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PWR Round 15 Preview: Chiefs host Sharks on Sunday in crucial final game of PWR Round 15
Round 15 in Premiership Women’s Rugby is set to deliver two fiery local derby clashes, including a crunch clash in the battle for the top four between Harlequins and Saracens.
Second-placed Quins will welcome Sarries to The Stoop with sights set on overtaking Gloucester-Hartpury at the top of the table but their visitors are striving for a win themselves as they pursue a top four spot.
Elsewhere, Loughborough Lightning make the short trip to face Leicester Tigers in the East Midlands derby in a Saturday lunchtime clash being shown live on TNT Sports.
Bristol Bears and Exeter Chiefs will also continue their push for a play-off spot in the penultimate regular match of the PWR season, with clashes against Trailfinders and Sale Sharks, respectively.
SATURDAY 25 JANUARY
Trailfinders v Bristol Bears - Trailfinders Sports Club - 12pm
Live on YouTube
With Trailfinders back on home soil, they will hope to go one better than their narrow defeat to league leaders Gloucester-Hartpury last weekend.
The hosts only lost by two points after missing two conversions and matched Gloucester-Hartpury for tries, and they will now be met by a Bristol Bears side vying for a top four finish.
Bears defeated Leicester Tigers last weekend to move within two points of Saracens in fourth and will have their sights firmly set on a place in the play-offs.
There are four changes for the hosts, who name Liz Musgrove to start for the first time this season. Lindelwa Gwala and Cassandra Tuffnail also join Alivia Leatherman in the front row.
Abbie Ward returns to captain Bears and joins Delaney Burns in the engine room. The all-England front row of Hannah Botterman, Lark Atkin-Davies and Sarah Bern also all return to the side.
Unstoppable on the pitch 👊@AbiLucyBurton was a force to be reckoned with for @TrailfindersW on the weekend 🏉#PWR #PoweredDifferently pic.twitter.com/1JsK6kJ5vy
— Premiership Women's Rugby (@ThePWR) January 22, 2025
TEAM NEWS
Trailfinders
15 Chloe Rollie, 14 Liz Musgrove, 13 Julia Schell, 12 Lisa Thomson, 11 Grace White, 10 Sam Shiels, 9 Ella Amory; 1 Alivia Leatherman, 2 Lindelwa Gwala, 3 Cassandra Tuffnail, 4 Tyson Beukeboom, 5 Shya Pinnock, 6 Grace Moore, 7 Abi Burton, 8 Kate Zackary (C).
Replacements: 16 Kat Evans, 17 Liz Crake, 18 Sara Seye, 19 Rowena Burnfield, 20 Megan Barwick, 21 Caity Mattinson, 22 Kendra Cousineau, 23 Vicky Laflin.
Bristol Bears
15 Ella Lovibond, 14 Reneeqa Bonner, 13 Courtney Keight, 12 Meg Varley, 11 Millie David, 10 Phoebe Murray, 9 Keira Bevan (VC); 1 Hannah Botterman, 2 Lark Atkin-Davies, 3 Sarah Bern, 4 Delaney Burns, 5 Abbie Ward (C), 6 Alisha Joyce-Butchers, 7 Christiana Balogun, 8 Rownita Marston-Mulhearn.
Replacements: 16 Holly Phillips, 17 Simi Pam, 18 Elliann Clarke, 19 Hollie Cunningham, 20 Evie Gallagher, 21 Ffion Lewis, 22 Jenny Hesketh, 23 Jasmine Joyce-Butchers.
Match Officials
Referee: Charlie Gayther
Assistant Referees: Fiona Brunt and Peter Brunt
Oval Insights
Trailfinders
- Lisa Thomson and Tyson Beukeboom made the joint-most carries last weekend: 19 apiece.
- Chloe Rollie beat nine defenders (1st) in Round 14. She also averaged 12 metres per carry (3rd).
- Trailfinders Women won the most turnovers (ten) in Round 14. Vicky Laflin and Tyson Beukeboom won two each (joint-second).
Bristol Bears
- Holly Phillips was the only player to score four tries last weekend. She is the second front-rower this season to score as many in a match.
- Bristol Bears had 100% lineout success rate (1st) last weekend; Holly Phillips made 11 successful throws (2nd). They have the best lineout success rate (85.3%) so far this season.
- Bristol Bears have conceded the fewest penalties (9.0) but the joint-most turnovers (16.5) per game so far this season.
Leicester Tigers v Loughborough Lightning - Mattioli Woods Welford Road - 12:45pm
Live on TNT Sports
The East Midlands derby sees both sides hoping to bounce back after losses last weekend to earn bragging rights.
Visitors Lightning fell to a narrow defeat at home to Exeter Chiefs last weekend while Tigers were defeated by Bears and remain in search of their third win of the season.
The derby features two milestone appearances as Natasha Jones becomes the third woman to make 50 PWR appearances for Tigers and Helena Rowland also hits the half-century mark for Lightning.
Tigers make just one change to the side that lost to Bears as Tiana Gordon comes in as blindside flanker while the visitors make three changes from round 14, including the return of Meg Davey to scrum-half.
A short trip down the M1 awaits this weekend for the East Midlands Derby.
— Loughborough Lightning Rugby ⚡️ (@LightningRugby) January 22, 2025
📺 The game is being televised live by @rugbyontnt pic.twitter.com/H78w964dM7
TEAM NEWS
Leicester Tigers
15 Claire Gallagher, 14 Emily Henrich, 13 Meg Jones, 12 Evie Wills, 11 Francesca McGhie, 10 Natasha Jones, 9 Amy Relf; 1 Leah Bartlett, 2 Nikki Simpson, 3 Sophie Benavent, 4 Eva Donaldson, 5 Charlotte Fray, 6 Roisin McBrien (C), 7 Tiana Gordon, 8 Tahlia Brody.
Replacements: 16 Jordan Russell, 17 Abbey Constable, 18 Clodagh Dunne, 19 Julia Omokhuale, 20 Keia Mae Sagapolu Sanele, 21 Jenny Maxwell, 22 Katie Childs, 23 Tess Feury.
Loughborough Lightning
15 Francesca Goldthorp, 14 Bulou Mataitoga, 13 Emily Scarratt, 12 Alev Kelter, 11 Krissy Scurfield, 10 Helena Rowland, 9 Meg Davey; 1 Anne Young, 2 Kathryn Treder, 3 Christine Belisle, 4 Courtney Holtkamp, 5 Hallie Taufoou, 6 Rachel Malcolm (CC), 7 Sadia Kabeya, 8 Daisy Hibbert-Jones (CC).
Replacements: 16 Elis Martin, 17 Amelia Williams, 18 Laura Keates, 19 Abby Duguid, 20 Lilli Ives Campion, 21 Kendall Waudby, 22 Leia Brebner-Holden, 23 Carmela Morrall.
Match Officials
Referee: Holly Wood
Assistant referees: Richard Gordon and Darryl Chapman
Oval Insights
Leicester Tigers
- Leicester Tigers made the most dominant tackles (12) in Round 14, Tahlia Brody made three (joint-first).
- Leicester Tigers had the best 22m efficiency in Round 14 - they won a penalty or scored a try in 64% of their entries. They averaged 2.64 points per visit (2nd).
- So far this season, Leicester Tigers have contested 19% of their restarts (2nd) and retained 16% (1st).
Loughborough Lightning
- Emily Scarratt made the most kicks in play (15) in Round 14 - three were contestable (1st) and two were retained (1st).
- Loughborough Lightning have won the most lineout steals (24) so far this season, Hallie Taufoou has stolen eight (2nd).
- Daisy Hibbert-Jones has made the most tackles (135) and the second-most carries (102) for Loughborough Lightning so far this season. She has played more minutes than any other player (1032).
Harlequins v Saracens - Twickenham Stoop - 3pm
Live on YouTube
The Stoop will host a heavyweight London derby as second-placed Quins welcome fourth-placed Saracens with hopes of claiming an eleventh win on the bounce.
Sarries will be looking over their shoulder in desperate need of the points as they sit just two ahead of Bears and level on points with Exeter Chiefs.
Scrum-half Lucy Packer takes the armband for Quins in the absence of Jade Konkel while Canadian international Maddy Granty is handed her first start for the hosts.
Three of the best 🤩
— Harlequins Women 🃏 (@HarlequinsWomen) January 20, 2025
Swipe to watch Ellie Kildunne's hat-trick from the weekend ⚡️#COYQ #SALvHAR pic.twitter.com/ZYAoOMfRWR
The visitors make a change to their back three as Lotte Sharp moves back to the left-wing, joined by returning Alysha Corrigan and Sarah McKenna.
May Campbell is named as co-captain at openside flanker while Ella Wyrwas returns to the side at scrum-half.
TEAM NEWS
Harlequins
15 Ellie Kildunne, 14 Beth Wilcock, 13 Clàudia Peña, 12 Sarah Parry, 11 Lisa Neumann, 10 Kayleigh Powell, 9 Lucy Packer (C); 1 Silvia Turani, 2 Connie Powell, 3 Lizzie Hanlon, 4 Abbie Fleming, 5 Kaitlan Leaney (VC), 6 Maddy Grant, 7 Maja Meuller, 8 Harriet Millar Mills.
Replacements: 16 Carys Phillips, 17 Jessie Spurrier, 18 Laura Delgado, 19 Tyla Shirley, 20 Maddy Page, 21 Emma Swords, 22 Ella Cromack, 23 Izzy Mayhew.
Saracens
15 Sarah McKenna, 14 Alysha Corrigan, 13 Emma Hardy, 12 Sophie Bridger, 10 Amelia MacDougall, 11 Lotte Sharp (CC), 9 Ella Wyrwas; 1 Akina Gondwe, 2 Bryony Field, 3 Kelsey Clifford, 4 Rosie Galligan, 5 Louise McMillan, 6 Georgia Evans, 7 May Campbell (CC), 8 Poppy Cleall.
Replacements: 16 Carmen Tremelling, 17 Chloe Flanagan, 18 Maya Montiel, 19 Bryony Cleall, 20 Sharifa Kasolo, 21 Tori Sellors, 22 Beth Blacklock, 23 Sydney Gregson.
Match Officials
Referee: Mike Hudson
Assistant Referees: Rebecca Rees and Simon Adams
Oval Insights
Harlequins
- Ellie Kildunne made seven clean breaks in Round 14 - more than any other player in a match this season. She also scored a hattrick, made 166 metres (2nd), beat eight defenders (2nd), and assisted two more tries (1st).
- Harlequins missed the joint-fewest tackles (18) and conceded the fewest line breaks (two). Their tackle success rate (85.4%) was the best in Round 14.
- Harlequins were the only team to lose no rucks in Round 14; they also had the quickest average ruck speed (2.7s).
Saracens
- Saracens have averaged the second-most 22m entries (15.1) and the most successful entries (8.3) per game. They have scored an average of 2.5 points per visit (2nd).
- Saracens have had the best gainline success rate (56.1%) so far this season. They averaged the most offloads (12.2) per game and the second-most metres per carry (3.9).
- So far this season, Saracens have contested 19.6% of their restarts (1st) and retained 14.3% (2nd).
SUNDAY 26 JANUARY
Exeter Chiefs v Sale Sharks - Sandy Park - 12pm
Live on YouTube
Third-placed Exeter Chiefs know what is at stake as they welcome Sale Sharks to Devon.
Chiefs currently sit level on points with fourth-placed Saracens, and only two ahead of fifth-placed Bristol Bears, and will be eager to tighten their grip on a play-off spot with victory this weekend.
Sharks remain in search of their first win of the season but showed what they are capable of against Harlequins last weekend, going ahead through Sofia Stefan’s converted try in the 11th minute before ultimately succumbing to the
Chiefs have been forced into 12 positional and personnel changes from the side that narrowly triumphed over Lightning last week, with Maisy Allen, Mikiela Nelson and Cliodhna Moloney among those ruled out.
🎵 Rock and ̶r̶o̶l̶l̶ maul all night ☑️
— Exeter Chiefs Women (@ExeChiefsWomen) January 23, 2025
Our 13 player maul in the last minute that turned the table and secured our win! ☄️#LOUvEXE | #SheInspires pic.twitter.com/hEfLDNXeQc
Lucy Nye gets her first start at scrum-half while Alexandra Tessier will wear the captain’s armband for the first time from full-back.
There could be a debut in the offing for Sharks as Sara Cline is named on the bench, while Olivia Ortiz comes in to start at nine.
TEAM NEWS
Exeter Chiefs
15 Alexandra Tessier (C), 14 Claudia MacDonald, 13 Merryn Doidge, 12 Gabby Cantorna, 11 Georgina Tasker, 10 Taylor Perry, 9 Lucy Nye; 1 Demi Swann, 2 Clara Nielson, 3 Charli Jacoby, 4 Dorothy Wall, 5 Niamh Orchard, 6 Ebony Jefferies, 7 Edel McMahon, 8 Rachel Johnson.
Replacements: 16 Emily Tuttosi, 17 Flo Long, 18 DaLeaka Menin, 19 Poppy Leitch, 20 Emily Robinson, 21 Flo Robinson, 22 Nancy McGillivray, 23 Eilidh Sinclair.
Sale Sharks
15 Nikita Prothero, 14 Eva Wood, 13 Vicky A Irwin, 12 Beatrice Rigoni, 11 Holly Thorpe, 10 Lizzie Duffy, 9 Olivia Ortiz; 1 Catie Benson, 2 Molly Wright, 3 Detysha Harper, 4 Iona Antwis, 5 Erica Jarrell, 6 Jo Brown, 7 Niamh Swales, 8 Morwenna Talling (C).
Replacements: Scarlett Fielding, Sophie Lewis, Nick James, Molly Morrissey, Sara Cline, Sofia Stefan, Katana Howard, Rachel Philipps.
Match Officials
Referee: Dan Jones
Assistant Referees: Jennifer Burrows and James Milliner-Woodcock
Oval Insights
Exeter Chiefs
- Exeter Chiefs had the highest proportion of dominant tackles (6.2%) in Round 14. Dorothy Wall made three dominant hits (joint-first) and missed just one.
- Exeter Chiefs conceded just nine penalties (joint-second) but 17 turnovers (8th) in Round 14. However, they have averaged the fewest turnovers (13.6) per game so far this season.
- Exeter Chiefs have averaged the most kicks in play (17.7) per game and the most metres per kick (30.4) so far this season. 35.6% of their possessions end in a kick (1st).
Sale Sharks
- Detysha Harper made more dominant carries than any other player in Round 14, a total of eight. She also made 29 post-contact metres (3rd).
- Sophie Hopkins was the only player who won three turnovers in Round 14.
- Morwenna Talling made the most tackles (19) for Sale Sharks in Round 14 - two were dominant (3rd) and she missed none.
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