Round 8 of the Aviva Premiership saw victories for Newcastle, Exeter, Northampton Sale, Bath and Leicester Tigers. Here are my Top 5 Talking Points After Round 8.
Five Talking Points After Round Eight of Aviva Premiership
1: Mauger To Return To Welford Road As Head Coach
Former Leicester Tigers and All Black centre Aaron Mauger has been announced as Tigers new Head Coach. He will fill the role vacated by Paul Burke last month. Mauger played 45 tests for the All Blacks and won two premiership titles in 2009 and 2010 with Leicester.
Mauger is currently assistant coach to Todd Blackadder at the Crusaders after taking up the role in 2013. He will arrive at Welford Road at the end of the 2015 Super Rugby season. Speaking of his appointment Mauger said: “I feel incredibly lucky to have the chance to return as head coach for the club.”
Tigers Director of Rugby Richard Cockerill was enthused about the addition to his coaching staff: “We have been looking for the right person to take on a very important job and help to take us forward as the game is always evolving. Aaron will be a real asset to this club as head coach.”
2: Quins Lack of Spark Worrying
Harlequins dropped to 8th place in the table after suffering their fourth defeat of the season at home to Sale Sharks last Friday night. The Sharks fully deserved their win but Quins fans must be desperately worried about their inability to break through teams.
For the majority of this game Conor O’Shea’s side looked rudderless in attack and struggled to break down a very disciplined Sale team led superbly by captain Dan Braid. 12 points is rarely going to win a game at this level and Quins need to address their lack of cutting edge quickly.
O’Shea has done a tremendous job thus far at the Stoop but their lack of creativity is a problem. Quins defence is extremely solid but just don’t seem to have the go forward power that their competitors have. A tough remainder of the season looks likely.
3: Saints Hold Off Sarries Comeback
Northampton’s dominance in the scrum and in the forwards generally laid the platform for this vital away win at the top of the Aviva Premiership. James Wilson scored two early tries before a push over try highlighted the ease by which the Saints were dominating their hosts.
Jackson Wray’s try put Saracens back in the game before half time. Chris Wyles added two more in the second half but they were not enough to get Sarries anything more than a losing bonus point. Saints deservedly held on for the win.
This was a significant win for Saints for two reasons. Firstly, beating one of your main rivals on their own patch is always a good thing from a psychological point of view. Secondly, it was vital that they came back with a win after going down to the Chiefs last weekend. Mark of champions? Hard to bet against them.
4: Irish Going Nowhere?
The heady days of 2009 when London Irish contested the Premiership Final seem a lifetime away after their sixth defeat of the season left them second from bottom in the table. Irish are struggling massively again this season and Brian Smith does not look like the man to turn it around.
For the last few seasons they are hemorrhaging their best young talent to the top teams in the Premiership and it is very difficult to stay competitive on the back of this. Marland Yarde, Alex Corbisiero, Jamie Gibson, Matt Garvey, Anthony Watson and Jonathan Joseph have all left in the past two seasons and are excelling for their current clubs.
Clubs like London Irish thrive on the back of their academy and you can’t lose the type of quality young players and expect to be competitive at the top of the division. Fresh blood is needed, on and off the pitch.
5: Ford Vs Farrell
This week I am looking at the two out halves in the England squad rather than the top contenders overall. George Ford and Owen Farrell look to be the two chosen men of Stuart Lancaster and we got the chance to see them both in action against Samoa with Ford at 10 and Farrell at 12.
Ford undoubtedly impressed but the major test will come if he is selected against Australia this weekend. He should be picked for this game but it is too early to write Owen Farrell off completely so early in the season.
Farrell has had an injury ravaged season and is clearly lacking top level game time. Ford is in superb form and has the ability to release England’s back’s more fluidly than Farrell. If Ford starts against Australia he will be targeted. How he deals with the inevitable onslaught will tell a lot.
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