Every player will be dead set on producing her best in the last round before the Six Nations break. International head coaches will still be checking over those last few places in their 23s before kick-off on 3 April.
Fixtures:
DMP Durham Sharks v Gloucester-Hartpury
Exeter Chiefs v Loughborough Lightning
Saracens v Harlequins
Wasps v Sale Sharks
Worcester Warriors v Bristol Bears
We’ve had to wait a long time. Now at last the two pack leaders cross swords for the only time this season.
After Quins’ mishandled training session in December, they paid the ultimate penalty of having the unplayed game awarded to Saracens. So they have to meet up away from home, a challenge that the recent high fliers, Exeter Chiefs, found a step too far. What would Quins give to have last year’s back row (Beckett, Konkel, Franco or Caplice) to confront Sarries’ greatest strength?
Lightning could have wished for an easier follow-up to their home dowsing by Wasps than a trip to Exeter. It will be fascinating to see how two quality squads find their feet again after rare defeats.
If Lightning fall short, Wasps will dislodge them from third position. Though Sale hoisted their third win of the season, they still find it hard matching sides placed above them in the league. With that last catch-up game against DMP to come, Wasps could add a valuable 10 points to close on the leaders.
Further down the table there is another key clash at Sixways. Both Warriors and Bears have suffered harsh seasons; Gloucester-Hartpury’s last-minute win over Warriors will add even more intensity to the hosts’ performance.
If the Chiefs fail to master Lightning, Glos-Pury have a chance to regain fifth place with a 5-point win over DMPDS.
The Allianz Try of the Week (Round 15)
This was a very rare example of a top team turning its back on the opposition when a free kick was awarded against them. As Meg Jones looked up, all she could see was numbers on jerseys. Lightning may be spending the entire week on the training paddock running 10 metres backwards at pace.
How the Table looks:
After 15 rounds we have the same relative league table positions as in past seasons, a 6/4 split.
Last year DMP, Worcester, Richmond and Waterloo had to reapply; the last two were rejected. This year DMPDS and Worcester still haven’t found lift-off and Bristol remain in the doldrums. The one new club to find themselves in the basement, Sale, show every sign of climbing higher over the next two seasons.
The gap between clubs 6 and 7 is a massive 17 points.
Some of the best stats lie in the margins of victory. I make it 17 games that ended with a margin of 7 points or less. It’s an indication of the rising level of competition, a proof of the validity of the Prem 15s, second version.
