Return of the Gallagher PREM: Henry Arundell v Noah Caluori battle and England's centre depth on display as Bath edge Saracens
By Rhys Jones
Published 01/12/2025 at 14:52 GMT
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The Gallagher PREM returned and provided a weekend full of wonderful rugby, comeback wins, and some fantastic one-on-one battles across the league. On Sunday, Bath overcame Saracens thanks to Henry Arundell, who capped an impressive display with the winning score late in the game. There were also scintillating performances from the likes of Max Ojomoh, Seb Atkinson and Henry Slade.
Highlights: Bath sizzle to see off Saracens
Video credit: TNT Sports
After a month of wildly captivating and chaotic international rugby, we bid farewell to the Quilter Nations Series.
But the Gallagher PREM's returning international stars produced one of the most thrilling games of the season as Bath edged a late 36-29 win over Saracens at StoneX Stadium.
Henry Arundell's try in the 76th minute capped off the comeback for Johann van Graan's side, who scored 19 unanswered points to take a bonus-point win away from home.
While Bath shot to the top of the table, Exeter Chiefs' win over Sale Sharks on Friday evening ensured they stayed within the top four.
And it was a frustrating afternoon for Harlequins, who were the victims as Gloucester picked up their first win of the season.
There is plenty to get our teeth into following a wonderful weekend of rugby and the PREM's return.
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Arundell likened to Habana as Bath flyer labelled 'one of quickest players in world rugby'
Video credit: TNT Sports
A battle for England's wing future
Bath and Saracens: two star-studded squads. One fighting to retain their long-awaited title, and the other vying to return to former glories.
On the pitch, the positional battles are equally fascinating. Both packs are formidable, and each have dangerous backlines marshalled by world-class fly-halves.
Outside of the Owen Farrell v Finn Russell clash, perhaps the most exciting face-off was between Bath's Arundell and Saracens' Noah Caluori.
The former scored twice, including the winning try, but Caluori showcased his aerial dominance from the off.
Max Malins' opening try in the third minute was possible thanks to the 19-year-old, who beat Arundell to Owen Farrell's kick and flicked the ball back in the air to Ben Earl.
Sarries quickly moved to the overloaded side of the pitch that Farrell kicked from, and Elliot Daly, Lucio Cinti and Malins were able to easily link up to score.
Farrell went to the sky in search of the 6ft 4in Caluori several more times in the first half, and the youngster's aerial prowess is becoming an important part of Saracens' plan for teams to consider.
He got the better of the 6ft Arundell numerous times, not only with his height advantage but also utilising an impressive spring.
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Watch: VINTAGE Bath as magic from Russell and Arundell sees visitors score stunner
Video credit: TNT Sports
Arundell, meanwhile, is four years his senior, and was once in the position as the league's breakthrough talent, which Caluori now is.
But in pure speed and in sniffing out opportunities, Arundell is still king. In the 18th minute, he made a great defensive read and took advantage of a lazy pass from Ivan van Zyl in the Bath 22, and he raced away for Bath's first try. Neither Daly nor Caluori could catch him.
Arundell managed to adapt to Caluori's dominance in the air, and the Bath flyer's second try was a slick counter-attack with Max Ojomoh, with the game tied 29-29. He was again uncatchable as he ran in to steal the game from Saracens.
"He's by far the quickest in the squad," Van Graan told TNT Sports. "I'm going to liken him to one player: Bryan Habana. In 2005, Bryan had just joined us at the Bulls. He scored a try against the Brumbies in Canberra.
"He worked on his defence, both at England and at Bath, which you saw from his intercept try, which was a big moment in the game. We spoke about his aerial work and his contact skills.
"That's a sign of a player who wants to improve. A player that went away, came back, and he's hungry to play for us, and he's hungry to play for this country."
Both Arundell and Caluori have plenty to add to their game. One big detracting facet of Arundell's game is his defensive liability and often being caught out of position, but what he offers going forward almost demands his inclusion in the England setup.
This performance was perhaps his best argument so far for being involved in the Six Nations.
Caluori is young and inexperienced, but his frame, athleticism, and a sharp judgement of aerial duels means Saracens, and potentially Steve Borthwick, can utilise him in unique ways.
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Watch: Arundell SCORCHES turf for stunning intercept try - 'Like giving the ball to a cheetah!'
Video credit: TNT Sports
Never doubt Farrell
Owen Farrell is 34 years old. He will be 36 by the time the 2027 Rugby World Cup begins. The chances of him making the England squad are slim.
But his quick return to Saracens after a year in France was surprising. Even more surprising was his inclusion on this summer's British & Irish Lions tour to Australia.
He started against Bath and showed, similarly to Henry Slade, why he could still command a position in this England side if he needs to.
George Ford and Fin Smith have the fly-half position sewn up currently, and Marcus Smith is ahead of Farrell in the pecking order too.
But his kicking off the tee and in the air are still incredible, and his distribution from 10 is still strong. He proved he still has those facets of his game against Bath, despite losing.
He pinpointed Caluori multiple times, and was adept at unleashing the likes of Daly and Malins outside him. His England involvement may not be over just yet.
England's luxurious centre depth
If Arundell's touch was the finishing one against Saracens, Ojomoh's was that of Midas.
Saracens had stopped Bath's rout and drawn the game level. Finn Russell threw a low pass towards Ojomoh, and the centre stooped to take the ball and broke free from the defence.
He supplied the winning pass for Arundell to stride in unopposed. It came a week after the centre's breakthrough performance for England against Argentina, in which he scored once and created two more tries in a hard-fought 27-23 win.
England's depth at centre is incredibly healthy. Had it not been for the absence of Fraser Dingwall, Ollie Lawrence and a few others, Ojomoh likely would not have had his chance at Allianz Stadium.
Further north, Exeter Chiefs ended an agonising 18-month wait for an away win. It was an incredible and shocking 27-26 comeback win.
Whilst Ojomoh's performance was typified by his effective use of pace and smart footwork, Slade's was more formal, scoring 12 points off the boot and snatching the winning conversion late in the game.
- Saracens 29-36 Bath Rugby result - Henry Arundell stars as Bath claim bonus-point Gallagher PREM win at StoneX Stadium
- Henry Arundell likened to South Africa great Bryan Habana after Bath's Gallagher PREM Rugby comeback victory over Saracens
Fit-again Atkinson impresses
Borthwick's luxuries at centre do not end there. The fit-again Seb Atkinson had an impressive performance for Gloucester in their 26-15 win over Quins.
The 23-year-old was set to feature in the autumn Tests before a knee injury in October ruled him out.
He returned to the Cherry and Whites' midfield was at the centre of a vital win, with his strong carrying routinely puncturing holes in Quins' defence.
Borthwick and his team will already be thinking about who he wants his centre partnership to be at the 2027 World Cup.
Lawrence seems like the mainstay as of now, but Slade, Ojomoh, Atkinson and more are doing everything they can to keep themselves in the conversation.
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Watch: 'Anything George can do...' - Farrell hits big drop goal for Sarries
Video credit: TNT Sports
Harlequins calamity and Isgro's moment of madness
If there was such a thing as an own-goal in rugby, Rodrigo Isgro's disastrous action at the end of the first half against Gloucester would fit.
The Argentinian, who only recently produced one of the season's most outrageous tries at The Stoop, was responsible for Lewis Ludlow's as he covered a grubber kick in the most nonchalant fashion, toe-poking the ball inside his own 22. Ludlow pounced on it and scored an easy try on his 250th appearance.
Marcus Smith had flashes of brilliance, but the lack of confidence in the Quins squad may be having an effect on the playmaker.
And it may be becoming clear he is a 10 who needs a certain type of player outside him, such as the destructive Andre Esterhuizen, who Quins have desperately missed in midfield.
Watch and stream the Gallagher PREM, Quilter Nations Series and Premiership Women's Rugby on TNT Sports and discovery+
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