It was a difficult weekend for English clubs, with Irish provinces picking up a triple crown of victories over Premiership sidesIreland look like going into the Six Nations Larmour-plated. Joe Schmidt, who stood down as the national side’s head coach after the World Cup, never seemed to trust Jordan Larmour fully, certainly at full-back, but the 22-year old showed in Leinster’s emphatic victory over Northampton at Franklin’s Gardens that he is ready to take over from Rob Kearney, who was among the province’s replacements on Saturday. Larmour was the architect of Leinster’s first two tries, showing how deadly he can be in broken play if given just a trace of time and space, and he was part of a defensive...
Twickenham showpiece thrills time and again, and it helped that this one featured one of the teams of this or any ageOnce again this grand-final concept repays. There are still those who grumble about it – and there is no doubt the idea of a nine-month (soon to be longer) slog through the dark English midwinter and out the other side just to establish four top seeds can feel a bit like overkill – but, time and again, the showpiece at Twickenham thrills. Professional club rugby, the mechanism through which any growth of the sport in England must be transmitted, is never better showcased. Related: Jamie George try caps stirring comeback as Saracens retain their title Continue reading...
Rob Baxter’s team have the variety in their attack to carry a significant threat against champions Saracens at TwickenhamExeter have come in for a fair bit of criticism in the last week or two for their supposedly “boring” style of play but I don’t believe it’s justified and I use WWF (as it was known when I was growing up) to demonstrate why. Back then every single wrestler – the Big Show, the Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, the Undertaker – was not known for their wrestling style, they were known for their finishing moves. I see Exeter’s “finishing move” as their ability to score tries from driving lineouts five metres from the opposition’s line and that is what they...
Saracens will be a formidable barrier but Rob Baxter’s team are capable of overturning last year’s final outcomeIt is easy to see why so many people think this year’s Premiership trophy is destined to remain in north London. Saracens, the holders, are already champions of Europe, are oozing class and were comfortably too good for Exeter in last year’s final. Even when they embark on three-day benders before big games they emerge victorious.There is also the recurring question of whether Exeter’s relentless power game is quite as irresistible when it slams into an impenetrable defensive wall and the Chiefs’ primary instrument of control is blunted. Related: Exeter into final after Tom O’Flaherty’s solo try lights up win over Northampton Related:...
The Premiership’s top two sides are the clubs with the lowest player turnover and show how continuity breeds consistencyDavid Young was reflecting on Wasps’ fitful season after their victory against Harlequins last Saturday. It was his side’s fifth victory at home in 16 matches in all competitions this season and they finished eighth in the table, down from third the previous season and first in 2016-17.“The squad I have put together for five seasons has pretty much run its course,” he said. “It’s time to press the reset button and go again.” And so it will be another close season of new faces at the Ricoh Arena, 15 players in, including seven from the club’s academy, and 15 out. No...