Two teams who are really leading the way in domestic and European rugby…. Exeter Chiefs and Bristol Bears.
Both sides have had a fantastic rise to the top of the game in the northern hemisphere resulting in trophies and dominance.
The history of west country rugby in recent memories has had the giants of Bath and Gloucester dominate the column inches, although Bristol looking further back in time have been a competitive first-class outfit, something which Exeter can’t necessarily say.
Three major trophies now sit within an hour trip up or down the M5, which says a lot for what these two clubs have achieved and it comes down to Budget/Bank, Playing Styles, and Management.
The bank of Bristol has the great ability to attract the best players, while the budget of Exeter was more drip fed over the years.
The playing styles of both clubs have had similar comparisons with an approach of free-flowing rugby, looking to play with width and plenty of pace and possession. Bristol have continued to do this from everywhere on the pitch.
Chiefs also still have the ability to do this but have changed over the years in order to play to their strengths, as well as taking in the percentages of rugby.
Where these two clubs have the most in common is the quality in staff, who get the most of their squad and encourage the togetherness of their players. This has to be the single most important trait of any leadership, especially in the brutal sport of rugby.
Once a side loses the will to put their bodies on the line for their team-mates, you are fighting a losing battle.
Rob Baxter and Pat Lamb have most of their players singing from the same hymn sheet.
I obviously still sit within the Exeter fan zone and want them to win all that they can, getting bonus point wins much like what we witnessed versus Bath, while still enjoying the quality that Bristol are showing.
They are the two stand-out teams consistently at the moment, but will the budget of Bristol set them apart from the rest or can the Chiefs and others keep pace.