1. Silver lining
Seremai Bai’s shockingly out of character head charge into Nathan Hughes was a blight on a brilliant game of rugby at the Ricoh Arena on Saturday. There was one silver lining from the Leicester centre’s mindlessly dangerous act, however, as referee Wayne Barnes and the TMO combined effectively to mete out the appropriate punishment. Barnes initially gave a yellow card for what he deemed, in real time, a reckless shoulder charge, but the TMO intervened to suggest he might want to look more closely at it. On further viewing it became obvious that Bai had travelled considerable distance, picked up plenty of speed and charged with his head right at Nathan Hughes’ own swede – a definite red card. Barnes corrected himself and called Bai back onto the pitch to show him the full red. It was a perfect example of exactly how the TMO should be used.
2. Leaving it later than usual
The Tigers have long been known for their late surges up the table, and indeed, in terms of results, they have been in fine form since Christmas. And yet no one really gave them any hope against Wasps, purely because of how atrociously they have been playing. Their insipid attacking form has been reflected in certain statistics where, before last round’s win over London Welsh, they had clocked a negative points difference. They had scored only a handful more tries than bottom side Welsh. All of which makes their three-try-to-none win over Wasps – which simultaneously confirmed them as play-off favourites and killed off their opposition’s semi-final hopes – more shocking. They played powerfully but also incisively, showing an expansive side to their game that has been sorely missing and offloading with wonderful accuracy in the first half. The question now is, can they back it up? They will need to be just as good to be Saints at home next weekend. Do that, and play with similar verve, and they will be no-one’s preferred opponent in the semi-finals.
3. Far from making up the numbers
On Sunday the Chiefs made sure that the Tigers couldn’t rest easy and would have to win their final game to make the play-off places, with a shock win of their own – and one that was perhaps even more unlikely. You would be forgiven for thinking that Exeter might have been happy with a season in which they had climbed back into the European places, battled valiantly for a play-off spot, only to fall away in the last couple of rounds, just as they did two seasons ago. Not so. They are intent on going one better and muscled their way to a win at Allianz Park – a venue at which they had only ever tasted defeat before this weekend – almost beating Saracens at their own game by sticking it up the jumper and dominating physically. Plenty of work remains with a big win at home to Sale next weekend required, but one thing’s for certain: they’ll believe they can do it.
4. Individuality
On a weekend when the Tigers and Chiefs took the headlines for team performances, there were individual moments of note also. Ugo Monye bid a fond farewell to the Premiership and professional rugby with a brilliant brace at the Stoop, while Thomas Waldrom equalled Neil Back’s scoring record for a forward in a season (16) with a similarly impressive brace for the Chiefs. Second rows Joe Launchbury and Ed Slater made encouraging returns after lengthy spells on the sideline, while young gun Maro Itoje also excelled to give Stuart Lancaster some real headaches at lock. At the other end of the spectrum, Owen Farrell showed all the rust that has accumulated in his game after a frustrating season dogged by injury. One lovely miss pass aside, his game stuttered badly, and given the form of George Ford – who showed impressive cojones to slot a late penalty that gifted Bath a win and a home semi-final – Farrell is going to have to pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat if he is to regain his starting England jersey in time for the World Cup.
5. Tie-breaking
It is not unlikely that all of Leicester, Saracens and Exeter will finish on the same number of points after the final round of matches. For this to happen, Leicester would need to beat Saints without a bonus point, Exeter would need to beat Sale with a bonus point and Saracens would need to do the same against London Welsh – none of which are out of the question. It would leave all three sides on 68 points and mean the side to miss out would be decided by the Premiership’s tie-breaking rules. And the good news for Tigers fans is, points difference is not the first thing taken into account – rather, it is matches won. They would shade that, on 15 compared to 14 for the other two. Points difference would then be used to separate Exeter and Saracens, and the Chiefs currently hold the slenderest of leads there, by three points. It essentially means whichever side can rack up more points on the final day, will win that final play-off spot – unless the Tigers lose, in which case it is academic. Whatever happens, we are in for a tantalising final day and you can bet that those two play-off spots will change hands on multiple occasions.
By Jamie Hosie
Follow Jamie on Twitter: @jhosie43
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
14 replies on “Aviva Premiership Round 21: 5 things we learned”
Was so disappointed with the Wasps result. Leicester have been the anti-rugby team all season and it is depressing that they may limp home to the respectability of the play-offs. Not that will do them any favours mind. They are clearly going backwards under the stewardship of Cockerhill – a good forwards coach he may be, but a terrible DoR – the guy has no vision – perhaps missing out on the play-offs would be the kick they need to change direction and better use their resources to regain their mantle as one of the top sides in Europe.
Did you see the game Benjit? I agree they’ve been dire all season, but in the first half – prior to Bai’s stupidity – they played with a freedom not seen at all this season. They even threw some offloads. Now, if they’d won 9-6 here without scoring any tries, I’d be similarly pessimistic. But as it is they scored 3, all from back three players. If they can keep playing as they did against Wasps, no one will fancy them in the play-offs.
And re Cockerill, I agree to an extent – I think he was at his best when he had Matt O’Connor as his sparring partner. Aaron Mauger will step into that role next year I think.
Totally agree – Matt O’Connor has been a massive loss for Tigers, one which I wasn’t expecting to have such a obvious effect. I think Cockerill is a great DOR, but a backs coach he ain’t…
A lot more worrying for me is the mass exodus of our best players (Salvi, Parling, Gibson, Tait) with no impressive signings. I know throwing money at international superstars is not necessarily the Leicester way, and none of those guys (bar maybe Tait) were stars when signed, but none of the current incomings remotely excite me. We are picking up London Welsh players…
One swallow and all that, but let’s hope this is the start of a change in mindset, and not a one off driven by historic rivalries. Despite me being a Wasps fan, I think a strong Leicester is good for the league and for England, but can’t help but think that Leicester would be better off with Cockers as a forward coach, and someone above him deciding the strategy. O’conner did indeed have them playing well, for a time, but that still didn’t prevent Cocker’s poor man managment driving off the likes of Ford, Twelvetrees, Waldrom, Brookes, Castro and probably others I can’t remember. Mauger used to play under Cockerhill, so I do wonder how much influence he will be able to exert.
I do worry slightly about his man management – as I mentioned above the exodus of players is concerning. Waldrom in the Telegraph today: ‘I probably enjoy the Exeter way. There is a lot more player involvement in the team meetings. At Leicester, it is more sit down and listen to what you are told what to do.’
Slavi, Parling and Waldrom all poached by Exeter.
What’s everyone’s opinion on Burgess? He appears to have found his metier at 6
Probably too late for the RWC (although the incumbents Wood and Haskell aren’t playing overly well) but England material after that?
It would be interesting having a 6 who could also play 12 on the bench
interesting one that. There is a lot of competition at 6: Wood, Haskell, Ewers, Wray, Clifford are all options (though Wray and Clifford may prefer 8). That said, the only one I think is really playing outstandingly is Ewers, and he and Burgess offer very different options. Burgess offers a huge amount a little further out with his running lines and offload. Ewers is superb though the middle and at the breakdown.
I am wondering if you may have hit on something there re 6 and 12. And would England still consider Burgess at centre given the current form of English centres. He did not work that well for Bath, but England play a much more direct style, especially with their inside centre.
Having a 6 who can cover 12 if needed can only be an asset, as long as you don’t pick him because of that but because he’s good enough, which he probably isn’t yet.
They should definitely view him as a 6, he looks far more at home there than he ever did at 12.
I doubt he’ll make the world cup but he may sneak in as a squad player.
I agree that they should view him as a 6 but it adds to the interest that he can, if necessary, cover 12 as well
It just gives an extra option that may come in useful at some point.
Burgess will have at least one warm up game. Is it too early? Maybe. But his progress has been phenomenal. He has the X factor. Who knows. Every now and again you get a player who players better at international level than at club level. Maybe Burgess will take to it like a duck to water.
I’d take him to the WC personally. His progress has been phenomenal, he looks really at home in the 6 shirt and he will only improve from spending the summer with other international back row players.
His leadership qualities in a still quite inexperienced squad will be a real asset too.
Agreed. For him to play so well at 6 despite so few games is nothing short of amazing,
I like the fact that he seems to have ignored all the hype and the media attention and just got on with the job of learning to play union at the highest level
I have to say that his transition to 6 has been quite incredible. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him in the WC squad.
After the Wales 6N game, there was a lot of talk in regards to Haskell being able to offer an extra ball carrying option (taking the pressure away from the No8). Well I believe that Burgess is a lot better ball carrier than Haskell (who is a lot better than Wood).
Burgess also seems to be picking up the breakdown work as well – a lot quicker than I would have imagined. It will be interesting.
I’d still have Ewers in front on both carrying and breakdown but if Burgess continues to improve at his current rate, then he will be hard to ignore