Gallagher Premiership XV of the Week - Round 17
Round 17, or ‘Derby Week’ as it could have been more accurately called, did not disappoint in the Gallagher Premiership this past weekend.
Northampton Saints sealed bragging rights over local rivals Leicester Tigers, downing them 29-15 at Welford Road, whilst Newcastle Falcons and Worcester Warriors picked up what could prove to be four crucial points each in their wins over Sale Sharks and Bristol Bears respectively.
We have run the rule over all the action and put our XV of the week together below.
The full-back was one of the few Quins players not to concede a penalty at the Olympic Stadium, where the side from Twickenham coughed up an eye-watering 17 indiscretions in total. Brown was his usual ultra-reliable self at the back dealing with Saracens’ kicking game and he found joy more than once on the counter-attack. It was a clean performance and one that the watching Eddie Jones will have taken note of.
- Tom Collins, Northampton Saints
Collins had a hand in all three of Northampton’s tries on Friday evening, finishing two off himself as well as setting up teammate Cobus Reinach for Saints’ other score. He demonstrated his pace, footwork and awareness in a comprehensive attacking performance in the first half, before delivering defensively after the interval and keeping Jonny May relatively quiet.
- Rory Hutchinson, Northampton Saints
Another masterclass in the 13 jersey from Hutchinson, who is one of, if not the most in-form player in the Premiership at the moment. Just as he has done in recent weeks, he mixed up his game superbly at Welford Road, combining a dangerous running threat with an ability to link up the midfield with the duo of Collins and Taqele Naiyaravoro on the outside. His array of passing on the gain-line was a difference-maker for Northampton.
A similar story to Hutchinson here, with Atkinson shining in Gloucester’s win over Wasps courtesy of the versatility of his play in the midfield. He tested and exposed the Wasps defence multiple times as a carrier, as well as consistently being able to facilitate play outside of him with a good passing game on or close to the gain-line. Both he and Hutchinson have excelled in these dual roles this season and their presences in the centres have allowed their sides to play with multiple dimensions.
- Sinoti Sinoti, Newcastle Falcons
The Samoan brought a constant source of metres and territorial advantage on the left wing for Newcastle, whilst also making himself known at the contact area and in defence. In a tight game at St James’ Park, Sinoti delivered the little moments of excellence that allowed Newcastle to relieve pressure and get into positions from which the boot of Sonatane Takulua could punish Sale.
- Danny Cipriani, Gloucester
Nods to both Dan Biggar and Marcus Smith, who were very effective in their respective games, but it was another exemplary showing from Cipriani in the art of playmaking. His deft hands, defence-splitting passes and multiple involvements in the same phases were all too much for his former side to deal with as he guided Gloucester to 3rd in the table and pushed Wasps down into the bottom five.
- Cobus Reinach, Northampton Saints
An honourable mention for Takulua, whose unerring boot was pivotal for Newcastle in their win over Sale, but for overall performance, we have Reinach just shading it. The South African brought tempo, support-running and an unfailing awareness of where the space on the pitch was to Northampton’s effort at Welford Road. When the focus switched from attack to defence in the second half, he was also reliable positionally and as a cover defender.
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The prop helped give Exeter a dominance at the scrum and smelled blood in the water after Henry Thomas had to leave the game early with injury. A penalty try from an Exeter scrum in the second half was the peak of the set-piece dominance exhibited by the side from the south-west. Hepburn also contributed significantly to denying Bath front-foot ball around the fringes.
George fitted seamlessly back into the Saracens XV after his productive Six Nations with England. He connected on all 19 of his lineouts and really stood up as a carrier. He ran a number of incisive lines that the Quins defence struggled to read and hold the hooker to minimal ground on without committing multiple defenders.
- Paul Hill, Northampton Saints
A strong showing from the tighthead, who is beginning to back up the early promise he showed when Jones made him a regular feature in the Australian’s early England matchday squads. He went well against former England U20 teammate Ellis Genge in the scrum at Welford Road and also offered plenty of enthusiasm and power as a ball-carrier, helping to lay the foundation for Northampton’s exciting back line to cut open the Leicester defence.
- Will Skelton, Saracens
A gargantuan performance from the appropriately-sized Australian second row. Skelton’s two tries proved pivotal for Saracens at the Olympic Stadium, whilst his carrying constantly put his side on the front-foot. Harlequins’ line-speed was effective at restricting space out wide for Saracens, but defensively they struggled to limit Saracens close to the ruck and that effort was spearheaded by Skelton.
- Chris Vui, Bristol Bears
Mentions are due for the work rate of both Alex Moon and Andrew Davidson this weekend, with the duo important cogs in their sides’ wins. Vui may have ended up on the losing side at Ashton Gate, but his carrying constantly tormented the Worcester defence, whilst his work at the lineout was another source of continuity and positive rugby for Bristol.
- Ted Hill, Worcester Warriors
The flanker’s early try was indicative of his game. He powered through the tackles of three Bristol forwards and used his leg drive to propel himself over the try line. The combination of his power and his footwork going in contact meant that he was regularly able to get Worcester over the gain-line and get the rest of his team moving onto the ball and able to build momentum and tempo.
- John Hardie, Newcastle Falcons
The Scottish international was pivotal in the repeated defensive stands that Newcastle had to make against Sale on Saturday afternoon. He had notable success going low and chopping carriers, before springing back to his feet and being ready to repel the next phase of attack. When he wasn’t tackling, he was spoiling any kind of tempo Sale were hoping to get at the breakdown.
- Ben Morgan, Gloucester
A strong game with ball-in-hand from Morgan, who put down a marker against England rival Nathan Hughes at Kingsholm. He offered the Cherry and Whites a physical presence close to the ruck, but he was also comfortable and effective further out, both as a carrier and as a playmaker linking with the midfield and back three.
Watch: The Rugby Pod discuss what went wrong for England in the Calcutta Cup match
Comments on RugbyPass
Hold the phone, decline over-rated. Is it a one game, dead cat bounce or the real thing? Has the Penney dropped? Stay tuned.
40 Go to commentsTotally deserved win for the Crusaders Far smarter than the Chiefs who seem to be avoiding the basics when it matters Hotham showed them what was missing and Hannah seems a real find - a tad light but that can be fixed over time
8 Go to commentsGreat insight into the performance culture with Sarries and I predict Christie will be a fixture in the Scotland team now for some time to come. However, he is slightly missing his own point around Scotland “being soft” when he cites physicality examples in defence of that slight. The issue is much closer to the example he referenced around feeling off before a game but being told “it doesn’t matter, you can still play well” by Farrell. Until Scotland can get their psyche in that square, they will carry on folding under extreme pressure…
1 Go to comments> We are having to adapt, evolve and innovate more than when we were in Super Rugby where there was only really one style that everybody had to play to gain the most success. Have = able to? Interesting what that one style might be? I thought SA sides still had bad tours now, or at least bad schedule, months away? Those extra few hours flights have to be a killer though, no surprise to see their sides doing so badly at the start of the season each year. I wouldn’t enjoy that unfairness as a supporter.
5 Go to commentsThe problem for NZ, and Aus, is they ripped up the SR model and lost a massive chunk of revenue that hasn’t been replaced. Don’t forget SA clubs went North because they were left with no choice, Argy unceremoniously binned and Japan cast adrift. Now SR wasn’t perfect, far from it, but they’ve jumped into something without an effective plan, so far, to replace what they’ve lost. The biggest revenue potential now lies in Japan but it won’t be easy or quick to unlock, they are incredibly insular in culture as a nation. In the meantime, there is a serious time bomb sitting under SH rugby and if it happens then the current financial challenges will look like a picnic. IF the Boks follow their provincial teams and head north then it’s revenue meltdown. Not guaranteed to happen but the status quo is a very odd hybrid, with the Boks pointing one way and the clubs pointing the other way. And for as long as that remains then the threat is real.
40 Go to commentsI think Etene has had some good tuition, likely while at the Warriors to be a professional that helped his rugby jump, but he was certainly thrown in the deep end way too early. Should have arguably 20 less SR caps, and therefor a way better record that he does at his age, but his development would have been fast tracked by the need to satiate his signing away from league. Again, credit to him and others that he has done it so well. Easy to fall over under that pressure in the big leagues like that but he kept at it when I myself wasn’t sure he was good enough.
1 Go to commentsAwesome story. I wonder what a bigger American (SA) scene might have mean for Brex.
1 Go to comments“Johnny McNicholl and the Crusaders” save a Penney. Who has been in camp this week and showed them how to play?
8 Go to commentsSo, reports of the Crusaders’ demise / terminal decline are perhaps just - slightly - premature/exaggerated…? 🤔 Will we see a deep-dive into that by the estimable Rugbypass scribes, and maybe one or two mea culpas? Thought not.
8 Go to comments1. The Chiefs are rudderless without DMac, which enhances his AB chances 2. Chiefs pack are powderpuffs. The hard men arent there anymore 3. They had their golden title chance last yr and wont threaten this yr. Gone in second round of playoffs.
8 Go to commentsHonestly, why did you have to publish such a foolish article the day they play us? 😂
40 Go to comments> They are not standalone entities. They are linked to an amateur association which holds the FFR licence that allows the professional side to compete in the league. That’s a great rule. This looks like the chicken or egg professional scenario. How long is it going to be before the club can break even (if that is even a thing in French rugby)? If the locals aren’t into well it would be good to se them drop to amateur level (is it that far?). Hope they can reset from this level and be more practical, there will be a time when they can rebuild (if France has there setup right).
1 Go to commentsWhat about changing the ball? To something heavier and more pointed that bounces unpredictably. Not this almost round football used these days.
35 Go to commentsThis is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?
35 Go to commentsWow, didn’t realise there was such apathy to URC in SA, or by Champions Cup teams. Just read Nick’s article on Crusaders, are Sharks a similar circumstance? I think SA rugby has been far more balanced than NZs, no?
4 Go to commentsBut here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.
40 Go to commentsIt could be coincidental or prescient that the All Blacks most dominant period under Steve Hansen was when the Crusaders had their least successful period under Todd Blackadder and then the positions reversed when Razor took over the Crusaders.
40 Go to commentsDefinitely sound read everybodyexpects immediate results these days, I don't think any team would travel well at all having lost three of the most important game changers in the game,compiled with the massive injury list they are now carrying, good to see a different more in depth perspective of a coaches history.
3 Go to commentsSinckler is a really big loss for English rugby.
2 Go to commentsThanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause
40 Go to comments