Gallagher Premiership 2019/20 - Round 17 Archive

SALE SHARKS

Saturday 29th August

15:00

PREDICTION – SHARKS BY 16

BRISTOL BEARS

With nine Bristolians in their squad and a freezing cold northerly wind due to blowing across the AJ Bell, there’s going to be plenty of burr as well as brrr when these two title hopefuls come together.

Pat Lam has opted to field an experiential line-up, one which on paper, should struggle to get anywhere near a Sharks outfit close to full strength.

World Cup finalists Tom Curry, Faf De Klerk and Manu Tuilagi make their return in a Sharks side showing six changes to the one that ground out a win at Wasps.

Sharks haven’t fired many shots in attack since the restart and will be desperate to show their true title credentials with a more polished attacking display.

The Sharks’ kicking game will still be a key component though, and AJ MacGinty is more than adept at putting the team in the right areas.

If Akker can der Merwe can find his jumpers at lineout time, Bristol’s maul defence will come under intense scrutiny. They came up trumps in this area against Sarries in Round 14 but will need to do so again if they’re going to stay in touch.

With Sale fielding two sets of twins in the pack, Jean-Luc and Daniel Du Preez, Bristol could be in double trouble in keeping the score down.

Having backed Sale in the first two games after the restart and then tipped against them in Round 16, the Sharks haven’t been our friend but they should be good for the 1/2 about a 13+ win

HARLEQUINS

Sunday 30th August

14:00

PREDICTION – QUINS BY 8

NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Paul Gustard’s half-time teamtalk after his side trailed 26-0 at the break at Worcester was “calm and controlled”, according to his assistant Nick Evans.

And a calm and controlled performance by his side is just what is needed against a Saints side that appears to have overdosed on Haribo sweets so frenetic is their play.

Saints gave themselves far too much to do against Bath in midweek after another poor first-half performance and Quins will be looking to get off to a flyer against them, so a HT/FT bet on the Londoners might not be a bad idea.

Both sides struggled at scrum-time last time out but with Quins bringing back some of their frontline players to bolster this key area, they’ll be fancied to get dominance.

Saints came to this ground and won last weekend but Quins are a different propistion to their tenants, London Irish, and they should Stoop to conquer on this occasion, by 6-10 points.

EXETER CHIEFS

Sunday 30th August

15:00

PREDICTION – Chiefs by 28

WORCESTER WARRIORS

This could be brutal. If the Chiefs’ second XV can ruthlessly dispose of Bristol Bears, what chance have Worcester got of derailing a side that looks considerably stronger on paper?

The Chiefs’ backline oozes class with Stuart Hogg, Henry Slade, Jack Nowell and Alex Cutherbert ready to enjoy the freedom of Sandy Park.

An all-England front-row of Ben Moon, Luke ‘ram-man’ Cowan-Dickie and Harry Williams backed up by the like of Jonny Gray doesn’t make the pack look too shabby either.

Worcester on the other hand have decided to go for game time not points judging by their starting line-up and it would be a surprise if the Chiefs don’t pass 40 points.

Warriors are capable of scoring tries, too, though, so be wary of the handicap, especially as Chiefs have fallen flat against this opposition when playing them at home before.

Rob Baxter’s side lost 6-5 in one of the shocks of the 2017/18 season and laboured to a 28-11 win the last time Warriors were in town.

GLOUCESTER RUGBY

Sunday 30th August

16:30

PREDICTION – GLOS BY 26

LEICESTER TIGERS

Once again team news not tactics dominate our thoughts ahead of another Premiership fixture that looks a mismatch on paper.

Tigers boss Steve Borthwick has opted to field what surely must be the most inexperienced Tigers line-up in Premiership history. Between them, the Tigers have clocked up just 171 appearances in the competition – an average of 11 per man. Gloucester’s fly-half Danny Cipriani has amassed over 200 alone.

In all honesty, Leicester should be bullied off the park. Gloucester have put together an impressive-looking pack and with the Cipriani and Joe Simpson half-back axis in place, Jonny May could have a field day against his former club.

Gloucester at -20 on the handicap is our recommended bet.

LONDON IRISH

Monday 31st August

13:00

PREDICTION – SARRIES BY 16

SARACENS

Leeds-based novelty band Chumbawumba famously had a hit with ‘I get knocked down and I get back up again’ and London Irish, who name Chunya Munga at lock, will probbaly need the same sort of mental resolve if they are to keep the margin down to less than 10.

As talented as England U20s lock Munga and his fellow academy players are, they should be no match for a Saracens side hellbent on reminding what the Premiership will be missing next seaosn following their relegation to the Championship. Irish, on the other hand, appear to be treating this last block of matches like an extended pre-season.

Saracens have selected four double-centurions in terms of Saracens appearances in Alex Goode, Brad Barritt, Jamie George and Jackson Wray, while prop Richard Barrington has 190 next to his name.

Throw Maro Itoje and Elliot Daly into the mix, and it would be a major surprise if Irish get anywhere near the men in black.

BATH RUGBY

Monday 31st August

15:00

PREDICTION – BATH BY 4

WASPS

Wayne Barnes’ appointment as the man in thee middle strengthens the argument for this being the game of the weekend. After four lop-sided scorelines (taking away Leicester’s second-half recovery), a close game is expected at The Rec between these top-four contenders.

On paper, Bath would just about appear to have the edge in one of the key areas where Sale Sharks gave Wasps a difficult time in ending Lee Blackhett’s unbeaten run in charge of the Coventry-based side.

Ben Spencer has brought a lot to Bath in the short time he has been there and the scrum-half’s kicking game could prove Wasps’ undoing as it was when Will Cliff and AJ MacGinty were so effective for the Sharks in their 20-11 win at the Ricoh Arena.

Also, Bath appear to have the edge in the power stakes, especially in the front row where Ben Obano is in brilliant nick and Tom Dunn is doing his level best to keep up with Luke Cowan-Dickie in the try-scoring stakes.

Bath’s bench also looks the stronger of the two which could just turn it the home side’s way in the latter stages.

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Gallagher Premiership 2019/20 - Round 17 Archive

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