If the forthcoming final comes anywhere close to matching the level of entertainment in these matches then supporters are guaranteed a cracking gameAssuming both teams can still walk after two truly epic Premiership semi-finals, the English club season is set for a ripper of a Twickenham finale. If the showdown between Exeter Chiefs and Wasps is even half as thrilling as Saturday’s twin peaks it will be a rare treat, even if the significant shoulder injury that has ruled Billy Vunipola out of the Lions tour has now cast a cloud over the latter stages of the domestic season.On paper it will look pretty routine to anyone who missed the games in favour of, say, attending a society wedding: the...
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...
Beale brings a touch of the craftsman among the muscle of the Premiership and he will be missed in England, but the game in Australia will welcome him backSome marquee players fail to make a mark, others live up to their marque; a few add to their reputations, like Kurtley Beale this season. When Wasps signed the Australian back last summer, with the option of a second year, they were taking on a player whose temperament was threatening to flat-line his career at the point he should have been nearing his peak.His debut was delayed until December because of an injury he sustained in Australia and he has only played 16 matches for Wasps – 11 in the Premiership and...
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...