New signings Danny Cipriani and Dan Biggar faced off, Will Skelton impressed for Saracens and Worcester ran Wasps closeThere are plenty of high-profile fixtures heading to Newcastle over the next 12 months, with the city to host this season’s European Champions Cup final and England’s final warm-up game prior to the 2019 Rugby World Cup, which will be confirmed this week for a Friday night at St James’ Park. There are currently only around 10,000 public tickets left for the European showpiece next May, which Saracens will be hoping involves another trip to Tyneside for them. If their Australian forward Will Skelton, who has slimmed down by 15kg since the end of last season, can maintain the promising form he...
From Johnny Sexton’s heroic contribution to Leinster’s double win to a Billy Twelvetrees try that was thrillingly assisted by Henry Trinder it has been a club season to rememberJohnny Sexton. Pivotal for grand-slam winning Ireland and his double-winning province. Just the World Cup to go now. Robert Kitson Related: Saracens champions again as Chris Wyles leads conquest of Exeter Related: Leinster complete double to join the elite with victory over Scarlets Related: Exeter come up short on the day but the future is theirs to shape | Michael Aylwin Continue reading...
The Chiefs’ defence could not cope with the variety of Saracens’ attacks in the Premiership final at Twickenham but the future is rosy for Rob Baxter’s well-run clubThe English champions have been toppled might be one way of looking at this. Another is that Saracens have simply reiterated their status as by some distance the best side in England.Last season they surrendered their domestic crown to Exeter but there was little doubt even then that they were the best side in England. They proved themselves comfortably the best side in Europe – and England is in Europe – but a trip to Exeter for the Premiership semi-final the weekend after their triumph in Europe proved an assignment too far –...
The irresistible force meets the immovable object when Exeter play Saracens while Leinster are favourites against ScarletsThe season, domestically at least, ends this weekend. As it came in, so it goes out with players queuing for surgery. Artificial pitches have come under scrutiny after Jack Willis, John Barclay and Steffon Armitage suffered leg injuries in the last month that will keep them out of action for between six months and a year but other factors, such as fatigue, come into play.It is not so much the number of matches players take part in but the cumulative effect of training. Mako Vunipola, who was with the Lions in New Zealand, will make his 32nd appearance of the campaign on Saturday when...
Cool-headed Exeter shone without setting hearts racing, as Saracens and Wasps slipped while injuries dominatedFinal league position: 1st Related: Premiership team of the season: from Henry Trinder to Donncha O’Callaghan | Robert Kitson Related: Saracens turn focus on recapturing Premiership title from Exeter | Robert Kitson Continue reading...