Tries rain down on final weekend as Leicester and Saracens make the playoffs
It’s just all so predictable. Even after a season stuffed full of injuries and a game plan (assuming there was actually one in place) distinctly lacking in any sort of creativity, the Tigers have made the playoffs. They always do. And, as always this season, they did it the hard way – squeezing past a second string Northampton side at Welford Road. Jim Mallinder took the opportunity to rest some of his key men (as he had earned the right to do) but his side certainly didn’t lack for passion and contributed fully a typically feisty encounter that was settled by two tries to one, with Tom Stephenson’s try following efforts from Jordan Crane and Niall Morris.
Leicester, who were rocked by news that Manu Tuilagi had pleaded guilty to criminal damage and assaulting a police officer, were indebted to a superb display by Dan Cole both in the loose and in the set piece as they ground their way to a 26 – 18 win, booking themselves a trip to Bath in the process. And as for Manu? Let’s hope he takes his summer off by making up for his complete stupidity so that we can see the best of him as a player and a person next season.
With the Tigers pinching third place, it meant that the final playoff spot was being fought over by Saracens and Exeter, who were battling it out over points difference, with the two teams separated by just three points at the start of the day. Saracens had the advantage in that they were travelling to winless and relegated London Welsh, and last season’s finalists duly administered the mandatory thumping with Chris Ashton running in four tries (including a hat trick in record time) during a 68 -17 win. It would prove to be enough for Sarries, as the Chiefs saw their impressive season finish with a big 44 – 16 win against Sale, which cruelly wasn’t quite enough to earn them a playoff spot.
Elsewhere, Newcastle comfortably dispatched Harlequins, who will be left to reflect on a really disappointing season, Bath put 50 on Gloucester to take the West Country bragging rights, whilst Wasps and London Irish played out a spectacular 40-40 draw as the big scores were clocked up all over the Premiership.
Premiership star man: Dan Cole
Munster leapfrog Ospreys to secure home advantage
With Glasgow producing a stunning second half display to defeat Ulster 32 – 10 after trailing at halftime – kickstarted by a superb Stuart Hogg score – the Scottish side sewed up top spot of the PRO12, meaning that Munster and the Ospreys were left to battle it out for home advantage in the playoffs.
The Irish province did their bit by hammering the Dragons at Thommond Park, with Conor Murray running in three tries in a 50 – 27 win, and the bonus point victory meant that the men from Swansea had to pick up five points themselves away against Connacht. Unfortunately for them, they fell just short in one of those clichéd ‘game of two halves’ as they only managed three tries in a 20 – 24 win, despite leading 0 – 24 at halftime. Connacht, despite the loss, finish in their best-ever spot of seventh and can now look forward to travelling to Gloucester next weekend in a playoff for the final Champions Cup place.
Elsewhere, the Scarlets secured their place in Europe’s elite competition with a narrow win over Treviso to seal sixth position in the standings, whilst Adam Jones enjoyed a 29 – 5 win over bottom-of-the-league Zebre in his final game for the Blues. At Murrayfield, Edinburgh’s hopes of playing in the Champions Cup next season were washed away by a rampant Leinster side, who boosted their own seeding with a 36 – 23 win.
PRO12 star man: Conor Murray
Clermont get their own back
Although it won’t make up for another heartbreaking final defeat, Clermont did at least manage to gain some element of revenge over their bitter rivals as they defeated Toulon 22 – 19 at Stade Marcel Michelin. In an eye-wateringly physical game, both sides managed just one score, with Morgan Parra contributing with a second half effort before Josua Tuisova’s late try made things interesting – but Mike Delany’s boot proved to be the difference.
Other notable developments saw Stade Français continue their impressive resurgence this season with a convincing win over Montpellier to secure a playoff spot for the first time in six years, whilst Grenoble pretty much secured their Top 14 future with a surprise humping of Toulouse, running out 32 – 11 winners with Jonathan Wisniewski contributing with 22 points of his own.
Elsewhere, there were wins for Bordeaux Begles, Oyonnax and Castres, with La Rochelle drawing with Racing Metro to ensure their survival.
Top 14 star man: Morgan Parra
Hurricanes keep on winning as the Tahs battle their way to victory over the Sharks
Undoubtedly the fixture of the weekend saw leaders the Hurricanes scrap their way to a 22 – 18 win over North Island rivals the Chiefs in a fast and furious encounter at the Cake Tin. A Ma’a Nonu brace and a touchdown from Ardie Savea saw the hosts home, although they were forced into some desperate defending late on after the Chiefs set up camp on their line for the last five minutes, having previously scored through Sam Cane and Charlie Ngatai. The leaders held on though to record their 11th win of the campaign and confirm a home semi-final spot in the process.
The Waratahs are still in the hunt to retain their title too after they overcame the Sharks in an ill-tempered affair in Sydney. The game was marred by brawls and poor officiating (which just added to players’ frustrations), but it was a gripping encounter and one in which the hosts came out on top, with a late Bernard Foley runaway effort securing a 33 – 18 victory.
Elsewhere, the Reds finally found some form with a surprisingly convincing 46 – 29 win over the Rebels, the Blues battled their way to a narrow victory over the Bulls and the Brumbies and Highlanders picked up bonus point wins away against the Lions and Cheetahs respectively.
Super Rugby star man: Ma’a Nonu
Try of the weekend: Sefa Naivalu‘s effort for the Rebels against the Reds was a stunner, the ball spread the width of the park within their own twenty-two before the wingers speeds away and rounds the final man to score one of the tries of the season.
Video credit: Fox Sports Australia
Villain of the weekend: we don’t like undue criticism of officials, but sometimes they make their own bed. There were some utterly bizarre decisions from the officials in the Waratahs vs Sharks game, typified by referee Rohan Hoffman. In one farcical incident, Hoffman told Sharks captain Marco Wentzel that time was up for the first half, but after they had kicked the ball out from a penalty for no distance gained, he realised there was half a minute left… so the Sharks had to play a line-out after kicking it straight out. Had the Waratahs pinched the ball and scored, the South Africans would rightly have been up in arms.
Hero of the weekend: Step up young Finn Russell. With Glasgow losing in the second half of their home game to Ulster, and facing an away-semi-final as a result, the stand-off scored 22 solo points, including a brace of tries, to see his side secure top spot in the table and a repeat of this exact fixture in the semi-finals next weekend. Another Russell masterclass could well see them all the way to the final.
By Mike Cooper (@RuckedOver)
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images