How they fared – plaudits and brickbats
Now the play-off semi-finalists and European places are decided, Ben Coles gives his verdict on each club’s exploits in his regular-season Premiership report card
A+ Leicester
Did they match expectations? And some. The promise of Steve Borthwick’s first season in charge has been built on spectacularly, with Leicester top of the table for most of the season, based on a dominant pack, miserly defence and a well-drilled kicking game. Now to finish the job in the play-offs.
Star player George Ford has been mesmeric at times while Freddie Steward enjoyed an excellent season, but Julian Montoya’s consistency and class make him top pick. Biggest letdown A home European knockout game against Leinster felt like a good test of how far Leicester have come. Defeat can be used as fuel by Borthwick.
AGloucester
Did they match expectations? Exceeded them, leaping from 11th place last season into the play-off mix under second-year head coach George Skivington, showing impressive bite up front to go with skill out wide and an increasingly successful defence. A team really to watch next season, not least because Louis
Rees-zammit is running in the tries. Star player A host of contenders – captain Lewis Ludlow, centres Mark Atkinson and Chris Harris, Freddie Clarke too – but Ruan Ackermann’s form has been superb. Biggest letdown It transpired the recent one-point loss to Bristol meant that Gloucester narrowly missed out on the top four.
A Saracens
Did they match expectations? The sense was always that Saracens could return from the Championship and make the play-offs, but to secure a home semi-final and come close to first place was hugely impressive. The players who went on loan have returned better for it, while younger talents such as Andy Christie and
Theo Mcfarland have thrived.
Star player
Mcfarland has ripped into the Premiership and Billy Vunipola enjoyed a brilliant season, but Ben Earl has been sensational.
Biggest letdown
The Challenge Cup semi-final defeat by Toulon, but how much of a priority was that competition really, given Saracens’ top-four chase?
BLondon Irish
Did they match expectations? Sort of. A wild team to watch who will provide 10 out of 10 entertainment and produce absurd comebacks on a weekly basis, but whose results and performances can be all over the place. Star player Paddy Jackson is the Premiership’s top points scorer while Benhard Janse van
Rensburg and Kyle Rowe (both under-the-radar signings) impressed, but Agustin Creevy, the Argentinian front-row legend, has been the heart of the side.
Biggest letdown Missing out on a first trophy in 20 years in the Premiership Rugby Cup was a gut punch, particularly in extra-time.
C+ Worcester
Did they match
expectations? Yes, but that is not a good thing. However, Steve Diamond’s plans to sign only hard-nosed forwards could be a catalyst. Lifting the Premiership Rugby Cup, the club’s first major trophy, was a landmark moment. Star player Worcester picked up a gem in Kyle Hatherell last year, with the South African lock giving them plenty of physicality this season.
Biggest letdown The league performance just has not been acceptable and had there been relegation then Worcester’s battle with Bath would have been compelling. Losing 66-10 at Saints was the low point.
AHarlequins
Did they match expectations? Definitely, proving last season’s late heist of the Premiership and their glorious run to the title was no fluke.
No one will want to play them at this stage of the season, while the arrival of Tabai Matson has added to a talented coaching group. Star player The spine of Marler, Dombrandt, Care, Smith and Marchant have all impressed again, but Andre Esterhuizen’s recent recognition from his peers at the RPA Awards speaks volumes. Biggest letdown The Champions Cup exit to Montpellier was one comeback Quins were unable to pull off, eliminated before the quarter-finals.
Sale C
Did they match expectations?
Third to sixth will be a disappointment, but then Sale have spent chunks of the season without Faf de Klerk, Tom Curry and Manu Tuilagi. The change facing Alex Sanderson’s side this summer will be their biggest for some time, with four South Africans leaving and George Ford, Jonny Hill and Tom O’flaherty all arriving.
Star player An excellent season for Bevan Rodd breaking through with England, but Dan du Preez’s consistency has not gone unnoticed.
Biggest letdown Not building on last season, with four losses out of five towards the start of the season giving Sale an uphill battle.
C+ Wasps
Did they match
expectations? More wins than last season but one place lower, missing out on the Champions Cup as a result. But no side were hit harder by injury this season, with Jack Willis and Joe Launchbury missing time. Wasps’ brave run in Europe ended in the semi-finals too and they will be better next season. Star player For all his brother’s turnover prowess Tom Willis has been relentless, but Elliott Stooke’s impact cannot be ignored. Biggest letdown
It almost all came down to the crazy draw against London Irish, when Wasps were cruising at 39-14 up in Brentford but left the door open.
B Northampton
Did they match expectations? Quietly impressive this season, securing fourth place despite intense competition in Chris Boyd’s final campaign ahead of the start of the Phil Dowson era. Wins are up but so, too, are tries, with Northampton’s attack scoring 30 more tries than last season.
Star player Alex
Mitchell might not have quite cracked Eddie Jones’s side but Saints are more than happy to have the scrum-half around. Ten tries and 13 assists is an excellent return. Biggest letdown Losing both derbies against Leicester, particularly the 55-26 loss at home in October – more so if Leicester win the title this month.
D Newcastle
Did they match
expectations? Nine wins last season dropping to six this season marks a bit of a regression, and the timing feels right for Dean Richards to step aside, with Dave Walder moving up to lead the side. More attacking innovation – after a league-low 53 tries this season and just three try bonus points – is required.
Star player Both of Newcastle’s hookers made the recent England squad and George Mcguigan’s call-up is richly deserved – he finished the season as their top try scorer with 15. Biggest letdown Mark Wilson’s retirement was a huge blow, depriving the Falcons of their best player following injury.
Exeter C
Did they match expectations?
Not by the Chiefs’ high standards. After years of success,a blip year has arrived, with the Chiefs finishing outside the top four for the first time since 2015. Injuries at lock and in the back row hit them hard but, even so, the tight wins Exeter used to grind out became tight losses instead, particularly at home.
Star player Tricky, but Dave Ewers, working tirelessly as ever, would be a strong contender, along with Jannes Kirsten and Tom O’flaherty.
Biggest letdown Not returning to the final to avenge last season’s high-scoring defeat by Harlequins. The work to get back there starts now.
Bristol D
Did they match expectations? A bitterly disappointing step backwards after surging up the Premiership since their promotion, with the semi-final defeat at home by Harlequins at the end of 2020-21 seeming to linger. Defensively off the pace, the absences of Semi Radradra and Charles Piutau have not helped. Star player Tight call between the old veteran Joe Joyce and rising star Fitz Harding, the young back-rower to keep an eye on ahead of the Rugby World Cup in France.
Biggest letdown Dropping so far from the top four after consecutive play-offs appearances, over 25 points off fourth place despite little change in personnel.
F Bath
Did they match expectations?
Absolutely not. Coming seventh last season was supposed to be a blip, but now Bath have fallen off a precipice. Ed Griffiths has come and gone off the field while on it Bath conceded well over a hundred tries and scored only 57. Change is thankfully coming.
Star player Ewan Richards has made a welcome breakthrough and Will Muir has been a rare positive with eight tries in the league.
Biggest letdown The high hopes for Bath’s attack burned out, with Danny Cipriani moving on after one season and attack coach Dave Williams leaving in February. Oh, and losing 64-0 to local rivals Gloucester.