Final Round Of The Prem Is Sure To Be A Cracker
When the Premiership restarts in a fortnight’s time, we’ll have just five rounds to go before we know which teams have made the play-offs, and which have qualified for the Champions Cup by right. The current champions, Exeter Chiefs, are seven points clear at the top of the table, and a racing certainty to get a home semi-final, but behind them things are exceedingly tight.
I expected Sarries to have cemented their top four spot by now, but some uncharacteristic fragility, most of which can’t be blamed on the Six Nations, means that while in a strong position, they can’t afford any further stumbles. However, with three home games to come, and one of their away games against London Irish, it will be a major shock if they don’t qualify for the play-offs. Similarly, Wasps are in good shape, but with away fixtures against Leicester, Sale and Newcastle, their fans will be sweating just a little bit.
Newcastle, Leicester, and Gloucester fill the next three spots, and all will fancy their chances, but it would be a brave person who went against the resurgent Tigers’ late charge.
Denne historien er fra March 11, 2018-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
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Denne historien er fra March 11, 2018-utgaven av The Rugby Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Morris hat-trick lifts Steelmen
HOOKER Ieuan Morris came off the bench to settle matters for Ebbw Vale at Carmarthen Quins with his stunning second half hat-trick completing a 39-11 victory in Super Rygbi Cymru.
Joe keen to follow in family footsteps
JOE Ford is leading the charge to take Doncaster Knights to the promised land but says they have a long way to go before that becomes reality.
Robson keen to make it to the top with Coventry
COVENTRY ended the first five-match block of fixtures as the Championship’s only unbeaten side and full-back Charlie Robson has his sights set on promotion, and eventually playing for England.
Hancox joins the 200 club
AFTER 10 years of donning the red, black and yellow shirt for Bournemouth, skipper Grant Hancox made his 200th appearance this month after their Regional 2 South Central clash against Winchester.
Bear keen to be a big hit Down Under
FORMER Cornish Pirates back row Bear Williams has flourished in making the difficult transition from rugby union to league and has plans to play in Australia’s NRL. `
To play in two World Cups was a dream
RUGBY started quite late for me.
Call time on this pantomime ploy
THIS 60-second shot clock twaddle. If we must continue to plough down this blind alley it needs to apply from the moment the referee awards the penalty. If the authorities are going to put some stick about at least do it properly and with conviction.
Coetzee's pulling his weight again
WHETHER he starts or comes off the bench, Jaco Coetzee is just happy to be contributing fully to Bath’s revival after an injury-hit start to his career in blue, black and white.
Murray's on a wing - and a prayer ...
BLAIR Murray began the week ‘in a state of shock’ at having gone from nowhere on one side of the world to the starting grid for the autumn Tests on the other.
We need to kick on after winning at last
Paul Rees talks to Ethan Grayson who heard from two rugby legends after he helped Newcastle end their 25-match losing run
