Gallagher Premiership 2019/20 - Round 14 Archive

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HARLEQUINS

Friday 14th August 

19:45 

PREDICTION – SALE BY 10

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SALE SHARKS

Sharks to return with a bite

Chris Ashton up against Marland Yarde, Joe Marchant v Manu Tuilagi, Chris Robshaw v Tom Curry … the list of mouth-watering match-ups is endless as we look forward to the resumption of Premiership Rugby with what should be a cracker of a game between mid-table Harlequins and second-placed Sale Sharks.

Throw in a couple of steely-eyed northerners in DoRs Paul Gustard and Steve Diamond, and the match at the Twickenham Stoop has all the makings of being the perfect curtain raiser after the interlude no-one expected or wanted – not least Sale Sharks.

Diamond’s team were flying when the handbrake was put on the season five months ago, topping the form chart with 23 points from a possible 30 from their last five games, whereas a Quins side decimated by injuries could only muster 11 points from the same period.

Time is a great healer, and Quins should be better for the break, even if their recruitment has been underwhelming. However, Sale Sharks are likely to the hungrier of the two as they chase a second Premiership title and look decent value at 8/15 to come away with the points.

Yes, Sale have lost on their last three visits to this corner of south-west London and have only won once there since 2008, but with no fans allowed into the stadium, is ‘home advantage’ that much of a factor? For Quins to gain revenge for their 48-10 thumping up in Salford back in January, that would be some turnaround.

Punters may also like to consider a bet on a double result of Sale HT/FT, available at even money, given the track record of the two teams. In 24 games this season in all competitions, the Sharks have been in front after 40 minutes has elapsed in two out of every three games, whereas Quins have struggled to get going from the off and have only had the half-time advantage in seven matches.

Check out Paul Diggin’s verdict on this and all the other fixtures>>

 

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WORCESTER WARRIORS

Saturday 15th August

12:30

PREDICTION- Warriors by 4

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GLOUCESTER RUGBY

A Ted Hill too far for Gloucester

Realistically only a handful of Worcester’s players would make it into the Gloucester XV, but basing any judgements purely on perceived strengths and weaknesses on paper can cut you where it hurts in rugby betting. 

As we all know, rugby is all about the team, and the Warriors, led by their youngest-ever captain Ted Hill, one of the few who’d make it into the Cherry & Whites squad, work incredibly hard for each other – they have to, as only Sale Sharks spend longer without the ball in the Gallagher Premiership, and only Leicester and London Irish make more tackles.

Bustling cenre Ollie Lawrence is another potential standout for the Warriors but with the likes of Danny Cipriani and Jonny May in the visitors’ back line, Gloucester are favourite’s with the bookies.

This could be a match where substance overcomes style, however, especially when you consider the short trip up the M5 hasn’t exactly been profitable for Gloucester in recent years. On their last four visits, their best result was a draw (23-23), in September 2016, with only three points picked up out of a possible 20.

The summer has been one of turmoil at Kingsholm, as David Humphreys and Ruan Ackermann left the club, and Skivington came in to lead them into a new era. 

At the other end of the experience scale is Worcester’s wily old campaigner, Alan Solomons. Now 70, Solomons is in the swansong of his coaching career but he’ll definitely have his side up for this one.

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EXETER CHIEFS

Saturday 15th August

14:00

PREDICTION – CHIEFS BY 20

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LEICESTER TIGERS

Hogg roast for Tigers?

Steve Borthwick was front and centre of Saracens’ bid for domestic and European glory when he captained the club to their first Premeirship title, so he knows what it’s like to be part of a group that wins and keeps on winning. 

Leicester used to have that quality but not any more, and that’s something the former England lock has to address now that he’s in the hotseat – one of the hottest around if you look at the club’s turnover rate of coaches – at Welford Road. 

Borthwick’s attention to detail and calm assuredness will undoubtedly serve the Tigers well in the future but, in the here and the now, you can expect his opposite number, and a man cut from the same understated cloth, Rob Baxter, to have the upper hand.

New-look Leicester have made 22 additions to their squad but, looking at their first team sheet of the restart period, you can still find fault in a few areas, despite the recruitment.

No Jonny May leaves the back three looking young and callow and who better to exploit that inexperience than the Chiefs who know their way around Sandy Park like Tiger Woods does a green at Augusta. 

With Jordan Olowofela joined on the other wing by on-loan Nottingham player, David Williams, and George Worth at full-back, the Chiefs could have a field day if the occasion gets the better of the Tigers’ tyros.

Who better to exploit those holes than Scottish full-back, Stuart Hogg? Tries shouldn;t be at a premium and the Lions contender is more than likely to be amongst them.

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Bath Rugby

Saturday 15th August

15:00

PREDICTION – BATH BY 8

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LONDON IRISH

Hats off to Bath, they know how to confuse

Of all the games this weekend, this is arguably the toughest to predict.

By rights, Bath should win it but they are an infuriating team at the best of times.

Possessing the class of Anthony Watson, Semesa Rokoduguni and Ruaridh McConnochie in the back three and Jonathan Joseph and new signing Ben Spencer elsewhere in the back line, they should be top four contenders every year without fail.

And the back row – even missing retired Springbok Francois Louw – oozes class. Name me a better triumverate, when fit, of Zach Mercer, Sam Underhill and Taulupe Faletau.

Somehow though, they frustrate their fans more than they make them feel good, too often playing like DoR Stuart Hooper speaks – in riddles. Neal Hatley, newly installed as head coach, should bring some clarity.

Sean O’Brien’s battle at openside with Sam Underhill would have been worth the admission money alone had fans been allowed in, but do they have another class across the board to take advantage of Bath’s idiosyncrasies? Probably not.

Bath to win an edgy one is the cautious call, here.

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Bristol Bears

Saturday 15th August

16:30 

PREDICTION – BRISTOL BY 5

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SARACENS

A Rad selection

Admit it, the first name you looked for on any team sheet this weekend, after your own club’s, was to see if Semi Radradra would be making his Bristol Bears debut. 

Thankfully, he’s there, big and bold in print, as in real life, at number 13. Dom Morris will perhaps not be so delighted, he’s the man chosen to go head-to-head with the Fijian behemoth.

With Mako and Billy Vunipola, Jamie George and Maro Itoje in the pack, Saracens won’t go to Ashton Gate to mess around but if Bristol do have serious claims on the title, they need to show their mettle from the off.

Bristol call on a pair of brothers themselves, the Piutaus no less, plus Nathan Hughes is ready to re-enact the battle of the bulge with England rival Vunipola.

Many people expected Saracens to get a tanking but, now, having seen a team sheet with such intent, it is hard to envisage such a scenario. 

Bristol’s bench does look the stronger of the two though, especially with Kyle Sinckler ready for a half-an-hour rumble.

Almost half of Bristol’s tries in the league this season (15 out of 32) have come in the final quarter and that is when the game could be won and lost.

A double result of Saracens HT/Bristol FT might not be a bad shout.

 

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NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Sunday 16th August 

15:00 

PREDICTION –  SAINTS BY 9

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WASPS

SAINTS

Two teams that love to play broken-field rugby should make for an exciting encounter to wrap up the first weekend back after the enforced break for Covid-19.

Wasps take on their Midlands rivals knowing that a win would, bonus points aside, take them into the top four at their hosts expense.

Saints go into the game having lost their last three at Franklin’s Gardens but have not lost four in succession in the Premiership at the famous old venue since 2006/07.

Lee Blackett’s first official game in charge of Wasps may end in disappointment – like his first game as interim head coach, also in the east Midlands, when his side lost 18-9 to Leicester earlier in the year.

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