Gallagher Premiership 2019/20 - Round 18 Archive

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WORCESTER WARRIORS

Friday 4th September 

18:00 

PREDICTION – BRISTOL BY 12

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BRISTOL BEARS

Worcester DoR Alan Solomons has talked up his youngsters a lot recently and that’s where his focus appears to be – on development – rather than grinding out results.

The South African has, however, fielded close to what most people would consider to be his strongest team for the visit of the Bears with the return of Melani Nanai, at full-back, one of the key changes from last week’s heavy loss down at Exeter.

Trouble is, Pat Lam has followed a similar path in terms of selection with an impresisve aray of talent on display, from 1-15, including the Piutau brothers and Semi Radradra in the backs and Nathan Hughes packing down at No.8. Radradra versus Ollie Lawrence in midfield should make for a fascinating match-up.

Man-for-man, Bristol simply look too strong for Worcester and they should be able to overcome the -10-point handicap

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NORTHAMPTON SAINTS

Friday 4th September

19:45 

PREDICTION – SAINTS BY 2

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EXETER CHIEFS

After saying we’d learnt our lesson and would never, ever back against an Exeter ‘2nd XV’ again, what are we going to do ….?

The side Chiefs DoR Rob Baxter has picked is largely the one that did a number on Brostol in their own backyard and it’s certainly not beyond the realms of possibility that Saints will suffer the same fate.

However, and it’s a big however, surely it’s not conceivable that Saints will lose a record sixth game on the bounce at home in the league?

Minus the now departed Cobus Reinach and Taqele Naiyaravoro, who is rested to the bench, Saints are pretty much fielding the same backline that caught the eye last season.

Clearly confidence is an issue at the Gardens at present, but who better to make a statement against than the league leaders?

If they can take a leaf out of the Chiefs’ book and hold onto possession far better than they have done since the restart, Saints have the capacity to hurt Exeter and get the result Chris Boyd badly needs to stop the vultures circling. 

They say never go back on your word, but, maybe for the final time, that’s what we are going to do and back Saints to edge this one.

With a more clinical performance from them, you’d also expect the total match points to exceed 48.5 points, as has been the case the last six times these sides have met.

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SARACENS

Saturday 5th September

12:30 

PREDICTION – SARRIES BY 14

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WASPS

Alex Goode’s 300th game for Sarries should be marked with a win but the 12/1 (Skybet) about Wasps looks outstanding value for a speculative punt. 

Yes, Saracens are in the sort of form that has won them multiple titles and have rolled out their big guns for this one, while Wasps have rested some of theirs, but the team Lee Blackett has fielded is still a dangerous one and capable of causing a surprise.

Blackett has made 14 changes to the starting XV that defeated Bath last time out but in captain Jimmy Gopperth, on the occasion of his 100th club appearance, he has a brilliant leader on the pitch. Crucially, Tom Willis, the turnover king of the Premiership, is one of the survivors from the amazing Rec performance.

Sarries have loaded their team in preparation for the Champions Cup clash with Leinster in a fortnight’s time, including the likes of Owen Farrell, Elliot Daly, Brad Barritt, Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola.

Sarries should win, we get that, but it is worth it – purely for the novelty value – to back a top-four contender against the league’s bottom team at such big odds. I doubt we’ll ever see the like again.

Clearly, Sarries are only in that position because of their massive points deduction for salary cap breaches but I bet there’s a few Wasps fans investing a cheeky quid or two on the game today.

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HARLEQUINS

Saturday 5th September

14:00 

PREDICTION – QUINS BY 5

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BATH RUGBY

After his exertions in the scrum in the win against Northampton, Marcus Smith misses out on what should be a tight tussle at the Twickenham Stoop.

Otherwise, Paul Gustard looks to have fielded a crack Quins outfit. Bath, too, have gone down to west London with the intention of getting a fourth win since the restart judging by their team selection; the only notable absentee being flanker Sam Underhill (sore throat).

So will the 3,500 home fans allowed into the ground for this crowd-return pilot be smiling come the final whistle? Probably, yes.

Quins are a different team at home as it is, even without vocal backing, and while Bath are in decent enough nick to silence the crowd, they might have to settle for a losing bonus point. 

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LEICESTER TIGERS

Saturday 5th September

15:00 

PREDICTION – SHARKS BY 9

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SALE SHARKS

Whether he likes it or not, Manu Tuilagi will be in the spotlight today as he makes his first return to Welford Road since his contrvoversial departure from Leicester. 

In truth, the England centre has been more effective as a decoy runner than with ball in hand since his switch to Sharks and, as often is the case with hyped-up scenarios, interest in the game may actually fall elsewhere once the first whistle sounds.

Winning the battle of the breakdown is likely to be the deciding factor, and Sale Sharks have been imperious in this area this season. The back-row of Tom Curry, Daniel du Preez and Jono Ross looks infinitely stronger than Leicester’s triumverate of Harry Wells, Luke Wallace and Hanro Liebenberg.

The same can be said in the back-three where in-form Luke James is joined by England internationals, Marland Yarde and Denny Solomona. For Leicester, Nemani Nadolo is still finding his over-sized feet alongside rookies David Williams and Freddie Steward.

Elsewhere, the sides look fairly evenly matched. 

This is a game where you wouldn’t be massively surprised if Leicester pulled one out of the bag but the evidence in front of us says the Sharks should pick up a rare win at Welford Road (they have only won once there since 2008 in the league)

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GLOUCESTER RUGBY

Saturday 5th September

16:30

PREDICTION – IRISH BY 4

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LONDON IRISH

This one could be a lot closer than the bookies think with double-figure handicaps offered about the home side.

Ordinarily, you’d think that giving Irish a 10-point headstart would be justified but Declan Kidney’s team have experience running through the core of their side from Agustin Creevy, who makes his first Exiles start at hooker, to Blair Cowan in the back row and Nick Phipps and Paddy Jackson at half-back.

Kingsholm hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for the Exiles with no Premiership wins there since 2013 but the Cherry & Whites, who are missing Danny Cipriani and Joe Simpson at half-back, were their last victims – some seven matches ago.

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