It was a familiar tale as Saracens and Exeter met in the Premiership final for the third time in four seasons at Twickenham on Saturday.
The two sides were streets ahead of their domestic rivals over the course of the 2018-19 campaign, as demonstrated by the final standings and their semi-final victories.
Gloucester are the nearest challengers at the moment, finishing in third, but the size of the task of breaking up the dominance of the big two was exposed in their 44-19 defeat against the English and European double winners at Allianz Park.
However, there are two big reasons that could provide hope that they can go closer to the title next season.
Gloucester will continue to improve
The Cherry and Whites went eight years without making it into the play-offs during a period of under-achievement but it took Johan Ackermann just two seasons to get them into the top four after his arrival as head coach.
Big strides forward have been made in that time. Although Gloucester drifted away to finish seventh in Ackermann’s first season in charge, it was still an improvement on the previous season’s ninth place and there were several other indicators showing their performances got better.
A run to the final of the European Challenge Cup final for the third time in four years also saw them return to the Heineken Champions Cup after a long absence.
Last summer saw Gloucester re-shape the squad in Ackermann’s mould with Danny Cipriani, Franco Mostert, Jaco Kriel, Franco Marais, Gerbrandt Grobler and Ruan Dreyer coming in, giving him a squad that was better equipped to challenge.
The result was a side that has illuminated the Premiership with an exciting brand of rugby and the highest points total (68) since Gloucester last finished top 11 years ago.
There were landmark away wins against Wasps, Exeter (in the Heineken Cup), Harlequins and Northampton and a play-off spot was secured with two games left, while they appear to have overcome the mental barriers that saw them throw away tight games on a regular basis before Ackermann’s arrival.
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Questions could be raised about the side’s consistency or how they were dismantled in some heavy defeats against Sale, Leicester and Munster midway through the season when they were struck badly by a spate injuries. Defeats at Worcester and Bristol means the ‘typical Gloucester’ tag is yet to disappear.
But the run of six wins in seven games between February and April when they were closer to a fully fit squad demonstrated the upward curve they are on to make them the most likely side to challenge the top two.
With the play-off place secured and break weeks later in the season, it may have disrupted momentum as Gloucester did not give the greatest account of themselves in the semi-final against Saracens, though they can learn from the experience of being in that situation and hope that can serve them well in future.
The news that Ackermann has signed a new contract was a huge boost to the club and there is every reason to expect Gloucester’s improvement to continue.
Three years is how long it could reasonably be expected to take for a side to make sufficient progress, giving a coach time to implement their brand of rugby, culture and get a squad in place to be where they want to be.
When Ackermann was in charge of the Lions in South Africa them that long in Super Rugby to build a side that could reach the final as they went from 12th to eighth to second.
With that in mind, Gloucester fans could be in for a treat next season.
The World Cup
The key to their chances of success could be getting off to a flying start that could really see them make the top two a top three.
Gloucester benefited last season during the international periods when they lost fewer players than their rivals and with the Premiership season to start with the World Cup still on that could play into their hands.
As it stands only Franco Mostert and Jake Polledri look certain of selection from Gloucester. While the calls continue for Danny Cipriani to be picked by Eddie Jones, England’s loss could certainly be Gloucester’s gain if he continues to be overlooked as he is such an integral part of the side.
The opening games are due to be played on October 20, the same weekend as the World Cup quarter-finals when most of the major players will still be involved. And who knows how long it will take for players to be ready to throw everything into their club sides after a gruelling tournament.
Saracens will be particularly affected with a large number of players likely to go deep into the World Cup, while Exeter will also be missing key men.
If a side is to break the dominance of the top two next season, they will likely have to finish above those two after 22 rounds.
The only time Saracens have failed to win the Premiership in the last five seasons was in 2016-17 when they finished third and had to go away to Exeter in the semi-final, when they were beaten.
At the moment with a full-strength side they look unbeatable in the big games on home soil or even any neutral ground.
If Gloucester are to topple the mighty Saracens, their best chance will be to meet them at Kingsholm but they might not even have to if they can avoid them altogether and hope that another club such as Exeter can make home advantage count against them in the other semi-final.
Exeter themselves have reached four successive finals having secured a home semi-final on each occasion but they have only won it once.
Gloucester have fared better against Exeter than against Saracens and might well fancy their chances of pulling off an upset if they were to face them at home or Twickenham.
A good start would make the top two finish achievable for Gloucester next season, which could open up the road to Twickenham. And if they can get there, who knows what could happen?
