Brendan Gallagher’s Premiership play-offs preview

Northampton (1)
Story of the season
The reigning champions may have wobbled badly in Europe with those big defeats against Racing and, of course, Clermont but they have been very solid domestically with no particularly worrying dips in form and intensity as they qualified with something to spare as League leaders. They won’t be happy with Exeter Chiefs doing the double over them but that apart can have few complaints other than a couple of big injuries, notably to Ben Foden (ACL) and George North (concussion issues).
The season started with a bang under the Friday night lights at Franklin’s Gardens with North scoring a classy hat-trick in their 53-6 win over Gloucester but a slip-up against Wasps at Adams Park in their next game brought Saints back to earth and they lost just once more before the New Year, a 24-18 home defeat against Exeter who played a clever percentage kicking game.
Stand-out wins in the first half of the season were a 31-24 victory over a rampant Bath, a 43-10 destruction of Sale and a high profile 30-25 victory over Harlequins in the ‘Big Game’ at Twickenham. A 20-7 defeat at Sale in early January was probably their only downright poor performance of the season, compounded with two yellow cards and discipline was again an issue when they lost 21-10 to Exeter last month when Saints had three men sent to the bin a various stages.
In between times, however, there was plenty to admire not least an outstanding 21-13 triumph over Bath at the Rec then the completion of a season’s double over Saracens which is never to be sniffed at.
Stand-outs
Samu Manoa, above, is always going to be a stand-out for whichever team he plays for and Saints will miss him massively when he moves to Toulon.
Kiwi James Wilson has been a rock behind the scrum, especially after the injury to North; Stephen Myler rarely has a bad day.
Strengths
Traditionally it all starts up front for Northampton but Saints are never quite given the credit they deserve for their across the park try scoring ability – along with Wasps and Bath they have comfortably been the most fluent attacking, try-scoring team in the Premiership
Weaknesses
Not many but there is a suggestion that Saints pack isn’t quite as dominant as it once was and that fiery customers such as Calum Clark, Sam Dickinson, Salesi Ma’afu, Alex Waller and Dylan Hartley can be distracted from their primary jobs!
Coach’s corner
Play-off rugby is a different beast to regular season rugby and Jim Mallinder and Dorian West have got to flick the switch. The previous nine months count for absolutely nothing. It’s cup rugby now.
If a miracle is needed…
Courtney lawes is probably the man. Injury and international calls have limited his appearances for Saints this season but now it’s ‘showtime’ and his club need his world-class athleticism up front and spectacular pile-driving tackles.
Play-off pedigree
Right in the groove after battling their way past Tigers in the semi-final last season and beating Saracens in extra time at Twickenham.
Prediction
Losing finalists.
Bath (2)
Story of the season
With much investment behind the scenes and the high expectations of fans brought up on vintage attacking sides the pressure has been on Bath and for the majority of this season they have delivered in spades. Bath under coach Mike Ford and his playmaking son George, left, aim to play electric fast tempo, quick handling and incisive rugby which at times threatened to destroy all but the most resilient teams.
It’s been great to watch and off the back of their performances four of their first-choice back division have earned England call-ups which at times has tested the club’s back-up players who haven’t been found wanting. Some, like Matt Banahan have responded by playing some of the best rugby of his career.
After an enterprising start it was that eye-popping 45-0 win over Leicester that caused much excitement although after the euphoria of such an unexpectedly big win against old and bitter rivals there was a backlash with defeats in quick order at Northampton and Wasps. Bath steadied the ship after that mini slump and went up to Christmas with five straight wins including a 25-6 Friday night victory over Quins when they pounded the opposition front row to an extent you rarely see at this level.
In the New Year, as they fought valiantly in Europe and lost their England men again it wasn’t all plain sailing with defeats at Leicester, Saracens and Exeter before the big guns returned, Sam Burgess moved to the back row and they got back on track again producing a late clatter of wins to finish the regular season second.
Stand-outs
Jonathan Joseph won the players’ player award this year, the ultimate accolade in my book, and George Ford, won’t have been far behind. They have been the individuals but collectively the Bath backline has been the stand-out feature of this season’s entire Premiership.
Strengths
Unbelievably potent backline full of match winners, well-orchestrated by Ford, a modest genius who is as happy creating as scoring. Huge ball-carrier up front in Houston, a gem of a flanker in Louw and a front row which can dominate.
Weaknesses
It’s actually quite simple with Bath! Deny them their share of the ball and they become vulnerable. Bath’s defeats this season have come when the opposition match them at scrum-time and disrupt their occasionally vulnerable lineout. Fail in that task and you will be in trouble.
Coach’s corner
Bath can play a tighter, tactical game – and many play-off matches can be canny affairs – but they are best when off the leash. Will Mike Ford keep them relaxed and playing great rugby or will they tighten up?
If a miracle is needed…
Bath have more go-to X-factor players than any team in Britain including most of the national teams. Any one of their backs from George Ford downwards can strike in an instant. Might this also be occasion for some Sam Burgess play-off magic?
Play-off pedigree
Limited which can go for or against them. Bath could be fearless and fluent or they might feel inhibited and stymied.
Prediction
Winners.
Leicester (3)
Story of the season
A remarkable saga of attrition, blood, sweat and tears, but then again this is Leicester and did anybody really believe for a minute that they would not be involved at the business end of the season? Normally you pay little heed to coaches bemoaning their injured players – it’s part of sport, deal with it — but Leicester’s list was unusually lengthy at times and contributed to their travails.
International calls never help but, certainly in the case of signing overseas players, that was Leicester’s call and they must factor it in. The season didn’t actually start too badly with Niki Gonova taking over where he left off last season with a hat-trick against Newcastle and an excellent away win at Exeter. That bright optimism all changed the following week though when Tigers were hammered 45-0 against an inspired Bath at the Rec, one of the most calamitous results in their Premiership history and a humiliation that was followed in quick order by a rare home defeat against London Irish and a 33-16 reverse at Gloucester which wasn’t as close as it sounds.
Somehow Tigers had to stop the rot which they did with an important 22-16 home win over Quins and an honourable draw with Sarries. Since then, although it wasn’t always been pretty, they started winning tight games – Sale away Gloucester at home – before launching their traditional late season surge culminating in their best performance of the season last week when they won at Wasps despite the first-half dismissal of Seremai Bai.
Stand-outs
Matt Tait, above, might be leaving but has been outstanding for Tigers in attack and defence. Graham Kitchener has shone at lock, Ben Youngs had enjoyed some big games at scrum half, LogoviiI Mulipola is a force of nature when fit.
Strengths
Excellent, remorseless, defence which only makes their early season capitulation at Bath all the stranger. A pack that can find another level when challenged and a squad packed with big-match players who have performed over the years under the most intense pressure.
Weaknesses
An inability to score tries – only London Welsh scored fewer. The loss of Manu Tuilagi at centre for much of the season was a blow but generally there has been a lack of creativity throughout a back division that went well the previous season.
Coach’s corner
Richard Cockerill, perhaps understandably so, has seemed a little defensive and downbeat during a difficult season but has perked up recently. Leicester will be well revved up for the challenge
If a miracle is needed…
The Leicester collective is their biggest strength and they are a little short of stardust this season, but Ben Youngs is capable of lighting up any match when in the mood.
Play-off pedigree
Peerless, always involved and competitive, frequent winners.
Prediction
Much to admire in their resilience this season but have done little to suggest they can really match either Northampton or Bath when it really counts.
Saracens (4)
Story of the season
After the brightest of starts it’s been a struggle in all honesty with injury, international calls, the demands of a seriously tough European pool and some indifferent performances all contributing to a tough and very challenging season. If Saracens can pull off their second Premiership title they will have achieved it the hard way.
It all started with a bang, an entertaining win over Wasps at the Twickenham double header with David Strettle bagging a hat-trick and then came one of the results of the season, a 39-0 hammering of Quins at the Stoop. A
36-32 win against an inspired and possibly unlucky London Irish maintained the momentum along with a 40-19 home win over Sale although they missed out on a try bonus against the Sharks, a distinct failing this season and one of the reasons they found themselves in a dog fight to qualify
A 21-11 defeat at Bath early in January was the start of a five-match autumn run which resulted in just one win, at home to Gloucester, and from that moment on life was far from straightforward with the likes of Schalk Brits, Owen Farrell, Brad Barritt injured a key stages and Mako Vunipola feeling his way after knee surgery.
Sarries kept battling, though, and there were exceptional wins such as their 42-14 victory over Quins at Wembley and a 22-6 victory over Leicester but equally they lost games at Sale and Gloucester they might have expected to win. Right at the death their destiny was in their own hands but they made life difficult for themselves with successive losses to fellow challengers Northampton and Exeter and only clinched their play-off spot at the death against London Welsh yesterday.
Stand-outs
With Brits out for most of the season following an ACL operation burly hooker Jamie George, above, stepped up in some style. Jackson Wray has been outstanding, Chris Wyles has shone and Charlie Hodgson kept going very well during Farrell’s absences.
Strengths
Wolf pack defence is, along with Leicester, the most miserly in the Premiership and wing trio of Chris Ashton, Chris Wyles and David Strettle can be deadly. Billy Vunipola gives them massive go-forward. Good lineout.
Weaknesses
The killer instinct sometimes deserts them and their discipline can be poor. Only London Irish and Harlequins have received more yellow cards this season. Not great at defending the rolling maul which Sale exposed a number of times.
Coach’s corner
It’s been a draining season for Mark McCall and Alex Sanderson but they have to energise their team and key players because Saracens’ high octane defence only operates properly when the intensity is high.
If a miracle is needed…
Sarries X-factor player in the last two months has been young back-five prospect Maro Itoje. He is the man, most consistently, making the big hits, lineout steals and vital turnovers. A World Cup squad place surely beckons?
Play-off pedigree
Hardened warriors who know the score. Edged out by Saints last season, winners in 2011, losing finalists in 2010.
Prediction
Will battle hard but it doesn’t feel like their year.