Reigning champions Exeter made sure they would finish top in the regular-season English Premiership table on Saturday as London Irish‘s long-awaited relegation was confirmed without the Exiles taking the field.
Exeter’s 34-19 bonus-point win at home to Sale meant they could not be overtaken by second-placed Saracens.
But the English title is decided by play-offs, the top four contesting two play-off semi-finals with the winners going forward to a Twickenham final for the right to be crowned Premiership champions.
This was the first time that southwest side Exeter had finished top of the Premiership standings, but forwards coach Rob Hunter was quick to put the achievement in context.
“It’s really nice to finish top but we don’t get anything for it and it’s only good for a week as it will be back to the drawing board ahead of the play-offs,” he said.
Exeter’s tries came from Nic White, Jack Yeandle, Greg Holmes and Lachie Turner with Joe Simmonds converting the first three tries and a penalty.
Exeter Chiefs finish top of England's regular season pile for the first time, having already won the Anglo-Welsh Cup and with the A league final next up on Monday. They remain one of the most remarkable stories anywhere in British sport. https://t.co/OwQENufTfX
— robert kitson (@robkitson) April 28, 2018
Elsewhere Worcester boss Alan Solomons was left bemoaning his side’s maddening inconsistency after they swept aside Harlequins 44-13 to maintain top-flight Rugby next season.
The four tries the Midlands club scored in the first half alone were enough to secure the bonus point that sent London Irish, long at the bottom of the table, into the second-tier Championship.
Worcester ran in seven tries in total, centre Jackson Willison grabbing two while wing Bryce Heem, lock Darren Barry, England centre Ben Te’o, scrum-half Francois Hougaard and replacement Jamie Shillcock also crossed Quins’ line.
‘Inconsistency’
Yet it said something about Worcester’s season that even with this thumping win they remained 11th in a 12-team Premiership where only the bottom club at the end of the season gets relegated.
Confirmation of @FalconsRugby spot in the semi-finals 💪 after wins for @ExeterChiefs, @bathrugby and @WorcsWarriors this afternoon.
— Premiership Rugby (@premrugby) April 28, 2018
Here's how the #AvivaPrem #LeagueTable looks with two more games to go in Round 2⃣1⃣ tomorrow 👍 pic.twitter.com/DPu2SCRx2o
“I am overjoyed that we have sealed our place next year in the Premiership,” said veteran South African coach Solomons.
“What I found is just the inconsistency of the team,” he added. “Throughout the time I have been here since mid-October, we have beaten Exeter away, we’ve beaten Gloucester, beaten Leicester away, we got four tries against Sarries and I think we have played some super games.
“But what we haven’t done is be consistent enough…That is something we need to address next season and it will be addressed next season.”
Solomons praised the contribution of former Ireland lock Donncha O’Callaghan, who marked his final match before retirement by captaining Worcester against Quins.
“He is such a nice guy and what a way to finish. He has all his family here.”
Meanwhile, O’Callaghan added: “I have been lucky to be part of successful teams but I have seen another side of Rugby with one down the other end.
“It has been enjoyable and I’ve made some incredible friends.”
The @bathrugby Supporters Player of the Season sponsored by @LucknamPark is....@mattbanahan1 pic.twitter.com/Ed4DX0cLUd
— Bath Rugby (@bathrugby) April 28, 2018
Saturday’s other Premiership match saw Bath overpower west country rivals Gloucester 43-20.
The win kept Bath in the hunt for European Champions Cup qualification, although they still need other results to go their way.
“It just showed when the mindset is right what a difference it can make,” said Bath coach Todd Blackadder.
