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The Gallagher PREM has already started to take shape, with the reigning champions topping the table, and a reinvigorated side leading the chase. At the other end though, there is a familiar look.
The Gallagher PREM has already started to take shape, with the reigning champions topping the table, and a reinvigorated side leading the chase. At the other end though, there is a familiar look.
Here’s how ATR saw the action…
Bath 28-16 Sale Sharks
Champion teams are based on defence, champion teams learn as they go, and champion teams kill off the opposition when they have the chance. Bath showed why they are English champions with an impressive win over a challenging Sale Sharks at a very rainy Rec on Friday night.
With 20 minutes to go, the Sharks were circling, trailing 21-16 and sniffing a win on the road. At fulltime they were empty handed and down to 14 men. First came two thumping tackles from Sam Underhill and Guy Pepper that stopped Sharks building their momentum, while either side there were desperate clearances from Ollie Lawrence and Ben Spencer that relieved pressure at a crucial point.
With 68 minutes to go and only leading by five, Bath turned down a simple kick to go for a bonus point try. It didn’t pay off, but when the chance came again Spencer had a crack. It didn’t come off either, but their analysis did soon after when Spencer saw there was no one covering behind and dinked over a kick that Max Ojomoh touched down. Game over.
While Bath learned, Sale’s WillGriff John didn’t. He got away with a tucked arm entry into a ruck late on, but a few minutes later he did the same on Underhill and saw out the match from the sinbin. It also cost his team a five metre scrum as they chased a losing point.
Exeter Chiefs 38-15 Newcastle Red Bulls
Has Exeter Chiefs boss Rob Baxter finally found the man to fill Joe Simmonds boots? After experimenting with Henry Slade at flyhalf last season, Harvey Skinner has look comfortable in the role in their opening two matches.
The 27-year-old has been with Exeter Chiefs since his school days and scored their sixth of six tries in their impressive win over Newcastle Red Bulls, though Slade looked after their kicking duties. Having a solid pack led well by Ross Vintcent and Daffyd Jenkins, and swift service from Stephen Varney helps.
It is something Newcastle Red Bulls would like to have. George McGuigan scored again, but he will need help and with a trip to Sale Sharks next up, the new regime might need to wait another week more for their first victory.
Leicester Tigers 29-19 Harlequins
Leicester Tigers are going through another rebirth after Michael Cheika’s season-long cameo, with ex-Tiger Geoff Parling settling into the role. He’s kept the handbrake off and his side are looking good for it. They secured a four-try bonus point away to Bristol Bears in Round 1 and then enjoyed a second half comeback for the ages against Harlequins.
Jack van Poortvliet has continued his form the end of last season, and England’s summer tour. The scrumhalf benefited hugely from Cheika’s style, and he has scored two tries already and has a 98 percent pass accuracy which keeps the Tigers’ tempo high.
Harlequins will wonder what happened to their strong start, and there will be concerns that they stopped scoring after 42 minutes. Guido Petti will be back from Argentinian duty to bolster the pack, and Marcus Smith will return next week from his Lions-enforced rest. They can’t come soon enough on this showing.
Saracens 50-17 Bristol Bears
On Friday, ATR’s preview stated that Theo Dan needed another strong showing before Jamie George returned if he wanted to return to the England hooker conversation. He did just that at Stone X Stadium, crashing over in the corner after just two minutes. Hopefully, the back spasm that forced him off after 13 minutes won’t keep him out for long.
He isn’t the only Saracens player with new life breathed into them. Nick Tompkins has been pushed to outside centre to accommodate Owen Farrell, and while his defence has remained solid as ever, his attacking has risen a notch, and he scored his third try of the season.
Bristol have been hit hard by injuries. After they lost AJ MacGinty, Harry Randell, and Gabriel Ibitoye, boss Pat Lam will be despairing that Tom Jordan, Joe Jenkins, and Louis Rees-Zammit have joined them in the medical room. That said there is no excuse for their lack of line speed in defence. Watch how they are slow to react ahead of Max Malin’s try and there is plenty to do, no matter who is on the training paddock or not.
Gloucester 35-37 Northampton Saints
God bless them, Northampton Saints certainly don’t like making life dull. A week after they let a halftime lead of 33-7 slip to draw 33-33 with Exeter Chiefs, they nearly repeated the trick against Gloucester. Saints were 31-7 up at the break, and only two Anthony Belleau penalties stopped them from not taking the win after the hosts stirred themselves in the second half.
The French flyhalf was one of the great hopes when he helped Richard Cockerill’s Toulon reach the 2017 Top 14 final, but he hasn’t reached the levels expected. For Northampton he could be the key to a great, rather than good season, and he has already showed that Fin Smith’s absences won’t be felt as keenly this time around.
It may be early, but Gloucester need to turn things around quickly. Will Joseph is reminiscent of elder brother Jonathan, and he and centre partner Seb Atkinson provide signs of encouragement, but they missed a Lewis Ludlow’s doggedness in the back row. He may not be captain any more, but he will be key to ensuring the pack maintains its consistency.