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Props among the big Premiership winners in Round 4 RPI movers and shakers

By Alex Shaw
Williams could yet feature at the RWC, should injury hit in the England front row. (Getty Images)

Another busy weekend on the pitch in the Gallagher Premiership has resulted in an equally busy week off of it in the RugbyPass Index.

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We take a look at some of the big risers and fallers from the weekend’s action, as players’ form fluctuates ahead of the opening two rounds of European competition, as well as the upcoming autumn internationals.

Harry Williams saw his value rise the most over the weekend (+5.41 to 76, +7.15%), as he played a crucial role in a dominant set-piece display by Exeter Chiefs at Kingston Park. His work as a lifter in the lineout particularly bumped up his score this week.

Newcastle winger Zach Kibirige was another to prosper at Kingston Park on Friday night, with his value increasing by 5.12 points to 45, a positive shift of 11.35%. His RPI should continue to increase over the coming weeks if he can maintain his spot in the Newcastle XV, with his attacking work and influence in the two minutes prior to a try being scored contributing heavily to his score.

Another to prominently excel was Wasps’ Michael le Bourgeois and, like Kibirige, his rise was centred around his influence in the build-up to his side’s tries, as well as with his ability to break the line. His value rose by 4.71 points to 69 on the RPI, which was an increase of 6.79%.

Other standout risers included Exeter’s Ben Moon (+4.35 to 79, +5.47%), who now only sits behind Mako Vunipola on the RPI among Premiership looseheads, Wasps’ Nizaam Carr (+4.22 to 69, +6.1%) and Leicester Tigers’ Harry Wells (+4.56 to 63, +7.21%).

There was a shift at the very top of the RPI, too, with Maro Itoje’s rise of 0.36 points taking him ever so slightly ahead of the former leader, Owen Farrell. Both players sit on 93, but Itoje’s impact against Gloucester, which included two tries and multiple turnovers, was just enough to see him surpass his teammate at the summit. Sam Simmonds continues to round out the top three, but a not insignificant increase of 1.02 points from Jonny Hill sees the lock breathing down Simmonds’ neck, with both players sitting at 92 on the index.

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A number of players usually in starting XVs saw their value drop with roles on the bench limiting their impact, with Alex Goode (-7.2 to 83, -7.94%) chief among them, a drop which actually robs him of his spot as the highest valued full-back in the Premiership, a place which has been usurped by his Saracens teammate, Liam Williams. It was a similar story for Alec Hepburn (-5.69 to 78, -6.79%), who dropped below Moon in the Premiership loosehead rankings.

Tom Hudson of Gloucester holds off Alex Goode during the Gallagher Premiership Rugby match between Saracens and Gloucester Rugby at Allianz Park. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Of the players to drop who started and were not limited in their impact by spots on the bench, Sale’s lack of ability to threaten out wide against Wasps was highlighted, with Byron McGuigan (-5.16 to 65, -7.34%) and Denny Solomona (-4.69 to 58, -7.44%) taking big hits.

Northampton’s Taqele Naiyaravoro didn’t flourish in the wet conditions at the Rec, with his value dropping by 4.74 points to 65, a decrease of 6.83%. It will be interesting to see where Naiyaravoro’s value levels out at in the Premiership, having been steady at a higher RPI in Super Rugby.

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Check out all the movements on the RPI here.

Watch: What is the best pack that England can pick?

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Adrian 1 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

8 Go to comments
T
Trevor 3 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.

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B
Bull Shark 7 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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