It was as if everything Exeter had been working on for nine months had been distilled into one breezy May afternoon as they ended Saracens’ dream of a ‘double double’With Exeter hosting the Devon county show and the European champions on the same day, this was always going to be a rare weekend in the west. There was probably a similar amount of prime beef on display at both venues and, rugby-wise, the winning rosette ended up pinned on the most popular of local rumps. The Chiefs are going back to Twickenham and this may yet prove the most significant 80 minutes in their history. Related: Exeter into Premiership final as Sam Simmonds stuns Saracens with late try Continue reading...
Wasps and Exeter are the neutrals’ favourites, Leicester the underdogs, while Saracens need to maintain their intensityThere’s always that horrible, sceptical feeling when considering sides high on flair. Wasps have earned the right for us to wish them well as they chase down a first title since the era of Lawrence Dallaglio. Their attack is truly something to behold, layers of runners at any given time, most of whom, certainly among the backs, are capable of taking a turn as playmaker whenever required. It’s incredibly hard to defend against. They’ve averaged more than four tries a game but they’ve also conceded nearly three and more than anyone else in the top seven. Memories of Leinster in Dublin last month still...
Bath fell short of their lofty aspirations, free-scoring Exeter have racked up record points, Leicester never cease to amaze and Bristol go down with regretsOn and off the field this has been another uneven season for a Bath squad with loftier aspirations. Injuries have been savage at times – the club have had to pick six different starting hookers – but, despite European qualification, there is still a sense all is not entirely right. Further repercussions of the squad’s evening of high jinks at the Rec last month are anticipated this week – some players streaked across the pitch, a fire extinguisher was let off and a kicking clinic for children was heckled – and England’s George Ford is off...
Aviva Premiership campaign, which has seen try-scoring records tumble, reaches play-off stage with Wasps hosting Leicester and Saracens travelling to ExeterA record-breaking 2016-17 Aviva Premiership season is looking set for an equally fast and furious finish as the four title rivals enter the final stretch. Already the two leading sides, Wasps and Exeter, have surged past the longstanding record for team tries scored in a season, previously held by Newcastle in 1997-98, and the play-offs this month are a good bet to produce more high-speed entertainment.Only once before, in 1999-2000 when defences were much less organised, have more tries been scored overall during a 22-match regular season than the tally of 725 this year and more thrills and spills appear...
Premiership officials may wince when they see the team-sheets but with European finals looming and domestic scheduling not ideal, Mick McCall and David Humphreys are making entirely understandable decisionsEven those officials who long ago opted to end the Premiership campaign with a grand sudden-death Twickenham finale will have winced when they saw the team-sheets for the last weekend of the regular season. What should be a climactic Saturday afternoon is in danger of proving little with both Saracens and Gloucester deciding not to pick their strongest XVs in an effort to keep key players fresh for European finals next week. Related: Premiership 2016-17 team of the season: Wasps and Saracens dominate Continue reading...