A season in four parts

During the World Cup (6 matches):

Quins 26
Sarries 22
Sale 19
LI 17
Exeter 15
Bath 14
Gloucester 14
Wasps 14
Saints 9
Worcester 9
Tigers 7
Newcastle 5

Even at this stage the writing was on the wall for Falcons as they really struggled, and were the only team not to beat Leicester during this period. Points gathered by Wasps here ultimately saved them. Saints and Tigers suffered in this period. the lack of points garnered by second, third (and sometimes 4th) string players had a key impact on how their season panned out. Neither team were able to rest big names as much as they would have liked as they had a huge gap to make up - which caused injuries and fatigue later in the season.




Post WC/Pre 6N - during European pool games (7 matches)

Saints 28
Tigers 28
Sarries 22
Quins 21
LI 16
Exeter 16
Worcester 16
Gloucester 15
Sale 11
Bath 11
Wasps 7
Newcastle 7


The 4 best teams performed the best during this period - which you would expect with no International call-ups. I do wonder what having to pick their best team week-in, week-out meant to Saint's European campaign. Foden missed the critical match against Scarlets with a niggle,. managed properly he would have been available and would Priestlands kicking have been so effective?
Wasps and Falcons anchored to the bottom.


During 6Ns - 4 matches

Tigers 15
Exeter 14
Bath 14
Gloucester 12
Quins 11
Saints 10
Sarries 10
Sale 10
Newcastle 7
Worcester 6
Wasps 6
LI 3


Quins/Saints/Sarries all struggled a little with losing key player(s) to international duty. LI were at the start of their long losing run. Tigers coped with the player loss much better than at the start of the season. They were helped by not losing SH internationals, fewer injuries and the younger players having developed since the season started. During this period they also won 3 LV matches.


Post World Cup - 5 matches

Tigers 24
Sarries 19
Saints 18
Quins 17
Exeter 14
Newcastle 13
LI 10
Sale 9
Wasps 6
Bath 5
Worcester 5
Gloucester 3


Falcons showed some mid-table form, but far too late. Again outside of the International window, the four best sides top the mini-table.


And the Finale

Saturday 26th May, 15:00; Twickenham Stadium.

May the best team win.

I presume with the last post world cup you mean post 6N? Either way I hate reading it!

It does show that whilst Quins have topped the league for sometime and deservedly so, it has actually been Tigers who have been the form team for the bulk of the season.

I still think the season is a bit of a mess in general, but you can't deny the best four teams this year finished in the top 4 to contest the play-offs. The four best teams in the country going at it in knock-out rugby is a fantastic way to end the season (would be perfect if it was consecutive weekends).

I think it strange that Newcastle go so well at the end and so poor at the start.

It was after Gold came in. He put some fire in their belly

But didn't they do the same last year too

No, that was Leeds last year. They came very close to staying up (getting the tbp early against Saints in the last game), Newcastle did poorer at the end (lost their last 7 games)

HongKongCherry wrote:I presume with the last post world cup you mean post 6N? Either way I hate reading it!

It does show that whilst Quins have topped the league for sometime and deservedly so, it has actually been Tigers who have been the form team for the bulk of the season.

Heresy!!
Quins were the most consistent team across the whole season, constantly top four and after round three top of the league. Tigers were bipolar across the year, they started off as basement dwellers before chasing up the charts.

Does show that something needs to be done about the international windows though. I've often wondered how good the clubs would be if they just got 5 months solid to play the prem in without any disturbances, imagine how well the units would bond and the understanding players would develop together.

Brendan wrote:But didn't they do the same last year too

Every year when they're staring relegation in the eyes.

Yappy, Quins have been the most consistent team but based on that breakdown Tigers have been the form team for 3/4 of the league. But none of it means anything, its all about Saturday, so good luck

Cheers HongKong, I knew what you meant.

Am just going through mad swings of we're the best team and will man-shame Leicester, to Leicester are going to make us in to their b*tch*s!

Todays result for the underdogs did not help matters either...