Premiership round 9 review

Bath (beat Harlequins 21-18)
While the talk is all about Gloucester in the West Country, Bath are quietly becoming a force to be reckoned with and are now sitting in 7th position on the same points as Exeter in 6th and only five adrift from the top of the Premiership table.
Since Gary Gold’s arrival, Bath have become a big unit to move around. It’s not flashy but it does the job. Their set piece and defence is solid while their kicking game puts them in the right part of the field.
They just need to string some wins together to build confidence because, with a back three made of Tom Biggs, Kyle Eastmond and Nick Abendanon, the Premiership is begging to see them throw the ball around just a little bit more.
Exeter (beat London Irish 27-23)
Who said the Chiefs can’t win away from Sandy Park? Ok, I did! As far as good start go, I’m not sure it can get any better than 21-3 up after 20 minutes.
From then they struggled.They even saw the Exiles catch up and eventually go in front. But they pulled themselves back and clinched it with two late penalties.
I’ve said it before, at home the Chiefs are formidable and this should take them safely in the Top Six but they need to win away if they want to challenge for the Top Four. Now they did, they could make this season even more interesting.
Gloucester (beat Sale 29-3)
If Bath are climbing up the table quietly, the same can’t be said about Gloucester. Jim Hamilton told me during the Amlin Cup break they wanted to break the Top Four and since they’re putting their money where their mouth is with another convincing display to dismantle Sale at the Shed this week.
Freddie Burns‘ Achilles heels since he burst onto the scene were his kicking off the tee and his composure to stir the team around the park. But this year, he’s taken it to a new level and he is in line to make his England debut against the All Blacks on Saturday.
He keeps the scoreboard ticking at pretty much every given opportunity and he now picks the right time to attack or kick which makes him even more dangerous because the defence doesn’t expect him to run all the time anymore.
If he keeps this form, Gloucester will be in the Top 4 AND he will be England starting fly-half comes the Six Nations.
Harlequins (lost 21-18 to Bath)
The Champions are still top of the pile but it seems they are somehow struggling to cope without their internationals.
Yes they have talented youngsters coming through and the likes of Luke Wallace coming in can’t be bad but losing your starting props, openside (and captain), scrum-half and full-back is hard to deal with for any team.
They are scoring a lot of points but they are also conceding far too many (200 in 9 games, 8th defence). This gives the fan some entertaining games to watch but it also put a lot of pressure on the attack to perform.
Leicester (lost 14-12 to London Wasps)
This period is always a difficult one for the Tigers with the most of their starting team (and bench) away on international duties.
They looked strong yesterday and despite a slow start (0-8 after six minutes) they came back into the game slowly but surely and nearly snatched it in the end. But it wasn’t to be even though they took a point out of the game.
I don’t want to get on his case too much because a lot of pressure is already on him (and he’s only 19) but George Ford showed his inexperience and crumbled under the pressure with his last attempt at goal to steal the win.
He forced his kick which made him lose his accuracy from well within his range and, when he collected the 22 restart, he kicked the ball straight out to give the ball back to Wasps on half way.
I’m sure he’ll learn from it and I have no doubt he’ll win a lot of games for the Tigers with his boot in the future.
London Irish (lost 27-23 to Exeter)
If the Chiefs’ start was near perfect, it was the total opposite for the Exiles. You can’t start a game at this level given 21 points away in 20 minutes. The remaining see Irish win 20-6 but they gave themselves way too much to do.
They showed a lot of credit to comeback into the game and even take the lead with 20 minutes to go but they eventually paid the price of their effort just like they did against Gloucester a while back.
With the talent they have in their squad, they shouldn’t have to look behind their shoulder scared of relegation but one point at home against the Chiefs is not good enough.

London Wasps (beat Leicester 14-12)
Enough of the Chiefs but they built their success making Sandy Park a fortress teams to travel to and this is exactly what Dai Young and Wasps are trying to do and so far it’s a success being the only unbeaten team at home left in the Premiership this season.
Varndell’s try was well taken to give them a perfect start and then they controled the game well to play in the right part of the field to apply pressure on the Tigers even though they could have and maybe should have scored more but the ball was made slippery by the conditions.
The return of Joe Simpson and Nick Robinson was also crucial. Simpson’s threat around the ruck holds up the first three defenders almost every time while Robinson’s kicking marshaled the troops around brilliantly yesterday.
London Welsh (lost 23-16 to Northampton)
It was never going to be easy travelling to the Gardens facing a team desperate for a win but as usual they dug deep and went back to Oxford/Richmond with a losing bonus point in their bags.
That’s one point taken over Sale who didn’t get any and at this rate they could well stay in the Premiership. They are doing everything they need to do for it anyway.
It’s going to be a long season and they might pay for their efforts in last months of the competition. If only they hadn’t had only two weeks to prepare for this season.
Northampton (beat London Welsh 23-16)
Just like last week against the Dragons, it wasn’t pretty but the Saints got the good and that’s all that matters right now.
They’re back in the top with first win in four Premiership game and can now work for their trip to Sale on Friday on the back of two wins.
The departutre of Paul Grayson this week wasn’t ideal and the debate over the No.10 shirt is still raging but Ryan Lamb is getting a good run of games and is starting to pull the strings well leading the attack.

Sale (lost 29-3 to Gloucester)
The electroshock is due or so we are told but at this rate they’ll be playing against Bedford and Rotherham next season.
It has nothing to do with Danny Cipriani either. Like every fly-half he shines if the pack in front of him produces good and quick attacking ball and if the backs outside him offer him good lines to pick from. As it is neither are happening and there’s nothing he can do apart from being frustrated which shows by trying to force the decision with some audacious pass or kicks.
The Sharks are very deep in the mud and after nine games, it’s hard to see how they’re going to get out of it.
Saracens (lost 12-3 to Worcester)
You would have back Sarries to do the job in difficult conditions like they usually do but they came unstuck against the Warriors.
They were made to defend a lot, which they enjoy, but where they usually punish you when they get in your half, their kicking accuracy wasn’t there.
In close game like this one, 1 from five is nowhere near good enough. They are still second in the table but they’ll have to be careful as they host the in-form Gloucester next week.
Worcester (beat Saracens 12-3)
Upsetting the big teams must sit right at the top of Any Goode’s favourite things to go list.
The former England fly-half was once again on song from the tee and couldn’t resist a trademark drop goal on Friday to help his side to a much needed victory.
They gave themselves some room from Sale at the bottom of the table (13 points to be exact) can see prepare for the tough months ahead with just a little more confidence.
They probably won’t make the Top Six but they should be well clear of the relegation battle comes April.
NICK VERDIER – @nickverdier