Despite losing four times in the Aviva premiership so far this season, it is Leicester Tigers who lead the way in the table having moved to the top after their recent victory over previous incumbents, Northampton Saints!
Careful study of the stats will provide the answers to why Leicester is the top team and why they are almost certain to be the top side at the end of the season. It is simply a matter of tries and bonus points; they have simply scored more than any other team in both. When they lose it has usually been in a close affair and when they win, they do so with devastating effect, scoring tries for fun, thus maximising their points tally.
It could be argued that Northampton have played the most attractive rugby this season, but it is Leicester who have 42 tries in just 13 matches, which is twelve more than London Irish who are next best on 30. If they have a reason to be disappointed it will be in the tries against column, where they have conceded 19, which is the worst of the current top four teams in the league, the best being Northampton with just 15, but they of course have only scored 29.
As it stands currently, the ‘Tigers’ have 44 points, six points clear of both Saracens and Northampton who dispute second place, with Harlequins in fourth on 34 points.
Saracens must have nightmares when they look at the stats and must wonder how they have reached second place after scoring fewer tries than they have conceded. Their tally in fact of just 16 tries is one of the worst in the league, but the fact that they have conceded 18 makes their position quite astonishing. ‘Sarries’ have been helped of course by earning some very good wins, their successive wins back in the autumn over Northampton and Leicester certainly made their presence felt, but an ugly defeat at home to Exeter underlined that they were far from the complete article.
Top try scorer in the Premiership so far this season is Topsy Ojo of London Irish with seven, which includes a hat trick against Newcastle back in September. On six tries apiece comes Scott Hamilton of Leicester and Tom Varndell of Wasps. The top points scorer however is Nick Evans of Harlequins who has amassed 169 points from a club total of 296.
With just one win all season, Leeds Carnegie looked doomed to relegation although Newcastle seem to be doing their best to beat them to it. The Falcons under the guidance of coach, Alan Tait have won just twice all season but they at least managed to draw their latest game against Sale earlier this month which should provide them with some optimism in the coming matches.
Credit must be paid to Exeter, who were everybody’s favourites to be relegated at the first time of asking. However, they have hung in well, winning five and losing seven in their opening twelve matches.
As it stands right now, the top three, Leicester, Saracens and Northampton should all make the play-offs at the end of the season with Leicester the 11/8 favourites in the rugby odds to win the Premiership Final at Twickenham on Saturday 28th May. Harlequins, who are also in the hunt might have to rely on the boot of Nick Evans for the rest of their season if they are to grab the fourth place. Wasps had been favourites to overhaul them but they like many of the Aviva Premiership sides this season are suffering from inconsistency which they seriously need to address.
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