Advertisement
It is round two of Gallagher PREM Rugby, after winning starts for Bath, Bristol Bears, Sale Sharks and Saracens in round one, while Exeter Chiefs and Northampton Saints played out a high-scoring draw.
The action starts on Friday, and here is what ATR thinks you should keep a look out for.
Bath v Sale Sharks – Friday
Ollie Lawrence showed he is back to fitness against Harlequins in round one, with a match best 18 carries and one line-break. Outside him Herny Arundell made four line-breaks and marked his return to PREM Rugby with a try. Repeating those stats against the far more formidable Sale Sharks defence will show they are in good shape for a title defence.
Sam Dugdale has been with Sale Sharks since his school days, and it is looking as though he is finally making an impact in the first team. The number eight led the Sharks’ defensive efforts in their opening win over Gloucester, with 15 tackles. He also weighed in with 10 carries, exactly what you’d expect from a back rower.
Attention on Sale’s back row has usually centred on Ben and Tom Curry, while Jacques Vermeulen has been added over the summer. Jean-Luc du Preez’s departure for Bordeaux-Begles has given Dugdale a chance to build on his 16 appearances from last season, and the 25-year-old appears ready to take his chance.
ATR Verdict – Sale Sharks win
Exeter Chiefs v Newcastle Red Bull - Saturday
Last weekend, all eyes were on Exeter Chiefs wing Immanuel Feyi-Waboso, and while he didn’t disappoint with two tries, the second prefaced a hamstring pull that puts his involvement in this fixture in doubt. Add in fullback Josh Hodge’s suspension and Chiefs’ back three will have a different look.
Paul Brown-Bampoe is the common link and has gone under radar a little. Last week, he scored a try, made 11 carries and two line-breaks. Last season, his first as a professional after he graduated from Durham University and turned his back on a career in investment banking he scored 21 tries. No wonder Steve Borthwick has been showing interest.
For Newcastle Red Bulls, it was another headline-grabbing week with Steve Diamond shown the door, and a new set-up announced, even if it won’t be complete until the end of the year. Last season when Red Bulls finished bottom, it was Exeter who finished a place above but with a points tally of 29, which was over double Newcastle’s 13.
Diamond always said he didn’t expect Red Bulls’ investment to start to make its mark until December, but after the week’s events, a win on the road would be a good way to calm some nerves in northeast England.
ATR Verdict - Draw
Leicester Tigers versus Harlequins - Saturday
Ollie Cracknell has left it later in his career to hit his straps, and as a number eight at a club with a tradition of rugged forwards he appears set to lead from the front. Against Bristol Bears in round one, the 30-year-old made 13 carriers and 17 tackles.
With the loss of four hugely experience players – Dan Cole, Ben Youngs, Juan Montoya, and Handre Pollard – Cracknell’s form has given new coach Geoff Parling something to build his pack around. England’s back row options appear too plentiful for a call-up, but might Wales come calling given his eligibility?
For Harlequins, there’s no let-up after they lost at home to champions Bath in round one. It is not hard to see their issue, having been in their own half for nearly two-thirds of the match. Yes, we love their style but sometimes it pays to clear your lines with a big boot, because in possession terms Bath were only slightly superior with 52 percent to 48.
It didn’t help that they wobbled with their restarts and lineouts. Yes, they played some lovely attacking rugby, but until they tighten up the little things, their 2021 title win will get further and further away in the rearview mirror.
ATR Verdict – Leicester Tigers win
Saracens v Bristol Bears - Saturday
Theo Dan needed a big showing to remind everyone that he was being talked about as England’s future hooker after Rugby World Cup 2023. Last season he fell to third choice in the international reckoning, behind Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie.
The 24-year-old flung himself into the fray, on a potentially tricky visit to Newcastle Red Bulls and made 10 carries and 11 tackles. Dan needs to maintain that level. George will be back soon after his post-Lions recuperation period, so he needs to make every moment count.
Bristol Bears’ opening weekend win over Leicester Tigers featured impressive showings from wingers Gabriel Ibitoye and new boy Louis Rees-Zammit, who each scored a try and made 24 carries between them.
All well and good, but equally indicative, was that they lost the ball twice each. It shows that they allow themselves to become isolated and in doing so let teams off the hook. Pat Lam has got them playing fabulous rugby, now’s the time to look at the small details if they want to take the final step of challenging for the major trophies.
ATR Verdict – Saracens win
Gloucester v Northampton Saints – Sunday
Gloucester had little to celebrate in round one after losing to Sale Sharks, but it was good to see scrumhalf Tomos Williams back after injury cut his Lions tour short. The 30-year-old looked spritely and with no apparent affects of his injury.
The passes fizzed, most notably for Jack Clement to score Gloucester’s only try, and Williams had a couple of runs and made six tackles before going off on 62 minutes.
A couple of years ago Northampton Saints’ openside Tom Pearson was the next big thing, picked up by the Saints after London Irish went under, but injuries and the rise of Henry Pollock has taken the light off him.
Against Exeter Chiefs, he was in raging form. A try, 11 carries, and two dominant tackles sum up what life as a flanker is like. Keep it up Northampton fans can look forward to him and Pollock terrorising teams in unison.
ATR Verdict – Gloucester win