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Gallagher Premiership XV of the Week - Round 3

By Alex Shaw
Joe Cokanasiga and Jake Polledri (Getty Images)

Gloucester continued their undefeated start to the season in Round 3 of the Gallagher Premiership, beating Bristol Bears at Kingsholm and shoring up their place in the top four.

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Saracens and Exeter Chiefs continued their campaigns with 15 points from three games and Newcastle Falcons emerged victorious at the bottom of the table, beating Worcester Warriors, 23-20, subjecting Worcester to their third losing bonus point in as many games.

We have compiled the top performers from the third round of competition.

 

  1. Liam Williams, Saracens

A rare outing for Williams at 15, with Alex Goode moved to 10, and the Welshman shone with the extra counter-attacking duties that were asked of him. His breaks and passes directly facilitated tries for both Alex Lewington and David Strettle, as well as another break laying the foundation for a second score by Strettle. As a finisher and a facilitator, Williams has started the 2018/19 season in fine form.

  1. Charlie Sharples, Gloucester

A clinical finishing display from Sharples, who rode a dominant Gloucester pack to two tries against Bristol. A surprise inclusion in the Gloucester squad after seemingly being knocked out in their game against Bath last week, Sharples took his tally of Premiership tries to 50.

  1. Henry Slade, Exeter Chiefs

After taking the England 13 jersey in the summer due to absence of the injured Jonathan Joseph, Slade is making a strong claim for retaining it this season. For the second week in a row, Slade shone with his decision-making in the 13 channel. His carrying and passing both unlocked the Sale defence on the gain-line and his ability as a versatile offensive threat was reinforced this weekend. A nod, too, for Wasps’ Juan de Jongh, who bagged a brace at the Ricoh and was ever present in support for his side’s linebreaks.

(Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

  1. Ben Tapuai, Harlequins

A tough call that could easily have gone to Jamie Roberts, with the two centres who exchanged clubs in the summer putting in effective performances for their new employers at the Stoop. Tapuai’s ability to make the first tackler miss and then accelerate through the hole was repeatedly on show on Saturday, and he held up well against the power carrying that both Roberts and Jackson Willison brought.

  1. Joe Cokanasiga, Bath

This was Cokanasiga’s coming out party for Bath, as he cannonballed his way to two tries against Harlequins at the Stoop. It wasn’t just his power on show, but also his speed and footwork, as the former London Irish man tormented the Quins defence, which had no answer for him. He also showed great awareness and balance to set up Roberts for the centre’s try.

Joe Cokanasiga training with England in May 2018. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

  1. George Ford, Leicester Tigers

Another classy performance from Ford, who seems to be relishing in the competition offered by Danny Cipriani for the England 10 jersey. He managed to game excellently against Wasps, helping make up for the red card to Will Spencer in the first half, and stood strong in the tackle on a number of occasions. Kicked at goal well and made the final pass or kick for three of Leicester’s four tries.

  1. Jack Maunder, Exeter Chiefs

Not many teams can lose two scrum-halves to injury and still field a player as effective as Maunder. The 21-year-old kept the tempo up, passed crisply from the base and took charge of Exeter’s powerhouse pack before he was replaced late in the game by his younger brother, Sam.

  1. Sami Mavinga, Newcastle Falcons

Mavinga had solid outings in his first two games of the season and then built on that against Worcester on Saturday. He made the big line-break that resulted in Sonatane Takulua’s try and squared up well against Simon Kerrod in the scrum. If Newcastle can bring him into the game more as a ball-carrier, they will prosper from it this season.

  1. Franco Marais, Gloucester

The South African’s first start in the Premiership was an impressive one and aside from one errant throw, it was an effective and clean performance. He gave Gloucester some grunt around the fringes, whilst their back-row went to work slightly further out from the breakdowns, and he was busy in defence, helping ensure very little front-foot ball for Bristol.

  1. Henry Thomas, Bath

Thomas helped lay the foundations for an eye-catching Bath win at the Stoop and it started with a solid showing in the scrum. He carried well, too, and helped shift the point of contact in the tight with a display of good handling skills.

  1. Ed Slater, Gloucester

The perfect captain’s performance from Slater, who led from the front for the Cherry and Whites. He was a reliable target at the lineout, stood up with the tough carries after slow ball and even with defences set, always seemed to find a way of making a metre or two and allowing Gloucester to flood forward onto the ball in the next phase. Really laid the platform for an excellent outing for the club’s back-rowers.

  1. Maro Itoje, Saracens

There was an energy and an impact to everything Itoje did on Saturday, with the lock rarely away from the action. His work at the contact area was effective, both in attack and defence, he carried strongly and frequently led the defensive line with his impressive work rate.

  1. Jake Polledri, Gloucester

A ruthless performance from the Italian international, who was all but uncontainable one-on-one. His carrying constantly kept Gloucester on the front-foot, his tackling was powerful and shut down Bristol on the gain-line and his blend of power and footwork made him a nightmare for Bristol defenders to track and bring down.

https://twitter.com/premrugby/status/1040977411578449922

  1. Lewis Ludlow, Gloucester

Joins his Gloucester teammate on the flanks, after turning in a dynamic performance at Kingsholm. A real rarity, Ludlow didn’t actually lead his side in tackles on Friday night, making just a paltry – by his standards – 13, but he was far more influential with the ball in hand, adding another strong carrying presence alongside Polledri. He had an important role securing quick and clean attacking ball at the contact area, too.

  1. Zach Mercer, Bath

The Bath number eight, rather aptly, just does enough to deny an all-Gloucester back-row, with Ruan Ackermann a more than honourable mention here. Mercer stormed through the Harlequins defence on multiple occasions and continues to set himself apart with his reading of the game and the consequent ability to arrive onto the ball at speed. Throw in his incisive lines, quick footwork and powerful fend and he was quite the offensive weapon at the Stoop.

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j
john 52 minutes ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But 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.

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A
Adrian 2 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks 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

14 Go to comments
T
Trevor 5 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 9 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
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