Round 4 of the Aviva Premiership saw victories for Saracens, Exeter Chiefs, Wasps, Gloucester, Northampton Saints and London Irish. Here are my Top 5 Talking Points After Week 4.
Five Talking Points After Week Four of Aviva Premiership
1: Tigers In Trouble?
Leicester were humbled by Bath in Week 3 and it was expected that London Irish were going to feel the full force of the Tigers roar but that is not what transpired at Welford Road on Saturday. Irish and especially Shane Geraghty foiled Leicester at every turn.
There has been a lot of talk since this game about how the Tigers’ Academy is not up to scratch and they are not producing enough players. I don’t buy into that personally but they are certainly going through an injury crisis to key players.
Manu Tuilagi, Anthony Allen, Niall Morris, Scott Hamilton and Gonzalo Camacho were all missing from the Tigers line up at the weekend. Geoff Parling has also been added to the long term injury list after a second concussion in three games. He is out until December at least.
Add that to the loss of club captain Ed Slater, and you have two very influential forwards out of the team. Rumour has it that legendary All Black Brad Thorn is due to make his debut for the Tigers this weekend and he will make a huge difference to a misfiring Leicester side
2: Bath Take Solace In Saints Performance
Bath v Northampton Saints was the marquee game of the weekend and it was an absolute cracker at Franklin’s Gardens. Saints eventually winning the contest by 31-24. Ben Foden was the standout player for Northampton, continuing his superb early season form.
The most pleasing thing for Bath was the way they didn’t capitulate after the Saints’ sensational first 60 minutes. Tries from Olly Woodburn and sub Nick Auterac gave Bath a great chance of levelling the game and would have done so if the TMO had awarded a late try off a rolling maul but there was no clear evidence of the ball being grounded.
The big games keep on coming for Bath and it’s Saracens this Friday night. There will be an electric atmosphere at the Rec for this game and it could be the game of the season judging by both teams form. Expect a thriller.
3: Lancaster’s New Deal Is A Good Thing For English Rugby
Stuart Lancaster signed a new six year contract extension with the RFU this week to stay on as England Head Coach until 2020. Lancaster’s coaches Graham Rowntree, Andy Farrell and Mike Catt have also agreed deals that last until 2020.
This is a huge show of confidence in Lancaster from the RFU. Lancaster had to work very hard to get the top job having been appointed on a temporary basis after the disastrous World Cup of 2011, he has done a superb job so far and the RFU have recognised that.
There will be a review of the extension after the 2015 World Cup, so the RFU are hedging their bets in this regard. Ireland gave former coach Eddie O’Sullivan a similar deal in the run up to the 2007 World Cup and it was a complete disaster. The team underperformed and O’Sullivan was gone less than a year later.
I don’t see this happening with Lancaster and his trusted lieutenants. England have shown improvement under his tutelage and will give winning next year’s World Cup a monumental effort. The RFU should be congratulated for acting in the long term interests of English Rugby, for a change.
4: Chiefs Rise As Quins Fall
It is hard to believe that this victory against Quins was Exeter’s first home win since the 1st March when they beat London Irish. Sandy Park lost a bit of its fortress reputation at the back end of last season, but there are signs of that changing.
They completely outplayed Harlequins and Rob Baxter looks to have got his side back to their very best this season. Exeter should have beaten Leicester a couple of weeks ago but they have learned from that game and Quins bore the brunt of it last Saturday.
Out Half Gareth Steenson and Henry Slade were superb but this game was well and truly won up front with Jack Yeandle, Dave Ewers and Thomas ‘The Tank’ Waldrom to the fore. Exeter travel to Newcastle this weekend and should keep the momentum going with a win.
For Harlequins, the signs are not good. They sit in 9th place after four rounds of fixtures and Conor O’Shea will be worried with the effort his team are putting in.
The forwards look lightweight in comparison with their rivals for the playoff positions and they are being beaten up front in most games. They should return to winning ways against London Welsh this weekend but it could be a very frustrating season for Quins fans.
5: England Out Half Watch
Freddie Burns, Danny Cipriani, George Ford and Stephen Myler all started for their clubs over the weekend, while Owen Farrell has been ruled out for the next few weeks and is in a race against time to be fit for England’s Autumn Internationals.
It was Stephen Myler vs George Ford as the Saints played Bath and it was a fascinating duel between two England out half hopefuls. Myler kicked 11 points and Ford weighed in with nine plus he had a hand in Olly Woodburn’s try.
Freddie Burns had an off day from the kicking tee missing two crucial early kicks but went on to score 11 points in the Tigers’ defeat to London Irish. Danny Cipriani could only manage one conversion as Sale Sharks were comprehensively beaten by Saracens.
If Farrell does not recover from injury, George Ford’s form still should see him in pole position to start for England in the Autumn Internationals. Stephen Myler is in the form of his life but Danny Cipriani and Freddie Burns are probably still ahead of him in Stuart Lancaster’s plans.
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