Paul Gustard and Chris Boyd have managed to turn two ailing Premiership clubs around this season – Leicester, take noteWhen I look at Northampton and Harlequins I see two teams at the same stage of their journey. Both were coming to the end of dreadful seasons a year ago, going on to finish ninth and 10th respectively, but both came into the weekend on the same number of points and vying with each other for the last play-off spot. The common denominator is the impact their new coaches have made.If you were to look at the squads Chris Boyd and Paul Gustard inherited, you might wonder what they were doing at the bottom of the table this time last year...
Whatever the outcome of the Folau hearing, Michael Cheika is leaving Australia in six months, and the Tigers are in need of revitalisationIsrael Folau’s future in rugby union will be determined by a tribunal sitting in Sydney this weekend. The three-strong panel, which is made up of two experienced lawyers and a senior sports administrator, will decide whether a social media post by the Waratahs and Wallabies full-back contravened the code of conduct that forms part of his contract with Rugby Australia.Folau’s employer – who had previously warned the devout Christian about posts that, in demonstrating his faith, called on “sinners”, including homosexuals, to repent or face the consequences – served notice on him last month with three years remaining...
Billy Vunipola needs Farrell’s ruthless focus, Cipriani’s patience boosts Gloucester and Saints reaping rewards of faith in youthOne topic did rather dominate the conversation at Ashton Gate. And the booing. This looks as if it will be a new reality for Billy Vunipola, which may or may not come to affect his game over the coming weeks. He has always come across as something of a happy-go-lucky guy but the No 8 will need the ruthless focus of his England teammate Owen Farrell if recent events and any future repercussions are not to distract him from his day job. One other point did muscle its way into the talking – and that was the kicking. As if chastened by their...
Leicester’s rapid turnover of coaches has left the players and club with an identity crisis as they battle Premiership relegation for the first timeWhen Leicester sacked Dean Richards at the beginning of 2004, the reaction was seismic. Not only had 23 years at the club as a player and the director of rugby been abruptly terminated but the Tigers had won four Premiership titles and two European Cups under the former England No 8 who paid for his job after two league finishes the club would now happily take, sixth and fifth.Leicester sacking the man at the top now creates more of a reaction for its timing than its occurrence, Matt O’Connor after one match this season, Richard Cockerill halfway...
Bath’s Jonathan Joseph did his England chances no harm at all, Exeter had the look of Premiership champions against Leicester and things are starting to get serious at the bottomJonathan Joseph has been back from his long injury layoff for a while but judging by his performance against Bristol, and in his previous outing against Exeter, he is nearing a return to his best form. In the past it has been a criticism that, because he is so naturally talented, Joseph has a tendency to coast because things come so easy. He has a World Cup place to chase, however, and he is clearly in Eddie Jones’s thoughts considering he was called into the wider England squad just 50-odd minutes...