What we learned from PREM's opening weekend

On a glorious weekend for rugby in England, the Gallagher PREM was back with a bang starting on Thursday night in Sale.

There was more drama on Friday night when Bath Rugby showed everyone why they were crowned champions last season, while Saracens enjoyed their first meeting with Newcastle Red Bulls at a sold-out Kingston Park.

All eyes were firmly turned to Twickenham on Saturday, with a world record, sell-out crowd seeing the Red Roses crowned world champions thanks to a stellar performance against Canada.

And for anyone who had not had their rugby fill, there was the sweetest of treats to finish on Sunday, Exeter Chiefs fighting back against Northampton Saints and the Bristol Bears getting off to a flyer in Geoff Parling’s Leicester opener.

Here are the big takeaways:

Bath the team to beat

When Bath beat Northampton Saints in a repeat of the 2023/24 final to kick off last season, it vindicated the overriding belief that they were going to be the team to beat last season.

They were pushed right to the limit in the final by Leicester, but finally ended 29 years of waiting to be champions.

Friday night’s win at the Stoop was just as impressive in many ways, overcoming some early struggles to secure a bonus-point win.

When Will Evans completed a hat-trick to make it 17-7 to the home side, Harlequins looked to be on their way to a huge opening success.

But Bath, even without the likes of Finn Russell, Thomas du Toit and star signing Santiago Carreras, have incredible depth, and that came to the fore in the second 40 minutes.

Fellow recruit Henry Arundell caught the eye with a pair of tries, including one from a stunning Max Ojomoh pass – the hometown hero stepping in seamlessly at fly-half for this one.

But as was so often the case, it was Bath’s pack that made the difference, the forward power eventually proving too much for Quins, with three props – Beno Obano, Vilikesa Sela and Archie Griffin – all scoring.

Johann van Graan’s team have a big challenge coming in Sale Sharks this week, but based on this form, it is going to take a very good team to come and take the title from them.

Chiefs the comeback kings

When Northampton Saints led 33-7 against Exeter Chiefs, it felt as if order was being restored at cinch Stadium at Franklin’s Gardens.

The 23/24 champions made it all the way to the Investec Champions Cup final last season, but struggled in the league as their squad depth was tested.

On Sunday, new fly-half signing Anthony Belleau looked like the back-up to Fin Smith they missed last season, while JJ van der Mescht will provide plenty of heft up front on this showing.

However, Belleau, like the rest of the Saints team, had no answer as Exeter roared back into the game in the second half.

And while Chiefs will not be able to overcome four-score deficits very often this season, it certainly helps when you have a pair of wingers with the game-breaking ability of Immanuel Feyi-Waboso and Paul Brown-Bampoe.

The duo combined for three tries, while Ross Vintcent chipped in with two of his own as one of the quickest forwards in the competition.

Even after losing Josh Hodge to a 20-minute red card, Exeter held on to take three points from the game.

Rob Baxter is under no illusions that the performance level will need to rise. But having spoken in pre-season of how Exeter needed to increase expectations on players, he will have been pleased at the response at half-time.

Bears overcome injuries

When Tom Jordan signed for Bristol Bears, the first question was where would he slot into their backline.

Given his versatility, it felt like he could play wherever was necessary and on Sunday at Ashton Gate, that proved to be the case against Leicester Tigers.

Starting at full-back, he then switched to his more familiar fly-half role when AJ MacGinty went down with what looked to be a serious Achilles injury.

Bears also lost fellow first-choice half-back option Harry Randall to a hamstring problem, while Gabriel Ibitoye had to be helped from the field in the second half.

Losing your half-backs and X-factor winger in the opening round of the season is far from ideal, but Bristol look to have a few more options to cover those injuries this season.

Kieran Marmion has long been a more than capable alternative to Randall at No.9, while Jordan’s arrival means that there will be no need to find fly-half cover at short notice, as was the case a year ago when MacGinty had an extended spell on the sidelines.

And even though no one wants to see Ibitoye out of the game, such is his game-breaking ability, being able to call upon Kalaveti Ravouvou from the bench is about the best alternative you can hope for.

Even with all that disruption, Bears fought back from a 17-10 deficit to take it 42-24, with the win sealed by another eye-catching new signing as Louis Rees-Zammit raced away for a try at the death.

Long-term, Pat Lam will know he cannot afford to suffer that many serious injuries each week, but for now, Bristol look to be better suited to coping with them than a year ago.