By Whaley Shark
September 26 2010

OK, the Aviva Premiership is four games old, and everyone's played two home and two away games. Seems like a good time for the Whaley Shark to take stock.

London Irish. Won 3, Lost 1, 15 Points. Two home wins, a losing bonus point at the Rec, and now a runaway win up in Newcastle, Irish are clearly one of the form teams so far and look well set to improve on last year’s mid-table finish.

Northampton Saints. Won 3, Lost 1, 14 Points. After an impressive start, including overcoming Tigers on the  opening day win, then wins against Bath and Quins, Saracens kicked Saints to death this weekend to end their 100% record. Nevertheless, Saints are clearly a force to be reckoned with, as they were last year.

Bath. Won 3, Lost 1, 14 Points. Only loss so far was away to Saints, which perhaps isn’t surprising. Having recruited a couple of Tigers, one of them Sam Vesty whom I’ve always rated, they seem to have carried on where they left off last season and look destined to be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. Not really surprised they beat us comfortably.

Saracens. Won 3, Lost 1, 12 Points. After an opening day loss to London Irish, Sarries had no great difficulty overcoming us or Leeds and, having now seen off Saints, they have clearly established themselves as title challengers.

Leicester Tigers. Won 2, Lost 2, 12 Points. A rather smaller squad than last year, and now carrying one or two injuries, notably Toby Flood. Picked up maximum points against Exeter and Leeds at home, but have spluttered a bit away, losing to Wasps and Saints. Welford Road will still be a severe test, but maybe the Tigers aren’t quite as fearsome as they once were away from their lair? Still, I’ll be amazed if they aren’t at or near the top of the table in May.

Gloucester. Won 2, Lost 2, 9 Points. Exeter’s first victims, then scraping home against Leeds at Kingsholm and sneaking ahead of Wasps thanks to two nerveless, late, long range penalties by Nicky Robinson, their season so far is probably not what the doctor ordered. I get the feeling their fortunes could go either way.

Harlequins. Won 1, Drawn 1, Lost 2, 9 Points. Quins have had an uncertain start to the season, drawing the first game, losing at home to Saints, and then throwing away a winning position against us. But they seem to have got it together this weekend and hammered Exeter. Will they kick on from this, or is it a flash in the pan?

Sale Sharks. Won 2, Lost 2, 8 Points. Still very much a work in progress and, to be honest, much where I thought we’d be- competitive against lower half teams but not really against the top sides. Great comeback against Quins and showing a bit more grit on the road than last season, but haven’t yet picked up any points away from home. However, we have played away at two of the stronger sides so maybe we’ll get our reward in time?

Exeter Chiefs. Won 2, Lost 2, 8 Points. Ah, yes, the easy five pointers, promoted only so they can go straight back down…..or perhaps not. After beating Gloucester and Falcons at home, and giving Tigers a fright at Welford Road, they’ve come down to earth with a bump, losing heavily at the Stoop. I just have a feeling that our games against them will be among the half dozen which really decide our season.

London Wasps. Won 1, Drawn 1, Lost 2, 7 Points. Perhaps not the force they once were but notoriously slow starters, Wasps have been erratic so far, losing away at Falcons but then beating Tigers at Wycombe in 80 minutes of mayhem and going down narrowly to Gloucester. I have the feeling this season could go either way for them but, next Friday, it’s important for us to send them back south from Edgeley Park with nothing.

Newcastle Falcons. Won 1, Lost 3, 5 Points. Injury to James Hudson, their captain and Mr Reliable in the lineout, probably won’t help a small squad which has struggled home and away. Their only win so far has come against a misfiring Wasps, and this weekend’s thrashing by Irish at home won’t help. Like Leeds, Falcons need to stop the rot quickly.

Leeds. Lost 4, 1 Point. Sadly for our northern neighbours, they’ve had a tough start to the season. The early visitors to Headingley were Saints and Saracens, both of whom were too strong for them and, while Leeds came close to a win at Kingsholm, they unstuck badly at Welford Road this weekend. Still, last season tells us never to write them off. Another Houdini act in the making?

So what are the early indications? There seems to be a ‘Top Five’ of Saints, Bath, Saracens, Tigers and Irish emerging. This week, for the first time, there have been some real runaway wins, mainly for these big boys, so is that telling us something? Quins and Gloucester are on the edge in my view- they could either go on a good run to establish themselves in the top six, or continue to splutter. We, Exeter and Wasps seem at present to be heading for lower mid-table mediocrity and, I suspect, may have times in the season when we glance nervously over our shoulders. While games against Newcastle, Exeter and Leeds will probably define our season, this Friday’s match against Wasps is more significant than I’d have expected a few weeks ago. Leeds and Falcons are currently the tail-end Charlies, and Leeds in particular must already be worrying about seeing a gap develop. But, and it’s a big but, it’s very early days, and there will no doubt be many twists and turns over the next seven months.