As Gallagher PREM Rugby closes down until the end of March and the end of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Northampton Saints sit first, looking down on the league, while Newcastle Red Bulls prop up the table in 10th place.
As Gallagher PREM Rugby closes down until the end of March and the end of the Guinness Men’s Six Nations, Northampton Saints sit first, looking down on the league, while Newcastle Red Bulls prop up the table in 10th place.
Over the next two months, PREM teams will be involved in the PREM Cup, which was won by Bath last season, and gives young players the chance to build their experience and show off their class.
But as we say “see you later” to the PREM, here are the storylines ATR is looking forward to picking up when the PREM returns on Friday 20 March with Bath against Saracens.
Six Nations Effect
We love the Six Nations, don’t we. It puts the sport we love at the heart and soul of attention in six nations across Europe, and it entertains with the twists and tales, vibrancy and colour, with all the live rugby on free to air and content that flows from it. Weekly podcasts become daily; rugby is front and centre of the sports new bulletins and takes up more pages in newspapers.
But for some, it isn’t always great. While some players make their reputations on the back of the Championship, others are left with regrets and the need to pick up their career. Marcus Smith has done fantastically to maintain his form for Harlequins despite starting the last Six Nations as first choice flyhalf and ending it as fullback or utility back on the bench.
Then there are those new heroes who arise during the tournament. Last season, all doubt was removed over Henry Pollock’s ability and mentality when he came off the bench in Cardiff and ran in two tries on his England debut. Buoyed by that, a few weeks later he helped Northampton Saints to a memorable Investec Champions Cup semifinal win against Leinster in Dublin.
Meanwhile, back home the clubs will now be sending ‘development’ teams out in the PREM Rugby Cup. It is a competition where you can see some of the best emerging players perform. Last year, Bath won the cup with a 48-14 victory over Exeter Chiefs with a side that contained Max Ojomoh and Guy Pepper, two players who are now part of Steve Borthwick’s England squad. Who might join this from this year’s edition?
What Now For Will Crane?
Will Crane’s rise from part timer flogging mortgages and juggling early training sessions with Hartpury College to running out for Gloucester in the Champions Cup and PREM, is one of the great stories of the season.
The hooker was hot property and his story cut across television, radio and print. Back in 2020 he players 15 minutes for the Cherry and Whites, who have a link with Hartpury, a rugby development hotbed in England’s west. This time he started all three and lasted over an hour against Edinburgh and Toulon and then rounded off with 70 minutes against Bath.
The 32-year-old’s sudden rise to stardom (and doing so successfully) is an all-time story arc and one that Crane will dine off for years. With CHAMP Rugby returning after two weeks off, he can look forward to a home clash against Bedford Blues, an away trip across the Cotswolds to Chinnor, and a Valentine’s Day clash with Ealing Trailfinders.
While not wanting an injury crisis to befall Gloucester, we can’t but hope that we see Crane back in cherry and white before the season’s end.
Saracens – Rise Or Fall?
Remember last summer when Saracens put out the news of Owen Farrell’s return? Remember the photo they chose? The former England captain lounging on an armchair on the Stone X Stadium pitch, surrounded by all the trophies he won in his first incarnation at the club. Well, it is feeling a little bit hubristic these days.
It has hardly been a great return with Saracens and inconsistency has been the buzz word. Just over the past three weeks they’ve dug in for a memorable win at home to Toulouse, been turned inside out by Glasgow Warriors, and were then imperious against Newcastle Red Bulls.
They certainly missed Maro Itoje in December, and it will be interesting to see how the news of Jamie George’s retirement at the end of next season, and Mark McCall’s move to technical director affects performances. Right now, they are four points off the playoffs but can’t really afford too many more slip ups.
They have the toughest of assignments when the PREM returns, away to Bath, but they have Alex Lozowski back and that has balanced up the backline. Quite what to do with Farrell though? Does he replace flyhalf Fergus Burke, or inside centre Nick Tompkins? Because if they don’t work that out, there won’t be any more trophies to add their next snap of Farrell.
Leicester – Will The Parling Effect Continue?
They love a steady talking ex-England second row down at Mattioli Woods Welford Road, don’t they? The last won they had won the 2022 PREM title before taking on the England job later that year. Where will the latest one go?
Geoff Parling was forgotten about for a few years. He headed to Australia to sign for Melbourne Rebels as his career came to an end, then joined their coaching staff before the Wallabies came calling. He waved farewell at the end of the Lions Tour and pretty much hopped on a plane and got down to work immediately.
It has certainly paid dividends. After a inconsistence first half of the season the Tigers are into the playoff places and have half an eye on a return to the PREM Final. At the heart of their improvement has been a strong spine. Hooker Jamie Blamire, number eight Olly Cracknell, scrumhalf Jack van Poortvliet, and fullback Freddie Steward.
All that was missing was a strong flyhalf to replace Handre Pollard. Aussie veteran James O’Connor was brought in as the solution, but it is Billy Searle who has emerged as the joker in the pack with some superb displays as his confidence has grown. He gives the team direction and seems to pick the right option wherever he is on the pitch. Sometimes, it isn’t about the star player, sometimes it is about being patient and trusting the less heralded members of your squad and Parling has done that for the overwhelming benefit of his team.