2014? They score tries at a rate of more than four a match, and, keeping any watching neutrals entertained, ship them at a rate of nearly three a game. Were it not for Sarries, a below-par (yes, really) six-try win over Worcester at the weekend, and a mission impossible at Leinster in the last eight of the European competition coming up, Wasps would even top the table. Possibly.

3. Exeter Chiefs

It’s almost impossible to argue with the Chiefs’ 11-match unbeaten run in the Premiership. But expectations these days are so high at Sandy Park that no one was that impressed with the manner of their most recent bonus-point win over Sale. And that should tell you a lot about how far the club has come since joining the top flight seven seasons ago. A top-two finish, a home play-off semi-final and a second trip to Twickenham in as many seasons is beckoning – along with another Champions Cup adventure next season. But no one at the Chiefs is about to get complacent. Head coach Rob Baxter, who must be on England’s radar as Eddie Jones’s replacement after the 2019 World Cup, won’t let them.

4. Leicester Tigers

At Northampton on Saturday, Leicester bade farewell to their second boss since the start of 2017, as Aaron Mauger took charge of his last Tigers’ game. That game was an epic, as the players gave the coach the send-off he deserved, but it’s the backroom uncertainty, rather than the proud ol’ club’s league position that has pushed them down this table. Under Mauger, the players threatened to start enjoying their rugby again, but that enjoyment did not successfully or quickly translate into results the club’s suits believed they were entitled to enjoy. Matt O’Connor, who is due to arrive early next month for his second stint at the club, has his work cut out. Still, if there’s one thing in his favour, it’s the Tigers’ end-of-season fixture list. After Bath at Twickenham, they are at home to Newcastle and Sale before a final-day trip to Worcester. 

5. Northampton Saints

It has not been the easiest of seasons for Jim Mallinder’s star-studded Saints. Embarrassment in Europe, and a pre-Christmas run so dismal it didn’t even deserve the term lacklustre. So, why are they fourth in the power list? Because, freed from the shackles of the Champions Cup and with their international contingent back, they are finally, belatedly, showing just what they can do. Against Leicester at the weekend, they scored three tries in the opening 22 minutes and really should have bagged the try-scoring bonus point before half time. Frankly, they now look an awful lot like a top four side, so it’s a bit of a surprise to see them down in seventh. Their run-in, however, is tough, with trips to Wasps and Exeter, and home matches against Saracens and Harlequins to come. Given their position, that match against Quins will be key.

6. Bath

It’s all gone a bit wrong for Todd Blackadder’s Bath since the turn of the year, and they need to dig themselves out of a rut of six defeats in the last eight outings. That latest loss at Saracens was humiliation squared, as they conceded 36 unanswered points in the second period. Worse, they have dropped out of the top four and unless they can turn things around in the final four matches of the regular season, they look unlikely to make the end-of-season play-offs. At least they’re still in the Champions Cup qualification running… but with play-off chasing rivals Leicester, relegation-avoiding Worcester, old Westcountry rivals Gloucester and Sale in their regular season future, even that could change very quickly.

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7. Harlequins

Another club facing an unforgiving run-in as they chase a top 6 finish and a shot at the Champions Cup next season – and the top four is not out of the question. A month ago, director of rugby Jon Kingston had written off the 150-year-old London club’s chances of reaching the end-of-season play-offs. A week later, following a comeback win at Gloucester, he started to change his tune. After the big win over Newcastle, he’s started arguing it’s a distinct possibility. Reality, however, will soon bite. Quins have trips to Saracens and Saints, and home fixtures against Wasps and Exeter. In truth, a top-four finish is unlikely. Top six is possible, but Quins will have to play 320 minutes of rugby to get there.

8. Newcastle Falcons

When Newcastle are good, they’re very, very good. When they are bad, things can get ugly – as they have done with depressing regularity whenever they are on the road. This season, at least, the Falcons are moving in the right direction, after three 11th-place finishes in a row following their return to the top flight – and the squad that Dean Richards is putting together for the next campaign oozes promise.

9. Gloucester

The Cherry and Whites have been temperamental at best this season, and when people express surprise at how easily a side beats Bristol, it’s clear that a problem, made stark by the sudden departure of head coach Laurie Fisher, is coming to a head. Wonder if Mohed Altrad is starting to wonder what he is about to get himself into, assuming his protracted bid to buy a controlling stake in the club actually takes place?

10. Worcester Warriors

Of the four Premiership games Worcester have won this season, three have come in their past eight outings, and having waited all season for an away bonus point, two came along at once in that superb 14-man performance in defeat at Wasps last weekend. The Warriors have picked up 12 points in five games since Gary Gold came on board – compared to 14 in the previous 12. When you’re second from bottom and fighting for survival, that probably classes as form.

11. Sale Sharks

The future may look good for the Sharks, with a number of young, exciting players signing long contracts, but the present? That’s not so rosy. Two wins in the past eight, and only one victory on the road all season. Put it this way – things could be worse, but only if you’re Bristol.

12. Bristol

Nine points adrift of safety. Four matches to go. Three of them against the top three in the Premiership. If it was possible to have a negative power rating, Bristol would have it. So, here’s a plan: chalk this campaign up to experience, cruise the Championship next season with some smart signings and start over in 2018/19. Aces.