Watching Paris Saint-Germain absolutely explode onto the Champions League final stage with a 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan was the perfect reminder of what happens when a team throws caution to the wind and goes all out.
Credit to Luis Enrique — that kind of bold, attacking rugby-like mindset is exactly what I’d love to see from the teams gearing up for this weekend’s Gallagher Premiership play-offs.
PSG’s Style Should Be an Inspiration for Rugby Coaches
Enrique’s fearless approach paid off in spades. Under immense pressure, he pushed PSG to play on the front foot, and the result was one of the most exciting European finals in recent memory.
There’s a lesson here for rugby too — when the stakes are high, the best teams don’t play it safe. They go for it.
That’s why I’m hoping that Bath, Bristol, Leicester, and Sale — the four sides heading into the Premiership semi-finals — take a page from PSG’s playbook.
They’ve got the coaches to do it: Johann van Graan, Michael Cheika, Pat Lam, and Alex Sanderson have all brought real quality and energy to English rugby this season.
The Premiership Is Buzzing with Quality and Creativity
It’s been a treat watching the Premiership unfold.
The tries have been flowing, the games have had real bite, and the attacking flair on show has made it compelling viewing.
Steve Borthwick, the England boss, owes a nod of appreciation to these clubs — much like I did back when I was coaching the national team.
Back in my day, Leicester and Wasps were churning out top-tier players who gave England an edge at international level.
That tradition continues. Today’s crop of Premiership coaches — even the overseas ones — are helping to lift English rugby with the quality of their club systems.
No, the Premiership Isn’t Holding England Back
There’s been a bit of chat about whether the Premiership is preparing players well for the international stage.
I just don’t buy the negativity. It’s no coincidence that the domestic product has looked so sharp over the past year — and England’s national team has been trending upward at the same time.
The top three Premiership clubs this season also happen to be the ones with the best balance between attacking sparkle and defensive structure. That’s not a fluke — it’s smart rugby.
Bath’s Flair Meets Bristol’s Fearlessness on Friday Night
Bath have been brilliant. They’ve got an ideal mix of brute force and backline magic, with Finn Russell pulling the strings at fly-half.
Van Graan has them humming, and they fully deserve their home semi-final.
They’ll go in as favourites against Bristol — but not by much.
Why? Because Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears have already beaten Bath twice this season, including a sizzling performance at The Rec back in October.
That one will be fresh in both coaches’ minds. And while the second win came when Bath were understrength, it still matters — Bristol know they can do it again.
Will Bristol Channel Their Inner PSG?
Here’s where the PSG comparison really comes in.
If Lam gives his players the green light to go for broke — like Enrique did with PSG in Munich — they’ll cause real problems for Bath.
Bristol’s attacking game is top tier.
On their day, they can beat anyone. But they’ll need to be laser-sharp because Bath are no strangers to throwing punches of their own.
If the game turns into a wide-open shootout, Bristol might edge it.
But if Bath manage to keep things tight and structured, they’ll probably come out on top.
It’s going to come down to control — and just a bit of daring.
Leicester vs Sale Will Be a Straight-Up Dogfight
The second semi-final has all the makings of a slugfest.
Leicester and Sale are built in a similar mold — gritty, determined, and well-drilled.
Alex Sanderson has really pushed Sale to another level.
I actually remember coaching him on an England A tour — even back then, he was a straight shooter.
And you can see that attitude in the way his team plays.
But heading to Welford Road isn’t easy. Leicester got the better of Sale there a few weeks ago in a 44-34 thriller.
That game was chaos, and it could’ve gone either way.
Sale will travel believing they’ve got a shot, even if the venue gives Leicester a slight edge.
The Play-Offs Could Go Either Way — But Will Anyone Dare?
Now, the knockouts are usually a bit tighter than regular-season clashes.
Pressure builds, nerves creep in, and attacking rugby often gets reined in.
But as PSG showed, that doesn’t have to be the case. Sometimes, you’ve just got to go for it.
That’s why I’m hoping one or two of these clubs channel that same high-risk, high-reward mentality. The entertainment will be there — no doubt.
But which team is going to seize the moment and make a statement?
Clive’s Weekend Predictions: Just About Home Wins
Friday: Bath vs Bristol – The Rec, 7.45pm (TNT Sports)
My Pick: Bath to win, but only just.
Saturday: Leicester vs Sale – Welford Road, 3.30pm (TNT Sports)
My Pick: Leicester to edge it in a very tight game.
English Rugby Is in a Healthy Place
Big picture — I really believe English rugby is in a good spot.
The quality of the Premiership is strong, the coaches are delivering, and the young talent is thriving.
So if you’re a rugby fan, make sure you’re watching this weekend. These semi-finals could be something special.
The big question still stands — who’s going to do a PSG?
Watching Paris Saint-Germain absolutely explode onto the Champions League final stage with a 5-0 demolition of Inter Milan was the perfect reminder of what happens when a team throws caution to the wind and goes all out.
Credit to Luis Enrique — that kind of bold, attacking rugby-like mindset is exactly what I’d love to see from the teams gearing up for this weekend’s Gallagher Premiership play-offs.
PSG’s Style Should Be an Inspiration for Rugby Coaches
Enrique’s fearless approach paid off in spades. Under immense pressure, he pushed PSG to play on the front foot, and the result was one of the most exciting European finals in recent memory.
There’s a lesson here for rugby too — when the stakes are high, the best teams don’t play it safe. They go for it.
That’s why I’m hoping that Bath, Bristol, Leicester, and Sale — the four sides heading into the Premiership semi-finals — take a page from PSG’s playbook.
They’ve got the coaches to do it: Johann van Graan, Michael Cheika, Pat Lam, and Alex Sanderson have all brought real quality and energy to English rugby this season.
The Premiership Is Buzzing with Quality and Creativity
It’s been a treat watching the Premiership unfold.
The tries have been flowing, the games have had real bite, and the attacking flair on show has made it compelling viewing.
Steve Borthwick, the England boss, owes a nod of appreciation to these clubs — much like I did back when I was coaching the national team.
Back in my day, Leicester and Wasps were churning out top-tier players who gave England an edge at international level.
That tradition continues. Today’s crop of Premiership coaches — even the overseas ones — are helping to lift English rugby with the quality of their club systems.
No, the Premiership Isn’t Holding England Back
There’s been a bit of chat about whether the Premiership is preparing players well for the international stage.
I just don’t buy the negativity. It’s no coincidence that the domestic product has looked so sharp over the past year — and England’s national team has been trending upward at the same time.
The top three Premiership clubs this season also happen to be the ones with the best balance between attacking sparkle and defensive structure.
That’s not a fluke — it’s smart rugby.
Bath’s Flair Meets Bristol’s Fearlessness on Friday Night
Bath have been brilliant. They’ve got an ideal mix of brute force and backline magic, with Finn Russell pulling the strings at fly-half.
Van Graan has them humming, and they fully deserve their home semi-final.
They’ll go in as favourites against Bristol — but not by much.
Why? Because Pat Lam’s Bristol Bears have already beaten Bath twice this season, including a sizzling performance at The Rec back in October.
That one will be fresh in both coaches’ minds.
And while the second win came when Bath were understrength, it still matters — Bristol know they can do it again.
Will Bristol Channel Their Inner PSG?
Here’s where the PSG comparison really comes in. If Lam gives his players the green light to go for broke — like Enrique did with PSG in Munich — they’ll cause real problems for Bath.
Bristol’s attacking game is top tier. On their day, they can beat anyone.
But they’ll need to be laser-sharp because Bath are no strangers to throwing punches of their own.
If the game turns into a wide-open shootout, Bristol might edge it.
But if Bath manage to keep things tight and structured, they’ll probably come out on top.
It’s going to come down to control — and just a bit of daring.
Leicester vs Sale Will Be a Straight-Up Dogfight
The second semi-final has all the makings of a slugfest.
Leicester and Sale are built in a similar mold — gritty, determined, and well-drilled.
Alex Sanderson has really pushed Sale to another level.
I actually remember coaching him on an England A tour — even back then, he was a straight shooter.
And you can see that attitude in the way his team plays.
But heading to Welford Road isn’t easy. Leicester got the better of Sale there a few weeks ago in a 44-34 thriller.
That game was chaos, and it could’ve gone either way.
Sale will travel believing they’ve got a shot, even if the venue gives Leicester a slight edge.
The Play-Offs Could Go Either Way — But Will Anyone Dare?
Now, the knockouts are usually a bit tighter than regular-season clashes.
Pressure builds, nerves creep in, and attacking rugby often gets reined in.
But as PSG showed, that doesn’t have to be the case. Sometimes, you’ve just got to go for it.
That’s why I’m hoping one or two of these clubs channel that same high-risk, high-reward mentality. The entertainment will be there — no doubt.
But which team is going to seize the moment and make a statement?
Clive’s Weekend Predictions: Just About Home Wins
Friday: Bath vs Bristol – The Rec, 7.45pm (TNT Sports)
My Pick: Bath to win, but only just.
Saturday: Leicester vs Sale – Welford Road, 3.30pm (TNT Sports)
My Pick: Leicester to edge it in a very tight game.
English Rugby Is in a Healthy Place
Big picture — I really believe English rugby is in a good spot.
The quality of the Premiership is strong, the coaches are delivering, and the young talent is thriving.
So if you’re a rugby fan, make sure you’re watching this weekend.
These semi-finals could be something special.
The big question still stands — who’s going to do a PSG?