Prem talking Points: Dramatic Round 17 promises epic final day

The Gallagher PREM is set for a thrilling final week, with one Play-Off spot still to be determined and a race for the final two Investec Champions Cup places.

Round 17 had it all, with Bristol Bears securing an emotional win against rivals Bath Rugby, Newcastle Red Bulls staging a comeback for the ages, the StoneX Stadium bidding farewell to Mark McCall and Exeter

Chiefs becoming the first away team to win at Mattioli Woods Welford Road this season.

It sets up a cracker of a final day.

MCCALL DESPERATE TO GO OUT WITH A HIGH

However this ends for Mark McCall, his Saracens team are fighting to the bitter end.

The departing director of rugby was rightly celebrated at StoneX Stadium on Saturday in what was his final home game in charge as he prepares to leave after 15 glorious years.

When McCall’s departure was announced in January, it was assumed Saracens would be nowhere near the race for The Play-Offs after they were left behind in the first half of the year.

However, a purple patch of form has brought them to within one win of another semi-final and two wins from Twickenham.

Fittingly, Harlequins were Saracens’ Saturday opponents and the home side beat their London rivals 26-12, with hooker Theo Dan powering over for the all-important bonus-point try at the death.

It means Saracens, who have been crowned champions six times under McCall, have a win-and-in clash at Exeter Chiefs next weekend for the right to play Northampton Saints in The Play-Offs.

Saints, Bath Rugby and Leicester Tigers have been the dominant Gallagher PREM teams this season but, in this form, you would not write off Saracens – especially as they are doing it, one last time, for the boss.

Typically, McCall was understated.

"The most important thing today was what happened on the field," he said.

"We've worked incredibly hard over the last six or seven weeks to make this game important.

"It probably wasn't our best performance, but we got the job done. It's a good habit we've got now that we find a way to win matches.”

Up ahead, Northampton Saints are assured of top spot and can rest players for their final game of the season, while Bath and Leicester Tigers are second and third but play each other on Saturday.

The old rivals looked likely to be meeting in The Play-Offs too but Round 17’s results made that less certain.

The winners of their last-day clash will finish second and host a Play-Off match while the losers will likely drop to fourth and face a tricky tie away to the Saints.

The Chiefs put a spanner in the works with a thrilling win at Leicester, a result that ended Bristol Bears’ semi-final hopes.

RED BULLS COMEBACK KEEPS CHAMPIONS CUP RACE ALIVE

All eyes will be on the race for The Play-Offs this weekend but lurking further down the table is a three-way squabble for the final Investec Champions Cup positions.

Newcastle Red Bulls are rooted to the bottom of the table but they blew the race wide open with a sensational comeback victory against Sale Sharks.

The Sharks, seventh in the standings, knew a win would cement their place at Europe’s top table next season and looked well-placed to do so after marching into a 35-10 half-time lead.

But the Red Bulls did something incredible in the second half. Alex Hearle scored two tries, Tom Christie matched him and Freddie Lockwood crossed to reduce the gap to five points – Arron Reed going over for the Sharks.

Then, with the clock in the red, the Red Bulls broke from their own 22, Hearle picked up a pop-pass on half-way and sprinted in under the posts to help complete a remarkable comeback.

It means Sale still have work to do to finish in the top eight but face a tricky opponent in Bristol Bears on the last day.

Further back, Gloucester Rugby and Harlequins are separated by just a point. Gloucester host Newcastle on Saturday, hoping to avoid a similar fate to the Sharks, while Quins host Northampton Saints.

LAM PAYS EMOTIONAL FAMILY TRIBUTE

“We don’t always know what people are going through in their personal lives,” Pat Lam said after Bristol Bears delivered a superb victory against Bath Rugby and – after his position as Bears head coach was questioned after a heavy defeat to Northampton Saints two weeks ago – it was a timely reminder.

Lam dedicated that superb Friday night win to his daughter Nealana, three days after the Lam family attended the funeral of her baby son, Nico.

Nealana and her partner, Dan, were at Ashton Gate to watch the 21-19 win and the director of rugby paid an emotional tribute live on TNT Sports.

“I wanted to dedicate this result to my Bristolian grandson Nico, my beautiful daughter Nealana and her partner Dan,” he said on TNT Sports.

“I said to the boys on Monday, I’m really excited, one because the sun is coming out, two was that on Tuesday we finally got some closure as a family to recent events, and three, it was an opportunity to play Bath and have closure for what happened at Northampton [where they conceded 94 points] and show that was 100 per cent a one-off.

“Rugby teaches you life lessons. It’s about highs and lows, emotion, and how you adapt and grow. Sometimes you go through very deep lows to come back stronger, and that’s what makes the sport and its players what they are.

“There’s a lot of love and support around the team. That’s what it’s about. We come together as one group, analyse the game, and focus on doing our jobs. We don’t always know what people are going through in their personal lives, but I thought their performance today reflected real character.”