Premiership Rugby Cup midweek games

[Mikey Brown]

Not seen much of him beyond looking like a promising all rounder and physically he’s clearly got something. Definitely keen to see him him get some of the gametime previously going to Lasike, Lang, Tapuai or an out of position Northmore.

[Raggs]

Ojomoh is over the hill! Lennox Anyanwu is the promised man!

[Peej]

Watching from a court-mandated distance?

Okay, you just startled bystanders with the laugh that elicited.

Puja

So this is what it feels like to know one has reached one's peak

[fivepointer]

Charlie Morgan on the Quins-Sale game.

On Tuesday, Alex Sanderson was asked about the five-point deduction Sale Sharks had incurred for picking Alex Groves, a new signing from Bristol Bears, in the Premiership Cup.

Groves had featured for his old side in the same competition earlier this season. Sanderson explained that it was “an honest mistake” that has cost Sale a chance to progress from the pool stage. He did not seem angry, or even mildly frustrated.

Following some faux-dismay, he openly voiced his relief. Sale will have to prioritise the Premiership play-off race and knockout rounds of the European Champions Cup.

“In terms of going through to the latter stages, you can’t focus on three fronts,” Sanderson said. “Not with the squads we’ve got, not with the salary cap. You can’t. It’s difficult enough on two.

“I would love there to be some kind of competitive rugby at that level where these lads can play. As for the Cup itself, I’m slightly relieved that we won’t go further, so we can focus on Europe and the Prem.”

Indifference is never a good look for a competition, and this sentiment reinforces – once again – that English rugby union must figure out what its second tier should be.

Last week, Conor O’Shea said there was “no room” for the Premiership Cup in 2022-23 and spoke about “a hybrid cup concept between Premiership and Championship clubs” that is in the offing. A clearer message, which he rapped the desk to deliver, was this: “Our young players do not play enough”.

And yet on Tuesday evening at The Stoop, Sale and Harlequins produced a reminder of how worthwhile Premiership Cup fixtures can be.

Outside of a comically shambolic passage in the second half, punctuated by a stubbed toe and a lock spilling in the back-field, the quality remained high throughout. The visitors prevailed 34-29 after a ding-dong contest featuring eleven tries, three yellow cards and two compelling bouts of all-in push-and-shove – one on the final whistle. Three lessons hit home.

A shop window for future stars
You should not have too much trouble remembering the name of Cassius Cleaves. The 19-year-old featured three times for England Under-20 over the recent Six Nations and was particularly eye-catching in the 43-14 thrashing of Wales.

An explosive, scuttling runner, he has a gait similar to Marcus Watson, the slightly stockier elder brother of Anthony. Cleaves is electric, and full of promise. Against Sale, his competitive debut for Harlequins, he started on the left wing before shifting to full-back following an injury to Nick David.

Within 17 minutes, he had a first senior try. It arrived from a crisp sweeping pass from centre Lennox Anyanwu. Just before half-time, Cleaves completed his double. The second was more straightforward, with Sale reduced to 13 men due to yellow cards for Kieran Wilkinson and Joe Carpenter. Cleaves’ offloading will develop as he continues to work with coaches such as Nick Evans.

Oscar Beard impressed on Tuesday night and Cadan Murley, Tyrone Green and Louis Lynagh continue to shine in the Premiership. Harlequins are stacked in the back three. But Cleaves has the talent to crack open any pecking order.

Sale’s backs were not overwhelmed. Carpenter, who scored twice, was tidy at full-back. The distributing midfield axis of Wilkinson and Tom Curtis found space. Joe Bedlow, their outside centre, smashed into a counter-ruck that led to a try.

The club did not contribute one single player to this season’s England U20 elite player squad, although scrum-half Nye Thomas appeared during the Six Nations. That should not dishearten supporters. Jack Metcalf is a great prospect.

More of a glider than Cleaves, he snaffled a vital interception before the break while Sale were down to 13 and caused havoc for defenders. He looks extremely balanced and composed with an innate feel for when to release a pass.

Finally, to James Harper. The 21-year-old tighthead prop made his first appearance of the season for Sale following a serious knee injury, arriving from the bench in the second half. He had enough time to bulldoze over from close range, although copped a yellow card and was part of a scrum that was troubled late on by Harlequins’ Fin Baxter, the England U20 captain.

Again, that should not concern anyone. Although Harper is already on the radar of England coaches, young props need to be patient.

A route back to the big time
Scattered across the two squads were numerous stories of resilience. Dom Barrow was at lock for Sale. He retired in 2020 and has returned via a trial. His opposite man, Christian Scotland-Williamson, is back in rugby union after an attempt to crack the NFL. The towering former tight end was a handful in the loose, lifting some delicate offloads.

Will Evans, the Harlequins openside and a phenomenal breakdown scavenger, is working back towards the first-team after fracturing his tibia last season ahead of his club’s title run. The experience of Simon Hammersley seemed to help the youngsters around him in Sale’s backline.

Sanderson was not at The Stoop, but will receive glowing reports from coach Neil Briggs about hooker Tommy Taylor and lock Matthew Postlethwaite. The latter was a menace to Harlequins.

As this campaign reaches its climax, everyone needs their squad players battle-hardened and there are precious few chances for game-time in other divisions.

“It’s really important for these guys to put their hands up to get the opportunity to play in what could be career-defining games, in finals,” Sanderson said hours before kick-off.

“We’re entering into that. You can only pick on form at this point in the season. With 11 weeks left [in the season], rotation goes out the window. It’s the best team, on playing form and training form.

“There is no A League, there’s one game of the Championship and three or four of National One. That’s not a lot of opportunity, and this is one of them. That is why people like Tommy Taylor have played in it. Because he wants to.”

More midweek rugby?
Harlequins appear to have devoted significant resources towards ramping up the atmosphere of their evening kick-offs in the Premiership. Rather than Friday Night Lights, this Tuesday’s spectacle had a sense of Friday Night Lite. Still, there was a notable effort to engage and entertain fans.

Music blared during the warm-ups. At half-time, Joe Garratt, a veteran of both Love Island and The Only Way is Essex, took a few place-kicks after spending the afternoon training with Harlequins and England star Emily Scott. Nerves may have affected his accuracy.

Even though the sting was taken out of the second half by a long delay as medics tended to Ross Chisholm, who left the pitch on a stretcher due to what appeared to be a neck injury, the vast majority of a decent attendance, estimated at just over 5,000, would have returned home fulfilled.

Occasions such as these build connections between teams and fans because of the narratives involved. For instance, Harlequins supporters at the ground will be able to say – even boast, perhaps – that they witnessed Cleaves’ first senior tries.

Also in the stands at The Stoop were Joe Marler, Alex Dombrandt, André Esterhuizen and Stephan Lewies, four of Harlequins’ most valuable players. That is a real gauge of a strong culture.

All in all, an intriguing Tuesday night in Twickenham indicated that midweek Premiership fixtures could work. Provided that player welfare is not compromised, of course. Do not roll your eyes.

[Adam_P]

Naiyoravoro is still at Saints???

Yeah he got some kind of leg injury in pre season and has been out ever since. I guess it's a long road back with lower limb injuries when you're 20 odd stone.

Looking forward to seeing what Willemsen can do in the back row - his physical attributes look very promising but I've yet to see him play. Cousin of Nemani Nadolo. Also glad to see Hendy start at 15 - he had an absolute stormer off the bench in the last cup game. Stocks at fullback are looking good.

[Gloskarlos]

Easy enough for Glos in the end. Some good performances following a raft of early mistakes. Think that means a home semi v Worcester

[FKAS]

Semi finals are more mid week games. With Glaws, Irish and Tigers all in top 4 contention then the only team prioritising the cup will be Wuss you'd have thought.

[Gloskarlos]

Pretty much, I'd like to think Glos would stick with the team from last night more or less, they aren't quite troubling the first XV if everyone is fit for the most part and continued exposure does the world of good.

[jimKRFC]

Easy enough for Glos in the end. Some good performances following a raft of early mistakes. Think that means a home semi v Worcester

Did you go to the game? Sounds like a good performance from Gloucester and another poor effort from the Bristol senior players. Looking at the sides you'd have thought the experience in the Bris side would edge it, but sounded like they were just a mess. Bit of clear out and re-build needed at Bristol.

[Gloskarlos]

Easy enough for Glos in the end. Some good performances following a raft of early mistakes. Think that means a home semi v Worcester

Did you go to the game? Sounds like a good performance from Gloucester and another poor effort from the Bristol senior players. Looking at the sides you'd have thought the experience in the Bris side would edge it, but sounded like they were just a mess. Bit of clear out and re-build needed at Bristol.

No couldn't get away from work in time, plus i'm not based in Glos any more - but it was on BT sport. First 20 mins was all Bristol, Glos not learning from the ref and giving away loads of breakdown pens. Once they got that sorted the tide turned. Glos were more powerful pretty much everywhere and had far better defence, meant Bristol were scrambling for large periods and under pressure more often than not.

[fivepointer]

Glos very impressive i thought. They controlled the set pieces and the maul and didnt allow Bris to get any kind of foothold in the game. Bartlett was good off the bench, Barton looked very composed and Clarke excelled at the l/o. All in all a very good all round team effort.
Bris not really at the races.

[Scrumhead]

Not seen much of him beyond looking like a promising all rounder and physically he’s clearly got something. Definitely keen to see him him get some of the gametime previously going to Lasike, Lang, Tapuai or an out of position Northmore.

Pretty much this, he’s spent a fair bit of time out with Championship clubs on dual reg duty. I think he’s mostly playing for Richmond ATM.

I don’t think his lack of game time is a reflection on how highly he’s rated. He’s still young and until recently we’ve been pretty well covered at 12. As Mikey’s already said, the departure of Lasike should give him an ideal opportunity to deputise for Andre.

Hayden Hyde is an interesting one. He’s a big lad (6’3 or 6’4) who has played most of his junior rugby (and Ireland U20s alongside Dan Kelly) at 12 or 13. There was quite a lot of disappointment when he left our academy for Ulster but he came back last year and is highly rated. I don’t think his future is on the wing, so I assume it’s more about giving him some exposure to a higher level of rugby than he’s getting dual registered at London Scottish. He’s EQ having been born and raised in Surrey. Could be one to watch.

[FKAS]

Not seen much of him beyond looking like a promising all rounder and physically he’s clearly got something. Definitely keen to see him him get some of the gametime previously going to Lasike, Lang, Tapuai or an out of position Northmore.

Pretty much this, he’s spent a fair bit of time out with Championship clubs on dual reg duty. I think he’s mostly playing for Richmond ATM.

I don’t think his lack of game time is a reflection on how highly he’s rated. He’s still young and until recently we’ve been pretty well covered at 12. As Mikey’s already said, the departure of Lasike should give him an ideal opportunity to deputise for Andre.

Hayden Hyde is an interesting one. He’s a big lad (6’3 or 6’4) who has played most of his junior rugby (and Ireland U20s alongside Dan Kelly) at 12 or 13. There was quite a lot of disappointment when he left our academy for Ulster but he came back last year and is highly rated. I don’t think his future is on the wing, so I assume it’s more about giving him some exposure to a higher level of rugby than he’s getting dual registered at London Scottish. He’s EQ having been born and raised in Surrey. Could be one to watch.

I watched one or two of the Ireland under 20s once it came out Kelly was joining Tigers. Hyde was a real focal point for the attack in that side. Big, powerful, pace and offloads all over the place. I can imagine him working well with the Quins backline if they can develop him in the right way. He played 12 and Kelly played 13 for the Ireland under 20s.