GP: rugby365's Team of the Week
Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:19
Making the difference: Nick Evans
Despite the small matter of six autumn internationals this past weekend, rugby365 correspondent Ed Aarons kept his eye glued firmly on all Guinness Premiership action - culminating in this, his Team of the Week selection.
With all eyes on the autumn internationals, Saturday's clash between the top two in the Guinness Premiership could easily have been an anti-climax. Thank goodness nobody told Butch James that.
While his compatriots were labouring to a 14-10 win over Scotland at Murrayfield, James was inspiring Bath to a thrilling last-minute victory over Leicester that extended their lead at the top of the table to three points.
Having fought back from 20-3 down at the break thanks to tries from Johne Murphy and Mefin Davies, Leicester must have thought they had won it, only to see James set up the winning score thanks to a wonderful chip kick and a little help from his captain Alex Crockett in what turned out to be the last move of the match.
Leicester welcomed back England and Lions ace Lewis Moody for his first start of the season, but it was the Bath pack that allowed them to establish their first-half supremacy, with hooker Pieter Dixon running in the sort of try that he will be able to bore his grandchildren to death with one day.
Sale could have put pressure on the top two on Friday evening but a resilient display from Worcester gave the visitors their third successive win at Edgeley Park. In a largely forgettable game, Netani Talei scored the only try after 52 minutes to cap a fine move and seal Worcester's second victory of the season. Sale, despite a bright start to the season, must go back to the drawing board...
Sunday saw the bulk of sides return to action after a six-week break, with Harlequins pulling off an outstanding demolition of defending champions Wasps to move into second spot.
Star of the show was former All Black Nick Evans, back from injury since the opening day of the season, who scored 19 points - including a stunning solo effort as the champs sunk to second-from bottom. Quins' victory was a classic 15-man display, although centre Jordan Turner-Hall, scrumhalf Andy Gomarsall and number eight Tom Guest were all instrumental in their famous victory. Mark van Gisbergen had a day to forget as his head gave Quins an inadvertent assist to gift Chris Robshaw a try.
London Irish's successful season meant they were missing three first-teamers for the trip to Newcastle but that did not stop them heading back down south with a 24-8 win. Richard Thorpe cancelled out Brent Wilson's opening score and from then on it was all Exiles, with substitute loose forward Steffon Armitage stealing some of his brother Delon's headlines by scoring one try and setting up another.
Two of the league's most inconsistent sides came face to face at Vicarage Road and it was Gloucester who eventually came away with the points - but only just.
Ryan Lamb's boot had given them an early advantage, with tries from Olly Morgan and Lesley Vainikolo making it 25-11 with just 20 minutes to play. Saracens weren't beaten yet though and another penalty from Glen Jackson and a penalty try thanks to prop Nick Lloyd brought them within striking distance but to no avail.
At the foot of the table, Bristol finally ended their miserable run of eight months without a victory after a nail-biting finale at the Memorial Stadium.
Substitute Luke Eves was the hero but in truth it was down to solid performances from the pack, with lock Roy Winters and prop Jason Hobson helping their side battle back from 10-7 down at the break. Bristol are still bottom but with just one point separating them from Wasps, the champions must be counting down the days until the international season is over.
rugby365 Guinness Premieship Team of the Week: 15 Nick Evans, 14 Johne Murphy, 13 Alex Crockett, 12 Jordan Turner-Hall, 11 Lesley Vainikolo, 10 Butch James, 9 Andy Gomarsall, 8 Tom Guest, 7 Steffon Armitage, 6 Netani Talei, 5 Roy Winters, 4 Richard Thorpe, 3 Jason Hobson, 2 Pieter Dixon, 1 Nick Lloyd.
What do you think of Ed's selections? Who would have made your team? Let us know...
