Team of the Week: Premiership Rugby Round 18

After ruling the roost all season, Bath had their spot in the semi-finals confirmed ahead of the latest round of on-field action. The blue, black and whites are eyeing up the treble after their Prem Cup and Challenge Cup successes, with Johann van Graan's side ready to welcome Bristol Bears to the Rec on Friday for their home-hosted Premiership semi-final.

Leicester Tigers secured their required points to finish in second place, after an end-to-end contest against Newcastle Falcons. The Tigers host third placed Sale Sharks in the playoffs, in what could be the final match in the careers of Leicester and England legends Ben Youngs, Dan Cole and Mike Brown, should the Sharks triumph for a place in the 2025 Premiership Final.

Exeter Chiefs 26-31 Sale Sharks / Leicester Tigers 42-20 Newcastle Falcons / Saracens 36-26 Bath Rugby

Gloucester Rugby 41-26 Northampton Saints / Bristol Bears 52-26 Harlequins

We start off our picks for the Team of the Week with one of the stand-out players from Sandy Park, as Jodge Hodge had another barnburner of a match for Exeter Chiefs. A well taken try under his belt showcased his customary attacking threat, with three well struck conversions put his shooting boots on display. After Henry Slade missed a shot at goal in the early goings, Hodge was on hand to keep the Chiefs scoreboard ticking over with some solid efforts off the tee. A genuine candidate for the England tour of Argentina and the USA you would have thought.

The experienced Premiership chart-topper capped off his first full season in Cherry and White, with a brace of tries against Northampton Saints. Wade crossed the whitewash for tries upon the half hour mark and just a matter of seconds from full-time, with his ever-present threat felt by the green, gold and blacks for the duration at Kingsholm. Wade also got involved upon the assists, with as he played in his wing partner Jack Cotgreave for a couple of scores against the Saints.

England fans continue their count down, as in a year's time the Bristol Bears midfielder will be eligible for Steve Borthwick's side on residential grounds. The South African sensation had another stand-out effort in the blue and white of the Bears, with a blistering approach on the front foot that repeatedly hammered into the Harlequins defence. A 68th minute try capped off a starring effort, with the Bears through to the Premiership play-offs in fourth place.

Steve Borthwick will have to act swiftly, if he is to secure the dual-nationality star before Tonga secure the centre for the Test match stage. Ma'asi-White capped off a striking Sale move to carve through the Chiefs defence, with the midfielder impressing all onlookers regardless of allegiance at Sandy Park. The 22-year-old has six tries to his name this season, with Sale fans excited to see how their centre channel wrecking ball will step-up to Saturday's Premiership play-off semi-final against Leicester Tigers.

The meteoric break-through continues for Gloucester wing Jack Cotgreave, who bagged his first league hat-trick this past weekend in Cherry and White. Upon a 'Super Saturday' which featured a handful of solid wing efforts, as Bristol's Gabriel Ibitoye and Cadan Murley of Harlequins miss out on the TOTW, it's Cotgreave that's back within our picks. Whilst Gloucester would be disappointed to miss out on the top four by the narrowest margins, Cotgreave has been a shining light admist a sea of departing players that has the Kinsgholm faithful excited for the future.

It could well have come down to a coin flip for the 10 shirt in our TOTW, that's how close it was between Bristol's AJ MacGinty and Sale Sharks halfback George Ford. However, we've opted for the American to hold down the mantle, saw him slot 12 points off the tee, grab an assist and become effortlessly involved in the one-sided win over Harlequins. Bristol's talisman has been at his very best in the Bears' season resurgence, as Pat Lam's side chase down a historic first Premiership title for the club.

The British & Irish Lions selected scrum half has been tremendous for Gloucester all season, with his final outing in Cherry and White for the 2024/25 campaign opitimising his consistency at Kingsholm. Williams bagged himself a try shortly after the half hour mark, as Gloucester began to stretch their legs against a capitulating Northampton side. Williams set the rapid tempo of attack as the West Country side ran away from their East Midlands opponents, in what was a clinic of high-octane halfback distribution.

First up for the forwards is Sale loose-head Bevan Rodd, who tucked away a well-finished try to get his name on the score-board against Exeter. The England international has had plenty to prove to usurp Ellis Genge to Borthwick's number one jersey, with this Summer providing an opportunity to re-gain his footing within the side. Rodd also showcased some neat hands in the win over Exeter, which played his teammates through to a place in the playoffs.

Whilst Jamie George would have been disappointed to miss out on the British & Irish Lions tour, his club form has not been affected one bit. The England hooker stepped up in Saracens' impressive win over the league leaders Bath, as he contributed two tries towards a solid victory for Mark McCall's men. Whilst the Londoners now end their season after failing to qualify for the top four, George can hold his head high and turn his attention to leading England's next generation, as an experienced voice on tour in Argentina.

It was a solid week from the tight-heads, with three English props all within a shout of getting on the TOTW. Veteran Dan Cole had a timeless effort for the Tigers, the highly young gun Asher Opoku-Fordjour was a standout for Sale, yet we've opted for Bristolian battler George Kloska following his shift against Harlequins. A well taken try in the first minute set the foundations for his stellar performance, in which he routinly outwitted Harlequins loose-head and would-be England campmate Fin Baxter. One for Borthwick to keep his eye on as Cole heads for retirement.

Keeping with Bristol Bears and Pedro Rubiolo had a stunning effort at lock this past weekend, in what marked a long awaited return from injury for the second row. After much speculation that his season was up following a knee injury in November whist representing Newcastle Falcons, Rubiolo defied the doctors for this hit-out on the closing round of the regular season. Bears fans would be delighted to see their new signing debut ahead of the play-off chase, with Argentina also keeping tabs on their man ahead of a Summer of Tests against the British & Irish Lions and England.

As valient as ever, even in a match that on paper did not mean anything for Bath. The blue, black and whites aready knew that they had a home semi-final confirmed, before they took on Saracens in the closing match of the campaign. Ashman's intensity did no faulter, with a tireless engine upon both sides of the ball - the lock embodied the spa city's spirit that took them to the top of the table to begin with. Playing with a World Cup finalists' aggression in a 'dead rubber' defeat, Ashman optimised what van Graan has instilled within this Bath team.

A few back row bruisers put their hands up for contention this week, with Jean-Luc du Preez getting our pick ahead of Gloucester's Jack Clement and Bristol's Santiago Grondona. The South African was at his very best in Sale's win down in Devon, as he won the arm wrestle over his opposite man Jacques Vermeulen. Stepping up to start in the absence of Tom Curry, du Preez was once again Sale's hardman with each of his carries and chop tackle felt around Sandy Park.

Fitz Harding's run of form into the latter stages of the season, has to have caught the eye of Steve Borthwick and the England selectors. The back row has been a dynamo for Bristol, and ran out his latest storming effort in the one-sided win over Quins. 12 carries and 12 tackles showcased due how well versed the 26-year-old is on both sides of the ball, with his tireless engine burning as hot at the 80th minute as it did at the start of the match. An honourable mention to Gloucester stalwart Lewis Ludlow for another strong showing in his treasured Cherry and White.

Finishing up our XV for the final TOTW for the Premiership's regular season, Olly Cracknell was yet again the man to watch down at Welford Road. The 31-year-old continues to age like a fine wine, with a work rate that would match any plucky young upstart that's out to impress. 23 carries and 13 tackles summed up his efforts, with the Tigers routinely finding their eight-man to put them on the front foot time and again. Whether he will get a run with Wales this Summer remains to be seen, yet it was a fine way for Cracknell to stamp his intentions for Leicester ahead of the play-offs this weekend.