1. Toulon fans are going to love Quade Cooper… most of the time
There must be something that a black and red shirt and the South of France sunshine does to international fly-halves, because Quade Cooper put on an incredible show down at the Stade Mayol on Saturday against Montpellier. A genius no-look grubber kick for Lachie Turner’s second try and a majestically timed and placed pass for the first of Josua Tuisova’s hat-trick haul summed up the Australian’s ability to boss a game.
We did also witness Cooper’s fallibility though when a blind one-handed pass was intercepted by Julien Malzieu for a try at the end of the first half. Toulon won comfortably but if Cooper makes the same mistake in a bigger, closer game then the Toulon faithful may not be as forgiving.
2. Saracens could win the Premiership without scoring a try
You may see it as boring or you may see it as tactical genius but Saracens squeezed the life out of the match against Northampton at Franklins Gardens on Saturday.
Arriving with a distinct game plan of kicking for territory, nullifying their opposition, playing with boarding school style discipline and taking three points at any given opportunity, the men from the Allianz walked away with four points against one of their biggest title rivals without even threatening the Saints’ try line.
Four wins from four, top of the table and only one bonus to their name is testament to their effective but limited style of play so far this season.
3. A higher salary cap eases the pan of a World Cup hangover
I am sure that a lot of the international players had a few pints post-World Cup – but that is not the kind of hangover to which I am referring. It is quite clear that certain players that were heavily involved in the recent showpiece are struggling for form back at their clubs.
Many have had to be rested both mentally and physically in recent weeks but what it has done is pave the way for the fringe international players to shine. Rhys Priestland, Danny Cipriani and the aforementioned Quade Cooper are looking very sharp whilst the likes of George Ford, Tom Wood and Johnny Sexton are taking more time to settle back into normality.
This is where the astronomical salary cap across the Channel is playing into the French teams’ hands with regards to the upcoming European competitions. They have been able to give their star players a rest whilst still being able to field a team of superstars.
4. Glasgow could be serious European contenders.
They may not have had the best start to the season but now that they have all of their Scotland internationalists back from the World Cup, Glasgow could spring more than a few surprises and progress deep into European knockouts this season.
In fact, it wouldn’t be much of a surprise at all because there is genuine quality right the way through their team and squad. Stuart Hogg gives attacking flair and the option to attack from anywhere, whilst Finn Russell has continued his sparkling World Cup to add the balance that the Warriors had been missing early on in the season.
Their biggest positive, though, are the returns of Jonny Gray and Leone Nakarawa in the second row. This is a partnership that could rival any in the World. Gray just doesn’t miss tackles and carries like a tank whilst Nakarawa – now a global star after his performances for Fiji – plays like a fourth back row forward with his offloading and sizeable contribution at the breakdown. Oh, and he can sniff out the try line as well.
5. The TMO is finally being used correctly
Finally! In the Premiership at the weekend we saw swift and assertive responses from referees when using the TMO. Three were used for dangerous play and three red cards were brandished – and rightfully so as well.
The TMO incident that pleased the most was actually for a try that was eventually ruled out in the game at Sandy Park between Exeter and Leicester. Adam Thompstone tried to finish off an electric individual break in the corner when James Short managed to stop the try with his right leg. The TMO was looking at it but unfortunately, the on field ref, Greg Garner, couldn’t see the footage on the big screen.
Clearly frustrated that the game was at a standstill, Garner asked the TMO to make the decision for him so that we could all get back to the Rugby. Well done Sir.
6. Don’t invest your money on the eve of a World Cup
One of the strangest stories of the weekend is the emergence of the accusations aimed at England’s kit man Dave Tennison. It is alleged that during England’s fateful World Cup campaign Tennison was encouraging the England players to invest heavily in an oil company called LGO Energy. Well, some of them reportedly did just that, going on to lose a lot of money and cause a lot if unnecessary distraction within the camp.
Now, there is nothing wrong with investing your money – although the players involved will have to explain to their families why they are not getting nice Christmas presents this year. However, the fans can rightly demand an answer as to why they were looking at business opportunities just two days before trying to win their country a World Cup?
By Andy Daniel (@scrum5ive)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
As you know by now, we are hilarious, and you should be following us on Facebook and Twitter. 
As regards the TMO – it is embarrassing in the Pro12 that some games have one, and others don’t. Just perpetuates the myth that it is a tin-pot league (with players rested for RCC/national teams). Surely a tv feed with one guy watching in a van isn’t too much to ask. And don’t get people started on the quality of Pro12 refereeing…
For crissakes, what do you expect a team to do at Saints? Throw the ball around with wild abandon? And lose the match as a result?
It’s not as if Saracens are not scoring points, they’ve averaged 23.5 points per game in their first four fixtures, which is just 5 points (or if you prefer one try)less than the Cheifs. And that’s fourth best in the league.
And before you go on about Saracens not challenging the Saints try line, they had the games best chance (ok so Wyles knocked on) which was one more opportunity than Saints had.
Honestly, the anti-Saracens rhetoric on here is ridiculous, boring, erroneous and makes retain correspondents seem small minded in the extreme.
The belief that throwing the ball round leads to losing (which is what you’re suggesting) is the exact problem with NH rugby.
Luckily this blog is fairly knowledgeable and recognises that such game plans are pretty limited when it comes to winning consistently against the best. To me mind; it is why Saracens continually fall just short in Europe.
The suggestion that this blog is anti-any team is pretty daft really; especially considering that the two times you’ve made the accusation today are both at different writers with likely different backgrounds/teams they support.
Well said Jacob. It all looks OK until you come up against the big boys.
What’s so annoying is they have the players to be more than one-dimensional and limited. They just choose not to play that way
The fact Saracens continually fall short in Europe? As opposed to all the other English teams that have reached semis and finals in the last three to four years (incidently in one semi final putting a very good Clement side to the sword in probably the best flowing performance by an English team in the last five years?)
The whole point of Saracens play, and why they are successful, is that to be able to throw the ball around you first have to a) have the ball and b) earn the right to throw the ball around. If that takes patience, committed defence, kick chases and periods of close tight play (and for those of us with more than a slight ability to retain interest in ALL aspects of the game) then so be it. If you can’t see the beauty in a Jacques Burger bosh or a rolling maul or even scrum after scrum then Rugby Union probably shouldn’t be your game. Perhaps you should think of following Sam Burgess over to league.
Don’t be silly Jez
If you’re suggesting people on this blog don’t understand that there’s beauty in a properly executed rolling maul, scrum or brilliant defence, then you’ve not been reading or commenting here for long enough.
The problem is that these things are not ends in themselves, which is how Saracens seem to view them – ways to win games through penalties rather than winning games through using them as a way to both score tries from the forwards AND to free up space for scoring tries from the backs.
Much like South Africa or England, this then leads to them coming a cropper when they meet teams who can do all these things just as well BUT also play the ball and aren’t afraid by a little adventure.
This limited vision is exactly what is wrong with English rugby and is exactly what will stop us beating the S Hemisphere with any regularity. Its no co-incidence that Andy Farrell is also involved with Saracens
There’s no need to be patronising Pablito.
At the end of the day, Saracens seem to be pretty successful with in Europe nly French megabucks teams being able to beat them.
Yes, it may not be pretty (although you’ve convienently overlooked Saracens wondrous destruction of Clement a couple of seasons back), but it does work.
Wow. You’re accusing me of being being patronising Jez?? Suggest you read your comments back to yourself. Pot, kettle, black, etc etc
I think if you were to read my comment in full you’ll see that I say the problem goes beyond Saracens; but please feel free to continuously take any comment as a personal vendetta against yourself and your beloved Saracens.
The realist is; Sarries have fallen short time and time again. English rugby has also continually fallen short. It’s note worthy that Sarries, Leicester and Saints (Englands 3 largest clubs), all play some pretty one dimensional stuff. Less so Saints but they still don’t exactly scream flair.
Appreciate the under 12s basic explanation on how to structure a rugby attack; but earning the right to attack does not take 80 minutes. Australia and NZ prove time and time again that there are quick and efficient ways of securing front foot ball before then using it effectively.
Rolling mauls and scrums are an integral part of what makes rugby union great; but if that is all you have in your locker then you will fall short. Aus have a fantastic rolling maul but they also do this really cool thing called running good lines and passing too.
Jez, while I don’t necessarily agree with the concept of ‘earning the right to throw the ball around’ (I think that exact attitude is what creates blinkered players who only want to run into the nearest defender, rather than encourage every player to assess where the space is before doing that, a la New Zealand) I do agree that Saracens are capable of playing a wider game – they have proved this on occasions in the past few years.
I don’t really understand why you’re getting so worked up about the article though? No-one is saying that Saracens aren’t capable of playing a more expansive game – just that his was not an occasion on which they did it. You cannot argue with the fact that it was a victory based on one-dimensional rugby.
Andy (the author) rightly points out that this was enough to get the job done against a Northampton in the Premiership – and a win at Franklin’s Gardens is certainly not to be sniffed at. Whether it will be enough to take on the best in Europe – or indeed, whether it is the strategy Saracens will even employ on these occasions – we will find out in due course, but that doesn’t really have anything to do with this article.
I’m certain that if/when Saracens expand their game, the authors here will be the first to congratulate them!
“The whole point of Saracens play, and why they are successful…”
2 premierships seem like scant return for years of cheating the salary cap.
Oh Benjit, yawn yawn yawn. Give that record a shove would you, it seems stuck
If the cap fits…
If you really think you will be world beaters with Farrell and Barritt in combination you are deluded. But hey at least I don’t have to watch their dross every week.
Well I for one am glad you won’t be seen at Allianz.
I’ll continue to enjoy seeing Saracens competing for trophies both domestically and in European Competitions.
And, of course watching them supply the spine for the England team for years to come.
Benjit, can you tell me who you think in the Saracens squad will point to them cheating the salary cap. What big name players have we bought (when they were big name players) that would earn them this stigma.
I’m genuinely interested to know why people think Saracens are the main instigators of the salary issue. Is it just a historical thing because of players we’ve bought in the past?
I don’t see anyone pointing this finger at Harlequins this season. After just bringing in Jamie Roberts, Adam Jones, James Horwill and Tim Visser. (For any Quins fans reading this, I’m not having a go, it’s just an example).
I know you said Benjit but thought I’d jump in as well on this as I agree with him. I think if you look at the total number of “big” players Saracens have brought in over the past 5 years it is substantial. Quins have barely brought in anyone at all over the past few years so it isn’t really comparable.
Chris Ashton – whilst not in the England squad now, you brought him in whilst he was the star of the England team and is undoubtedly on big money.
James Johnston – pretty open about the fact (twitter exchange I believe) he left Quins because of the cash Sarries offered.
John Smit – big bucks.
Borthwick/Hodgson – older statesman but brought in when they were key players for both Bath and Sale respectively.
Marcelo Bosch – from French league and a top international, big bucks
I think whilst Saracens haven’t necessarily brought in a George North esc level of player; they have continually got a squad of 30+ internationals which is quite clearly costly.
Or another way of looking at it…
George, Kruis, Itoje, Wray, Fraser, Spencer, Ransom, Farrell, Goode, Hankin, Streather….All players who’ve come through the youth ranks and played premiership rugby. And add to that players like Short, Saull, Powell for instance who came through but have moved on and still perform in premiership.
Yes, Saracens have made marquee signings (in common with all clubs). Why shouldn’t they.
The difference is they don’t bleat on about salary caps etc when to be honest with you every club at the top end as either done the same in the past, currently does do or would do in the future. Harlequins, in particular, have been crashingly hypocritical given their long standing tradition of shametuer ism.
I’m not sure there was any part of my post that dismissed Saracens academy grads? Saracens clearly have excellent facilities and a very strong academy, especially when it comes to producing forwards.
However, doesn’t change the fact that they still sign more international players than most other clubs. It seems that Saracens, along with Bath, Saints and Leicester are the key culprits when it comes to fiddling the salary cap. Unfortunately, the ridiculous Prem stance on releasing this information means fans are left with nothing but speculation to deal with.
Dismissing the breaking of the salary cap as something that is no big deal is completely wrong in my opinion. For me (and other fans, even players), it is the equivalent of doping. Gaining an unfair competitive advantage by breaking the rules that others are obeying. It’s shameful and any club taking part should be named, shamed and fined as far as I’m concerned.
To call an alleged (and unproven) breach of salary cap as bad as doping is ridiculous.
Sport costs money. So some clubs have found ways to look after their players better. It isn’t breaking the salary cap whatsoever (after all, after extensive review it’s been decided that those clubs you excuse of cheating are doing nothing wrong), so get over it.
Take your point Jacob, some good examples there, Bosch being the most recent.
Johnston, Smit and Borthwick have all since left, and only two have really been replaced. Smit has been replaced by Academy players, as has Mo Botha since leaving.
Burger and Joubert will probably be leaving at some point this season, and have already been replaced by Micahel Rhoades and Samuela Vunisa joining over the summer.
Whilst to some point I would agree that in the past Saracens have bought in big names, these days the emphasis is on improving and encouraging our Academy players. Players like Kruis, George, Fraser, Wray, Itoje, Tompkins and Spencer.
My point is that I don’t think Saracens are any more guilty of exploiting the salary cap than a number of teams. But people still point to Sarries first because of the history of making big signings.
That is fair, although Bath are the first to come into my mind, Saracens certainly come close second. Sarries have produced some great forwards in recent years, even the likes of Nick Auterac I believe was from the Sarries academy before heading to Bath?
This is the problem with the Prem stance of not releasing the teams that broke the cap. It would undoubtedly help the image of those that were not one of the two involved. However, all we can do now is speculate.
Some interesting thoughts from B Moore on the salary cap
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/premiership/11982510/Premiership-rugby-salary-cap-cover-up-is-a-scandal-which-cheats-fans.html
As a Sarries fan I agree with your first comment Jez, but I don’t think anyone on this blog, authors or otherwise are anti Saracens.
You’re quite right in that Sarries had little option but to play that way against a strong Saints team, and they are only one try behind Exeter. The headline of that section is non-sensical in that respect and is incorrectly criticising Sarries when you look at the facts. When it’s on, Sarries score tries and run the ball. When it’s not, they have the patience and discipline to play a different style and wait for the opportunity to come.
Interesting belief here. Whilst Saracens do score tries over the course of the season; does the way they play inhibit their ability to compete against the very best regularly?
Saracens do clearly have the ability to score tries, particularly against weaker teams where they play well structured rugby in the right areas of the pitch.
However, when the going gets tough, the Sarries default appears to be to sit deeper and kick. Last years Prem final is a good example. Now on that occasion you won the Prem so fair play. But would that tactic beat the best regularly enough to win in Europe? I personally don’t think so; which is the point I was trying to make above.
A bit like England really. Do play expansively (6 nations), but when it got tough we reverted to type and the very best beat us. SL would point to the number of tries scored over his reign as an argument for the attacked rugby England should be well known for; but when push came to shove he reverted to type.
Saracens in last year’s final revert to type and settle back and kick for territory?
Err yes, after they’d scored three tries, put Bath out of sight and won the game… and you see that as a reason to criticise them?
And yet that won’t work in Europe. So how many times have English teams reached semi finals of the European cup since 2010, yep that’s right not many (Sarries and Saints) so I’d suggest that those two clubs are better equipped than any other…
Jez, you’re incredibly defensive. I don’t know how many times I have to state that I think Saracens are a very good side; they do a lot of things well.
However, they play in a certain way which I believe will see them continually fall just short against the very best. They are one of, if not the best, English side. However, as you rightly point out, it has been proved again and again in Europe that being the best in England doesn’t get you all that far. There’s been one English winner in the last decade and that went all the way back to Wasps in 2007.
Saracens played well last year in the Prem final. Their tries were executed very well (less so Georges as it was a breakaway off the back of superb defense), and again, I’ve already said that Saracens play a well structured game that has taken them far.
I have to disagree though. Saracens do compete with pretty much all the best in Europe (again I refer to Clerment in 2013 as proff) apart from one club, Toulon. Who to be fair, due to the millions spent on their squad (over 3 times more than Saracens) beat everyone!
To say Saracens fall short on the European stage is unfair when in reality they are the team that has come closest in the last three seasons to competing with Toulon.
“Four wins from four, top of the table and only one bonus to their name is testament to their effective but limited style of play so far this season.”
More like an indictment of how poor a “product” ((C) Jim Mallinder), the Aviva is. Let’s see how this “genius” approach works when up against the best in Europe.
Enjoying the section regarding Glasgow and hopefully a strong 6 Nations for Scotland. Great read as always Andy Daniel.