December Rugby Review

2011 has come to a close and December rounded off the year in fine form. All of the teams trying to finish the year on a high. Lets see what happened in December.

 

Aviva Premiership

At the start of the month Newcastle just hung on to get a massively important win against Gloucester 26-25. Harlequins continued their unbeaten run by beating Wasps 22-16 away. With Saracens keeping the pressure on Quins at the top with a 15-11 home win against Irish.

The big game of the 1^st weekend in December was Tigers versus Saints. Both teams fighting to finish in the playoffs after dreadful starts to the season. These 2 powerhouse’s of English and European rugby fought it out. This was a fantastic match. Tigers made a good lead before Saints came back and took the lead before a late try for Tigers won them the game 30-25.

The next Aviva premiership matches were at the end of the month. Northampton Saints got back to winning ways with a home win against Bath 22-13. Gloucester also going back to winning ways convincing beating Wasps 39-10 in front of there home crowd. But the big game was Harlequins hosting Saracens. The top 2 meeting for a title affecting match. Saracens came out with all guns firing and notched up all of their 19 points in the 1^st 25 minutes. Saracens went in 19-3 up at half time. Harlequins managed to get back into the game in the 2^nd half but never really threated to catch Saracens. So Saracens beat their title rivals away and caused Harlequins 1^st league defeat of the season. The title race is now tightening up between these 2 and it looks like it’s going to be a tough call. Saracens have the bragging rights and are reigning champions but Harlequins are currently top.

 

Heineken Cup

The Pool stages were in full swing in December. With all teams playing 2 games. Northampton Saints had a bad defeat away at Castres Olympique 41-22 before Saints returned the favour and destroyed Castres in the return match. 45-0. Saints now need a miracle to qualify. Irish had a big 34-17 away win against Racing Metro. However they couldn’t capitalize on that win and lost the home match against Metro 19-25. Irish are basically out of the competition as well.

Bath made the reigning champions Leinester work hard for their win. Bath losing 13-18 before being convincing beating in Ireland 52-27. Bath are now going to struggle not to finished last. The Tigers swapped wins with Clermont Auvergne. Clermont winning the1st match 30-12 at home and Tigers home win was 23-19. Tigers need to finish strong to qualify which they can do.

Saracens managed to beat Ospreys both ways to give themselves a great chance of qualifying for the quarters. They won 31-26 at home and 16-13 away. Harlequins lost their home match to Toulouse 10-21 before getting a must win game in the return match away at Toulouse 31-24. In the same Pool Gloucester beat Connacht both times. 14-10 away and 23-19 home. Harlequins still have a chance of qualifying but realistically might have to make do with the Amlin Challenge Cup. Gloucester will just be making sure they don’t finish last.

 

The Amlin Challenge Cup

In Pool 1 Worcester beat Bucharest in both matches. The 1^st 24-13 away and 57-13 at home. This Pool is likely to be decided on the day of the Pool stage when Worcester go to big boys Stade Francais Paris. Newcastle beat Toulon in a tight home game 6-3 before losing 36-10 in the away match. Newcastle have still got an outside chance of qualifying but they will need bonus points wins and hope Toulon can slip up somewhere.

London Wasps lost their 1^st game away against Bayonne 19-11 and winning the home fixture 25-11 to put Wasps in the driving seat to win Pool 3 and qualify.

Exeter Chiefs beat Newport 18-6 at home before completing the double against them winning 19-23 away. Exeter are in a great position to qualify it will all come down to the their last Pool game against the highly ranked Perpignan at home.

Finally in Pool 5 Sale sharks beat Agen twice 29-14 away and 41-21 at home. Sale also will have a Pool deciding match at home to Brive on the last day.

 

What did you enjoy most in Rugby in December?