Gallagher Premiership 2019/20

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Table

Pos	Team	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	For	Against	Pts Difference	Bonus	Points
1	Northampton Saints	7	5	2	0	194	146	48	3	23
2	Exeter Chiefs	6	4	2	0	142	97	45	4	20
3	Gloucester Rugby	7	3	4	0	149	121	28	6	18
4	Bristol Bears	7	3	3	1	157	165	-8	4	18
5	Bath Rugby	7	4	3	0	139	145	-6	1	17
6	Worcester Warriors	7	4	3	0	122	144	-22	1	17
7	Sale Sharks	7	3	4	0	144	105	39	5	17
8	Harlequins	7	3	3	1	158	169	-11	3	17
9	London Irish	7	2	4	1	128	179	-51	2	12
10	Wasps	7	2	5	0	134	191	-57	3	11
11	Leicester Tigers	7	1	5	1	118	191	-76	0	6
12	Saracens	6	5	1	0	158	87	71	-32	-13

Bath
Last Season - 6th

Players in: Lewis Boyce (Prop), Christian Judge (Prop), Will Stuart (Prop), Mike Williams (Utility Forward), Josh McNally (Second Row), Ollie Fox (Scrum Half)
Promoted from Academy: Miles Reid, Will Vaughan, Sam Nixon, Tom de Glanville, Will Britton, Jack Davies, Tom Doughty, Levi Davis promoted (X Factor permitting)

Players Out: Dave Attwood (Second Row), Paul Grant (Back Row), Luke Charteris (Second Row), James Wilson (Utility Back), Kahn Fotuali'i (Scrum Half), Jacques van Rooyen (Prop), Jack Wilson (Wing), Cooper Vuna (Wing), Anthony Perenise (Prop), Michael van Vuuren (Hooker), Max Lahiff (Prop)


Bristol Bears
Last Season - 9th

Players in: Dave Attwood (Second Row), Nathan Hughes (Back Row), Nicky Thomas (Prop), Max Lahiff (Prop), Tyrese Johnson-Fisher (Wing)
Promoted from Academy: Sam Bedlow, John Hawkins, Toby Fricker

Players out: Nick Haining (Back Row), George Smith (Back Row), Nick Fenton-Wells (Back Row), Joe Latta (Second Row), Tusi Pisi (Fly Half), Sione Faletau (Prop), Jack Lam (Back Row)


Exeter Chiefs
Last Season: Runners Up

Players in: Stuart Hogg (Full Back), Will Witty (Second Row), Tom Price (Second Row), Stan South (Utility Forward), Jannes Kirsten (Utility Forward), Jacques Vermeulen (Utility Forward)

Players out: Santiago Cordero (Wing/FB), Tom Lawday (Back Row), Moray Low (Prop), Ollie Atkins (Second Row), Mitch Lees (Second Row)


Gloucester
Last Season: 3rd

Players in: Joe Simpson (Scrum Half), Jamal Ford-Robinson (Prop), Chris Harris (Centre), Corne Fourie (Prop)
Promoted from Academy: Charlie Chapman, Alex Seville, Alex Craig, Ciaran Knight, Tom Seabrook, Henry Walker

Players out: Paddy McAllister (Prop), Gareth Denman (Prop), Kyle Traynor (Prop) Tom Savage (Second Row), Gareth Evans (Back Row), Ben Vellacott (Scrum Half), Henry Purdy (Centre/Wing)


Harlequins
Last Season 4th

Players in: Santiago Garcias Botta (Prop), Martin Landajo (Scrum Half), Michele Campagnaro (Centre), Scott Baldwin (Hooker), Stephan Lewies (Second Row), Glen Young (Second Row), Will Evans (Flanker), Simon Kerrod (Prop), Tom Lawday (Back Row), Travis Ismaiel (Wing), Veriniki Goneva (Wing), Tevita Cavubati (Second Row)

Players out: Alofa Alofa (Utility Back), George Merrick (Second Row), Lewis Boyce (Prop), James Horwill (Second Row), Josh Ibuanokpe (Prop), Tim Visser (Wing), Charlie Walker(Wing), Demitir Catrakilis (Fly Half), Mat Luamanu (Back Row), Luke Wallace (Flanker), Stan South (Second Row), Dave Ward (Hooker), Dave Lewis (Scrum Half), Ben Glynn (Second Row)


Leicester Tigers
Last season 11th

Players in: Jordan Taufua (Back Row), Noel Reid (Fly Half/Centre), Calum Green (Second Row), Jaco Taute (Centre), Tomas Lavanini (Second Row), Nephi Leatigaga (Prop), Charlie Clare (Hooker), Joe Thomas (Centre), Johnny McPhillips (Fly Half), EW Viljoen (Utility Back), Hanro Liebenberg (Back Row), Jordan Coghlan (Back Row)
Promoted from Academy: Tom Hardwicke, Joe Heyes, Sam Lewis, Jordan Olowefela, Tommy Reffell, Sam Aspland Robinson, Harry Simmons, Ben White

Players out: Matt Toomua (Centre), Mike Williams (Utility Forward), Graham Kitchener (Second Row), Mathew Tait (Utility Back), Will Evans (Flanker), Tom Varndell (Winger), James Voss (Second Row), Matt Smith (Centre), Gareth Owen (Centre), Michael Fitzgerald (Second Row), Brendon O'Connor (Back Row), Valentino Mapapalangi (Back Row), Fred Tuilagi (Back Row), Leonardo Sarto (Wing),  Joe Ford (Fly Half), David Feao (Prop), David Denton (Back Row), Ross McMillan (Hooker), Campese Ma'afu (Prop), Charlie Thacker (Centre)


London Irish
Last Season: Promoted

Players in: Allan Dell (Prop), Nick Phipps (Scrum Half), Curtis Rona (Wing), Sean O'Brien (Back Row), Sekope Kepu (Prop), Paddy Jackson (Fly Half), Waisake Naholo (Wing), Adam Coleman (Second Row), Ruan Botha (Second Row), Steve Mafi (Utility Forward), George Nott (Utility Forward)

Players Out: Josh McNally (Second Row), Ian Keatley (Fly Half), Brendan McKibbin (Centre), Mike Coman (Back Row), Tommy Bell (Utility Back), Topsy Ojo (Wing), Fergus Mulchrone (Centre), Luke McLean (Full Back), Sebastian de Chaves (Second Row), Ofisa Treviranus (Back Row), Greig Tonks (Utility Back),  Napolioni Nalaga (Wing), Sam Twomey (Second Row), Filo Paulo (Second Row), Manasa Saulo (Prop)


Northampton Saints
Last Season: 4th

Players in: Matt Proctor (Utility back), Owen Franks (Prop), Ryan Olowofela (Wing), Henry Taylor (Scrum Half), Michael van Vuuren (Hooker)
Promoted from Academy: Ehren Painter, Fraser Dingwall,  James Grayson,  Alex Mitchell,  Alex Moon

Players Out: Luther Burrell (Centre), Jamal Ford-Robinson (Prop), James Craig (Utility Forward), James Haskell (Back Row), Dominic Barrow (Second Row), Nafi Tuitavake (Wing), Ken Pisi (Centre)


Sale Sharks
Last Season: 7th

Players in: Jake Cooper-Woolley (Prop), Robert du Preez (Fly Half), Akker van der Merwe (Hooker), Lood de Jager (Second Row), Coenie Oosthuizen (Prop), Dan du Preez (Utility Forward), Jean-Luc du Preez (Back Row), Simon Hammersley (Full Back), Mark Wilson (Back Row)

Players Out: Andrei Ostrikov (Second Row), Mark Jennings (Centre), Alexandru Țăruș (Prop), Johnny Leota (Centre),  Paolo Odogwu (Wing), James O'Connor (Utility Back), Josh Strauss (Back Row), George Nott (Utility Forward)


Saracens
Last Season: Champions

Players in: Elliot Daly (Utility back), Rhys Carré (Prop), Jack Singleton (Hooker), Josh Ibuanokpe (Prop)
Promoted from Academy: Alistair Crossdale, Dominic Morris

Players out: Christopher Tolofua (Hooker), Sione Vailanu (Back Row), Hayden Thompson-Stringer (Prop), David Strettle (Wing), Henry Taylor (Scrum Half) Dominic Day (Second Row), Marcelo Bosch (Centre), Schalk Burger (Back Row)


Wasps
Last Season: 8th

Players in: Malakai Fekitoa (Centre), Jeffery Toomaga-Allen (Prop), Ben Vellacott (Scrum Half), Matteo Minozzi (Utility back), Sione Vailanu (Back row), Biyi Alo (Prop), Paolo Odogwu (Wing), Zach Kibirige (wing)
Promoted from academy:  Will Porter,  Callum Sirker,  Sam Spink,  Tom Willis,  Tim Cardall,  Gabriel Oghre,  Owain James, Jacob Umaga

Players out: Jake Cooper-Woolley (Prop), Nathan Hughes (Back row), Will Stuart (Prop), Elliot Daly (Centre), Joe Simpson (Scrum half), Willie le Roux (Full Back), Michele Campagnaro (Centre), Kearnan Myall (Second Row), Gabiriele Lovobalavu (Centre), Matt Mullan (Prop)


Worcester Warriors
Last Season 10th

Players in: Graham Kitchener (Second Row), Jono Kitto (Scrum Half), Melani Nanai (Wing), Ed Fidow (Wing)
Promoted from Academy: Andrew Kitchener,  Ted Hill

Players out:  Bryce Heem (Wing), Josh Adams (Wing), Darren Barry (Second Row), Wynand Olivier (Centre), Dewald Potgieter (Back row), Jack Singleton (Hooker), Jonny Arr (Scrum half), Carl Kirwan (Back row), Luke Baldwin (Scrum Half), Ben Te'o (Centre), Alafoti Fa'osiliva (Back row)

No doubt they are stronger on paper for sure ... Irish missing probably their two best players from before the lockdown isn't helping either (one left, one injured) ...

Bath will make a game of it, we probably stop playing in the 2nd half.

LI will go backwards then

All Bath need to do is get a rolling maul in the Irish 22 - with the lightweight 2nd row Irish have they'll never stop it. Would probably get good odds for a penalty try from a rolling maul in the 2nd half.

How was that not a scrum penalty to Bath, touch judge sanitizing his hands?

Sees a tiny knock-on, but misses a tighthead having his head pushed through his own backside!

Think maybe the ball had already been picked up by the 8 before Bath drove over ...

Baths halftime team talk is shocking. Same s **t year after year.

Given their squad they do seem to underachieve ... should probably stop taking players from Irish

Bring on Freddie Burns. Local hero.

There you go - just handed you a stupid penalty ...

That was dumb

Which bit - the pointless kick by LI?

Or the stupid pen?

Ironic the bonus point try comes from an ex-Irish player ...

Not a bad effort

And another pointless kick away of possession ...

Nice line-out steal though ...

Oh FFS

Told ya - rolling maul in the 22 is an automatic try ... 2nd row is desperately awaiting the return of Coleman and the arrival of Simmons. Losing Botha was a massive blow.

Good day to be a Bath h oo k er!

Lol did he just say that out loud!

Must be busy in Bath today!

Might get a bit of business tonight

Blimey didn't expect Irish to drive a maul for a try today ...

Ironically that just cost me the bonus point on Superbru

Sarries allowed to play the ball on the ground, why do Refs miss it time and time again?

Perfectly good try chalked off because Maro complained. He was no where near the Brizz player

TightHEAD wrote:Perfectly good try chalked off because Maro complained. He was no where near the Brizz player

Morahan one? Just watched it and shocker by ref.

The tmo passed the buck. She was never going to make a call. You are allowed to stand your ground and turn your body to support the ball runner.

This will be chalked off too.

Oh well I get it wrong sometimes.

Will not be sorry to see the back of Sarries.

Ref will not let Sarries lose from here.

Good win for Brizzle

LondonTiger wrote:

TightHEAD wrote:Perfectly good try chalked off because Maro complained. He was no where near the Brizz player

Morahan one? Just watched it and shocker by ref.

Agreed absolute shocker by ref and TMO.

Awful game of rugby. Considering on the talent lining up it was scrappy and stodgy.

How did guys like John, Francis, Faletau and Rees-Zammitt fair?

Thacker to blame for the non try not the officials. He went looking to obstruct and gave them a decision to make.

mikey_dragon wrote:How did guys like John, Francis, Faletau and Rees-Zammitt fair?

John was meh, Francis came off the bench and was solid but that was it. Sale were pretty awful in a dire game and the Chiefs game plan was very forward orientated so it was just about hard work in the tight. Didn't see the other two in action.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Thacker to blame for the non try not the officials. He went looking to obstruct and gave them a decision to make. 

Not sure about that. He ran back to the ball. I think the key in these situations is to look at the reaction of the player who may have been blocked. Itoje made absolutely no complaint, he didn't feel wronged.

Indeed. Always watch it back. Thacker changes direction and heads straight in front and itoje immediately appeals.

Fekitoa a very lucky boy.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Indeed. Always watch it back. Thacker changes direction and heads straight in front and itoje immediately appeals.

I only watched it last night and I don't remember any appeal. Itoje was turning and chasing. It was awful lot more subtle than you are suggesting.

LondonTiger wrote:Fekitoa a very lucky boy.

Extremely. Have they changed the law interpretation on high tackles? It was, shoulder to head equals red card. Yesterday Slade got away with a shoulder to the head of Williams with not even a penalty because Williams slipped (Manu didn't get that aid Vs Wales did he) and today Fekitoa only gets a yellow.

It was subtle I'd agree. Theres a great angle from behind though where you can see thavker do it deliberately. Theres very much an argument for would itoje have got a hand to him.id say that's 50 50.willis is again looking amazing so far. In front of jones. Surely cant be ignored for England too much longer.

Having just re watched the 3 minute clip on BT Sport app 5 times, I stand by feeling from yesterday that it was an appalling decision by Matt Carley and hs TMO.

Anyone else have a chuckle at Dan Biggar wearing a shirt with toolstation emblazoned on the front. No , just me oh well.

formerly known as Sam wrote:

LondonTiger wrote:Fekitoa a very lucky boy.

Extremely. Have they changed the law interpretation on high tackles? It was, shoulder to head equals red card. Yesterday Slade got away with a shoulder to the head of Williams with not even a penalty because Williams slipped (Manu didn't get that aid Vs Wales did he) and today Fekitoa only gets a yellow.

I think there was a similar tackle yesterday from Bath on LI although as it was on the red button didn't have the opportunity to rewind for a proper look ... that was just a pen as the ref claimed it started on the shoulder and rode up to the neck but the LI captain didn't seem to agree (although of course he wouldn't) ...

Thomas Young and Jack Willis have been really good for Wasps today.

Robson as well has had a good game.

It's been a good game overall with Wasps pulling away since the Biggar error led to the scrum, then penalty.

Ben Kay's been on the sauce early giving motm to Youngs ahead of willis. The entire wasps backrow have overshadowed their opposition though.

No 7&1/2 wrote:Ben Kay's been on the sauce early giving motm to Youngs ahead of willis. The entire wasps backrow have overshadowed their opposition though.

Think the last try put a shine on things. Those two have developed into one of the best flanker combinations in the Prem.

Seems like a big win for Wasps. Looking at the lineups and 'fairly' recent form I would have picked Saints to win.