Gallagher Premiership restart is finally reaching boiling point - Andy Goode
It’s taken a while but the Gallagher Premiership is finally reaching boiling point this weekend and we could have a two-tier league at the end of it. The neutrals will be hoping for wins for Harlequins and Gloucester in order to ensure the Premiership remains as close and fiercely competitive as it has been in recent times.
However, a gap has already opened up and the bottom half of the league could be cut adrift if those two don’t come out on top in round 17.
That would not be good for anyone. The race for the top six is normally one of the main points of interest in the run-in to the end of the season, but interest could yet be maintained if it is decided that more teams will be involved in the Heineken Champions Cup next season.
The quality of Gallagher Premiership rugby has inevitably been hit and miss since the restart and it isn’t easy for players after such a long break, but they all seem to have got used to how the breakdown is being refereed and there can be no excuses about not being up to speed now.
There have been three rounds since the 2019/20 campaign got up and running again and all teams are currently in the midst of a run of six games in just 24 days. That isn’t great for player welfare but it means the Premiership table is taking shape very quickly.
Round 17 kicks off with a MASSIVE clash today as @SaleSharksRugby host @BristolBears ???
Before 3?? thrillers tomorrow and a #GallagherPrem Bank Holiday special double-header on Monday ?
Game of the weekend? pic.twitter.com/R1EN1oiRwk
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) August 29, 2020
Harlequins vs Northampton and Bath vs Wasps are the picks of this latest round, with Sale vs Bristol going the way of quite a few others in recent weeks after seeing the team news. You can expect a home win in that one. Paul Gustard described Harlequins’ performance against Worcester as “embarrassing” and it feels season-defining for them this weekend. It looks a way off at the moment but they need to win to keep the top four dream alive.
Aside from the top two of Exeter and Bristol, who are impressing everyone at the moment, Bath and Wasps have been the form sides since the restart and they lock horns on Monday afternoon – arguably, the best game of the weekend has been saved until last.
Bath have won all of their last three games and a squad that has always looked good on paper is now showing their quality on the pitch. Again, much will depend on team selection in terms of determining the outcome of that one so we will have to wait until Sunday’s announcements to see if the fixture will live up to its billing.
There have been blowouts with first teams facing youths XVs over the course of the past couple of weeks. That is unavoidable but this period is the ultimate test of squad strength.
One team that has really disappointed since the restart have been Saints. They looked like top four material all season long but with games against Exeter and Bristol in the next two rounds after this one, their play-off place could be slipping between their fingers.
With Saracens already relegated after the salary cap scandal, it has ensured there won’t be any intrigue at the foot of the table. Without relegation there will be a host of unwanted dead rubbers at the tail-end of the campaign so this weekend feels big in terms of keeping interest alive.
The play-off places look to be going to four of the current top six and there may not be much suspense involved in the race for Champions Cup spots depending on what format is decided.
You would expect Gloucester to beat Leicester at home but the pressure is on them and Harlequins, in particular, to prove they have what it takes to mix it with the top six this weekend and make sure the final five rounds of the Gallagher Premiership are as interesting as we have come to expect.
We always thought @jpref9 was a lovely guy and his interview about leaving the RFU only reinforces that impression ? https://t.co/dzV9nJrLvZ
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 28, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Ah, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
48 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
22 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
22 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
22 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
22 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
1 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
22 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
17 Go to commentsNot good to hear Ulster described as “financially troubled”. Did not think it was getting to that level. I would hope the Irish system of spreading players of talent away from Leinster would kick in now. Better to have a Leinster fringe player with Ulster or Connacht, then getting only a few games a season in Dublin. 10, for example, would seem to be a case for spreading the talent. I would not be at all adverse to a SA man coming in as head coach/DR. Ludeke is worth trying. Certainly got a long and impressive coaching career at this level…..149 games in SR, then Japan, 30 years experience. And Ulster’s ledger of successful SA coaches and players is on the positive side. Is talk of Ruan Pienaar interested in coming back as a coach…..could be a good combination with Ludeke. And Pienaar and family would have no settling in to do, one would judge. He loved life in Ulster when there, by all reports.
1 Go to commentsSome thoughts to consider here, Sam. Thanks
2 Go to commentsI think he is right, SBW is respected in RSA. The guy who never stood up is a worm. Sseems lots of NZ SBW hate, you do the crime do the time.
17 Go to commentsAfter missing the curfew, the player was simply too “Shagged” to stand up.
17 Go to commentsVernier is probably the best 12 in the world though she has some English competition these days . I am nervous for England because it is unpredictable France and who knows which team will turn up, but they have not yet shown anything that should worry England, Saturday could be a different day. I would be more confident against the BFs.
1 Go to commentsWhat a difference Rodda and Carter made. Rodda has been out for ages but he is really the only world class lock in Australian rugby. Him, Carter and Beale made a huge difference on the weekend. If only they had a few decent props they’d be a much more dangerous team. Hamish Stewart was excellent last week as well. His carrying has improved significantly and has to be next in line after Paisami at 12 for the Wallabies. He’ll benefit hugely with Beale at fullback, there’s just no better communicator in Australian rugby than him and his experience will make a huge difference for the Force. No one sees space like Beale and he’s still sharp. I can see Force making a late charge into the top 8 if they can get some consistency.
2 Go to comments