The Premiership title is still up for grabs and two fascinating semi-finals await – Northampton v Saracens and Bath v Sale – but the league campaign is over and it has been an absorbing one.
Newcastle’s inability to win one game but survive by default created a lack of danger that undermined the credibility of the English club game, but what happened above them and Gloucester – adrift of the ninth-place contenders – was a tense and fascinating sport.
Below are this column’s awards and standout selections, based largely on domestic events, but also highlighting the best cross-border performances…
The regular season is over and there will only be the play-offs, with Owen Farrell’s Saracens
Player of the season
Courtney Lawes (Northampton): He retired from England at the end of the World Cup, but national coach Steve Borthwick began to show what he would be missing with a dazzling run of masterful performances for the Saints, most notably in the Champions Cup.
The 35-year-old flanker’s influence and impact are as great as ever, if not greater. His aerial skills and attack power are legendary, but his breakdown work and carrying were also superior.
It would be fitting if he finished as champion again before moving to France.
Northampton’s Courtney Lawes has had a sensational season after retiring from international play after the World Cup
He was particularly impressive in the Champions Cup and could still end up with some silverware if Northampton can win the Premier League in his final season at the club.
Coach of the season
Johann Van Graan (Bad): When the South African took charge of the West Country club they were in a state of disarray, but he has turned things around with coaching clarity and calm authority – and won admiration for Bath’s free spirit.
Granted, it helped to let Finn Russell work his magic, but Van Graan has successfully merged forward staples and back-line razzle-dazzle.
Also a mention to Phil Dowson (Northampton) and Rob Baxter’s new era at Exeter.
New sensation
Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter): Henry Arundell’s exile at Racing 92 left English rugby deprived of a young wing prodigy, so another emerged to fill the void.
Feyi-Waboso had already taken the defense apart for the Chiefs and then starred for Borthwick at Ashton Gate in late December. There was pace and footwork, strong defense, power on contact, spatial awareness; fate.
The Cardiff-born prodigy was trapped by England and hasn’t looked back. Another emerging candidate to make his mark was Sale’s fast-twitch prop, Asher Opoku-Fordjour.
Immanuel Fey-Waboso (right) has burst onto the scene for Exeter and has also made a good start to his international career with England
Premier League dream team
15. George Furbank (Northampton): He stepped in as captain of the Saints and led his side through a mid-season winning streak. More robust than before, but just as threatening with the ball in hand. Deserved recall for England with great form.
14. Immanuel Feyi-Waboso (Exeter): It is impossible to exaggerate the impact he made. For a period in the winter he seemed to be the only show in town as everyone waited to find out whether he would be playing for England or Wales.
13. Henry Slade (Exeter): Stung by his omission at the World Cup, the royal center responded with his best rugby in years to guide an upstart Chiefs team to epic victories. Just past Bristol player Benhard Janse van Rensburg.
12. Ollie Lawrence (Bad): Between late October and late January he was arguably the best player in the league. His consistent brilliance was off the charts. Recovered from injury to run amok again for his liberated club.
Ollie Lawrence claimed to be the best player in the league for three months
11. Ollie Sleightholme (Northampton): He is still waiting for an opportunity at international level, but he has been a productive figure for the table toppers; the Premier League’s leading try scorer. Gabriel Ibitoye from Bristol was another contender.
10. Finn Russell (Bad): The Scottish magician has lit up the English game with his repertoire of tricks, but has also shown a fierce commitment to the cause. But just in the nick of time, ahead of Fin Smith and George Ford, who also excelled.
9. Ben Spencer (Bad): It came down to a toss between him and Northampton’s Alex Mitchell, but Spencer was excellent. It’s a tribute to his all-court class that he hasn’t just operated in the shadow of the great Russell.
1. Bevan Rodd (sale): A difficult position to judge as several looseheads have had purple spots, not least Ellis Genge and Fin Baxter. But Rodd’s form, both tight and loose, during the run-in was monumental and crucial.
Bevan Rodd has international experience and has shown his class in the front row this season
2. Curtis Langdon (Northampton): One of the top signings of the season, together with Janse van Rensburg. Having arrived from Worcester via Montpellier, he was energetic, aggressive and also an asset in scoring tries.
3. Thomas Du Toit (Bad): A tighthead who ends the season as one of the league’s top scorers is rare, but he has also failed in his usual duty. Will Collier again led the Quins scrum effort with authority.
4. Dafydd Jenkins (Exeter): He is only 21, but already captain of Wales and also the Chiefs. What a rapid rise and what a mature figure, who hits hard and has a real edge. Maro Itoje and Cobus Wiese were also in the mix.
5. Joe Batley (Bristol): Almost always present in the heart of the Bear Pack; a grafter who provides a platform for the cashiers down the road. Triumph of resilience for this cancer survivor, overtaken by the collapse of Worcester.
6.Courtney Lawes (Northampton): Although he is this column’s Player of the Season, he has had to fend off competition from other blind players, especially Juan Martin Gonzalez – the Puma who has been such a hit for Saracens.
7. Ben Curry (Sale): The flanker’s performances in recent times (often nominally as a blindside) have been a major factor in Sale reaching the play-offs under his command. Not only a jackal, he also offers many attacking options. Tommy Reffell continued to impress for struggling Leicester.
Ben Curry played a key role in helping Sale reach the play-offs at the end of the season
8. Zach Mercer (Gloucester): You could argue that his best games have been in Europe, but the back-row phenomenon simply needs to be included – as he should in England. Alfie Barbeary from Bath also had several great sayings.
Leavers XV: S James (sale to TBC); J May (Gloucester to TBC), M Tuilagi (Sale to Bayonne), A Esterhuizen (Harlequins to Sharks), L Rees-Zammit (Gloucester to Kansas City Chiefs – NFL); O Farrell (Saracens to Racing 92), C Braley (Northampton to TBC); M Vunipola (Saracens to Montpellier*), Agustin Creevy (Sale to TBC), K Sinckler (Bristol to Toulon); A Moon (Northampton to Bayonne), E Holmes (Bristol to TBC); C Lawes (Northampton to Brive), B Vunipola (Saracens to Montpellier*), L Ludlam (Northampton to Toulon).
Louis Rees-Zammit left rugby behind to pursue his dream of becoming an NFL player
PS… tribute in-house: This is more interesting to us media types, but many Premier League clubs have seen the need to open their doors and tell their stories, to sell the sport to a wider audience. Northampton set the standard in this regard, but Sale are also excellent, while others such as Bath and Harlequins have improved considerably. Hopefully the trend continues…