It’s time for our Monday wrap of who has their name in lights and who is making the headlines for all the wrong reasons after the weekend.
THEY’RE ON FIRE!
Sale Sharks: Alex Sanderson’s outfit had an outstanding shift against Bristol Bears, nilling their opposition for the second time ever since the league began with a 38-0 triumph away from home. Raffi Quirke was one of the stars of the night alongside Ben Curry and George Ford, who added to his drop goal tally. Just about every single stat points Sale’s way, showcasing their dominance against a Bears side who are in form. Could this be the spark the northern side needs?
Sold-out Coastal Derby: It was quite the occasion in Cape Town as the Stormers took on the Sharks in front of a packed-out Cape Town Stadium. The derby game had it all from cards to big hits to beautiful tries, but it was cagey for the most part as two of South Africa’s giants clashed. Above all, it shows how strong the state of rugby is in the Rainbow Nation.
Rassie’s walk: Springboks boss Rassie Erasmus has been hailed by various institutes in 2024 as a nation-builder in South Africa and that was on show when he laid an open invite for a Christmas Day walk in Cape Town. Naturally the walk was well attended as South Africans got the chance to speak with their coach and take pictures together. It is just another example of how the veteran understands the importance of the Springboks in South African society.
Taulupe Faletau’s URC return: No one liked seeing the Welshman struggle with injury after injury in recent years and everyone loved seeing him back in Cardiff’s United Rugby Championship derby win over the Dragons last Thursday. The number eight is loaded with quality and it showed as not even a nasty gash could keep him out. He returned to action after going off for that blood injury and there is no doubt about it, when fit he is a massive asset to Warren Gatland’s Wales.
Will Muir hat-trick for red-hot Bath: While it might have been against an under-strength Saracens team, that performance from Bath was top drawer. The Rec outfit scored 10 tries in all in their 68-10 victory as Ben Spencer and Finn Russell orchestrated a ruthless team performance that saw Muir cross three times. The rampaging wing is banging on the England door at present and this hat-trick does his international chances no harm at all.
Exeter Chiefs stop rot: After losing 10 of their last 13 games in all competitions this year, victory over Gloucester was much needed for the Chiefs. Rob Baxter’s men finally tasted victory in the Premiership this season as they overcame Gloucester in a 22-15 win that saw Dan Frost, Tamati Tua and Josh Iosefa-Scott cross the whitewash. Scenes of jubilation on the pitch, sidelines and in the crowd showed what it meant.
COLD AS ICE!
Munster problems: The woes continued for the Irish province who looked nowhere in relation to their rivals Leinster when the Dublin outfit ran out 28-7 winners at Thomond Park to make matters worse for their hosts. It compounds a series of performances that will have fans concerned and the decision not to play Jack Crowley in favour of him featuring against Ulster hasn’t helped in the supporter backlash.
Bristol Bears: A week after their drubbing of Leicester Tigers it was a game to forget for the Bears who were nilled for the second time in the history of the league, which highlights a concerning inconsistency for Pat Lam’s charges. To make matters worse the clash was at their Ashton Gate home.
Newcastle and Saracens: Meanwhile, the Falcons and Sarries were also on the wrong end of humiliating defeats against Premiership champions Northampton Saints and current table-toppers Bath respectively on Saturday. At Franklin’s Gardens, Newcastle were like lambs to the slaughter as Saints ran in nine tries en route to their 61-0 triumph, while it was a similar story at the Recreation Ground where Bath also scored nine five-pointers in their 68-10 victory over Saracens. Plenty of homework to do for Steve Diamond and Mark McCall this week.
Dragons: The men from Newport’s woeful form continued when they suffered a narrow 24-22 defeat to Cardiff in an entertaining Welsh derby on Thursday. That means the Dragons are firmly rooted to the bottom of the URC table with a paltry eight points amassed from as many matches played and they are four points adrift of Zebre Parma, who occupy second last place in the standings. The Dragons started their campaign well with a win over the Ospreys but have subsequently lost their next seven matches.
Vannes: It’s a similar story in France where the newly promoted outfit are propping up the Top 14 standings. Vannes head coach Jean-Noel Spitzer and his troops found the going tough at the weekend as they suffered a 48-24 defeat against Pau at Stade du Hameau. As the scoreline suggests, the home side dominated proceedings and eventually outscored Vannes by six tries to three. That means Vannes have now lost 10 of their 13 matches played so far and they only have 15 points on the table, seven behind 13th-placed Lyon.
