Administrators have bungled a situation that could have been kept simple by applying rules across the board
Covid-19 has forced the Premiership to make unwelcome decisions over how to complete this season. The rush to play the remaining fixtures did not please many fans, but they accepted that unprecedented times justified unprecedented determinations.
To their credit, the standard of rugby played by Premiership clubs has been impressive, especially when you consider their short preparation time and the fact that they have been playing almost exclusively in empty stadiums.
It was billed as Super Sunday by the broadcasters and the competition for the four play-off places should have reached its climax over the weekend. The final round of games were to be fought out at the same time, with all the attendant drama and that would have been a good end to an unsatisfactory season,
However, the Premiership’s decision to postpone the game between Sale and Worcester meant it was impossible to follow the other crucial games without feeling that the Sharks had been handed an unwarranted advantage.
This was a self-inflicted mistake by the Premiership, which was also inconsistent and illogical. Northampton forfeited their game against Gloucester because they could not field a team due to several players self-isolating, having played Sale.
Though seemingly harsh, the regulations are clear, and every club agreed them. There is no exception depending on the importance of a fixture and the Premiership’s justification is even more dubious, given that Sale said they could have fielded a team, even though they have many affected players.
Of the four teams behind Exeter, only three can qualify and one are going to miss out. The margins are very tight and it is possible to make a case for why all the chasing clubs deserve to make the play-offs. Wasps’ form since the season restart has been sensational. Bath have, at last, started to show the consistency they have so often promised but failed to deliver in recent years. Bristol, under Pat Lam, have made rapid progress from wanting to survive in the top flight, to being realistic challengers for the top four. This is why it was even more important for there to be no perception of unfairness about the qualification process.
Sale and their fans will claim that their aim in every game is to win and, if possible, to get a bonus point for scoring four tries and that there is no real advantage in their final game being played later. However, we now know that because Bath drew with Saracens on Sunday, Sale only have to beat Worcester to make the top four. Had Sale played on Sunday, they would not have known this and would have had to assume that they had to win and get a bonus point to be sure of qualification. Now they know they do not need a bonus point they can direct all their efforts to making sure they win, and it does not matter how they do so.
This knowledge is valuable because it influences the choices you must make during any game. In particular, it helps answer one of rugby’s most difficult conundrums – what do you do with penalties that are probably kickable? Do you take the three points on offer or kick to the corner and attempt to score a try and get five or seven points? If you have to get a bonus point, you probably choose the latter, but Sale now know they do not have to take that risk.
Sale also know that they can afford to stand off breakdowns and maintain their defensive line. If you have to get a bonus point, possession of the ball becomes more important and you have to commit more players to rucks and mauls and try to get turn over ball. If they get in front at Worcester, they know they just have to protect that lead and they do not have to force try-scoring opportunities. This means they can keep possession or just kick long and defend.
All of this is germane, but whether you think Sale have a real or supposed advantage is not the most important point. The mere perception of advantage is damaging. Whatever now happens, many fans will still feel aggrieved. If Sale qualify, most Bath fans will believe they have been hard done by and even a few Sale fans will feel they have been favourably treated. The majority of their fellow Sale supporters will be happy to have qualified, but unhappy about the partiality claims and feel their club’s achievement has been tainted.
I suppose this denouement is fitting for a year that has been as bizarre as any in living memory but, like Covid-19, the rules should apply to everybody.
There should be no room for a Dominic Cummings in rugby.
I do like him saying that "Wasps’ form since the season restart has been sensational".
Always a Wasp
Topic: Brian Moore and Sharks' unwarranted advantage in today's Telegraph. (Read 1237 times)