Sixes and Sevens

Friday night saw the inaugural J.P. Morgan Asset Management Premiership Rugby Sevens Series reach Franklins Gardens.  The aim has been to get all the premiership teams playing sevens, partly to bring a bit of rugby to the summer and partly to give the younger squad members a chance to play.  This was the third of the play-offs.

I enjoy Sevens, always have done, it's fast and showcases some different skills to normal rugby.  The amount of open space allows for some wonderful breaks, and generally provides fun rugby.  So I was looking forward to this, and bought tickets almost as soon as it was promoted.  And it was going to be a good opportunity to practice "Oh When The Saints...." before the season kicks off for real.

The Saints aren't known for their Sevens skills however, despite having a few players in the England Sevens squad.  Leicester had struggled the week before at their hosted evening and there was more than an off-chance that we might replicate this.  Our fears were to prove unfounded.    The Saints won their first game against Gloucester 17-12.  They then had a break before the next match against Bath, which was another victory, 19-7.  The last match of the evening was Saints vs Exeter, and at this point neither team had lost a match so it was a real show-down.  Going in to the match the Chiefs were one point ahead, on 9, as a result of a bonus pioint for four tries in a match against Bath.  Unfortunately for the Chiefs one of their team was red carded right at the beginning of the final game, taking them down to six men.  The Saints being what they are, they didn't really manage to capitalise on the numbers advantage to the degree that they should and there were some worrying moments.  But they managed to come through in the end, winning 17-12 and heading the table to book their place in the final next Friday.

Special mention must go to the Exeter Chiefs.  They have only just come up into the premiership, but if they play like this all season then they are going to have some fantastic rugby.