Full House Ford, Brilliant Ben: Our Top Performers From The Premiership Semis

Full House Ford, Brilliant Ben: Our Top Performers From The Premiership Semis

Leicester Tigers and Saracens will battle it out in the Premiership Final next week at Twickenham (Kick off at 15:00 BST).

 

Two pulsating semi-finals were played out on Saturday afternoon with Saracens muscling to a 34-17 victory over a spirited Harlequins outfit while Leicester battled to a win over a brave Northampton Saints outfit.

 

Here are our top performers from the two semi-finals.

 

Fantastic Ford's Full House


The star of the show at Welford, George Ford bid the Tigers' faithful farewell in fantastic fashion completing a full house to secure a spot in the final.

 

The 29-year-old scored in all four possible ways against Saints landing penalties in the 22nd, 32nd, 63rd, and 79th minute. He scored and converted his try in the 51st minute and rounded out his performance with a drop goal in the 76th minute. He racked up 22 points in total, a joint record in Premiership semi-finals, along with Owen Farrell.


 

Ford also made a Leicester Tigers' joint match-high of 11 tackles, beat four defenders and gained 14 metres.

 

Willing Wiese Carries Tigers

Jasper Wiese was a willing ball carrier for Leicester throughout his 80 performance thundering into the Saints' defence on 20 occasions.

 

The South African was an attacking threat for the Tigers beating a match-high of nine defenders, completing two offloads and made 38 metres.

 

He matched Ford's eleven tackles with Lewis Ludlam the only player beating that tally.

 

Leader Ludlam

"It's a tough pill to swallow really" - Ludlam said after the defeat to Leicester Tigers.

 

His side not only fell short of the final but the man himself produced an excellent display, particularly on defence.

 

He made a match-high of 13 tackles and was furious at the breakdowns and a real threat to the Tigers' lineout.

 

Another strong performance to cap off his season.

 
 

Brilliant Ben

In the build-up to the semi-final clash, Ben Earl was named as the Premiership Player of the Season and he showed why in the clash against Harlequins.

 

The powerful openside flanker found his way over the line on three occasions.

 

He added 16 tackles to his wonderful performance and gained 50 running metres, the third most in the match, and beat two defenders from his eight carries.

 
 

George brings the grunt

Jamie George produced another standout performance for Saracens with a tidy set-piece shift paired with a workmanlike shift on either side of the ball.

 


The England hooker found his target on all but one of his 13 attempted lineout throws.

 

He also made a match-high of 17 tackles and made 39 running metres from his 10 carries and passed on six occasions.

 

Elusive Esterhuizen

Shortly after Harlequins' defeat in the semi-final, Andre Esterhuizen was named in the Springboks squad for the first time since before the Rugby World Cup.

 

The South African has impressed throughout the season for the Famous Quarters and produced another strong performance in their final match of the season.

 

He thundered into the Saracens' defensive wall beating six defenders and gaining 36 running metres. He was a threat over the ball too drawing in the Saracens' player each time he went digging for the ball and completed two offloads.

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