Gallagher Premiership final....thoughts?

Saracens v Exeter Chiefs - ‘Great game for England?’

 

As the dust settles on the English rugby season and the players embark on a well-earned rest the epic encounter that these two sides provided as the climax to the Gallagher Premiership highlighted that these two sides were by far and away the two best in the competition, and they fully deserved the plaudits that came their way at the end of the match. It was a contest where both teams showed that they could play ‘optimistic rugby’, prepared to go for a ‘high risk high reward’ approach. But, was this game a good one for English rugby, or a great advert for the Gallagher Premiership?

There were many English internationals on view who played to an extremely high standard; Kruis, Itoje, Nowell and Armand for example. Critically though the game changers for both sides were not English. International rugby and particularly World Cups are won by small margins and it’s the players who can play on the ‘Edge of the Edge’ that make the difference. For Exeter the pulse of their superb effort came from the sharp prompting and decision making of their Australian scrum –half Nick White. It was his sniping and distribution that rattled the much vaunted Saracens’ defence leading them to having to make nearly 100 strength sapping tackles in the first half alone. Sarries made more mistakes in the first sixty minutes than they had made nearly all season, much of this could be directly attributed to the astute play of White. Scrum- half is a position that England are struggling with, and the roster of quality English scrum halves across the Premiership is very shallow. Perhaps, this is best illustrated by the notable contribution of Richard Wrigglesworth, 36, who is still in the England squad, when he came off the bench and through his thoughtful play facilitated the Saracens come back from a 27-16 deficit. He cannot realistically be called the future?

It could be argued that the player who made the critical difference to Saracens whose season long efforts for them have made the difference in winning the double is not English either. Namely, the Welsh talisman, Liam Williams who has enjoyed a stellar season and Warren Gatland must be hoping that Williams takes his form into the World Cup in Japan. It was his startling leap to seize Farrell’s thoughtful kick to the corner to score a wonderful try that turned the game. Perhaps equally impressive was Williams’ low key celebration. He was well aware of the significance of his try but that it could only be the catalyst to the necessary effort needed to win the game and overcome the Chiefs.

There can be no argument that the match had been a superb advert for the club game but as a barometer for England’s chances in Japan that is more doubtful. The pundit Matt Dawson’s assertion that it has markedly helped England’s confidence is at best hopeful, rather than definite. Indeed the match highlighted England’s lack of depth in crucial positions; Loose Head and Tight Head prop, Blind side flanker, Number 8, Scrum Half, Inside Centre and Full Back.

Surely the game did give Eddie Jones much to mull over; Goode at 15 for one or Armand as back row cover as another. At least worried England supporters can hope that he will be more flexible but, don’t hold your breath.