The All-Stars, the Circus, and the Wolfpack: 'The big three' hurtling towards the play-offs
Write Saracens off at your peril. Metaphorically, that is: no one would be foolish enough to write a thousand words literally writing Saracens off. Imagine. They’d look a right chump. Ahem.
In Round 12, the claws of sporting jeopardy seized the Premier 15s table, and gave it a thorough rattle. For the first time since the season kicked off, there’s not a cherry on top of the standings, but a chief: Exeter – who swatted Loughborough Lighting aside at Sandy Park – made history by hitting the table’s summit for the first time since their formation. Saracens, meanwhile, raided Kingsholm – reminding us all of their bruising class – and there’s a baguette, rather than a bagel, in the ‘loss’ column for Gloucester-Hartpury.
With six rounds remaining, this has exploded into a three-horse race. Susie Appleby’s global all-stars, Sean Lynn’s barnstorming circus, and Alex Austerberry’s rejuvenated wolfpack.
So – with exactly two thirds of the regular season played: let’s take a look at these runners and riders.
Exeter Chiefs: P12 W11 Points 55
Key stat: If rugby is about scoring more than you get scored on (it is), then Chiefs have cracked it. The Devonians currently boast a points difference of +528: 20 more than the league record, which Saracens managed in the 2018/19 season. Their attack is prolific – 95 tries and counting – and their defence is peerlessly stingy: they’ve conceded just 13.
Cheat code: Hope Rogers. She’s a beaming wrecking ball with great taste in scrunchies: a rock solid scrummager who is utterly destructive ball-in-hand. Veritably unstoppable from short range, but also someone who pops up on canny midfield lines, executes deft tip-ons, and who can really motor if you’re foolish enough to give her space. As the delightful Charli Jacoby told us at half-time: ‘everyone knows that Hope is world class. She can do it all. I love having her on my team – I’ll tell you that’.
?? @ExeChiefsWomen's @charli_jacoby ?:
?1/3 Swapping cheerleading for rugby ? pic.twitter.com/mfp3ySUsjX
— Allianz Premier 15s (@Premier15s) February 26, 2023
Bright young thing: Maisy Allen. It’s really quite tough to do justice to how impressive Allen is. At 21, she’s an essential cog in Exeter’s star-studded back row, a leadership figure within a squad overflowing with international experience, and the competition’s leading try-scorer – despite having only played eight matches. Her impact is immense, and yet – absurdly – two of the best players on Planet Rugby, Marlie Packer and Sadiya Kabeya, are also English opensides, so she might not get a Six Nations call up. Appleby described her as ‘integral’ on Saturday, having given the flanker a massive hug en route to the live stream studio: she’s nurtured this prodigious talent for three years now, as she’s blossomed into one of the most relentlessly impressive forwards in the league.
Achilles heel: a gnarly (technical term) fixtures list. Exeter are sitting pretty for now, but they’ve a ghastly final six rounds. First up? A trip to London this weekend for the 2023 Big Game, where they’ll need to topple a fully revved-up Harlequins at Twickenham. Then, after the international break, it’s Saracens, Bristol, and Gloucester-Hartpury – all on the road – in the space of a month. Chiefs are happy travellers, and haven’t lost away this season, but that’s a daunting run-in.
Gloucester-Hartpury: P12 W11 Points 54
Key stat: 14 of Gloucester-Hartpury’s starters against Saracens had senior caps, with a further six internationals on the bench. To field a side of that quality – despite having Alex Matthews, Ellie Rugman, Emma Sing, Zoe Aldcroft and Lisa Neumann all unavailable – is testament to their unmatched depth, and the hugely attractive culture Head Coach Lynn has developed.
Cheat code: their halfbacks. Natasha Hunt and Lleucu George possess two of the best skillsets and rugby brains in the league – and Gloucester-Hartpury are thriving as a result. Hunt’s the side’s heartbeat – emotionally and in attack – as is reflected in her involvement in a fifth of their scores. I’ve googled George’s age so often when preparing for matches that I now know her birthday off by heart, because she’s so composed and clinical that I’m sure I’ve remembered it wrong: ‘she can’t possibly be just 22…’ The pair are each capable of turning a game on its head in a moment – whether that’s unleashing their flyers, or masterfully controlling territory right up until the Cherry and Whites’ formidable forwards can strike.
Bright young thing: Sophie Bridger is the West Country’s answer to Beatrice Rigoni – and that’s highest praise indeed. The centre plays mesmerically fun rugby – you sit up a little each time she gets the ball – and her highlights reel is rapidly becoming both feature length and Oscar-worthy. She found herself out of position on Saturday against Saracens, after winger Neumann’s withdrawal, but managed a brace against the reigning champions – and you suspect the 23-year-old’s only just getting started. A mention, too, for Neve Jones – who has a physics-defying amount of bounce to the ounce, and has proven a 5’2 revelation: smashing rucks, pilfering possession, and tackling at 99%.
Achilles heel: Exeter were fantastic last year, but – on the biggest stage of them all – came unstuck. They’d won the Allianz Cup, but hadn’t played truly top level knockout rugby, and we didn’t see the best of them in the final against Saracens – who’ve so many Premier 15s titles at this stage their jerseys are veritably galaxy print. This year, it’s Gloucester-Hartpury who look set to be the play-off debutants, and you wonder how that’ll affect things. They’re magnificent, but can they replicate that under the highest pressure – and over 80 winner-takes-all minutes? Even though, should they reach the final, they’ll essentially have home advantage – it’s being played at Kingsholm – it’ll be uncharted territory, and the most important match of their club careers.
? A fun day out at the circus!
Credit to Gloucester-Hartpury, that was an incredible match.#YourSaracens? pic.twitter.com/OuLHXc5tuM
— Saracens Women (@SaracensWomen) February 25, 2023
Saracens: P12 W9 Points 45
Key stat: Saracens’ points difference before Christmas? -19. In 2023? +316. It’s almost as though getting Marlie Packer, Poppy Cleall, and Zoe Harrison back from a World Cup is an enormous boost…
Cheat code: To say Packer is ageing like a fine wine is an understatement. She’s the Dorian Gray of rugby – except, rather than a cursed painting rotting in her attic – she’s just got piles and piles of medals, and a box of plumbing kit she’s not needed ever since the RFU made one of their best ever signings. Having Packer on your team is worth at least ten points – and, if the Premier 15s had a fantasy league, she’d be the million pound asset. The back rower averages 12 carries, ten tackles, four defenders beaten, three turnovers, a try, and a player of the match interview from a pear tree each time she plays. I think that settles that.
Bright young thing: Kelsey Clifford’s not missed a match this season for the Women in Black, and has managed four tries whilst proving a lynchpin on both sides of Saracens’ scrum – which is the second best in the league. The England U20’s a hustler in open play – it’s probably hard not to get swept up in the ferocious work rate of May Campbell, whose stats are astonishing this season – and seems to average at least one ‘oooft’-eliciting hit a match.
Achilles heel: the simultaneous strength and lack of depth of Saracens’ squad. Austerberry has plenty of genuinely world class athletes at his disposal – but many of them will be named in Six Nations squads this week, and he needs them to return fit and healthy for the play-offs. They really struggled without their international supremos at the start of this season, and – if anything were to happen to Packer, Cleall, Jess Breach, or Georgia Evans during the tournament – you’d get much longer odds on their title defence. Whilst several key Chiefs’ talismans are from outside of the Six Nations, and Gloucester-Hartpury have the deepest squad in the league – Saracens just haven’t got those resources this year. We also don’t yet know the extent of Zoe Harrison’s injury, and – whilst Flo Williams wore that number ten jersey with aplomb at the weekend – the Red Rose is an irreplaceably classy act.
Exeter. Gloucester-Hartpury. Saracens. There you have it. The trio at the top: surely three of our four semi-finalists. Some almighty encounters await.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments