5 of the best matches from the 2014/15 Premiership - Ruck

5 of the best matches from the 2014/15 Premiership

The new 2015/16 Premiership season kicks off tomorrow so although the Rugby World Cup is ongoing, fans and players alike will be turning their attention to the league format.

Here, RUCK selects the five most exciting matches from last season, which was filled with thrills and spills.

Comment below if we missed any of your favourite clashes!


5) Northampton 53-6 Gloucester, 5th September 2014
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 05: Jon Fisher of Northampton celebrates after scoring during the Aviva Premiership match between Northampton Saints and Gloucester at Franklin's Gardens on September 5, 2014 in Northampton, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images for Aviva)
Jon Fisher of Northampton celebrates after scoring during the Aviva Premiership match between Northampton Saints and Gloucester at Franklin’s Gardens on September 5, 2014. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images for Aviva)

It was the opening day of the Premiership season, and it was the game that set the benchmark of the quality we’d see from Northampton throughout the campaign.

Reigning champions Saints entered the field and dominated their counterparts Gloucester, proving to the rest of the league they were still the team to beat. Saints would then lead the way for the remainder of the season.

They dominated a strong Gloucester side, scoring a staggering eight tries and restricting their opponents to just two penalties.

It was an opening game where Saints carried on their form from the previous campaign, displaying they had every intention of holding onto their title.


4) Gloucester 24-23 Saracens, 9th January 2015
of Gloucester of Saracens during the Aviva Premiership match between Gloucester Rugby and Saracens at Kingsholm Stadium on January 9, 2015 in Gloucester, England.
James Hook of Gloucester of Saracens during the Aviva Premiership match between Gloucester Rugby and Saracens at Kingsholm Stadium on January 9, 2015 in Gloucester, England.

Over the last few years, the loyal fan base at Kingsholm have had very little to cheer about in the league format.

However at the turn of the year, Gloucester put in an exciting performance, seeing off the eventual champions Saracens in a tight game in the West Country.

It was a game full of passion that saw five tries and four yellow cards as both teams battled for supremacy live on BT Sport.

It was Welsh international James Hook who sealed the win for the Cherry and Whites with a last-gasp penalty.


3) London Irish 40-40 Wasps, 16th May 2015
READING, ENGLAND - MAY 16: Andrew Fenby of London Irish scores a try during the Aviva Premiership match between London Irish and London Wasps at Madejski Stadium on May 16, 2015 in Reading, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
(Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

It was a season where neither these teams had much to shout about come the end of the campaign, with Wasps finishing respectively in sixth place while London Irish finished third from bottom.

However, when the pair met in May, they put that form behind them and produced perhaps the most enthralling game of the regular season, with the scores level at 40-40 when the final whistle was eventually blown.

The game went right to the wire, each side staking the claim for victory, but neither team could land the killer blow.

Andy Short’s try in the 78th minute ensured London Irish had a share of the spoils, preventing the Wasps from securing their second away win of the season.


2) Bath 16-28 Saracens, 30th May 2015
during the Aviva Premiership Final between Bath and Saracens at Twickenham Stadium on May 30, 2015 in London, England.
during the Aviva Premiership Final between Bath and Saracens at Twickenham Stadium on May 30, 2015 in London, England.

The incredible final saw Saracens come away with the trophy following a fantastic performance to see off Bath, who had prior crushed Leicester 47-10 the semi-finals.

It was a truly enthralling game between the two Premiership powerhouses, which was made all the more interesting by the matchup at fly-half.

Owen Farrell and George Ford were not just battling for the win and the title, but to be the starting fly-half for England at the Rugby World Cup. Both were in top form, with just one kick at goal being missed during the game by Farrell, however, it was the Saracens man who had the last laugh.

Farrell shone throughout, scoring 18 of his sides 28 points, getting a try himself in the process after just five minutes.

Saracens star-studded XV contained numerous international stars such as Francois Louw, Jacques Burger and Petrus du Plessis while homegrown talent also shone.

In the end, the fourth-placed side came away with the victory and the trophy, but these two teams will almost certainly be contesting for a place in the top four once more this season.


1) Northampton Saints 24-29 Saracens, 23rd May 2015
NORTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - MAY 23: Billy Vunipola of Saracens celebrates their victory during the Aviva Premiership play off semi final match between Northampton Saints and Saracens at Franklin's Gardens on May 23, 2015 in Northampton, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)
Billy Vunipola of Saracens celebrates their victory during the Aviva Premiership play off semi final match between Northampton Saints and Saracens at Franklin’s Gardens on May 23, 2015 in Northampton, England. (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

It was a matchup with everything on the line. The runaway leaders and reigning champions Northampton were up against a Saracens side that had only just scraped into the play-offs, confirming their spot on the final day of the regular season.

Revenge was on the mind for Sarries, who had lost out to Saints the season before, and what was set up to be a magnificent game did not disappoint.

Some of the best players in the league put everything into it, but it was the underdogs who came away narrowly with the victory, confirming their spot in the final.

Sarries fly-half Owen Farrell produced an impeccable kicking display in a straight head to head matchup against Stephen Myler.

The defending champions put up a valiant performance in front of over 13 thousand people, but a controlled kick from Farrell three minutes from time put the game out of reach for Northampton.

From the moment Sarries David Strettle crossed the line after just two minutes, the intensity was turned up and both sides fought for eighty minutes, making it the best match for us of the 2014/15 Premiership season.