On the clock: Who put the minutes in?

I’M indebted to stats guru Stuart Farmer who has faithfully logged the Premiership match minutes for players in the regular season just finished and it makes for very interesting reading once you dig in.

- BRENDAN GALLAGHER

I asked Stuart for a list of those who had played 1,000 minutes or over from the maximum permissible of 1,760 which seemed like a pretty decent benchmark and 77 players made that cut-off point.

These are the players we see most weeks and it would be an interesting exercise one season to select a Premiership XV from those who played the most moments, those at the very heart of the League who are often the unsung heroes.

Who were the stalwarts who serve their club week in week out, which overseas players provide the best bang for their buck, which positions only put in a half shift most weeks? Who seems immune to serious injury and those niggles that result in late withdrawals on match day and who is good at avoiding red cards and bans!

First a hat tip to the real hard men of the League starting with the London Irish duo of Benhard Janse van Rensburg (1,587 mins) and Paddy Jackson (1,580) who finished top of the pile. Both started 20 of the 22 games. Both were on the pitch for 90 per cent plus of the season. “Overseas” players who gave outstanding value for money to the Exiles.