The Prem playoff contenders appear settled after Northampton’s 21-17 victory over Saracens at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Strange words to write for anyone who has covered this competition for any length of time, but we kind of know who the Prem semi-finalists are going to be. And there’s still six rounds to go.
Saracens had to win here at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium against the league leaders to maintain any realistic chance of taking their customary place in the playoffs. This is the last season at the helm for Mark McCall, the man who has guided them through their glory years, before he “moves upstairs”, but it is looking increasingly likely that his era will draw to a close without further silverware. Saracens are mathematically still in it, of course, but, 12 points adrift of fourth spot with those six rounds to play, they will need to call on more than their own prowess to make it. Someone else is going to have to implode.
Normally, by this stage of the season, we have made the observation at least 20 times how the teams in second and eighth are separated by five points, or whatever, but no such breathlessness this time, alas. Northampton pull six points clear at the top, with Bath to play at Sale on Sunday, and Exeter in fourth are seven points clear of Bristol in fifth, who are 22 points clear of Gloucester in eighth. Roll on the playoffs.
