Surprise wins punctuate opening weekend
The first round of premiership action witnessed not one, not two, but three upsets to blow many people’s pre-season predictions out of the water. There were also ominous signs for the rest of the league, with Wasps and Saracens throwing down the gauntlet with clinical try-scoring displays.
In the pick of the fixtures, Gloucester opened their campaign with a well-deserved, late win over the new champions, Exeter Chiefs. The game was in the balance from start to finish, two converted tries from Jeremy Thrush and one from Ben Morgan cancelling out Exeter’s three seven-pointers. With the clock running down, Jason Woodward went over for the hosts to give the cherry and whites an impressive 28-21 bonus-point victory. Rob Baxter’s warning to his players about being able to deal with being the best side in the league was given extra significance at this early stage, whilst Gloucester may have found a way to turn those close losses into all important wins – a recipe that will boost them as they aim to confound expectations that they will struggle this season.
Fellow West Country side, Bath, got their season off to a perfect start, winning at Welford Road for the first time in over a decade. Their solid, white defensive set kept the much-vaunted Leicester backline quiet for most of the game. An early Manu Tuilagi score for Tigers was cast aside by some ruthless Bath finishing to give a 21-8 half-time lead. Afterwards, Bath extended that lead further with a couple of Rhys Priestland penalties trumping one from George Ford. It looked wrapped up for the visitors, but three yellow-cards within the last ten minutes led to a tight finish as Jonny May ran in a couple of tries and Tigers had a lineout to win the game in the last play, but it was knocked on and Bath held on for a famous 27-23 victory to make their intentions to return to the playoffs abundantly clear.
Dan Robson scored a remarkable four tries in Wasps’ emphatic 50-35 demolition of Sale. The Manchester men gave a good account of themselves, fighting to be within eight points early in the second half, and walking away with a try-scoring bonus-point, but ultimately couldn’t live with the hosts’ attacking firepower. Newcastle also got off to winning ways, and look set to take the next step into their evolution of being a top-six squad. They put Worcester, who look set for another tough season, to the sword, 35-8.
London Irish made a dream return after their season in the Championship. They scored a late try to give themselves a bonus-point, in-so-doing taking away the losing bonus from Harlequins as they won 39-29 at Twickenham. In the other match at that ground, Saracens dismantled a Northampton side that look increasingly like they need a shake-up. The European champions ran in nine tries, three from Sean Maitland, as they cruised to a 55-24 win that they will use as the perfect springboard to reclaim their crown.
South Africans struggle on introduction to Pro14
Scarlets began the defence of their crown in exhilarating fashion, welcoming Southern Kings to the league with a 57-10 defeat of the ex-Super Rugby outfit. Leigh Halfpenny marked his return to Wales with a try and nine points from the boot. The fatigue of travel for a side that has just finished competing in a tough Super Rugby campaign ended up getting the better of the newcomers, as a 15-10 half-time deficit was followed by 42 second-half points without response. Things weren’t too much better for the Cheetahs, who succumbed to a 42-19 loss to Ulster. That scoreline could have been even more stark, should half of the conversions not have been missed. The Northern Irishmen should be confident on an improvement on last season’s hit-and-miss form.
The Scottish sides both claimed impressive away victories to kick-start the reign of their respective new coaches. Richard Cockerill’s Edinburgh put in a physical shift to deny Cardiff Blues anything from the game in a 20-10 win. Meanwhile, Glasgow got the better of Connacht in an intense game that finished 18-12. Both sides will be confident of improvement on disappointing campaigns last time out.
Leinster started with a 39-16 victory in Newport against the Dragons. Zebre made Ospreys work hard for a 22-13 win, whilst Munster made routine work of Treviso, 34-3.
All home wins in Top 14
The Top14, which is in its second week, saw Clermont get their first win of the year, edging Toulon 21-16. Agen got an impressive 23-19 win against Racing, whilst Stade Francais bounced back from their opening defeat with a 35-24 win against last year’s table-toppers La Rochelle.
Montpellier got another massive win, this time against Oyonnax 37-6. Lyon also made it two from two, beating Brive 29-14. There were also wins for Castres – 33-19 against Bordeaux – and Toulouse, who beat Pau 23-19.
Hero of the week
Dan Robson would be the obvious choice, but for keeping the Leicester backline subdued and grabbing a brace in an impressive and unexpected victory, it has to go to Max Clark.
Villain of the week
It is difficult to call at this early stage, but I think the South African teams in the Pro14 may have an arduous season ahead of them. Neither looked ready for the swift introduction to the league and I wouldn’t be completely surprised if they struggle more than the Italians. Home games will be crucial.
Try of the week
Sean Maitland’s silky hands initiated the move that saw him dot down for one of his three. A remarkable team try in a confined space.
Discussion points
Who met, and who confounded, your expectations in the opening round?
What does your team need now you have seen them in their first competitive game?
How will the South Africans go in the Pro14?
What predictions do you have for the French league?
By Joe Large
I have to admit I was surprised how bad Saints were in the first half of the game with Sarries at Twickers. Sarries were sublime at times though, despite having several players rested and losing Kruis so early in the game to injury. Saints did manage to earn some dignity back in the second half scoring some good tries, but a first half demolition where they conceded seven tries was never going to be easy to come back from.
Gloucester played well for their victory and deserved to win, as did Bath at Welford Road.
Newcastle looked they are ready to step back into the top half of the table, and will be difficult to beat at Kingston Park.
Wasps looked comfortable, but their defence was a bit leaky at times, but like Sarries they never looked like losing the game.
I don’t think anyone expected Irish to win their first game back, especially given it was against a strong Quins team, but fair play to them, they really turned up with he right attitude and gave the rest of the teams something to think about. They are not going to lie down for anyone this season.
A very nerve-wracking last 10 minutes from a Bath perspective. The forwards were immense and the backs took the chances as they came. Roko running the length of the field was brilliant. Thought the officiating was pretty poor, the game didn’t flow that well and the yellow cards for two “high” tackles were really debatable.
Must mirror Dazza’s comments on Saints; though Saracens were superb Saints were truly awful and the 2nd half performance doesn’t restore any pride as Sarries had taken their foot off the gas.
LI win was a great start for them and really deserved.
Going forward I think Bath need to keep their first team injury free, injuries were a killer last year and we are short on props as it stands.
The Saffers showed glimpses of brilliance, and they will do alright, but adapting to the NH game will take time and I cant see them challenging for title this year.
Leicester attempt to play southern hemisphere style rugby looked like a Laurel and Hardy show. These are pros? Gloucester only OK. Quinns need to fire coach now. Saracens sublime. Wasps OK. Connacht will struggle if they cannot beat an understrength Glasgow team at home. Scarlets look good. Poor old suffering Cardiff Blues supporters.
I second your comment about Quins. They need a top level coach to keep up. Maybe they should do a swap with Saints, because I can’t help thinking that they need a fresh approach. Saturday showed up all their frailties in the first 40 minutes.
Lack of leadership (Hartley aside) and poor decision makers in key positions. Defence was easily penetrated and a lack of physicality at the breakdown.
Peter Evans
I seem to have heard this expression, ‘play southern hemisphere style rugby’, before somewhere, but precisely what do YOU mean by it? Are you implying that it is a ‘type’ of rugby that should NOT be deployed here?
And Northampton were NO opposition at all. Not only did they make Saracens look ‘sublime’, with 1 out runners into 2/3 defenders & exhibiting a defence that was clearly coached by a Swiss cheese maker, but they kept on doing it! They’d have made yr granny look sublime.
Irish confounded in a more interesting, entertaining game. Sarries with their team of international mercenaries ground down a moribund N’thampton whose coach, Mallinder, is surely past his sell by. The expectation for the latter game was @ least a contest. What a rip off!
Didn’t see the other games, so can’t really comment, although a bit surprised @ Bath’s & Gloucester’s wins!
The Saffas? Jet lag? Old lags more like. Kings have been decimated I understand, but nevertheless need to get it together pronto.. & the clock’s a ticking. Maybe the Cheetahs need to cheat more? Look like they were pulled out of a/an (un)lucky dip for me.