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How the Premiership play-off race is looking heading into Super Sunday

By PA
(Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

The 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership regular season reaches a thrilling climax on Super Sunday with four clubs chasing the three remaining play-off places.

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Title favourites Exeter are already through to next weekend’s semi-finals, but Wasps, Bath, Sale Sharks and Bristol also have eyes on the prize.

Here is how the top five are shaping up ahead of what is certain to be a dramatic afternoon.

Exeter – 74 points

The Chiefs have led this season’s play-off charge for months, booking their semi-final spot with three games to spare, and they are now guaranteed top spot and a home tie. 

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Exeter remain on course for a Premiership and European Cup double, which has been achieved by only three other English clubs – Leicester, Wasps and Saracens – and a fifth successive Premiership final appearance at Twickenham is within touching distance. 

Rob Baxter’s team, packed with international talent from full-back to No8, will take some stopping.

Wasps – 66 points

Wasps were outside the play-off zone when Premiership action restarted in August following a five-month absence due to the coronavirus pandemic, but seven wins in eight games mean they hold second place heading into the Supr Sunday Ricoh Arena finale against Exeter where victory should be enough for a runners-up finish behind the Chiefs and home advantage in the play-offs. 

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Wins at Bath, when Wasps triumphed despite seeing four forwards go off injured before half-time, Saracens and Harlequins highlight their progress under head coach Lee Blackett.

Bath – 65 points

Like Wasps, Bath are on a roll, losing once in eight starts and holding third spot ahead of Sunday’s trip to Saracens, where they need a win to secure qualification. 

A club’s total number of victories – the first tie-breaker when teams are level on points (see league table here) – means Bath hold an advantage over their rivals, and they wind up the 22-game Premiership campaign against a side playing for the final time before relegation to the Championship, which was part of Saracens’ punishment for salary cap breaches. 

They will want to make a statement before departing, and when Saracens are in the mood, very little stops them.

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Sale Sharks – 64 points

Sale last won the Premiership 14 years ago when players like Jason Robinson, Charlie Hodgson and Sebastien Chabal were in their pomp, and they are well-placed to make another major title challenge. 

A bonus-point victory at home against Worcester on Sunday should be enough to progress, although the Sharks have entered the Premiership’s final lap without influential England centre Manu Tuilagi, who suffered an achilles injury on Tuesday and faces a lengthy lay-off. 

Sale possess immense forward power and a scrum-half in Faf De Klerk who can dominate games.

Bristol – 64 points

Bristol have played some scintillating rugby this season, dazzling opposition defences through the skills of players such as centre Semi Radradra, full-back Charles Piutau and wing Luke Morahan. 

That heady mix should help give them the bonus point win they need at London Irish on Sunday, but the west country club also realistically require Wasps or Bath to lose if top-four ambitions are to be realised. 

On their day, Bristol are capable of taking any team apart, and a presence in the play-offs would mean no rival could rest easily.

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J
JD 1 hour ago
Steve Borthwick urged by predecessor to make radical Ben Earl decision

Happy to concede I mis read stats in relation to games played. Sorry about that.


Ojomoh is only a guaranteed starter when Redpath isn’t injured for Bath. Luckily for him Redpath is has been quite injury prone recently, but when Cam is fit, he starts. I like him, but he doesn’t have the second playmaker ability which England seem to prefer at 12.


Seb has not even made the A’s squad and is a long way from a call up. 2 years is too soon.


I’m not going to change my mind in respect of BJVR, mainly because I do not see his age as an issue (30 at the next world cup) and because I don’t see the issue with selecting players who are qualified for our country.


He fits the bill perfectly in terms of his skillset and type of play, he has been playing at the top level of club rugby for the last 6 years or so and is regarded as one of the best in our league in his position, starting week in/ week out for the second placed team.


If he was 33 or so at the next world cup, or if his form went off a cliff, I would agree with you. Neither of these are the case. If his form continues, he comes into the squad. No pressure to immediately excel as there will be around 10 games between a potential first cap and the WC.


Main mistake being made, regardless of the above, is SB persisting with Slade. Why not give Ojomoh a go now and see? Why not try Dingwall? Steve’s run of poor results mean he has slightly lost the ability to try different things unless we get some wins. I expect Ojomoh to tour Argentina in the summer though.

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