Northern Hemisphere Rugby

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Best round of premiership rugby in a while.

Some super close games, Bath and Sarries stealing the game by 2 points from Harlequins and Bristol respectively. Cheika giving the Tigers the mother of all half time spray to overturn a big HT deficit to come back and win by 3 against Gloucester. Newcastle beating Exeter to break their 25 game losing streak. Then finally the Saints get their campaign on the right path with a thumping win over much fancied Sale.

Also! Will Skelton has been named in the team of the week for his performance against table leading Bordeaux.

 

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The youngest Tuipulotu is about to go to Scotland too. Apparently he’s the most talented of the three.

 

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As we head into the Autumn Internationals break for Premiership rugby, time for a little look:

Cheika has been a marked improvement for Leicester on Dan McKellar, currently tied 2nd of the table. They really look the business, beating Saracens at Saracens. Clearly four front runners of Bath, Leicester, Bristol and Saracens with the mid pack some distance behind. Previous contenders Sale are really in trouble and I can't see them pushing for finals. Harlequins are the only team I could see cracking that top 4.

Funnily enough, Newcastle are still bottom of the table even after breaking their 25 losing streak, Exeter are yet to win a game but have amassed 5 losing bonus points. Sucks.

 

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Top 14:

Surprise packages Bayonne currently sit 3rd after 8 rounds which is really impressive. An astute pick up in Manu Tulagi with Camille Lopez doing freaky things for a decidedly unathletic man spells good things for the Basque boys. Reece Hodge PBUH has yet to return from injury. They've had some easy fixtures with tougher ones to come, next weeks against Toulouse & Toulon but with those teams losing half their team to internationals and Bayonne losing barely any, maybe they can pick up some scalps easier than they should be.

Front runners are obviously Bordeaux and Toulouse, hard to see anyone getting close to them. La Rochelle have been really, really disappointing. Not sure what's happened with them, quite similar team from their world beating years. A full strength La Rochelle team with Skelton, Alldritt, Kerr-Barlow (and Latu) got whitewashed by a mid-lower table Montpellier 16-0, led by home boy Jordan Uelese. Latu had an absolute 'mare. Missing two throws, two tackles (from 4 attempted) with two knock ons. At least Skelton was the highest rated of the losing side.

Other tidbits:
Maddocks had a shit game last week and was benched for Pau's loss to Bordeaux.
Vannes have done well do nab their 2nd win of their season, still bottom of table though.
Clermont, stacked with Aussies, aren't impressing anyone.
Swinton is now available after his 5 week red card stand down.
Hodge will be back in two weeks.
Staniforth, Simmons still have long term injuries.