Preview: Premier XVs Final
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Take a look at some of the key stats and facts heading into Allianz Premier 15s Final.
Either Gloucester-Hartpury or Exeter Chiefs will be crowned champions of England shortly after 17:00 BST on Saturday, and while it's hard to predict how this finely balanced Westcountry showdown will play out, what we do know is that a new name will be etched onto the Premier 15s trophy this weekend.
Here's a look at some of the key numbers heading into Saturday's Allianz Premier 15s Final.
● Gloucester-Hartpury have won four of their previous six Allianz Premier 15s matches against Exeter Chiefs (L2), however, they lost their most recent, in the final round of this season’s competition, by a margin of 39 points (19-58), their heaviest defeat in the league since March 2019 (0-62 v Harlequins).
● Gloucester-Hartpury will participate in their first ever Allianz Premier15s final having defeated Bristol Bears in this season’s semi-finals (21-12), while Exeter Chiefs will take part in their second consecutive final, having lost last year’s show piece to Saracens (21-43).
● Gloucester-Hartpury have won 18 of their last 20 Allianz Premier 15s matches (L2), however, they have scored just 21 points or fewer in each of their last two matches after scoring 40+ in each of their previous five.
● Exeter Chiefs have won each of their last three Allianz Premier 15s matches after losing two in a row previously – Exeter have scored 21+ points in each of their last 18 league matches, however, the last time they failed to do so was against Gloucester-Hartpury, on the opening day of the season (17-25).
● Gloucester-Hartpury (6.9) and Exeter Chiefs (7.4) have scored more tries per game than any other sides in this season’s Allianz Premier 15s – Gloucester-Hartpury (14.0) and Exeter (13.8) also rank first and second respectively for opposition 22 entries per game, with Exeter having scored the most points per entry (3.5).
● Exeter Chiefs (47%) and Gloucester-Hartpury (43%) are the two sides with the highest carry dominance rates in this season’s Allianz Premier 15s – Exeter also have the league’s highest gainline success rate (64%), while Gloucester-Hartpury have the highest tackle evasion rate (28%)
● Gloucester-Hartpury have the highest tackle success rate of any side in this season’s Allianz Premier 15s (89%) and are also one of just two sides to have made 10+ dominant tackles per game in the league this term (11.1 – Harlequins, 12.3).
● Exeter Chiefs’ Claudia MacDonald is the only player to have beaten 6+ opposition defenders (6.6) or made 2+ line breaks (2.1) per 80 in this season’s Allianz Premier 15s (min.600 minutes played) – MacDonald is also one of just three players to have gained 100+ metres per 80 played in the league this term (102m, also Ellie Kildunne and Ella Lovibond).
● Six players have scored 15+ tries in this season’s Allianz Premier 15s, four of which could feature in this match; Exeter Chiefs trio Kate Zackary (19), Hope Rogers (16) and Maisy Allen (15) and Gloucester-Hartpury’s Ellie Rugman (15) – Rogers’ average of 1.6 tries scored per 80 is the second highest of any player to have scored 5+ tries in the league this term (Lark Davies, 1.7 tries/80).
● Gloucester-Hartpury’s Natasha Hunt has provided over twice as many try assists for her teammates than any other player in this season’s Allianz Premier 15s (26), including a brace of assists against Exeter Chiefs on the opening day of the season.
