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5 talking points as the Premiership play-off battle hots up
By PA
The restarted 2019/20 Gallagher Premiership continues at pace this week with another round of games on Tuesday and Wednesday. Here, the PA news agency looks at some of the talking points heading into a key group of fixtures, round 19 in the 22-round season:
Play-off race is hotting up
With league leaders Exeter gone and over the horizon, four clubs are effectively battling for three remaining play-off places. Just five points separate second-placed Sale Sharks and Bath, in fifth. Wednesday’s games see Sale host Saracens, Bath entertain Worcester and fourth-placed Wasps tackle Leicester, while Bristol, in third, are at home to Northampton on Tuesday. Many twists and turns lie ahead.
Home comforts key for Sale Sharks
With every Premiership game, apart from Harlequins’ crowd pilot clash against Bath on Saturday, being played behind closed doors since the competition restarted last month, home advantage has seemingly diminished. Sixteen of the 30 games played so far have been won by away teams, but if home territory still counts for anything, then Sale must take advantage. They have four games left, and three – against Saracens, Bath and Worcester – are at their AJ Bell Stadium.
Exeter look a class apart
Sale boss Steve Diamond said following his team’s win at Leicester on Saturday that Exeter are “a step above everybody” and it's hard to disagree. They are 13 points clear of the rest, and victory over Sandy Park visitors Gloucester on Wednesday would see the Chiefs confirm a play-off spot with three regular-season games remaining. They have contested the last four Premiership finals, and Twickenham appearance number five surely beckons.
Astute squad management is vital
Games have come thick and fast since the Premiership restarted in mid-August following its five-month absence due to the coronavirus pandemic. The schedule has so far seen five rounds of matches played in just 23 days (including this midweek round 19), and there will be no let-up, especially as some clubs also face European knockout fixtures later this month. It puts an added emphasis on squad management and player rotation as selections are inevitably mixed and matched. It is a testing time for rugby directors and head coaches, as well as players.
Owen Farrell will take centre-stage
Whatever happens in the second midweek round of Premiership fixtures since the restart, it is unlikely to challenge England captain Owen Farrell’s disciplinary fate for headline news.
The Saracens fly-half faces an online hearing on Tuesday evening after his sending-off for a dangerous tackle during Saturday’s league defeat against Wasps. A ban appears inevitable, meaning he would miss Saracens’ Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final against Leinster on September 19.
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I like to see the Crusaders lose as much as the next non-Crusaders fan, but the fact that most of their best players have not been available this year is being hand waved away like it shouldn’t effect them. It’s no coincidence that their first dominant performance came when they had more of their best players back. This is not rocket science. If they can stay fit their team at the business end of the season will include Tamaiti Williams, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Quentin Strange, Ethan Blackadder and Cullen Grace in the forwards - most of whom have barely, or not played this year. That is an outstanding pack that have not played together this season. McLeod, Havili, Aumua, Reece, and Halfpenny will be a very different prospect behind their first choice pack as well. Having said all that Penney’s record is scratchy at best, but given the players that have left and their injury list I’m reserving judgement. Penney’s appointment, a bit like Foz, has a similar stench of the incumbent having too much say in his replacement. They are lacking a truly high quality and experienced 10 which will make it hard for them to go the whole way IMO, but the list of teams who would want to play them in the finals will be very short.
Go to commentsWhere’s this people's champion come from? Irish people yes….other people? Their arrogance has become breathtaking. Not tested? Oh dear.
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