Premiership round 7 review
In the last derby against Gloucester, Stephen Donald scored after 32 seconds, this time around, they scored two tries in the first 15 minutes of the game to give themselves an early lead and take the game from there.
After that, the duel between the close rivals was set and they threw the kitchen sinks at each other for the rest of the game.
But Bath came on top thanks to a superb effort in defence including 22 by Dave Atwood, 20 from Will Skuse and 14 by captain Francois Louw.
They are now in the Top Six but the question is can they be consistent and reproduce this time of effort week-in week-out.
Exeter (lost 23-15 to Bath)
It looks like the Chiefs paid for their efforts over the last five weeks where they played the last three Premiership champions and arguably the two best team in Europe.
They had only one win to their name against Quins but they have run Leinster to the wire two weeks ago before putting a good show for 55 minutes against Clermont last week.
True to their values they never gave up but couldn’t break the Bath defence and let the losing-bonus point slip away in the last minutes of the game.
A win against Worcester next week will be much needed.
Gloucester (beat Leicester 27-21)
The Cherry and Whites haven’t lost a game since the opening round of the season but captain Jim Hamilton told The Rugby Paper last week that this game would be a true test to know their potential.
With performances like that, Gloucester will be contenders for a place in the Top Four in May. Their defence was outstanding and, led by a once again superb Freddie Burns, above, their attack threatened the Tigers’ line constantly.
Now for another big task, The Champions at The Stoop next week.
Harlequins (beat London Irish 31-28)
This has to be one of the biggest get out of jail free card ever. But the Champions showed they will go the distance to get the goods.
Tom Casson might have to look at his body language but the rules said it was a try. Quins outscored Irish three tries to one but their discipline at the breakdown could have cost them the game.
They are back on top of the table but face another big test next week when they host the in-form Gloucester.
Leicester (lost 27-21 to Gloucester)
The loss of Ben Youngs before the game and the selection of the back row was key in the outcome of the game.
Sam Harrison is a talented player but he doesn’t offer the threat around the breakdown that Youngs offers. This allowed the super mobile Gloucester back row to fan out and shut down any attack from the Tigers.
Steve Mafi, Thomas Waldrom and Jordan Crane were outpaced for most of the game which allowed the Cherry and White to control the breakdown battle.
And even when they did go on the front foot, Tom Youngs throwing at the lineout handed the ball back to Gloucester too many times to give themselves a real chance.
London Irish (lost 31-28 to Harlequins)
The Exiles might lie in 11th position in the table right now but if they can keep playing like this, they will be challenging for a Top Six spot this season come the end of the season.
For Declan Danher’s 250th game, it seems like they had it in the bag until Casson’s try but ,helped by their strong set piece and the boot of Ian Humphreys, they gave themselves a real chance of winning.
If they perform in the same fashion week-in week-out, they’ll win more often than not.
London Wasps (beat London Welsh 29-19)
So that’s what people meant when they said Wasps’ success will depend on how well Christian Wade and Tom Varndell would perform.
With two tries each the flying duo ran Welsh of their feet to get the bonus-point and climb on the 7th place in the table.
They travel to Saracens next week though so it’ll be their defence and set piece to pass the test this time around.
London Welsh (lost 29-19 to London Wasps)
When you face two wingers of Wade and Varndell’s class there is not much you can do but they never gave up and stayed into the game with their forwards.
They knew it was going to be a long season and, as most of the teams bellow them in the table seem to be picking up form, they will have to rally the troops to give themselves a chance.
Northampton (lost 16-6 to Saracens)
Their third loss in the last four games, the Saints had no answer to the defensive power of Saracens on Saturday.
But maybe more importantly they had to see their captain Dylan Hartley and Courtney Lawes leave the field injured.
They might not be the type of players to score tries every week but the hard graft Hartley puts in attack to carry the hard yards and the impact Lawes makes in defence are vital to their system and the team loses a certain edge when these two are not on the field.
The Midlands derby at Welford Road could be a very tough one next week.
Sale (lost 23-16 to Worcester)
The Sharks picked up their second losing bonus-point of the season but are yet to record a win in this campaign.
It looks like they forgot how to win games and you have to feel that Bryan Redpath’s day are counted as John Mitchell appointment looms a bit more day after day.
They are now eight points adrift at the foot of the table and a win over the in-form London Irish next Friday already seems vital.
Saracens (beat Northampton16-6)
The Nomads, as they are now known, are the team in form right now. With only one loss in Exeter to their name in all competitions, it seems like they have found a new edge to their game to become serious contenders to the trophy they won in 2011.
Their defence is right up there with the best in the game but they also showed they can score sensational tries like the one Alex Goode scored this week. A length of the field team effort to bring them leveled on points with Harlequins at the top of the table.
Worcester (beat Sale 23-16)
You hear a lot about putting your body on the line in rugby. Well, former England scrum-half Paul Hodgson took it very seriously on Friday as he knocked himself out in a selfless try-saving-tackle on Sale’s Will Addison on the last play of the game.
As a result, the Warriors claimed their second win of the season thanks to 18 points from Andy Goode and a superb solo try from David Lemi to give themselves some room from their opponents at the bottom of the table.
NICK VERDIER (@nickverdier)
