Table of Contents
The Premiership title is still up for grabs and two fascinating semi-finals await (Northampton against Saracens and Bath against Sale), but the league campaign is over and it has been absorbing.
Newcastle’s inability to win a single match but survive by default created a lack of danger that undermined the credibility of the English club’s play, but what happened above them and Gloucester, adrift of the contenders in ninth place , it was a tense and exciting sport.
Below are this column’s featured awards and selections, based largely on domestic events, but with a margin for the best cross-border feats as well…
The regular season is over and only the play-offs remain, with Owen Farrell’s Saracens
Player of the season
Courtney Lawes (Northampton): He retired from England at the end of the World Cup, only to show national coach Steve Borthwick what he would be missing with an astonishing series of masterful performances for the Saints, especially in the Champions Cup.
The 35-year-old winger’s influence and impact has been as great as ever, if not greater. Her aerial prowess and his tackling influence are legendary, but her breakdown work and his poise have also been supreme.
It would be fitting if he finished as champion again before moving to France.
Northampton’s Courtney Lawes has had a sensational season after retiring from the national team after the World Cup.
He was particularly impressive in the Champions Cup and could yet end up with some silverware if Northampton can win the Premiership in his final season at the club.
Coach of the season
Johann Van Graan (Bathroom): When the South African took the reins of the West Country club they were in a state of turmoil, but he turned the ship around with coaching clarity and calm authority, and won admiration for Bath’s free-spirited approach.
Of course, having Finn Russell to work his magic helped, but Van Graan has successfully fused the basics of forward and backline dazzling.
A mention also for Phil Dowson (Northampton) and the new era resurgence of Rob Baxter at Exeter.
New sensation
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter): Henry Arundell’s exile at Racing 92 had deprived English rugby of a young wing wonder, so another emerged to fill the void.
Feyi-Waboso had already been tearing apart Chiefs defences, and then shone against Borthwick at Ashton Gate at the end of December. There was rhythm and footwork, strong defense, power in contact, spatial awareness; the plot.
The Cardiff-born prodigy was snapped up by England and hasn’t looked back. Another rising prospect to make his mark was Sale’s ‘fast twitch’ prop Asher Opoku-Fordjour.
Immanuel Fey-Waboso (right) burst onto the scene at Exeter and also made a brilliant start to his international career with England.
Premier League Dream Team
15. George Furbank (Northampton): He served as captain of the Saints and led his team during a mid-season winning streak. More robust than before, but just as threatening with the ball in hand. He earned England’s retirement in stellar form.
14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter): It is impossible to exaggerate the impact it caused. For one winter period he seemed to be the only show in town as everyone waited to find out if he would play for England or Wales.
13. Henry Slade (Exeter): Upset by his omission from the World Cup, the majestic center responded with some of his best rugby in years, to guide a fledgling Chiefs team to epic victories. He narrowly beats Bristol’s Benhard Janse van Rensburg.
12. Ollie Lawrence (Bathroom): Between late October and late January, he was arguably the best player in the league. His constant brilliance was off the charts. He recovered from an injury to run like crazy for his released club again.
Ollie Lawrence had the right to be the best player in the league for a three-month period
11. Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton): Still waiting for an opportunity at international level, but has been a prolific figure for the table-topping Saints; The Premiership’s leading try scorer. Bristol’s Gabriel Ibitoye was another contender.
10. Finn Russell (Bathroom): The Scottish magician has lit up the English game with his repertoire of tricks, but has also shown a fierce commitment to the cause. However, he came close, ahead of Fin Smith and George Ford, who also stood out.
9. Ben Spencer (Bathroom): It came down to a coin toss between him and Northampton’s Alex Mitchell, but Spencer has been outstanding. It’s a tribute to his all-court class that he hasn’t just operated in the shadow of the great Russell.
1. Bevan Rodd (Sale): A difficult position to judge as several looseheads have had purple patches, including Ellis Genge and Fin Baxter. But Rodd’s form in the difficult and weak moments during filming has been monumental and crucial.
Bevan Rodd has international experience and has shown his class in the front row this season.
2.Curtis Langdon (Northampton): One of the most notable signings of the season, along with Janse van Rensburg. After arriving from Worcester via Montpellier, he has been energetic, aggressive and also an asset in scoring tries.
3. Thomas Du Toit (Bath): A tighthead finishing the season as one of the league’s top scorers is rare, but he has also done his duty from set pieces. Will Collier led the Quins scrum effort with authority once again.
4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter): He is still 21 years old but he is already captain of Wales and also of the Chiefs. What a meteoric rise and what a mature figure, he hits hard and has a real advantage. Maro Itoje and Cobus Wiese were also in the mix.
5. Joe Batley (Bristol): Virtually ever-present at the heart of the Bears pack; an interloper who provides a platform for the box office men further back. Triumph of resilience for this cancer survivor caught in the Worcester meltdown.
6. Courtney Lawes (Northampton): Although he is this column’s Player of the Season, he has had to fend off competition from other players with pedigree, especially Juan Martín González, the Puma who has been a huge success at Saracens.
7. Ben Curry (Offer): The flanker’s performances of late (often nominally as a blindside) have been a major factor in Sale reaching the play-offs, under him. He is not only a jackal, but he also offers a lot in attack. Tommy Reffell continued to impress for struggling Leicester.
Ben Curry played a key role in helping Sale reach the end of season play-offs
8. Zach Mercer (Gloucester): It could be argued that his best games have been in Europe, but the phenomenon of the defense must be included, as it should be in England. Bath’s Alfie Barbeary also had several good spells.
XV Departures: S James (Sale to TBC); J May (Gloucester to TBC), M Tuilagi (Sale to Bayonne), A Esterhuizen (Harlequins to Sharks), L Rees-Zammit (Gloucester to Kansas City Chiefs – NFL); O Farrell (Saracens to Racing 92), C Braley (Northampton to TBC); M Vunipola (Saracens to Montpellier*), Agustin Creevy (Sale to TBC), K Sinckler (Bristol to Toulon); A Moon (Northampton to Bayonne), E Holmes (Bristol to TBC); C Lawes (Northampton to Brive), B Vunipola (Saracens to Montpellier*), L Ludlam (Northampton to Toulon).
Louis Rees-Zammit left rugby behind to pursue his dream of becoming an NFL player
PS… internal tribute: This is of more interest to us media, but many Premiership clubs have recognized the need to open their doors and tell their stories to sell the sport to a wider audience. Northampton set the standard in this regard, but Sale are also excellent, while others such as Bath and Harlequins have improved markedly. Let’s hope the trend continues…